New horizons

China tells the world it will soon be a net supplier of capital − outbound investment is set to overtake foreign direct investment. And it’s only the very latest sign the country leads a historic trading shift.

‘Western’ law firms hear this news with hunger. China is arguably the lynchpin in a region gradually opening itself more and more to foreign involvement in local high-growth economies. A few are even tying up with expansion-minded counterparts there. And meanwhile Australia is also being used as a launchpad by many. Major mergers into the nation that pipped the UK at liberalising legal were all the rage a few years back − and we seem to be seeing another sudden spurt.

AUSSIE RULES

Slater and Gordon was the first law firm in the world to go public. UK CEO Cath Evans tells Briefing what’s in store now the Australian giant has seized on the similar opportunities available in the other hemisphere

EMERGING FUTURES

Law firm interest in the maturing markets of south-east Asia is intensifying, but as barriers come down there are many ways of making your mark across borders. Richard Brent asks how well the East is fulfilling its growth promise

EASTWARD ADVANCE

Law firms can’t just pile into AsiaPac pell-mell. RPC’s Kate Gregg says each development must have its own strategic rationale underpinned by the right IT to release the synergies