Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has formed a ‘best friends’ relationship with a local outfit in Singapore as its US counterpart White & Case awaits a government decision on whether it will have its Singapore practice licence renewed.

The two firms were among six international outfits awarded five-year Qualifying Foreign Law Practice (QFLP), or local licences, in 2008, which HSF said last February it was not renewing. White & Case was awarded a one-year conditional permit.