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Stibbe, a leading law firm in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (the Benelux), announced today (November 7) that its first Asian office opened in Hong Kong, to expand its client base in the region.
Stibbe has a dedicated China Practice team in the Benelux that has been serving its Chinese clients in Europe for several years. The opening of the Hong Kong office is to establish a local footprint in the world's fastest-growing region in order to be present for existing Asian clients and to develop business for the European offices.
Registered Foreign Lawyer with Stibbe, Mr Jan Bogaert, said, "Hong Kong is strategically located at the heart of Asia and is the gateway to the Mainland. It provides the best location for us to enrich our clients from China and other countries in the region. That's the main reason why we chose Hong Kong to set up our first office in Asia.
"Our aim is not only to help domestic clients when they encounter legal issues in the region but also to deepen our relations with our peers in Hong Kong and Mainland China, to raise brand awareness, and to attract Chinese companies to invest in the Benelux," he added.
Stibbe's Hong Kong office offers Belgian and Dutch law capabilities and advises on all matters relating to Dutch, Belgian and Luxembourg law in co-operation with the head offices in Europe. The focus in Hong Kong will be on corporate and tax advisory work in the context of outbound mergers and acquisitions transactions.
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Andrew Davis, welcomed Stibbe setting up its first Asian office in Hong Kong and said, "Hong Kong offers easy access, both commercially and geographically, to Mainland China business opportunities, alongside many of the region's most exciting business markets. It provides huge business opportunities to overseas companies to expand their reach in the region."
About Stibbe
Stibbe is a leading and internationally-oriented commercial law firm in the Benelux with main offices in Amsterdam, Brussels and Luxembourg, and branch offices in New York, Dubai, London and now Hong Kong. With over 360 lawyers, the firm advises both local entrepreneurs and large multinationals in a variety of sectors and government institutions on complex legal issues. For more information, please visit www.stibbe.com.
About Invest Hong Kong
Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government established in July 2000 to take responsibility for Foreign Direct Investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services to help businesses succeed in Hong Kong's vibrant economy. As at June 2012, Invest Hong Kong had completed over 2,600 investment projects, creating more than 30,000 new jobs in the first year of operation or expansion and HK$67 billion of investment. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
For event photos, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/sets/72157631949017524/.
Ends/Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Issued at HKT 12:15
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