SNG & Partners, created by the merger of SNG & Partners and SN Gupta & Co, has opened an office in Singapore, permanently relocating associate partner Rahul Sud to the island state, in order to be closer to the firm's banking clients and focus on in- and out-bound investment.

SNG Delhi partner Amit Aggarwal said he was currently in Singapore for two weeks to assist on setting up the office, which was granted a foreign law practice licence by Singapore's attorney general around a month ago.

The firm would focus on the India and South Asia corridor for Singapore and Hong Kong from the office, he said.

“Most of the foreign banks operating in India have their regional headquarters in Singapore or Hong Kong,” explained Aggarwal. “We're pretty hopeful the strategy will work and that, being one of the leading banking firms in India, we’ll be able to get the mileage.”

But apart from India in-bound work, the Singapore office would also aim to assist Indian clients focused on international expansion.

Other Indian firms with a Singapore office include Singh & Associates, Lexygen, Wadia Ghandy, Dua Associates, Kochhar & Co and Nishith Desai Associates.