Leading Chinese firm Zhong Lun will open its first London office in May, the firm has announced.

A team of five solicitors and nine legal professionals will move into the Square Mile after the move was formally approved at a meeting of the firm’s partners last week.

Zhong Lun’s London office will focus on inbound and outbound Chinese-related matters in the UK and European markets, including advising Chinese firms on takeovers and acquisitions and entry into the AIM stock exchange.

The firm, which has more than 600 lawyers in total and is one of the biggest three full-service firms in China, will also regularly send leading partners to London to work on specific practice areas.

International managing partner Robert Lewis said: ‘Our new London office will provide an important platform for us as a firm to develop closer ties with London-based law firms as well as UK and European clients for China-related work.

‘At the same time, working in coordination with partner firms in the local London and European markets, we will be able to provide the full range of legal services for our Chinese clients going to the UK and Europe.’

The London partners are all bilingual and are qualified both in England and China, the firm said.