After a year of political unrest in Hong Kong, many have turned their focus to Singapore to see if the city-state could emerge as a new financial center for Asia.

Understandably, law firms have been slow to comment on the situation in Hong Kong, but a few, including Osborne Clarke and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, have voted with their feet by closing offices, while others have reduced staff. At the same time, there have been plenty of firms building up in Singapore.