Ropes & Gray has launched an office in Shanghai, marking the US firm's third presence in Asia.

The office, which went live today (21 July), will be headed by private equity partner Arthur Mok. Prior to his move to Shanghai, Mok worked in the firm's Hong Kong and Washington DC offices.

He will be joined by investment funds partner Geoffrey Chan, who has also relocated from the firm's Hong Kong office, along with five associates.

The office will focus on private equity, life sciences and investment funds work.

Mok (pictured) said: "The impetus to set up an office in Shanghai was to serve our existing clients in the private equity and life sciences industries, many of whom are global private equity fund sponsors and pharmaceutical companies that have positioned key resources in Shanghai.

"Our plan is to focus on the private equity and life sciences industries initially, but in due time we are likely to expand this to include additional industries, particularly those that are technology intensive."

Mok joined Ropes in April 2010 from Hogan & Hartson – where he was the firm's Shanghai managing partner – just before its merger with Lovells in May that year.

Ropes currently has offices in Tokyo and Hong Kong in the region, which opened in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

The news comes after Reed Smith launched a presence in Shanghai earlier this month with the hire of corporate partner Jay Yan, the former regional managing partner for US firm Dorsey & Whitney.