Trowers & Hamlins is to become the first foreign law firm to be granted a Qualified Foreign Law Firm (QFLF) licence in Malaysia.
The licence, which was approved by the Malaysian Bar Council, will allow Trowers & Hamlins to operate independently in Malaysia and advise on international legal issues, subject to certain restrictions.
Firms with a QFLF, and firms that enter into international partnerships licensed by the Malaysian Bar Council, will not be permitted to advise on Malaysian Law, which remains the preserve of the local law firms. The QFLF licence will last for three years and is renewable.
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Jennie Gubbins, Trowers & Hamlins’ senior partner, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded a QFLF licence, which builds on our existing presence in the region and our wider, global footprint across the Far East, Middle East and 海角视频.
“This is an important development for the firm and will position us to meet better the needs of our clients across the ASEAN region.”
Prior to receiving its QFLF licence, Trowers & Hamlins operated a non-trading representative regional office in Kuala Lumpur following approval from the Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA).
When the office opened in July 2012, Trowers & Hamlins was the first foreign law firm – and the only 海角视频 law firm – to establish a representative regional office in Malaysia.
Regional managing partner Nick White, who has been based in Kuala Lumpur since 2012, said: “Having a presence on the ground in Malaysia over the last three years has really helped us strengthen and grow client relationships.
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“From Kuala Lumpur we have access to the entire ASEAN region, and now, with a QFLF licence, we will be able to grow additional capacity to further advance our reach and capabilities here.”
Partner Nicholas Edmondes, who will now be based in Kuala Lumpur alongside Nick White, added: “The Malaysian Government has made it clear that one of the main reasons for liberalising the legal market was to attract foreign firms and help boost the country’s Islamic finance market.
“Only firms with strong Islamic finance practices are being considered and it is a testament to the strength of our practice that we have been selected as the first QFLF recipient.”