The war for talent in China is heating up, with local firms now competing for the best people, according to a legal recruiter.

John Lacey, managing director of Austin Knight Legal, whose company works in partnership with Antal International in China and Hong Kong, told Recruiter that local firms were now competing directly with global law firms such as Linklaters.

“Both international and domestic law firms are now looking for the same talent,” he said. Lacey added that much of the impetus came from local law firms who were successfully competing for work advising Chinese companies looking to buy companies abroad, including in the UK.

Candidates who qualified in the US or the UK, but now lived in China, were in particular demand, said Lacey. However, he added: “If you are working in London now, you are a very attractive proposition for both the international and the local law firms.”

Andrew McEachern, director of people and talent development at international law firm Norton Rose, told Recruiter that his firm was ready for the challenge.

Norton Rose already has offices in China, but McEachern said that Norton Rose’s strategy of further international growth was “a distinct advantage” when competing domestic law firms in China.

Referring to Norton Rose’s plans to incorporate local law firms in Canada and South Africa next June, which would increase its lawyers to 2,500 in 38 locations, he said: “We will be able to attract high quality senior people who want to work as part of an international law firm.

“Increasingly lawyers want to work for international clients and for law firms that attract the best clients,” added McEachern.