Australian firm Minter Ellison is set to launch an office in Beijing in the latest example of an international law firm targeting the potential of China's legal market.

The launch, which will be Minter's third platform in Greater China, is in line with the firm's strategy of tapping into China's strong appetite for investment into foreign markets, and to focus on capital flows in key niche areas.

Chief executive John Weber commented: "China's growth potential is immense. It has an enormous appetite for foreign assets that are key to its burgeoning economy and increasingly Chinese clients are turning to Hong Kong to access capital for business development on the mainland."

He added: "We are ideally placed to work with Chinese corporates and state-owned enterprises looking to invest overseas. Being in the Chinese capital will also give us easier access to central government authorities."

The team in Beijing will be lead by projects partner Sam Farrands, who will act as initial chief representative.

International managing partner Mark Green said: "As China's administrative, policy and regulatory hub, Beijing is an important centre – having a Minter office here is both a strategic move and the next logical step for us in China," he said.

The news comes shortly after Minter Ellison became Australia's largest law firm by revenue, posting a marginal increase in turnover to A$503m (£286m) for 2009-10, which saw it overtake 2008-09′s top-ranked firm, Mallesons Stephen Jaques.

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