Appleby first to offer offshore legal advice in China

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.

To date, Appleby has been delivering fiduciary services only from Shanghai. The formal announcement of a legal practice certificate opens up the opportunity in China for Appleby significantly.

Appleby chairman, Frances Woo, said in a release: “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.”

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