Singapore ideal location for law firms says U.S firm.

US law firm Jones Day Reavis & Pogue has opened an office in Singapore, its 26th worldwide and 14th outside the US.

Singapore has always been an important financial centre in south-east Asia, and many companies are now establishing headquarters or significant operations there, said Jones Days managing partner, Patrick McCartan.

David Clossey, the partner in charge of the international practice added: Singapore's steady growth, coupled with its favourable economic policies and the strength of its financial, banking, and other sectors, makes it an ideal location for an international law firm.

The office will initially be composed of 12 lawyers, approximately half of whom will be transferring from other Jones Day offices in the US and Europe.

It will focus on project finance, mergers and acquisitions and other direct investment transactions, banking and finance, securities and dispute resolution.

The firm said a principal focus will be the IT sector.

Dozens of foreign firms are already in Singapore.

Last year, UK firms dominated the first wave of link-ups permitted between Singapore firms and foreign firms.

Neil Rose