Beijing-based Han Kun Law Offices has confirmed with ALB that it has selected Miao & Co as its new Hong Kong partner firm, replacing intellectual property specialist Choy, Cheung & Co, which was dissolved earlier in January. 

Hun Kun’s new allied partner is headed by Felix Miao, who previously worked for Morrison & Foerster as an associate for three years. 

Under Hong Kong law, foreign firms are required to enter associations with local firms for three years before offering local law services on their own. Forming an alliance with local firm is always the first step that a firm based in mainland China takes to expand beyond its home market. 

Han Kun established its Hong Kong office in November 2014 by forming alliance with Choy, Cheung & Co, which was headed by two former Edwards Wildman Palmer lawyers, Kenneth Choy and Cermain Cheung. After their firm’s dissolution, Choy joined Nixon Peabody CWL as a consultant last December, while Cheung became a consultant at Tsang, Chang & Wong in February. 

Han Kun currently has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong with around 30 partners and more than 150 lawyers.