“China is a no-brainer for us and, interestingly enough, so is Mongolia”

So sayeth Mark Green a Partner at Australian firm? Minter Ellison in an article entitled “Red dawn: The new opportunities for Australian law firms in China”


The article published in Australia’s Weekly? earlier this week? sings the praises of the China legal market and the new opportunities for Australian firms.

Read the full article at

http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/blogs/slide_show/archive/2011/04/26/red-dawn-the-new-opportunities-for-australian-law-firms-in-china.aspx

Here’s how they introduce the piece

Far from slowing down, the Chinese economy just keeps on growing. Justin Whealing looks at the new opportunities for Australian law firms in China and beyond.

Red dawn: Australian firms are seeing new opportunities on the horizon in China China is a country at the crossroads. At the same time as it is cracking down on political dissent, rounding up agitators in an attempt to prevent any type of Arab-style uprising, it continues to open up its business markets and provide limited social freedoms.


Just this month, the legendary American folk singer Bob Dylan was granted a licence to perform at a concert in China, though government authorities had to approve the set-list.

Its economy continues to grow at a rate of just under 10 per cent GDP growth per quarter, with China surpassing Japan as the world’s second largest economy in 2010. In fact, the economy is growing so fast that the Chinese authorities have raised interest rates twice this year, in a bid to encourage savings and rein in inflation.

As one of more than 150 foreign firms in China, Minter Ellison is eager to get a slice of the growing economic pie as China moves from a developing to a developed economy. Mark Green, the managing partner of Minters’ Melbourne and international offices, says the growth in China has flowed through to the bottom line of Australian firms with offices on the ground. “At least one-quarter of our revenue has international connotations,” he says. “That is a marked increase from a decade ago.”

Minters has more than 100 lawyers in its Hong Kong offices, with much smaller offices in Shanghai and Beijing – the latter office opening last year. China-related work is becoming an increasingly important part of the revenue stream for all Australian firms with offices there.

Allens Arthur Robinson was one of the first firm’s to enter China, establishing offices in Beijing and Shanghai in 1996, and Hong Kong before that in 1988. With around 20 lawyers working out of mainland China, its strength on the ground is relatively modest when compared with the firm’s overall network. But, in a similar vein to Minters, it is becoming an increasingly important part of the firm’s international reach.

“Our China-related revenue, which is a deal that has a China aspect, such as a Chinese entity investing abroad, has grown substantially,” says Paul Quinn, the executive partner of the firm’s north Asia practice.