Osborne Clarke has expanded its south-east Asia presence through an association with a new Singaporean firm, OC Queen Street.The initial launch of the formal association will see a focus on clients in the digital and fintech sectors.
OC Queen Street’s first partner, Chia Ling Koh, will focus on IT, data and IP. Koh joins from Bird & Bird ATMD in Singapore, where he spent more than 10 years as a partner. Koh will work alongside a team of specialists in data and IT and is going to be joined later in the year by further partners and support staff.
Osborne Clarke international chief executive Simon Beswick said Singapore was ‘an important gateway for Asia and a powerhouse in its own right’.
He added: ‘The association with OC Queen Street presents an exciting opportunity for us to support existing clients and their regional headquarters in Singapore, to win new sector clients and to assist Asian clients with their US and European legal needs.’
The launch in Singapore continues Osborne Clarke’s ongoing strategy of regular expansion in Asia. In 2014 the firm formed a formal best-friend relationship with Indian firm BTG Legal, a firm founded by Osborne Clarke’s India group head Prashant Mara.
Osborne Clarke also formed an association with Hong Kong firm Koh Vass, announced in September 2015. The association means that after three years Osborne Clarke can apply for permission to fully merge with the Hong Kong firm.
Last month another technology focused firm, Taylor Wessing, announced it was opening in Hong Kong through a formal association with HM Chan & Co, citing opportunities to increase the firm’s international sector strength in technology, media and communications, life sciences, private wealth and energy.
OC has enjoyed several years of rapid international growth, reflected by marked increases in turnover. This year the firm reported a 23% increase in global revenues, with income for 2015/16 up to €236.3m, and UK income up 17% to £96.5m.
matthew.field@legalease.co.uk