Asia told to open doors

Lawyers from Japan and China last week came under pressure to help with liberalising the regimes for foreign lawyers in their countries at the first conference of world city Bar associations.The conference, hosted by the New York City Bar, was attended by delegates from London, Paris, Madrid, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Chicago, Toronto and Montreal.City of London Law Society chairman David Wyld, a consultant at City firm Macfarlanes, said the conference had addressed some 'sensitive issues'.

He explained: 'The delegate of the Tokyo Bar had difficulty with allowing foreign firms to employ Japanese lawyers or go into partnership with them.

China is also hesitant on this point'.Other delegates from Hong Kong and Shanghai, however, were 'keenly aware' of the need for international firms if their cities are to promote themselves and compete for financial business, he said.

Mr Wyld said more debate is needed 'to clarify and advance this issue'.Otherwise, he added, there was a clear sense of how city bars have a common interest in promoting free movement of lawyers around the world.

'The example of London as an international financial and legal centre - open to all - was accepted as a paradigm of modern practice for other city bars.'The internationalisation of legal practice was strongly endorsed by all bar delegates in an agenda which included core professional values, human rights, money laundering and confidentiality, judicial independence, access to justice and multi-disciplinary partnerships.Mr Wyld was accompanied by Rae Lindsay, a partner from Clifford Chance's New York office, Fox Williams partner Stephen Sidkin and Robin Healey, a consultant with Ince & Co and the member of the Law Society's Council who leads on international issues.

It is hoped that a second conference will be hosted by the Paris Bar next year.Jeremy Fleming