After months of negotiations, two new international firms have officially opened their doors for business in Australia. DLA Piper and Clifford Chance both formally commenced operations on 1 May.

"We believe this is a significant day for the Australian legal market,” said DLA Piper Australia managing partner Tony Holland. "Integration has already enhanced our ability to compete for work in the region. Our new positioning in the market has been welcomed by our clients and is attractive to prospective clients, as demonstrated by our recent appointment to the panel of a major international investment bank,” he added.

DLA Piper's managing director for Asia Pacific, Alastair Da Costa, said clients were increasingly seeking seamless international services. “We have seen increased demand across the region for cross-border projects, deals, corporate expansions and complex legal transactions,” he said.

Mark Pistilli, the new Sydney managing partner for Clifford Chance, said the firm’s first priority had been the integration of the two offices in Sydney and Perth and then the integration with offices across Asia.  “We are working through building out the firm and continuing to look for good associates and senior lawyers, as well as adding to the partnership,” said Pistilli.  The firm has already made six new appointments at the senior associate level across practice areas such as complex litigation, corporate M&A and advisory.

According to Pistilli the Australian offices have received significant interest from overseas Clifford Chance offices, keen to utilise the new resources in the region. “Those offices have had a lot of interest from clients in doing work in the region, now that there is an Australian office to service them,” he said. Clifford Chance Australia has also been working on introducing local clients to the network of offices across the globe, added Pistilli.

Related stories:

ANALYSIS: Who's afraid of Clifford Chance? 21 February 2011

Clifford Chance makes its move on Australia 17 February 2011