Malar Velaigam
Malaysia’s largest law firm, Zaid Ibrahim and Co has formed a strategic alliance with Allen & Gledhill, Singapore’s largest law firm.
The alliance, which is to commence on January 2008, is to allow the firms to better tap into the South East Asian markets and is to have a specific focus on Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand as well as Malaysia and Singapore.
“We will remain as separate firms but we will join our resources together in areas identified as having potential for the region,” said Zaid Ibrahim managing partner Chew Seng Kok.
He added that the key areas are corporate, finance including Islamic finance, corporate real estate and intellectual property.
Ibrahim also said the firms have not ruled out expanding into China and India but will focus on South East Asia for now. The alliance is planning to launch a combined office in Vietnam next year.
The alliance will result in a combined team of more than 400 lawyers with offices in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.
