Singapore firm Dacheng Central Chambers (DCC) and Indian firm Vaish Associates Advocates (VAA) have entered into a best friends agreement designed to offer their clients greater access to China-India trade opportunities.

DCC managing partner Aloysius Wee said the arrangement is evidence of the growth potential in the niche area of India-China trade and business. The alliance with VCC seems to have supplied the vital missing piece of the DCC puzzle. Earlier this year, Central Chambers announced that it was entering into a joint venture with China’s largest law firm, Dacheng, to target this niche in addition to other growth opportunities for both Chinese and Indian clients in Southeast Asia.

Outside of its relationship with Central Chambers and Vaish, Dacheng has been actively furthering its global presence. Earlier this month the firm assumed membership of the World Services Group (WSG), a global association of professional service firms, in addition to entering into a cooperation agreement with Israeli firm Shibolet & Co in a move to provide the two firms’ clients with the shibboleth for China-Israel investment.

The DCC-VAA entente is the fifth such agreement between an international firm and a domestic Indian law firm, but the first by a law firm based outside either the US or the UK. Clifford Chance (AZB & Partners); Allen & Overy (Trilegal); Linklaters (Talwar, Thakore & Associates); Clyde & Co (ALMT); Jones Day (P&A Law Offices) are all in confirmed best-friends relationships, while Freshfields is rumoured to be close to an agreement with Platinum Partners, according to sources close to ALB. 

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• Dacheng admitted to WSG
• Firms form first China-Singapore JV to target India
• Dacheng breaks into US market