Kuala Lumpur-based Azmi & Associates is planning to expand to neighbouring countries and has recruited the head of Raslan Loong’s intellectual property and technology practice as a partner.
The fast growing Malaysian firm – one of ALB's Fast 30 Firms 2008 – has appointed Jeffrey Tan as its ninth partner to lead its technology practice. Managing partner Azmi said that the firm needed to bolster its numbers before embarking on its plans for regional growth. “As a firm that desires to be a top-tier firm in the Malaysian market and with regional presence in the near future, we need to expand our partnership base,” said Azmi. “Jeffrey’s arrival complements this strategy, not to mention the special expertise brought by him which will strengthen the firm’s practice in the information and communications technology, intellectual property, and biotechnology areas.”
Tan said he was attracted to the firm because of its rapid growth over the year and its plans for further expansion. “I believe this firm is very progressive, there are plans to expand in the Asia Pacific region and that’s what I like about it,” said Tan. “The immediate plan is to set up representative offices in neighbouring countries, so that clients know we are there to serve them. The idea is to increase cross-border work, because we see a lot of foreign investment coming into Malaysia ever since the government’s recent measures to liberalise the banking financial sectors and remove restrictions on shareholding requirements.”
Tan added that there were good prospects for growth in the amount of work in his practice area particularly in Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia. “In Malaysia, the government has increased its investments and budget for areas such as biotechnology. I would expect there would be a strong growth in these areas despite the current economic climate,” said Tan.
This latest hire by Azmi & Associates follows last month's appointment of US lawyer Michael Doyle as an external consultant to launch their new international practice.
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