Just ask Jose Mourinho when he takes over Manchester United – you have got to look at what you have got and who fits best
“You have to just look at your team make-up – just ask Jose Mourinho when he takes over Manchester United – you have got to look at what you have got and who fits best and who is going to do the best job for you.”
Regionally, the firm has grown its partner headcount from six to 16 since 2011. The firm’s highest partner count was 1 May last year, when it had 17 in the region.
However, the firm’s total number of legal staff during the period has grown consistently – rising from 14 in 2011 to 60 this year, with an increase every 12 months.
In addition to hires, the firm has expanded its presence in the region, opening an office in Myanmar last October and bringing on board Chris Hughes from Baker & McKenzie. The move was in response to growing client demand in the country, focusing on foreign direct investment work. Elsewhere, the firm is looking to take advantage of outbound Japanese investment but is unlikely to open an office on the ground in the near future. Currently, BLP has four offices in Asia: Beijing, Hong Kong Singapore and Myanmar.
New frontiers
Looking at domestic markets, the firm doesn’t have a presence in either Singapore or China but is keeping both under review. In Singapore, Charlton is keen not to compete with the established domestic practices of firms such as Allen & Gledhill or international firms with an existing local offering.
However, he highlights the growing prominence of Singaporean law as the basis for international agreements and dispute clauses as a possible reason to look at developing capabilities.
The firm is currently undergoing a review of its capabilities in the city state, “reflecting” on what it needs.
Singapore is a seriously competitive market, very different from here
“It’s tough,” adds Charlton. “It is a seriously competitive market very different from here, so one has got to keep the Singapore position very closely under review and in control.”
Looking north, Charlton says the addition of the partners from William KK will lead to discussions about how the firm can make the best of the PRC market, although he will not be drawn into detail about what this may entail.
The firm’s strategy in Asia takes it to 2020 with the clear, if not so simple, aim of growing revenue in a profitable way. There are no set targets for this so the proof, for onlookers at least, will have to be the firm’s perceived standing in the market and whether the region can “propel BLP to being regarded as a truly international firm in its outlook, its operations and its client base”, as Charlton suggests.
