Hill Dickinson is to open an office in Hong Kong in association with a local law firm after receiving clearance from the region's authorities.

The office, which is due to open in October, will become the firm's second base in Asia following the launch of its Singapore base in 2009 and will focus on marine-related work.

Hill Dickinson has agreed terms with a local firm but, due to a confidentiality agreement, is unable to reveal its identity until the association is finalised in the coming weeks.

The firm submitted its application to the Law Society in Hong Kong in May in order to take advantage of what it views to be a gap in the local market

Initially, the office will house around four people and, as well as being in the final stages of making a local hire, the firm intends to relocate a partner from the UK to head up the team.

Managing partner Peter Jackson said: "We decided to make the move into Hong Kong in order to build on what is our very successful Singapore base which we opened four years ago. In Singapore, we anticipated a gap in the marine market and we believe the same opportunities are available in Hong Kong. This is another example of the Hill Dickinson partners investing in our business and in one of our core sectors."

The development comes after Hill Dickinson  recently undertook a restructuring of its UK business which will eventually see 18 partners and 89 staff leave the firm.

In addition, earlier this week it was revealed that partners had voted through a £2.8m cash call resulting in its 107 fixed-share and equity members having to contribute an extra £1,000 per equity point by the end of September.

Jackson said the cash boost was necessary if the firm was to sustain recent investment which in the last year has seen it secure a new London premises, a 30-strong defendant insurance practice from DLA Piper, a new office in Monaco and, now, a new Hong Kong practice.