Clyde & Co and Malaysia-based firm Shaikh David & Co have entered into a formal association to target clients in the firms’ key sectors.

Shaikh David & Co is a partnership between partners Shaikh Abdul Saleem and James David, which offers insurance and reinsurance, banking and insolvency, shipping and offshore and general litigation legal services in Malaysia. It is based in Kuala Lumpur.

Clyde & Co has recently developed a strong relationship with Shaikh David & Co, as David was previously a lawyer at Clyde & Co in Singapore and London. He later joined DLA Piper for two years as a solicitor before launching Shaikh David Raj in 2005.

The new relationship will come into effect immediately and will see the two firms refer more work to each other from their existing international client base in the insurance, construction and infrastructure, transportation and natural resources and energy sectors.

Clyde & Co Managing Director for Asia Ik Wei Chong said: “This is a wonderful development with our former colleague James and his partner Saleem. The association will provide us with the opportunity to grow our Malaysian client base and work – and allows us to extend our global client relationships.”

David added: “Through this formal association with Clyde & Co we are focused on bringing enhanced legal support to clients in Malaysia and abroad.”

Clyde & Co’s business is split 50/50 between domestic work and international work. The firm identified Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the US and Europe as regions where it wanted to develop opportunities.

In recent years, it has formed associations with Abdulaziz Al-Bosaily Law Office in Riyadh and Khan Lex Advocates in Mongolia.

Other firms that have expanded into the Asia-Pac market include Ashurst, which sealed a formal law alliance (FLA) with Singapore firm ADTLaw in May, and Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), which became the second foreign firm after Trowers & Hamlins to launch in Malaysia in January this year.