Linklaters and Clifford Chance get China approvals

Linklaters & Alliance and Clifford Chance has become the first major UK law firms to receive approvals to have two offices in their own name in China. Clifford Chance was notified on Monday this week while Linklaters was notified on Wednesday evening. The move is significant as it heralds a major shift in the Chinese authorities' approach to allowing foreign law firms to operate on the Mainland.