For years, Singapore tried to keep international law firms at a certain remove. While the foreigners were allowed to open offices and practice international law there, those wanting to practice Singapore law were previously required to participate in non-exclusive joint law ventures (JLVs) with local firms, many of which ended badly. In 2008, the Singaporean government finally licensed six foreign firms to practice local law but only if they met certain conditions.
Yet now Allen & Gledhill, Singapore’s leading corporate law firm, could be on the verge of merging with British legal giant Allen & Overy. And Singaporean lawyers don’t seem to have a problem with it.
