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Australia's HopgoodGanim Lawyers has entered into alliances with two Chinese firms: Beijing-based Dacheng Law Offices and Hangzhou-based Zhejiang T&C Law Firm.
The alliance is not exclusive, according to a spokesperson at 124-lawyer HopgoodGanim, but the Australian firm will be referring work and seconding lawyers to each of the Chinese firms, and vice versa. They will also share resources and information about their respective markets.
HopgoodGanim's main practice areas are energy, construction, agriculture and tourism. Based in Brisbane, the firm opened a Perth office in October.
"As these are areas in which HopgoodGanim offers considerable experience and resources, it makes sense for us to look for opportunities further afield and to establish ways in which we can successfully offer our expertise to Chinese law firms, companies and investors, who are showing a lot of interest in these growth industries," said HopgoodGanim managing partner Bruce Humphrys in a statement.
Dacheng is China's largest law firm with some 2,600 lawyers, though many of those are effectively alliance partners who have adopted the Dacheng brand. HopgoodGanim is not the only Australian firm with which Dacheng has a relationship; it is connected to Minter Ellison through the World Services Group alliance.
Zhejiang T&C, which has 69 lawyers according to its website, focuses on capital markets, real estate, construction and foreign direct investment transactions.
