Bird & Bird has sealed an alliance with a Chinese intellectual property boutique as the City firm aims to strengthen its contentious capacity in the country.

The UK top 20 firm's tie-up with Beijing-based Xiang Kun Law Firm will not be exclusive, but will see Bird & Bird refer the majority of its Beijing contentious work to the local firm.

The Beijing tie-up comes just eight months after Bird & Bird confirmed its first Asian alliance with Singapore firm Alban Tay Mahtani & de Silva in January. The agreement handed the UK firm a Singapore presence, which practises under the name ATMD Bird & Bird.

Bird & Bird has also strengthened its Singapore office with the hire of dispute resolution partner Boey Swee Siang from local firm Rajah & Tann.

Commenting on the appointment, Bird & Bird's CEO David Kerr said: "His expertise across various areas of litigation will be a strong addition to the wider firm as we look to develop the contentious side of our business, following the global association with ATMD and the recent merger in London with Lane & Partners."

Bird & Bird launched in Beijing in 2004, making it one of the first international law firms to enter mainland China. Since then it also added a Shanghai office, which opened last year. The firm has had an office in Hong Kong since 1995.