b'Reaching out to the worldDuring the 1980s Australian law firms began taking aa short time it was advising on most of the Australian bank more global view. Driven by an increasingly internationallending in Southeast Asia. client base and a desire to secure new projects ahead of competitors, connections were established with internationalAt one point the office was shared with UK law firm law firms. Some Australian practices took the additionalSlaughter and May, through a best friends agreement, step of opening overseas offices. Allen Allen & Hemsleywhere the two firms referred work to each other. Partner was among the first Australian law firms to open offices inEwen Crouch, the executive partner for Asia between 1999 Singapore, London, New York and Hong Kong. The offices alsoand 2004, says it was a cost-effective arrangementthe served as a training ground for many young lawyers. firms had their own signage on either side of a shared reception desk. You walked one way to visit Slaughter and Singapore May, and the other way to visit Allens. Either way, you ended As a central hub for Asia, Singapore was chosen as Allenup in the same meeting room.Allen & Hemsleys first international office. It opened in 1981 with newly appointed partner Jim Dunstan managingLondonthe office. It was a leap of faithfor almost 160 years theIn 1981 Allen Allen & Hemsley partner Adrian Henchman firm had maintained one office in Sydney, and now it wasleft Sydney to manage the London office. The office was in reaching out to the world. the heart of Londons financial district but, due to the high rents, was less impressive than it sounded, consisting of The firm was one of a limited number of international anda small office at rooftop level (almost a garret) in an old regional law firms granted approval to establish an officebuilding. The office was perfectly placed to assist with in Singapore. The office served as a hub for internationalEuropean transactions for Australian clients, to help the finance and commercial work in Southeast Asia. The Bankgrowing number of Australian companies tapping the of New South Wales also ventured further into Asia andEurobond debt market, and to establish close relationships was the source of considerable work for the new office. Inwith the magic circle of leading international law firms conjunction with its merger with the Commercial Bank ofheadquartered in the UK. Westpac and Bankers Trust Australia, and to acknowledge an increased focus on theprovided a solid foundation of work for the office.Western Pacific region, in 1982 the bank changed its name to Westpac.The firm also acquired a four-storey, Georgian-style terrace in Belgravia which was home to a succession of resident Over the coming years, Dunstan and his team advised on apartners. Many staff from across the globe stopped by the range of innovative structured finance projects, includinghouse for supper when they passed through London.leveraged leases for the Singapore Airlines fleet of 747s and the privatisation of toll roads in Kuala Lumpur. Within 188'