King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) is looking to open an office in Singapore before the end of this year as the firm continues its drive to compete with the top tier international outfits.

The Hong Kong headquartered firm, comprised of four separate partnerships and 31 offices held together in a Swiss verein structure, is understood to be applying for a Foreign Law Practice (FLP) licence in the city-state with a view to setting up independently.

The news comes approximately a year after the merger of legacy Sino-Australian giant KWM and UK outfit SJ Berwin, which created a $1bn (£657m) firm with a strong foothold in the UK, Europe, China and Australia.

Speaking to Legal Week at the time, global managing partner Stuart Fuller said Singapore would be a key priority for the merged firm going forward in view of the aggregate of capital flows into and out of the island-state, and also given its positioning as a hub for South East Asia.

KWM had originally hoped for a tie up with one of Singapore's pre-eminent firms Wong Partnership, which was discussed prior to the merger with SJB and would have given the firm a local offering.

But negotiations between the two ground to a halt when management at Wong Partnership last March decided they wanted to remain independent.

Launching its own office in Singapore will limit KWM to advising only on international law, alongside firms such as Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Morrison & Foerster, Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom.

However, according to sources, KWM is eager to have local capability on the ground in the long term, which could lead the firm to do a tie-up or apply for a Qualifying Foreign Law Practice Licence (QFLP) if the opportunity arises.

KWM declined to comment.

Related: Singapore fling – the international firms eager to secure alliances in the city-state