b'Local law firms in Hong Kong were not welcomingnorThe practice began operating from a two-storey house were British firms who were keen to protect their colonialin a quiet suburban street, but demand for its services turf. On the night of the official office opening, while thesoon saw the firm move to new offices, where every room staff toasted the new venture, the Hong Kong Law Societyenjoyed the comfort of air conditioning. The team in held a meeting at which 1,077 of the 1,100 people presentIndonesia advised on major private sector project finance voted against the governments recommendation toand resource projects, including the first gold loan to an encourage foreign lawyers to practise in Hong Kong.Indonesian company, the establishment of Indonesias satellite communications system, and the first international Despite the hostile reception, Hong Kong proved fertileequity and debt offerings by Indonesian companies. As ground for banking and finance work and the team quicklythe Indonesian economy grew, so did the office and many developed a reputation for their expertise in debt capitaljunior lawyers enjoyed the exchange program that operated markets. The practice expanded to include propertybetween Indonesia and Australia.finance and intellectual property and was involved in the privatisation of infrastructure in the region. In 1993 itJapanadvised News Corp on its investment in Hong Kongs Star TV. During the 1970s Japan emerged as Australias major trading partner, and between 1981 and 1990 AustraliaIndonesia saw an 800 per cent increase in Japanese tourists. Japanese In January 1974 Hugh Jamieson, Ian Harper, Claudeinvestment in Australia increased from just over $4 billion Schoffel and Zeke Solomon travelled to Jakarta to assessin 1980, to over $45 billion by 1989.the possibility of opening an office. The timing could have been better: their arrival coincided with a diplomatic visitThe Allens Arthur Robinson Group was early to capitaliseby Japanese premier, Kakuei Tanaka, which sparked violenton this opportunity, advising on major Japanese investment protests. The partners found themselves caught in theprojects in Australia. Senior lawyers were seconded to crossfire of the riots. It was another fourteen years beforeleading law firms in Japan, and the group welcomed the firm returned to establish an office. several Japanese lawyers in an exchange program. The arrangement succeeded in identifying and securing work In 1988 the Australian Legal Group entered a formalin the early stages of development. David Cohen was one association with Del Juzar & Wiriadinata, a leadingof the first from the firm to be based in Japan, his property corporate and commercial law firm providing legal servicesbackground proving particularly valuable given the rapid to prominent Indonesian, foreign and multinationalrate at which Japanese investors were acquiring Australian businesses, government agencies and financial institutions.real estate.The way in which Australian law firms engage with the global markethas changed significantly. Rather than maintaining their own offices,firms increasingly focus on formal and informal relationshipswith peer firms in overseas jurisdictions.190'