U.S.-headquartered law firm Duane Morris will open an office in Shanghai, its third international outpost since early 2013, pending approval from China’s Ministry of Justice.

The office will be opened through Duane Morris & Selvam LLP, its joint law venture in Asia. The firm opened its first office in the Middle East through a joint venture in Oman with the Dr. Said Al Mashaikhi Law Firm, a multi-practice law firm in Muscat, last March, and in September, it established the first presence in Myanmar of any U.S.-based firm.

The Shanghai office will be led by Leon Yee, managing director of Duane Morris & Selvam, who will be assisted by Chong Eng Wee, an associate director in Singapore. The five-lawyer office will facilitate outbound investment for Chinese corporate, support foreign aspects relating to inbound investment and work with local law firms on domestic aspects. Coverage will include advising on foreign direct investment, mergers and acquisitions, market entry, outbound investing, taxation, licensing and joint ventures, intellectual property matters, reporting requirements and regulatory issues.

“Our launch in China builds upon the firm’s substantial growth and successes in Asia during the past several years, as well as our extensive experience handling China-focused matters for numerous multinational companies,” said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO John Soroko in a statement. “Shanghai represents the natural next step in our long-term strategy for the region. It is our intent to be a key facilitator of Chinese companies seeking to invest abroad.”

The firm formed the JLV Duane Morris & Selvam LLP in Singapore in 2011, prior to which it opened offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.