Joseph Tan goes global with three new offices

Leading Singapore shipping specialist Joseph Tan Jude Benny Anne Choo is opening three overseas offices.

The move will give the 17partner firm a larger international presence than any other Singapore practice.

The new offices will be in Bangkok, Dubai and Hamburg and are expected to be operational by the end of the month. The locations were chosen to take advantage of the East Asia, Middle East and Eastern European markets.

Joseph Tan is one of Singapore's top shipping practices. It has established a reputation for its work outside Singapore, particularly with Scandinavian companies. Clients include Skuld P&I Club, Westa, the Danish Defence Club and Norwegian underwriters Store Brand.

Joseph Tan has spent the last couple of years bolstering other practice areas as well as continuing to build on its reputation in shipping.

In September 1999, Joseph Tan Jude Benny (as was) recruited Khattar Wong & Partners' entire 25-strong shipping team. And less than a year later, it merged with corporate and IT firm Koh & Choo to create the current practice (The Lawyer, 10 July).

The firm opened its first international office a year ago, in Greek shipping hub Piraeus.

As well as overseas expansion, Joseph Tan is boosting its domestic practice. It is undergoing a re-cruitment drive and wants to up its lawyer-count from 35 to 50 within the next three months. It also intends to develop a banking practice.

Joseph Tan was unavailable for comment.