The office will be the firm’s fourteenth across 12 countries and reflects Myanmar’s status as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economies and its changing political situation. The country’s first democratic elections in 25 years took place earlier this month and the Asian Development Bank reports Myanmar is targeting a 2016 GDP growth of 8.2 per cent, driven by foreign investment and rapid expansion in its telecoms sector.

Growing legal market

Bob Charlton, head of Asia at BLP, said: ‘The legal market is in growth mode in Myanmar and this provides great opportunities for BLP in a country which is now opening up to increased international investment into infrastructure, real estate, telecommunications and transport.’

Asia Network

BLP had already made an entry into Myanmar, with the announcement in March 2014 that local law firm Legal Network Consultants (LNC) had become the Myanmar member of its Asia Network. BLP reports that LNC will remain a member of its network and that the existing relationship will continue. Sources: Asian Development Bank; Berwin Leighton Paisner