Linklaters is to open a office in China staffed with 19 lawyers from its existing Chinese office in a long - awaited move by the firm . Now Subscribe Today Technically The an independent practice in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone ( FTZ ) the new office will operate alongside Linklaters on a " best friends " basis and the agreement between the two is expected to be finalised in two to three months . Chinese - state foreign law firms can only open representative offices in China and are restricted from offering Chinese legal services , however , the 2013 Shanghai visa scheme allows this .
Linklaters is to open a office in China staffed with 19 lawyers from its existing Chinese office in a long - awaited move by the firm . Technically The an independent practice in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone ( FTZ ) the new office will operate alongside Linklaters on a " best friends " basis and the agreement between the two is expected to be finalised in two to three months . Chinese - state foreign law firms can only open representative offices in China and are restricted from offering Chinese legal services , however , the 2013 Shanghai visa scheme allows this .