Clyde & Co celebrates 40 years in Hong Kong

Global law firm Clyde & Co is this month celebrating 40 years since it first established an office in Hong Kong.

In February 1981, Clyde & Co opened in Hong Kong, the firm's first office outside London with a vision to provide high quality, commercial and practical advice that was relevant to clients from within and outside Hong Kong. Over four decades, the office has grown from its initial shipping and marine focus to become the leading insurance practice in Hong Kong and offer a complete legal service to local and international clients across its core sectors including aviation, marine, energy and construction.

Today, Clyde & Co is one of the longest-established international law firms in Hong Kong and it is a key regional centre for the firm with 12 partners and almost 100 employees. Many of the firm's lawyers are not only bilingual but also dual qualified, and the firm has one of the largest disputes teams in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong office now forms part of a broader and integrated APAC offering following the opening of offices in Singapore (1991) and Mainland China – with openings in Shanghai in 2006 and Beijing and Chongqing in 2013, since when the formation the Clyde & Co Westlink JLV has allowed for representation in Chinese courts and the issuance of official Chinese legal opinion. 

Simon McConnell, Managing Partner of Clyde & Co Hong Kong, comments: "We are immensely proud of the transformation we have seen at Clyde & Co Hong Kong over the past 40 years. What has set us apart of over this time is the way we work with clients in the territory and wider region – bringing our local expertise and experience together with all the benefits of a globally integrated firm. Our success here is testament to all the skill and dedication of the people who have worked here over the past 40 years, some of whom have been here since the start."

Christopher Jobson, Chairman of Clyde & Co's APAC Board, commented: "As our first office outside the UK, Hong Kong was a hugely significant opening for us, and we have since developed a strong regional presence based on the same principles that underpinned our success in Hong Kong – our relentless focus on responding to the changing needs of our clients and a clear sector focus. I’d like to thank our clients for the support they’ve shown us over our 40 years."

Matthew Kelsall, Clyde & Co CEO, adds: "This is a significant milestone for us and it underlines the enduring quality of our people and our business model in the region. Our success and growth in Hong Kong over 40 years positions us well to benefit from what remains a region full of opportunity and growing client demand."