International firm Osborne Clarke has Chinese companies in its sights after announcing that it has extended its Asian footprint into China.

The firm has admitted new Shanghai-based practice Zhang Yu & Partners to its international network.

Simon Beswick

Simon Beswick

International CEO, Osborne Clarke

Osborne Clarke international chief executive Simon Beswick said the latest office is a ‘major step’ in strengthening its international business.

He added: 'We can now fully support our clients who want to enter the second largest market in the world and, equally, we are well positioned to target local Chinese companies with our international sector expertise.'

The firm’s Asian expansion plans have included an association with OC Queen Street in Singapore last year, an association with Koh Vass & Co in Hong Kong in 2015 and a working relationship with BTG Legal in India, which began in 2014.

Zhang Yu & Partners has been set up by Guohua Zhang and Steve Yu, who have particular experience advising western and Asian corporations on complex cross-border transactions and international trade relating to China.

Yu was one of the first Chinese lawyers to advise Western clients on China’s emerging competition law regime.

Zhang Yu & Partners and Koh Vass & Co will be supported by six lawyers who trained in China, the UK and the US, specialising in IT, data and employment law. Additional partners, legal recruits and business services support are expected to join later this year.