Two more Am Law 100 firms expanded their international horizons last week by moving forward with office openings in two of the world's fastest-growing economies.
Hogan Lovells became the latest Am Law 100 firm to set its sights on Brazil with a report that it plans to open a Rio de Janeiro office later this year, while Katten Muchin Rosenman trotted out a former Chicago mayor as it made its first foray into Asia by opening in Shanghai last week.
Richard Daley, who joined Katten as of counsel last June after six terms as mayor of the Windy City, was on the ground in Shanghai to provide a boost for the firm's local launch.
At the time Daley joined Katten, his China ties -- the longtime mayor made several trips to the country during his time in public service and announced a "friendship initiative" between Chicago and the world’s most populous country shortly before leaving office -- were seen as a key factor in the firm's decision to bring him aboard. (The firm is also home to tax partner Terry Newman, a longtime friend and dining companion of Daley's.)
Daley, who was profiled in The New Yorker two years ago, took some time in Shanghai to speak to the press about his life after leaving the mayor's office, including some comments about the November death of his wife of 41 years, Maggie, just days after their youngest daughter was married.
Katten corporate partner and Asia-China practice head Feng Xue will relocate from Chicago to head the firm's new Shanghai outpost, according to sibling publication The Asian Lawyer. The firm will hire two counsels and one associate locally to support Xue.
While the Asian market has been a particularly popular venue for U.S. firms venturing abroad, Brazil is another hot legal market in recent years, according to our previous reports.
Hogan Lovells told partners earlier this month that Claudette Christian, a finance partner and co-chair of the firm's board in Washington, D.C., will head a new office in Rio de Janeiro that is expected to open later this year, according to U.K. publication Legal Week.
The office's focus will be energy, infrastructure and projects work for clients traditionally serviced from Hogan Lovells' office in Caracas, Legal Week reports. Besides Christian, who has extensive experience in Brazil, the firm is expected to make further relocations in the coming months.
Hogan Lovells is betting that the booming Brazilian economy will get a further boost when the World Cup heads to the country in 2014, followed by the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro two years later. The firm could also eventually open an office in Sao Paulo as well.
In November, K&L Gates announced the opening of an office in Sao Paulo, following a string of Brazilian office launches by several top U.S. and U.K. firms.
This article first appeared on The Am Law Daily blog on AmericanLawyer.com.
