Linklaters holds advanced talks with two Chinese firms over Shanghai launch
Magic circle firm shortlists at least 10 firms for potential Shanghai free trade zone partnership
December 02, 2015 at 11:44 AM
2 minute read
Linklaters has held advanced discussions with two Chinese firms over a potential launch of an office in the Shanghai free trade zone (FTZ).
Legal Week reported this week that Linklaters plans to launch a practice in the Shanghai FTZ within the next 12 months.
The firm has drawn up a list of at least 10 potential firms it could partner with for the Shanghai FTZ opening, codenamed project trident.
It has had more detailed discussions with two of those firms, Shanghai Capital Law & Partners and Shanghai Kai-Rong Law Firm.
Shanghai Capital Law & Partners was set up in 2004 and has offices within the FTZ in Shanghai.
Asia managing partner Marc Harvey has been leading the project.
Legal Week understands that the firm has yet to make a decision on which firm to tie up with, or even if it would tie up with a local law firm.
The other option would be to launch its own practice with its own Chinese law practitioners.
However, Linklater senior partner Robert Elliott, speaking to Legal Week in November, indicated that a merger was the firm's preferred option as it would be quicker, and the greenfield route could take up to three years.
Currently Chinese regulations prevent international law firms from getting involved in Chinese legal matters and only allow them to open representative offices in the country.
Under the Shanghai FTZ scheme, international firms are able to offer Chinese law advice, either by tying up with a local firm or setting up a practice in the FTZ.
In April Baker & McKenzie became the first major international firm to take advantage of the FTZ's regulations when it struck an agreement with Chinese firm FenXun Partners.
Other firms that have expressed an interest in opening in the Shanghai FTZ include Herbert Smith Freehills, Simmons & Simmons and Dechert.
Linklaters declined to comment.
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
NOT FOR REPRINT
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
You Might Like
View All
Osborne Clarke makes move into China via tie-up with new Shanghai firm
HSF agrees settlement with eight Australian partners who quit to join White & Case
DLA Piper makes up 46 to partnership around the world as London promotions halve
Trending Stories
Who Got The Work
Nicholas M. DePalma and Christian R. Schreiber of Venable have stepped in to represent CP Management Services, CRS RB4 Holdings and other defendants in a pending breach-of-contract lawsuit. The suit was filed Aug. 30 in Virginia Eastern District Court by Greenberg Traurig on behalf of Daito Kentaku USA. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton, is 1:24-cv-01538, Daito Kentaku USA, LLC v. Comstock Partners, LC.
Who Got The Work
Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs partner Andrew J. Pulliam has entered an appearance for Steve Jensen in a pending breach-of-contract lawsuit. The action, filed Aug. 30 in Tennessee Middle District Court by the Law Office of Perry A. Craft on behalf of Timothy Robins, accuses the defendant of writing a worthless check for over $94,000 for the sale of auctioned goods. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Eli J. Richardson, is 3:24-cv-01064, Robins v. Jensen et al.
Who Got The Work
Lane Powell shareholder Pilar C. French has entered an appearance for Penney OpCo LLC in a pending consumer class action. The complaint, filed Aug. 26 in Oregon District Court by Hattis & Lukacs, alleges that the company markets fictional discounts for certain products. The case, assigned to U.S. Magistrate Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai, is 6:24-cv-01414, Gamble v. Penney OpCo LLC.
Who Got The Work
Donald L. Carmelite and Coryn D. Hubbert of Marshall Dennehey have stepped in to defend the City of York, Detective Roland Comacho and Detective Lisa Daniels in a pending civil rights lawsuit. The complaint, filed Aug. 27 in Pennsylvania Middle District Court by Levin & Zeiger on behalf of Noel Matos Montalvo, seeks damages for the amount of time that Montalvo was incarcerated over five years for the exonerated killing of his common law wife. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson, is 1:24-cv-01459, Montalvo v. City of York, et al.
Who Got The Work
Joseph M. Englert, Brian E. Pumphrey and M. Laughlin Allen of McGuireWoods have entered appearances for Bank of America NA in a pending class action. The action was filed Aug. 26 in Georgia Northern District Court by Podhurst Orseck; Webb, Klase & Lemond; Crabtree & Auslander; and Morrison + Associates on behalf of the representative of the beneficiaries of the Arthur N. Weinraub Trust, a trust which contains residential real property. The suit accuses the defendant of overcharging the trust by selecting unnecessary and/or excessively priced insurance for the property. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr., is 1:24-cv-03780, Weinraub v. Bank of America, N.A.
Featured Firms
Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C.
(470) 294-1674
Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
(857) 444-6468
Smith & Hassler
(713) 739-1250
