Making good on its continued efforts to grow its Asia-Pacific presence, EY Law recently announced an alliance with South Korean firm Apex Legal.
Based in Gangnam in central Seoul, the 55-lawyer practice has become a member of EY’s network in a bid to align the giant’s advisory and legal businesses throughout the region, and as part of a greater agenda to build a 200-strong team of lawyers spanning key commercial centres throughout Asia-Pacific.
Led by its Sydney-based head of legal services, Howard Adams, EY confirmed further plans for a legal practice to be established in Hong Kong by the end of the financial year, while talks are also due to kick off with two small firms in Malaysia. Adams said the intention was to recruit more lawyers in Australia as a result of increased workflow.
EY’s strategy for the region is to build a pan-Asian law firm with mid-tier boutique practices in all the major cities around the region. The last 18 months has been a period of rapid expansion for EY, having brought Singaporean boutique PK Wong & Associates into its global network as an independent member in October 2014, Shanghai-based Chen & Co Law Firm in January 2014 and establishing its own legal services capability in Vietnam in April 2014.
Other accountancy giants demonstrating continued interest in the region include PwC, which last summer entered into a tie-up in Singapore with local firm Camford Law Corporation.
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk