 With effect from April 4 2015, Trowers & Hamlins became the first foreign law firm to be granted a qualified foreign law firm licence in Malaysia. This means the firm now has the right to advise from its Kuala Lumpur office, and as a qualified foreign law firm (QFLF) it does not have a formal need for a local associate firm. Advice will cover international and cross border legal issues, as it remains that foreign law firms cannot advise on Malaysian law, Prior to achieving QFLF status, the firm launched a representative office in Kuala Lumpur in 2012, with Nick White relocating there from the firm’s Dubai office, having previously also worked for Trowers in London, Oman and Bahrain. When the firm initially moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian law stipulated that foreign firms could not provide legal services directly. However, recent amendments to the legal professions act by the Malaysian government have brought about the opportunity to be a QFLF in Malaysia, as well as the alternative option of the international partnership joint venture route. QFLF applicants have to hit certain benchmarks, such as expertise in Islamic finance. Speaking exclusively to the In-House Community, partner White said “The firm is looking forward to an immediate boost to the on-the-ground team in Kuala Lumpur in the shape of Nick Edmondes, who will now become formally resident in Malaysia, and we also look forward to adding a Malaysian national lawyer to the team”. White went on to say “With regard to existing clients and further development, Trowers will look forward to the additional leverage that being licensed will give them”, adding that Edmondes “has a significant background in terms of acting for Malaysian clients as well as Islamic finance expertise”. This coming June, White will be a speaker during the plenary of the In-House Community’s annual Kuala Lumpur event, and stated that he is very much looking forward to participating once again. This, along with the forthcoming ASEAN integration, will surely give plenty of inspiration as for panel topics. |
