When ALB recently asked Bird & Bird China managing partner Matthew Laight about whether the new "global association agreement" with Singapore's ATMD was the first step towards a full merger, he enigmatically replied that the firms "saw a long term future together."

Now comes further indication that a merger is on the horizon with Bird & Bird CEO David Kerr being quoted as saying that the firm would "definitely" be interested in a merger "when the regulatory environment allows" it.  Kerr went on to say that the Singapore practice would remain separate for the moment given the current regulatory hurdles.

However, Kerr denied that Bird & Bird had applied for - and, by logical extension, failed to attain - a Singaporean local law licence.  The recent chronology of events also seems to bear this out, as the alliance was announced prior to the revelation of the license winners.