Berwin Leighton Paisner has announced it will open a Beijing office, its first in mainland China.

The British firm has received a license from the Ministry of Justice and plans to begin operations in May. Former Berwin Leighton Chairman Peter Robinson will head the office. He is currently completing a one-year secondment as an in-house lawyer in the Shanghai office of British supermarket chain Tesco Plc., a client of the firm.