Duane Morris has expanded into China with the launch of a new office in Shanghai.

The US firm, which is still awaiting approval from the PRC Ministry of Justice, will open the base under the banner Duane Morris Selvam, its joint law venture in Asia.

Leon Yee, managing director of Asian entity, will serve as chief representative of the new office, and will be joined by Chong Eng Wee, an associate director in Singapore. The office will be staffed with five lawyers in total.

In a statement, the firm said it is aiming to capture outbound investment by Chinese corporates, whilst also advising on international aspects of inbound transactions.

Core practices will be M&A, tax, intellectual property and regulatory.

"Shanghai represents the natural next step in our long-term strategy for the region," said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO John Soroko.

"It is our intent to be a key facilitator of Chinese companies seeking to invest abroad. Additionally, many of our clients have shared with us their intense interest in entering the Chinese market or in actively developing their existing investments there. We are now even better positioned to help them achieve those goals."

The launch marks the third international opening for Duane Morris since the beginning of 2013.

Last March, the firm entered the Middle East through a joint venture in Oman with Said Al Mashaikhi law firm in Muscat, and in September, it opened an office in Myanmar.

Also on the cards is an office in Thailand, where the firm wants to start with a team of three or four lawyers and grow to around 12. It is currently in the process of recruiting a partner to oversee the office. Key practices would include corporate, finance and arbitration.

Duane Morris merged its Asia operations with legacy Singapore outfit Selvam in March 2011 to expand its regional footprint with local expertise.

Current offices in Asia include Singapore, Myanmar, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, with Singapore operating as the firm's regional headquarters.

The firm is also mulling plans to open in Cambodia.