Morning Briefing: US firms continue Asia-Pac expansion

Another two US-based law firms have announced expansion of their international capabilities with new offices in Asia Pacific. Alston & Bird has a new office in the Hanwei Office Building in Beijing’s Central Business District. It’s only the second international office for the firm, the other is Brussels. The Beijing office will assist Chinese companies with cross-border legal matters, primarily in the United States and all the lawyers there attended US law schools. Yitai Hu is the partner who will be the chief representative in the office.
Meanwhile ‘global litigation boutique’ Kobre & Kim has opened a new Seoul office. The team will be led by co-founder of the firm Michael S. Kim, who is fluent in Korean. He will be joined by Robin Baik and Jean Kim. They will be supported by Korea-focused lawyers at the firm’s other offices.
 
UK law firms relieved at avoiding dual regulation
Law firms in the UK, which were facing the prospect of coming under the regulations of the Financial Conduct Authority for consumer credit facilities, have been given some good news. The Solicitors Regulation Authority says that it will regulate certain credit operations as long as they relate to legal services provided by the firms. Last year the SRA said that it did not have the resources to do so which would have meant law firms being regulated by the FCA, adding expense and administration to the profession. Further guidance will be issued in October.
 
Lawyers say claim against rapper 50 Cent is fake
Lawyers for rap star 50 Cent say that a claim that he pushed a woman to the ground outside a nightclub are completely untrue. Dee Denise Hallager says that she was assaulted by the rapper in February 2013, resulting in U$120,000 of medical expenses. She is claiming $10 million in damages in court papers filed last month. The New York Daily News reports that his lawyers responded: “Every single factual allegation against (50 Cent) regarding the alleged incident of her fall is a complete fabrication stemming from Hallager’s imagination.” 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, filed for bankruptcy in July this year and lawyers are also trying to stop a $7 million payment to Lastonia Leviston after posting her private sex tape online!