Singapore sling for Sinclair Roche as five UK and two US firms win licences

JOINT VENTURES: Old alliances crumble as government approves international practices

Singapore firm Colin Ng & Partners has severed ties with City firm Sinclair Roche & Temperley to leave it free to join a new 'magic circle' of seven Singapore law firms linked to international practices.

The Singapore government has approved seven - instead of the expected five - joint ventures between local and foreign firms that will allow them to offer clients a 'one-stop shop' for Singaporean and international legal advice.

Five of the seven licence winners are from the UK: Linklaters & Alliance, which has linked up with Allan & Gledhill; Freshfields with Drew & Napier; Clifford Chance with the Wong partnership; Allen & Overy with Shook Link & Bok; and Lovells with Norton Rose's former allied firm Lee & Lee.

Colin Ng has decided to join forces with one of the two US firms to win a licence, White & Case.

US firm Orrick Harrington & Sutcliffe won approval for a joint venture with Helen Yeo & Partners.

A Colin Ng spokeswoman said the senior partners of both firms have resolved to end their long-standing alliance.

She said the 'mutual' decision had 'something to do with the joint law venture'.

Sinclair Roche's managing partner, Jeff Morgan, confirmed that the alliance has been terminated.

But he said his firm was not scaling down Asian operations.

'We are anticipating a profitable year ahead for the firm's Asia Pacific practice with continued expansion in both Hong Kong and Shanghai,' he said.

Colin Ng, executive vice-chairman of White & Case Colin Ng & Partners, said: 'White & Case was the logical choice.

It has over 17 years of solid on-the-ground experience in Singapore, a large team of partners who are all experienced Asia players with a deep-rooted commitment to Asia, and a broad base of blue-chip Singapore and international clients that blends with our own.'

Meanwhile, US firm Weil Gotshal & Manges has entered into a strategic alliance with Andersen Legal's Singapore firm, Rajah & Tann.

Anne Mizzi