TokyoThe past year has seen mixed progress in the liberalisation of global legal markets. Legislators have often had to drive through reforms in the face of opposition from local bar associations – not always successfully.

China, South Korea and Japan are all in the process of opening up their legal markets to varying degrees. China is allowing foreign law firms to open multiple offices, but still prohibits them from offering local law capability. South Korea looks set to follow suit by 2005.