Lovells gets go-ahead for Chinese expansion

Lovells has won a coveted licence to open a second office in China in the latest round of permits issued by the Chinese Ministry of Justice.

The licence, which was granted at the end of May, will allow Lovells to open an office in Shanghai to complement its Beijing arm. Consequently, Lovells plans to launch in Shanghai in September under the leadership of intellectual property partner Doug Clark.

The office will handle Shanghai-based deals and will focus on the Yangtze River region, which includes the high-technology development areas of Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing and Hangzhou.

Lovells regional managing partner for Asia Don Kelly commented: "We expect outbound work for domestic companies to mushroom in the next two to three years, with technology companies from the Shanghai region in the vanguard.

"A Lovells office in Shanghai, to complement that in Beijing, is a strategic must for us."

The Ministry of Justice has also granted licences to New York firm Kelley Drye & Warren, Singapore-based Rajah & Tann, Norwegian practice Wikborg Rein & Co, Korean firm DeRyook International Law Firm and Eversheds' Singapore best friend Khattar Wong & Partners.