Over 45 law offices opened in 2009 and already 10 international law firms have opened up shop in 2010. The following is a list of the major openings in Asia, Middle East and Australia.

2010

March

* Steptoe & Johnson LLP, a Washington-based international trade law firm, has established its first foothold in Asia with the opening of an office in Beijing.

*Lovells has expanded its presence in Asian though its associated law firm Al-Yaqoub Attorneys & Legal Advisers. AYALA has opened up a branch in Jeddah to complement its office in Riyadh. Lovells now is one of the few international law firms to have an office in both lf those two major Saudi Arabian city

* K&L Gates LLP, an established global law firm, has opened an office in Singapore its fifth office in the Asia region. With locations in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Taipei, the Singapore office will bolster its rapidly growing South East Asia presence.* Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has recently secured an exclusive agreement, effective March 11, to expand its relationship with Saudi Arabia’s Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan (LFSH).

February

* Zhongyin has opened up a branch in Fuzhou (Fuijian province) in order to better serve its Taiwanese clients with a dedicated Taiwan division.

* Allen & Overy has chosen to enter the Australian legal market. The firm will have 17 partners in offices that are located in Sydney and Perth. Offices will open on the first of March

* Malaysian based firm, Amzi & Associates, has ventured into China via a strategic alliance with Zhong Yin. The alliance is non-exclusive and is the firm’s response to the influx of Sino-Malaysian transactions.

* Allen & Overy has opened a branch in Qatar. A&O now has an office in four of the major Middle East financial centers, with established offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as an associated office in Riyadh.

January

* Latham & Watkins has opened an office in Beijing as part of its Greater China expansion plans. The new office will be its third office in China and will complement the firm’s existing Shanghai and Hong Kong offices.

* K&L Gates LLP has opened two new offices in Tokyo and Moscow, continuing last year’s international expansion in which the firm launched offices in Frankfurt, Singapore and Dubai.

*Zhong Lun has opened a branch in Hong Kong, the firm’s seventh office, and will work with local Hong Kong firm Roger Ho & Co. Roger Ho & Co will oversee Zhong Lun’s currently six lawyer Hong Kong operation.

2009

December

* Nishimura & Asahi announced plans to launch a Beijing office in May 2010, it’s first in China, and has also allied with Soga, Urya & Itoga, who already has an established presence in China.

*Korean firm Hwang Mok Park is in the beginning stages of opening an office in Shanghai, it’s first branch outside of Korea.

November

* SJ Berwin has opened a branch in Shanghai, its second office in Asia, with its other being in Hong Kong.

*Winston & Strawn has launched offices in Beijing and Shanghai, the firm’s second and third offices in China.

*Al Tamimi & Co has opened a new office in Kuwait.

October

* NEW FIRM: London Scottish Partnership was founded in China by Ian Sheridan, former general counsel of boutique investment bank Fox-Pitt Kelton.

* Slaughter and May has opened an office in Beijing, its second in China.

* Vinson & Elkin will open an office in Saudi Arabia. This is due to the stagnation of the Dubai market.

* Blake Dawson will open an office in Tokyo, which will make it the first Australian firm in Japan.

*DeHeng opened an office in Hangzhou.

September

*Kirkland & Ellis has launched a branch in Shanghai, its second office in Asia, the other being in Hong Kong.

*Freehills has found its first “best friend” in China with an alliance with TransAsia.

*Cylde & Co has opened up a second office in Dubai to house its banking and finance practices.

*Lovells has gained a Saudi presence with the alliance with Riyadh-based firm AYALA.

July

*Appleby opened an office in Bahrain instead of one in Dubai.

*AZB & Partners has bought out the domestic Indian law firm Anup S. Shah. The acquired offices are in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai.

*White & Case has opened an office in Doha, Qatar.

*Hogan & Hartson localized an office in Hong Kong.

*Baker Botts opened an office in Abu Dhabi.

June

*Allen & Overy opened an independent Singapore office. This launched as the result of the termination of its nine-year alliance with Shook Lin & Bok.

*Pinsent Masons gained access to Salans’ global offices, including those in Russia and Eastern Europe. This was the result of the formation of a strategic alliance between the firms.

*K&L Gates opened an office in Dubai.

*DLA Piper opened an office in Bahrain. DLA Piper now has offices in every Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).

*Han Kun Law Offices opened offices in Shanghai and Shenzen.

*SJ Berwin opened an office in Dubai, its first in the Middle East.

May

*Salans opened an office in Hong Kong.

*Eversheds began operating from offices in Riyadh and Jeddah. This was the result of an alliance with the Hani Al Qurashi Law firm.

April

*SJ Berwin opened an office in Hong Kong, its first in Asia.

*Al Tamimi & Company relaunched its Baghdad office. The office had relocated its work to its Qatar office in 2006 for security reasons.

*Minter Ellison acquired the Hong Kong firm Cordells.

*Dorsey & Whitney opened an office in Sydney.

March

*K&L Gates opened an office in Singapore.

*Gide Loyrette Nouel opened offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

*Jones Day opened an office in Dubai, its first in the Middle East.

*Salans opened an office in Beijing, its second in China.

*Dentons Wilde Spate has reopened its office in Singapore after having closed all its Asia branches in 2004.  The firm will partner with local firm Global Law Alliance.

*Eversheds has opened up an office in Hong Kong, its third in Asia.

February

*Grandall Legal Group opened an office in Ningbo, China.

*NEW FIRM: Agha & Shamsi, founded by former DLA Piper Global Head of Islamic Finance Oliver Agha, and Emirati attorney Dr. Al-Shamsi. The office was opened in Abu Dhabi.

*Proskauer Rose LLP opened an office in Hong Kong.

*Bird & Bird formed an alliance with Singapore firm ATMD.

*Baker & McKenzie opened an office in Abu Dhabi.

*Herbert Smith has formed a Saudi partnership with local firm GPA Attorneys at Law to satisfy local laws that call for international firms to be sponsored by a local firm.

*DLA Piper has launched a joint venture with Kuwait firm Al-Wagayan, Al-Awadhi & Al-Saif.

*Walkers opened an office in Singapore.

January

*Goodwin Proctor opened an office in Hong Kong, its first in Asia.

*DLA Piper opened an office in Muscat, Oman.

*Weil, Gotshal & Manges opened an office in Dubai, its first in the Middle East.

*Blake Dawson opened an office in Singapore.

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