Partner Article

Hill Dickinson gets go-ahead to launch in Hong Kong

North West legal firm Hill Dickinson has obtained approval to launch an office in Hong Kong and enter into an association with a local firm.

Managing partner Peter Jackson confirmed that the firm has now received the regulatory approval from the Law Society of Hong Kong for the planned launch.

Initially, the firm will move a shipping partner from London to lead the expansion, similar to the firm’s approach in Singapore, where it opened in 2009.

The firm’s Hong Kong office will operate in association with a firm based on the island. The identity of the Hong Kong partner is currently under wraps, pending completion of commercial negotiations.

Said Peter Jackson: “We’ve done our due diligence on the market. The results suggest that there is still room for one more international shipping law firm, despite the fact that there are already several established players.”

Hill Dickinson recently issued a £2.8m cash call to its partners to boost its balance sheet after a year of heavy investment, including the Hong Kong launch. Last week, the firm confirmed it had sold its Chester office to Knights solicitors, part of a restructuring process which has seen 14 partners and 69 staff made redundant.

As well as Liverpool and Singapore, the firm also has bases in Manchester, London, Sheffield, Greece and Monaco.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .