Baker & McKenzie opens Yangon office
Baker & McKenzie announced yesterday that it has opened a new office in Yangon to extend its presence as the global law firm with the broadest reach across the region.
The office opening reflects the business community’s growing interest in Myanmar and the firm’s commitment to helping clients seize opportunities in new markets, the firm said in a statement. Its presence is extended in 47 countries. The firm started its Asia Pacific activities in 1963. To date, the firm has more than 1,000 lawyers in 16 offices across the region.
The Yangon office, the firm’s 75th office in the world, is designed to help companies navigate opportunities in the country with a particular focus on energy, mining and infrastructure; information technology and telecommunications, consumer goods, corporate transactions, and intellectual property.
“Clients are increasingly looking to Myanmar and Southeast Asia for growth opportunities, particularly as the Asean nations work collaboratively towards achieving the Asean Economic Community by 2015,” said Eduardo Leite, chairperson of the firm’s executive committee.
“We are delighted to extend our service with an on-the-ground presence in Myanmar and look forward to helping clients grow their businesses in Myanmar’s increasingly globally integrated economy.”
Chris Hughes, an experienced infrastructure and corporate lawyer from the firm’s Sydney office, will head the Yangon office as managing partner for Myanmar. Baker & McKenzie’s global team of 10,000 lawyers and professional staff will support the Myanmar team, which consists of qualified and experienced transactional lawyers in Yangon.
Over the past two years, the firm has been advising multinationals and Asian conglomerates on their inbound investment in the country from its Bangkok-based Myanmar Centre.
“Entering new markets, especially frontier, high-growth markets, is challenging,” said Hughes, adding that international firms are eager to invest in Myanmar thanks to his firm’s 60 year-experience in advising companies to do responsible business in emerging markets.
“We are here for the long haul and look forward to working with Myanmar institutions, officials and regulators to lend our support to the country’s transition,” said Hughes.
