PRACTICE RIGHTS: David Lammy intent on drilling into Latin America and India

Korea and Malaysia have agreed in principle to opening their legal markets to foreign practitioners, Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) minister David Lammy announced last week, after a whistle-stop tour of those countries.

Neither state currently allows foreign lawyers to have a presence.

In a briefing last week, Mr Lammy said he had a positive meeting with Korean ministers and lawyers.

He said: 'They were very receptive and understanding of the fact that they cannot attract foreign direct investment without liberalisation.'

In Malaysia, he said similar meetings revealed that the principle of liberalisation had been accepted.

'It is now a question of where we go from here,' he said.

Mr Lammy also visited the Philippines, where he said those he met were 'very receptive' because, although it is a 'fragile' economy, 'they are keen to emerge into a position of greater strength'.

Mr Lammy added: 'I hope to drill down further into the market place internationally by sharing information in particular countries as a need for legal services emerges.' He named Latin America and India as two areas of particular interest.

Law Society President Peter Williamson will follow Mr Lammy's visit when he visits India, Singapore and Malaysia next month.

He is planning to meet local lawyers and ministers in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, to help flesh out proposals on liberalisation.

The new Lord Mayor of London, Linklaters partner Robert Finch, has signalled his intention to work on opening legal markets (see [2003] Gazette, 13 November, 12).

Roger Best, a litigation partner with global giant Clifford Chance, said: 'Clifford Chance is delighted substantial progress has been made and looks forward to having the opportunity to serve clients on the ground in Seoul and Kuala Lumpur.'

Meanwhile, the Law Society is set to sign a five-year friendship agreement with the Law Society of Singapore during Mr Williamson's visit.

It provides for the exchange of information, exchange visits, joint seminars and activities aimed at developing a mutually beneficial relationship.

The Law Society signed a similar agreement with Tokyo's commercial Dai-Ichi Bar Association last month (see [2003] Gazette, 2 October, 5).

Jeremy Fleming