Appleby awarded licence to practise offshore law from China

Tuesday 29 April 2014

Appleby has become the first offshore law firm licensed to provide offshore legal advice in mainland China where it has had a Shanghai base since 2012.

Gavin Ferguson managing partner of Appleby Guernsey says this development will significantly enhance the firm's ability to offer integrated services between Guernsey and the Chinese market.

He said: “For Appleby this is an exciting development which will allow us to not only grow our business, but to also enhance the first class service we offer our international clients from Guernsey and the eleven other offices from which we operate.”

Partner Malcolm Moller will lead the development of Appleby’s offering in China, supported in Shanghai by Associate Kate Li and Scott Reid, as well as the firm’s Greater China team which includes over 15 Partners and fee-earners based in Hong Kong.

Appleby Chairman Frances Woo said: “Being awarded a licence to offer clients based in China offshore legal advice from our Shanghai office is a key milestone in our strategic plan. China is of course a thriving market and one that we understand deeply since we have been advising clients on their Chinese inbound and outbound transactions from Hong Kong for almost 25 years. Being able to practise from within China will catapult our strategy for Asia and China forward, and we are very excited about this prospect.”