JANUARY 2013

World Report - Asia & Australasia 13

dLa PIPER oPEnS KoREa oFFIcE

DLA Piper has announced that the firm's application to practice international law in the Republic of Korea had been approved by the Ministry of Justice in Korea, and the firm opened its new office in Seoul on 8 January 2013.

DLA Piper's entry into Korea is a significant step towards the firm achieving its vision of being the world's leading business law firm.

Sir Nigel Knowles, Co-CEO of DLA Piper, commented: "DLA Piper wants to act as a conduit for both our multinational clients who want to do business in

Korea and our Korean clients wanting to do business with the rest of the world. Collectively we will aim to maximise the opportunities for businesses in this diverse, dynamic and growing economic environment."

"Opening an office in Korea brings us a step closer to a full business service offering in every major economic hub across Asia Pacific. As the fourth largest economy in Asia, Korea will play a central role in DLA Piper's continued growth across Asia Pacific," said Bob Charlton, DLA Piper's Managing Director for Asia Pacific.

The Seoul office will be led by Daniel Lee as Country Managing Partner.

Daniel Lee said: "DLA Piper has a proud history of supporting Korean clients and the opening of our Seoul office strengthens this service offering. Being on the ground with our clients in Korea will strengthen business

relationships

and means we can be increasingly responsive locally while continuing to draw on the strength of our global expertise."

DLA Piper now has 4,200 lawyers located in more than 30 countries.

Edwards Wildman formally permitted to practice in Hong Kong under firm’s name

Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP has announced that the firm's associated office in Hong Kong, based on approval by the Hong Kong Law Society, has changed its name to Edwards Wildman Palmer as of January 1, 2013. Edwards Wildman

previously

established a presence in Hong Kong through its associated office, Lister Lo Lui & choy, a local Hong Kong law firm qualified to practice Hong Kong law. With the new name unification,

Edwards

Wildman Palmer LLP will continue its Hong Kong presence on a more integrated basis firm-wide.

Edwards Wildman was established in Hong Kong in 2006 to support

the

market-leading corporate and commercial insurance practice of

founding

K&L Gates and australia’s Middletons have combined

The combination of global law firm K&L Gates LLP and Australian national firm Middletons became effective on January 1 following unanimous approval from partners of both firms in early December 2012.

In addition to extending

K&L Gates’ global footprint to a fifth continent through its national coverage of Australia, the combination also positions K&L Gates as the largest U.S.-based firm in the Asia-Pacific region, bolstering the firm’s presence there to 400 lawyers across 11 offices.

The combined firm includes more than 2,000 lawyers in 46 offices across North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia, where K&L Gates maintains offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Brisbane.

partner Martin Lister, who is also a qualified English solicitor. the firm has subsequently expanded its presence in asia with the addition of talented lateral partners. John Lo and Kenneth choy, both of whom are qualified lawyers

in the US and Hong Kong, joined the firm in 2011 as corporate and intellectual property

partners,

respectively. Eugene Lai later added capital markets expertise, with a practice focusing on corporate finance, securities and energy law in Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of china. John Yiu, who joins the firm this month as a new partner, will significantly enhance Edwards Wildman’s litigation capabilities in Hong Kong and asia.

Edwards Wildman’s office in Hong Kong has market- leading capabilities and a team of lawyers with decades of international commercial experience. With its pivotal location in southern china, Edwards Wildman's Hong Kong office advises clients and takes a hands-on approach to assisting them with their expansion into the chinese and other asian markets. John Lo serves as the partner-in-charge

of

Edwards Wildman’s Hong Kong office.

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