To tap a wider pool of clients in South East Asia, Singapore law firm KhattarWong and Malaysia firm KK Chong and Co have signed an alliance that will see resources and networks shared across the Johor Baru causeway.

“The move will place KhattarWong in a better position to serve its growing clientele in Malaysia while KK Chong & Co will tap into KhattarWong’s expertise, resources and network to develop into a first-tier law firm with branches in Johor and Penang,” said KhattarWong’s managing partner Tan Chong Huat.

Such an alliance will serve both firms well. KhattarWong wil hope to capture part of a Malaysian market that has tended to exclude foreign law firms and KK Chong & Co will hope to develop a more international practice.

KhattarWong has regional practice groups which work closely with law firms and clients in countries such as China, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Middle East, Japan, Brunei and Indonesia. It has 150 lawyers and its areas of practice include banking, finance & property, corporate & securities laws, litigation, tax, intellectual property & technology, shipping, construction and criminal law.

The Singapore and Malaysia legal services market seem to be moving rapidly closer. Allen & Gledhill announced a major alliance agreement with Zaid Ibrahim & Co in October last year, while  Alban Tay Mahtani & de Silva (ATMD) continue to draw from its 2005 arrangement with Tay & Partners through their joint venture AxcelAsia Group.