Singapore’s two largest law firms are making significant inroads into the Chinese market at a time when many global counterparts are scaling back operations in the People’s Republic. Rajah & Tann Asia and Allen & Gledhill are setting up new offices in China, motivated by increasing outbound activity by Chinese enterprises.
Rajah & Tann Asia is slated to inaugurate a representative outpost in Qianhai, Shenzhen this October, starting with an initial team of 10 lawyers. According to Hew Kian Heong, head of the Shenzhen office, the new branch will center its activities on international arbitration as well as focused sectors such as construction, technology, media, and telecommunications.
Hew cited geopolitical factors and growing tensions between China and Western nations as catalysts driving the heightened interest. This expansion comes against a backdrop where several international law firms have been reducing their footprints in China.
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