Zhong Lun W&D has inked a strategic alliance with 30-lawyer City firm DKLM as it endeavours to maintain its London presence following the recent departure of its nine-member City team.
Zhong Lun W&D, which is headquartered in Beijing, first entered London in 2006 with the launch of a branch office in the City. Last week, its nine-member London team left to join rival firm Zhong Lun (13 February 2012).
In a bid to uphold its presence in London and continue to provide legal services and support to its Chinese clients, the firm has entered into a strategic alliance with DKLM.
Launched in 2004, DKLM is a niche commercial City practice that markets itself as an alternative to the larger City firms for both property and corporate clients. The firm has seven partners led by managing partner Alan Dixon. One of the founding partners, Philip Li, has extensive links with the Chinese community in London and is responsible for the development of Chinese connections in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing.
It is understood that several partners of the City firm returned to London on Monday following a trip to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong to meet the partners of the Chinese firm.
The two firms are still finalising details of the association arrangements and are looking to have an official launch at the end of April to coincide with the opening of Zhong Lun W&D’s new office in Guangzhou, the commercial centre of Southern China.
According Zhonglun W&D’s managing partner Chen Wen, Zhonglun W&D’s London team will share the office of DKLM and the firm plans to second partners and lawyers to London in the future.
Headquartered in Beijing, Zhonglun W&D currently has 85 partners and 340 lawyers across eight domestic offices.
