Italian giant Chiomenti Studio Legale is reportedly only a few months away from gaining a licence to operate in Shanghai. It will be the firm's second mainland venture, having secured a PRC licence in Beijing in 2007.

PRC regulations stipulate that foreign firms need to have operated in China for at least three years before opening an additional office. Chiomenti is expected to be eligible for a licence by virtue of its strategic merger with Sino-Italian firm Birindelli & Associati last May.

"As a consequence of the merger with Birindelli & Associati last year, we filed an application with the Bureau of Justice in Shanghai and the Ministry of Justice in order to obtain the change in the name of the Birindelli Representative office in Shanghai into Chiomenti Studio Legale," said Luigi Bendi, Chiomenti partner who is in charge of the firm's Asia team. "At the same time, we are proceeding with the liquidation of the existing Birindelli office in Beijing."

The merger has given Chiomenti access to six new Asia markets. Birindelli was the first Italian firm to launch in China and had also established operations in Beijing, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Pyongyang, Shanghai and Singapore.

Two other Italian firms also operate in mainland China, Picozzi & Morigi in Shanghai and Lega Colucci E Associati in Beijing.