London firm Mishcon de Reya has expanded its presence in Asia once again through a tie-up with Hong Kong-based firm Karas.

The move underscores Mischcon's ongoing growth push in the region after the firm opened in Singapore last year as part of its long-term strategy. It also continues a run of high-profile strategic moves in the run up to its planned flotation on the London Stock Exchange that include last week's tie up with Cambridge firm Taylor Vinters and the launch of a litigation funding arm.

The new association will house a disputes and investigations practice focusing on high value, complex issues and will also build a private wealth practice using capabilities from Mishcon’s core private client offering. It will be led by Karas managing partner Jason Karas, with the firm’s 23-strong team of legal professionals all included in the association.  

Mishcon de Reya's executive chairperson, Kevin Gold, said the firms’ “shared values and ambitions for growth in Asia as well as the synergy with our existing dispute resolution, investigations and insolvency practices in London and Singapore makes for an exciting partnership”. He added that the association deepens Mishcon’s commitment to Asia and its clients in the region in line with its long-term plans for growth.

Kamal Rahman will act as Mishcon's local representative in Hong Kong, beginning in November. A senior partner in the firm's London office specialising in migration, immigration and private wealth, she will continue her work with the London office and her clients.

The Hong Kong association will represent corporate, regulatory, government and private clients. Its disputes practice will advise on matters including those arising from corporate collapses, audit and other professional negligence, shareholder disputes and commercial fraud.

Karas has acted in many of the major corporate collapses and disputes across Asia over the last decade. His practice covers professional negligence in financial and commercial matters, company law and cross-border insolvency throughout the region and internationally. He said the association would create a “significantly enhanced platform on the ground in North and South Asia and excellent capability and resources in London, three of the major global dispute resolution hubs".

"Beyond our mutual focus on complex disputes, on dispute financing and the international scope of our business and our clients, the like-minded culture and shared values between Karas and Mishcon de Reya gives us great confidence that we will bring to fruition our ambitious growth strategy and East meets West vision," he added. 

Last week, Mischcon announced it was combining with Cambridge tech-focused firm Taylor Vinters in a bid to extend its reach into 'the innovation economy'. The arrangement adds 30 partners and 123 lawyers to Mischon's UK network. 

The firm also confirmed plans to go public earlier this month after proposals to go ahead with a listing on the London Stock Exchange were approved by at least three quarters of the partnership, in a deal that could value the firm at £750m. And in the same week, it unveiled its MDR Solutions I litigation fund created in partnership with Harbour Litigation Funding, which will see the parties allocate £150m to finance potential claims.