UK firm Osborne Clarke (OC) has expanded into mainland China after adding Shanghai-based firm Zhang Yu & Partners to its international network.

This is the fourth base in Asia launched by OC in recent years. The firm set up shop in Singapore last year in association with OC Queen Street, launched in Hong Kong in 2015 in association with Koh Vass & Co, and opened in India in 2014 after forming a best friend relationship with BTG Legal.

Zhang Yu is being set up by OC’s China co-managing partners, Guohua Zhang and Steve Yu.

Yu was previously managing partner at the Shanghai office of U.S. firm Armstrong Teasdale. His practice encompasses M&A, business incorporation, international joint venture, technology licensing, franchising, business consolidation and restructuring, regulatory and compliance matters.

Zhang was most recently a consultant on secondment with Koh Vass. His practice areas include investment, cross-border M&A as well as general corporate and commercial advice in China.

Zhang Yu will initially be supported by six lawyers specialised in IT, data and employment law, and the firm will add more partners later this year. It will focus on opportunities for clients in the digital business and consumer products sectors, as well as offering cross-border advisory services for OC’s sector clients with requirements in mainland China.