Australian law firm Raj Lawyers, which has offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, is set to establish its presence in Shanghai.

Managing partner Niren Raj said the firm already has a number of clients in the city and would be looking to conduct mostly property and large transactional work there.

“We have a number of relationships that we would like to pursue in Hong Kong or Shanghai,” Raj said.

“We have chosen Shanghai because that’s where the most burgeoning opportunity is.”

However, recent reports in Lawyers Weekly, including an interview with Deacons partner Ian McCubbin, who has vast experience in China, have indicated that it is not all smooth sailing for Australian firms setting up offices in Asia. McCubbin said “mid-tier Australian firms” considering such a move “would have to think very hard”.

“Even some that have been there for a while might have trouble making a profit,” he said.

See new ‘The Asian Lawyer’ section this issue