To be known as Stephenson Harwood – Wei Tu (China) Association, the new arrangement will allow the two firms to offer clients seamless legal advice in Hong Kong, English and PRC jurisdictions, with PRC legal advice to remain strictly the domain of Wei Tu. Stephenson Harwood’s alliance with Wei Tu began in December 2014 following the closure of its own office in Guangzhou.
Stephenson Harwood is the latest in a string of UK firms to take advantage of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) by formalising their relationships with a PRC-based firms as an association, as is permitted under the terms of the free trade agreement. Bird & Bird’s Hong Kong office entered into an association with Beijing-based practice Xiang Kun in 2009, while Clyde & Co followed suit in 2013 by forming an association with Chongqing-based firm West Link. Linklaters and DLA Piper are reportedly also scoping the field for potential link-ups with local PRC firms in order to offer more integrated PRC legal advice.
Source: The Lawyer
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