4.
5.
The Committee
considers that a registered foreign law
firm should only exceptionally be permitted to form an with more than one local law firm. (minutes
association
21.10.91)
All
associations between a local firm and one or more
would have to be
Associations with
which did not involve
Kong of partners and
registered foreign law firms
registered under the Scheme.
unregistered foreign law firms the physical presence in Hong employees of the associated foreign law firm(s) practising law in Hong Kong in that capacity (i.e. as the foreign law firm rather than
partners/employees
as
of
employees of the local firm) would not require registration because such associations would not involve the foreign law firm carrying on a law practice in Hong Kong.
one
If an association was proposed between a local firm and or more unregistered foreign law firms which involved partners and/or employees of the foreign law firm practising law in Hong Kong in that capacity, the association would not be permitted unless the foreign law firm(s) registered under Part D above and the association itself was registered.
Once an association was registered, the firms who are members of the association would be able to:-
1
1
share fees;
share premises;
share
administrative, management and general legal
support and research services; and
make use of the services of the same personnel.
18