White & Case has broken off its alliance with local Singapore firm Venture Law, after obtaining its licence to practice local law.

Despite initially stating the alliance would remain after receiving the QFLP (Qualifying Foreign Law Practice) granted last December, the firm has shifted its stance but said that its overall strategy in Singapore would be unchanged.

White & Case, unlike some of its fellow QFLP licensees, had formally registered its now six-year-old alliance, rather than undertaking it as a joint law venture (JLV). Clifford Chance had abandoned its JLV with WongPartnership a month before receiving its QFLP licence.

In an earlier interview, White & Case's Singapore managing partner, Doug Peel, said that the alliance made the transition to a QFLP firm easier. "Our alliance with Venture Law has been extremely useful and has enabled us to combine our resources with Venture Law's vast domestic knowledge," said Peel. "It has been a happy and fulfilling relationship and the granting of this licence will create opportunities for the two of us to unify."  

White & Case remains active in establishing other partnerships, most recently announcing an alliance with Hong Kong-based Laracy Gall for the insolvency rush. White & Case also broke away from its Bangkok office earlier this year, although it plans to continue the relationship on a "best friends" basis.

Representatives from Venture Law could not be reached for comment yesterday.