Fifteen lawyers have been granted approval to appear in Hong Kong courts with exemption from litigation training, as the region moves to broaden the scope of work law firms are permitted to handle.

Some of Hong Kong's top dispute resolution partners – including top-ranked Skadden disputes partner Paul Mitchard QC (pictured) and Ashurst senior associate and former barrister Sanjay Sakhrani – are among the line-up receiving Higher Rights of Audience (HRA).

The list also includes Baker & McKenzie disputes duo Gary Seib and Kareena Teh, Mayer Brown JSM partner Nicholas Hunsworth, Allen & Overy arbitration partner Matthew Gearing and Sidley Austin international arbitration practice co-chair Yang Ing Loong.

The appointments come after legislation giving solicitors the right to appear in court came into force last June, allowing solicitors with the relevant experience to be given HRA at the High Court, Court of Appeal and Court of Final Appeal.

Until now, barristers have dominated court roles, despite Hong Kong-qualified litigators being involved in almost all behind-the-scenes tasks such as preparing pleadings, putting together evidence and sourcing witnesses.

To qualify as a solicitor-advocate in Hong Kong, lawyers were required to apply for training and assessment to the Higher Rights Assessment Board, which is made up of a panel of judges, barristers and senior solicitors.

Those with substantial dispute resolution or litigation advocacy experience were permitted to apply for an exemption from the training.

Just two lawyers have been granted HRA in respect of criminal proceedings, with the other 13 for civil cases. No-one was awarded rights for both.

A total of 90 solicitors applied last September for the rights with exclusion from assessment, with 13 hoping to be able to appear in criminal and civil cases, five applying for rights to criminal proceedings only and 72 for civil.

There were a further 30 applications for HRA with training, all of which are expected to be given a place on a course administered by the College of Law in Hong Kong.

The Law Society is expected to issue formal certificates confirming the approved rights after the Chinese New Year holiday.

According to Justice Michael Hartmann, chairman of the Higher Rights Assessment Board which reviewed the applications, unsuccessful applicants can apply for HRA again but not in the same calendar year. There is no limit on the number of times a solicitor can apply.

"We will be putting out guidelines to assist future applicants for higher rights who seek it by way of exemption from assessment," Hartmann told Legal Week. "We will be explaining our approach. They will come out shortly after Chinese New Year.

"It is up to the board to decide how many times a year it will receive applications, and we're actively looking at that at the moment. But there will be another opportunity this year for people to apply via exemption."

As for the applications for HRA by way of assessment, he said the board hopes to announce a timeline for the course very soon, but that all 30 would be put forward.

"Sometime in March or even late February we will be able to advise the profession on when training will start. The trainers are coming out in a matter of weeks to set everything up. We sincerely hope [the training will commence] in April, and then in April to early May will be the assessments."

The new rules are expected to provide an additional revenue stream for international law firms in the region, by allowing them to represent their clients in court. The development could also benefit clients by potentially saving large sums in legal fees.