Lawrence Graham to end Singapore alliance ahead of integration with Wragges
Lawrence Graham (LG) has ended its tie-up with Singapore law firm PK Wong & Associates as the firm prepares for its merger with Wragge & Co next month
April 23, 2014 at 07:09 PM
3 minute read
Lawrence Graham (LG) has ended its tie-up with Singapore law firm PK Wong & Associates as the firm prepares for its merger with Wragge & Co next month.
LG, which established a Formal Law Alliance (FLA) with PK Wong in 2010 to create the entity Lawrence Graham PK Wong Alliance, has terminated the partnership at a time when other international players are eyeing tie ups with local firms in a bid to practise Singapore law.
Legal Week understands that the move to end the alliance is one of a string of integration initiatives ahead of the UK merger.
Singapore is currently LG's only office in Asia, opened in 2010, while Wragges has one base in the Chinese city of Guangzhou. However, the office does not boast a private client practice, an area in which LG specialises.
Despite the PK Wong alliance coming to an end, LG is not thought to have plans to close the Singapore office, and it is thought that the combined firm may look at growing the base and its wider Asia presence once the merger goes live.
The merger will create a £171m business known as Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co, with 1,300 staff, including 770 lawyers, operating from 10 offices worldwide: Birmingham, Brussels, Dubai, Guangzhou, London, Monaco, Moscow, Munich, Paris and Singapore.
LG could not be reached for comment.
The firm's decision to end the alliance in Singapore comes as a host of firms that do not have a Qualifying Foreign Law Practice (QFLP) licence in the city state look to tie up with local outfits to practise Singapore law.
As well as allowing them to advise on local deals, Singapore law capability is also becoming increasingly important on regional transactions and in helping firms win tenders for work and panel appointments.
Stephenson Harwood was the latest firm to launch an FLA with its associate firm Virtus Law in March, while Ashurst, Berwin Leighton Paisner and Olswang are among those firms understood to be open to partnerships.
Meanwhile, Norwegian firm Wikborg Rein has also called time on its FLA with Pan Asia Law, which dates back to 2008.
In Asia, Wikborg Rein currently has 10 lawyers in Singapore who also advise on Hong Kong law, in addition to a Shanghai office which has 15 staff.
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