Press Release

Deacons, the Hong Kong law firm, is the first firm to achieve the historic milestone of a third foreign law firm licence in the People's Republic of China. At a ceremony to mark the occasion at the Ministry of Justice on Tuesday, 30 August, Franki Cheung, Head of Deacons' China practice group, proudly accepted the third licence for a Shanghai office from a senior official of the Ministry.

First established in 1999, Deacons' Shanghai office had been a representative office of the Australian firm, but that office effectively closed as of Tuesday, 30 August, to be replaced by a new office licence with the same partner, Elizabeth Cole, and staff under the Hong Kong firm's management.

Deacons, which was established in Hong Kong in 1851, was awarded its first foreign law firm licence in mainland China in 1994 when it opened its office in Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong province. It was one of the five Hong Kong law firms in the first batch to receive its second licence in 2002 for its Beijing office following China's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Hong Kong Managing Partner, Lindsay Esler, said "This is a very important achievement for the Hong Kong firm. It not only reflects the Ministry of Justice's faith in Deacons but it gives us, for the time being, a unique competitive advantage in the PRC market as the only firm to be granted 3 foreign law firm licences among the 201 licences already granted. Our coverage of the mainland market is the broadest of any foreign law firm."

For further comment or information please contact:
Lindsay Esler, Managing Partner
Deacons, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2825 9520
Email: [email protected]

Phillip McDonald, Head of Business Development
Deacons, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2825 9776
Email: [email protected]

Notes for Editors:
Deacons is a leading business law firm with a network of affiliated firms comprising over 900 legal professionals across Asia Pacific Region. With over 150 years of experience in providing legal services and a group of young and energetic partners, Deacons’ clients are assured of the integrity and stability of one of the region’s oldest and most respected law firms.

Through its international network, Deacons is the only foreign law firm to have received official approval to establish three representative offices in China. The offices in Beijing and Guangzhou are operated under the licence of Deacons Hong Kong and the office in Shanghai under the licence of Deacons Australia. Thanks to this network, Deacons can offer advice that is localised, up-to-date and time-efficient.

Deacons has been ranked as a Global 50 Firm for the past two years by the PLC Which Lawyer? (formerly known as Global Counsel 3000) (2003/2004 and 2004/2005 editions).