In a dramatic move, Hogan Lovells has trumped its rivals by becoming the first international firm to establish a formal presence in the emerging legal hub of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Hog Love has cemented the three year relationship between Mongolian firm GTs Advocates and legacy firm Lovells by entering into a formal alliance with the Ulaanbaatar based practice. Hogan Lovells already has its man in Ulaanbaatar in the form of partner Michael Aldrich, who has been seconded to GTs Advocates since April 2009. Lucky devil. And following the announcement of the tie-in, the word is that Aldridge will soon be joined by a number of Hogan Lovells associates.

So what could these lucky lawyers expect from a move to the coldest capital city in the world - apart from frostbite? Well, according to the Lonely Planet's guide, Ulaanbaatar is "an enormous city of pulsating commerce, heavy traffic, sinful nightlife and bohemian counter-culture". So Neil Fagan would have found himself right at home...

    New home for a lucky Hogan Lovells associate

Explaining the firm's attraction to Mongolia, a spokesman for Hogan Lovells said that the country is "one of the largest untapped reserves of natural resources" and, apparently getting a little over-excited, claimed that it is "at the cutting edge of the economic and legal market". He also confirmed that plans had not yet been finalised in terms of the number of lawyers who will be sent out to Ulaanbaatar and which offices they would come from.
 
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