Withers has entered into a tie-up with financial services advisory firm BeA-asia as the top 30 UK practice targets new business in Asia.

The tie-up with BeA-asia, which is based in Shanghai, gifts Withers its second presence in China alongside its existing office in Hong Kong, which opened for business in January 2008.

The deal comes in anticipation of Withers' launch of its own Shanghai office. The firm is aiming to become more involved in the Chinese wealth market and take advantage of opportunities in its high net worth community.

Withers global managing director Margaret Robertson said: "China is currently the world's fourth largest high net worth base, with 477,000 high net worth individuals and this number is expected to continue to increase over the coming years.

"Such high-speed wealth creation will undoubtedly lead to complex wealth planning needs for entrepreneurs, their families and their businesses, so this is obviously a market Withers is very interested in."

BeA-asia managing director Luca Birindelli said: "Withers is a pioneer in the wealth management space globally and, as such, is very well positioned to advise clients in China as they experience this exciting evolution of wealth."

The tie-up comes after Withers appointed a senior partner for Asia last October with the relocation of Joe Field from the firm's New York office.