The move will take the firm to Chongqing, a city whose population is put at 29 million if the whole municipality is included - or 7 million if only the urbanised area is taken into account. The city is a significant power base, and was the domain of Bo Xilai, who has been sentenced for corruption charges after his wife was found guilty of poisoning Briton Neil Heywood.

Plans for growth

The Clyde presence will be orchestrated through a joint venture with local firm West Link Partnership, a sole trading firm run by Chen Yixin. At the start, Clyde will service the firm by trips from two partners in Shanghai. But it plans to staff the office soon, and aims to have about three partners and 10 associates there within 'one or two years'. All the advice on Chinese matters will be given by West Link as foreign lawyers are not allowed to advise on Chinese law. The firm will be called Clyde & Co West Link. 

Boutique

Shanghai corporate law partner Michael Cripps, one of the two who will make trips to the new outlet,  said that the firm saw the move as a  boutique offering for both dispute resolution and corporate work  in the insurance, transport, energy, trade and commodities and infrastructure and real estate sectors.