When its newly announced Hong Kong association with Mayer Brown JSM is approved by regulators, Chinese corporate boutique Jingtian & Gongcheng will be the latest in a line of mainland firms to launch in the city. In fact, at least five such firms have expanded into Hong Kong through associations with local players over the past 18 months.
In May, Shanghai-based Llinks Law Offices launched a two-lawyer Hong Kong office and started an association with local firm Vivien Teu & Co., which has five lawyers. That followed Beijing-based Han Kun Law Offices’ opening in November through an alliance with local intellectual property boutique Choy, Cheung & Co. Fellow Beijing firm Broad & Bright opened in Hong Kong a year ago with three lawyers after forming an association with seven-lawyer corporate specialist CFN Lawyers. In late 2013, Shanghai-based Allbright Law Offices entered the market by via an association with local firm Stevenson, Wong & Co. Before that, Shanghai’s Fangda Partners and Beijing’s Jiayuan Law Firm also formed Hong Kong associations.
