Fast GDP growth in Indonesia, an end to sanctions in Myanmar and ambitious government plans in India are among the top reasons for recent foreign interest in South East Asia.

Though there continues to be tight regulation of foreign firms in some jurisdictions, 2014 saw them take some bold steps towards tapping these markets; a potential lucrative workload generating everything from energy and project finance work to M&A and capital markets deals.

Among the biggest stories was Allen & Overy's launch in Myanmar – the only magic circle firm on the ground and among just a handful of foreign players generally with a presence in the market. Also moving in were Baker & McKenzie, Allen & Gledhill and Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), although the latter via an alliance.

Indonesia was the other big country of continued interest, with firms flooding in by the dozen and Jokowi's election win giving firms hope for more investor-friendly regulations and major infrastructure projects, albeit no signs of the local market opening up to law firms.

Clifford Chance's (CC's) move into Jakarta was among the most significant, the firm being rather late to the table and launching via a tie-up with a newly-established outfit. But CC was not the only one upping its game. Other new entrants included Bird & Bird, Clyde & Co, BLP and Wong Partnership, while later in the year Latham & Watkins also made clear its interest in the market; now concerned at the prospect of losing major project finance work to those with offices on the ground.

India meanwhile, which imposes more restrictions than Indonesia, saw its biggest domestic firm Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co edge closer to opening its first international office – with co-managing partner Shardul Shroff hinting at Singapore for next year. The firm also made headlines later in the year as it emerged that the two brothers and managing partners were in a dispute over the ownership of the firm.

In view of the practice limitations in India, international firms by contrast kept rather low key. The most interesting news was Osborne Clarkes' entry through an alliance local outfit BTG Legal and Squire Patton Boggs' hire of the co-head of DLA Piper's India practice in Singapore.

Later in the year, it emerged that Deutsche Bank's India legal head was leaving the position, possibly for a role in private practice but more likely for another in-house role. The frontrunner to replace him was also named.

Vietnam also saw some partner moves, with Hogan Lovells making its first partner hire with the addition of A&O corporate lawyer Jeff Olson. The magic circle firm also saw its founding managing partner for the office exit, and was replaced by project finance and ex-Tokyo partner Adam Moncrieff. Taylor Wessing's member firm in Singapore also launched in Vietnam as part of its plan to grow in South East Asia.