The alliance has been approved by Singapore's Attorney General, Mr V K Rajah, SC, and is effective immediately.

Growing in Southeast Asia

‘We aim to be the leading law firm in Asia Pacific, and growing our Southeast Asian practice is a central part of that plan," said Sonya Leydecker, CEO of Herbert Smith Freehills. ‘Singapore is the heart of this region, so broadening our services here through the FLA was a logical and important first step in our strategy.’

Greater flexibility

The Formal Law Alliance (FLA) structure was introduced by Singapore’s government in 2012 to give Singapore law practices greater flexibility to develop their capabilities and collaborate with foreign law practices to enhance their competitiveness. It allows integrated marketing, billing, client service and legal service, although each firm remains independent.