Scottish Legal Jobs

Marks & Clerk, the UK's largest firm of patent and trademark attorneys, opened a new representative office in Shanghai last week, and international law firm Pinsent Masons has dispatched Vincent Connor, head of Pinsent Masons in Scotland, to Hong Kong in response to an upsurge in business in its operations in Asia-Pacific.

Glasgow-based Marks & Clerk's Shanghai office is its first in mainland China, although it has had an office in Hong Kong for over 20 years.

Chinese law requires all firms to appoint a registered Chinese attorney to register intellectual property and undertake litigation and enforcement proceedings, which precludes Marks & Clerk from acting as a patent and trademark attorney there.

However, the representative office will allow the firm to establish closer links with the Chinese firms it deals with on behalf of clients, and also help Chinese companies seeking to expand abroad.

The new office follows Marks & Clerk's "Focus on China" report on the progress of China's rapidly developing economy and the opportunities currently being missed by western firms.

By looking at patent trends across the pharmaceuticals, automotives and telecoms industries the report provided a snapshot of China's development and an indicator of who is best placed to benefit from growth in these industries. The report also identified a need forChina to better protect its IP abroad.

As well as establishing the new office, Marks & Clerk aims to further strengthen its position in China by expanding its training and intern programmes for Chinese professional staff. The programme will allow Chinese trainees to spend more time in the UK as part of the firm's training package.

Bob Naismith, regional managing partner at Marks & Clerk in Scotland, said: "The Shanghai office helps us add to our local knowledge and resources in China, to support clients operating in the region and to open up greater dialogue with local advisers.

"For Scottish clients looking to tap into this potentially vast market, we can now offer a unique service, helping them to protect their IP and exploit its value in a difficult commercial landscape. We also want to provide a useful 'on the ground' contact point for Chinese clients protecting their own intellectual property in the rest of the world."

Simon Speeks, the firm's chief resident officer in Shanghai, said: "The Shanghai office puts us in close proximity to a great many of our clients and associates. The city also offers us an established professional community, convenient transport links and excellent telecommunications facilities."

Pinsent Masons already has an established presence in Shanghai, and it opened a new office in Beijing as recently as last month.

The decision to send Vincent Connor is a result of the rapid expansion in the region of strong client demand in its core sectors of construction, technology, projects, corporate and project finance.

Pinsent Masons' managing partner, David Ryan, said: "Connor has considerable experience in construction, advising on a number of high-profile cases and will bring an extra dimension to an already strong AsiaPacific team, which now numbers over 40 lawyers, including 12 partners."

In Scotland, Connorwill be succeeded by Fraser McMillan, who will be the head of Pinsent Masons' operation in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Currently head of the firm's toprated Scottish Construction team, Fraser, together with Connor, Alastair Morrison and Ian Laing, was a founder member of the firm's Scottish practice in 1998.

The firm's Scottish operation, whose clients include BBC Scotland and ScottishPower plc, currently comprises 75 lawyers, including 13 partners.

Revenues in Scotland saw a 44-per cent uplift during the last financial year and the firm is on course for a further increase of over 20-per cent next year.

Last week, the firm concluded missives for its expansion into a further 7000 sq ft of Category A accommodation at 123 St Vincent Street in Glasgow.

Connor said: "This is a key role in the firm's ongoing international expansion. Whilst I shall be sad to leave Scotland, I am confident that Fraserwill take Pinsent Masons in Scotland from strength to strength."

McMillan said: "The prospects for future expansion (in Scotland)are very exciting and it's a privilege to be asked to lead our team in the next stage of our development."