Magic circle firms join the queue for a joint venture licence in Singapore The Singapore government has put back the deadline for bids for the five joint ventures that will allow international law firms to form close links with local practices.Magic circle firms Linklaters & Alliance, Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance and Freshfields are understood to be among those vying for the licences, which have been limited to five.The deadline for bids has been changed from 15 June to 15 July.

The Attorney-General of Singapore was expected to announce his decision on 1 August, but the firms have now been plunged into uncertainty as to when they will hear the outcome.Freshfields chief executive Alan Peck confirmed that his firm is talking to local firm Drew & Napier, and that if the talks go well, the firms are likely to apply for a joint venture licence.

An Allen & Overy spokesman said the firm plans to submit an application for a joint law venture with Shook Lin & Bok.Linklaters' Asian managing partner, Andrew Roberts declined to comment on whether Linklaters is planning to link with Allen & Gledhill.

However, he said that his firm is committed to further investment in the south-east Asia region: 'We have more than 180 lawyers, including 32 partners, in our five offices in the area.

We plan to substantially increase this presence in the next few years.' Clifford Chance refused to comment on speculation that it is planning to link up with the Wong Partnership.

After pressure from the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Singapore government recently liberalised its protectionist regime after WTO pressure to allow foreign businesses to operate.Under plans for the legal sector, Singapore is to allow two vehicles co-operation between local and foreign law firms: joint ventures and formal alliances.

The number of joint ventures - which will be closer arrangements than formal alliances - has been limited initially to see how they work, while formal alliances will be more limited in the scope of advice they can provide.Singapore is one of the two main financial centres of south-east Asia, along with Hong Kong.

In the past, international law firms have used offices in the two countries to cover the geographic area spanning China and Indonesia.

Since Hong Kong's re-absorption into China, Singapore has become more important.Anne Mizzi