The office will be led by partner Wai Yue Loh who moves from Ince’s Shangai outpost where he has been based for the last two years.
Mr Wai Yue commented: ‘A base in the business and political heart of the PRC not only provides proximity to our clients’ operations in Beijing and in northern ports such as Tianjin, Dalian and Qingdao, but also assists us in maintaining close relationships with government authorities.’
Ince & Co’s senior partner James Wilson added: ‘With many of our lawyers visiting Beijing regularly to work with our clients, I am delighted that we have now opened a permanent office in this major city. This new office boosts our ability to service our international clients’ needs in China and further develops our strong regional capability.’
Neither of Ince’s leading London maritime competitors – Clyde & Co and Watson Farley & Williams – have offices in the Chinese capital, although firms such as Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer,  Allen & Overy, Herbert Smith and Norton Rose are on the ground.