There are a number of factors that make Hong Kong an attractive market for Australian lawyers considering an overseas posting, not the least of which is the unique position of Hong Kong as a hub for global cross-border transactions. For Joshua Cole, partner at Mallesons Stephen Jaques, the decision to move to the firm's Hong Kong office was about needing to go where the work action is. “Hong Kong seems to be the centre of activity at the moment. It was a case of being where the action was. Professionally, it made sense to be here,” he said.

Cole’s specialisation in cross-border M&A and Joint venture transactions meant frequent work trips to Hong Kong before he assumed his posting in February. Recently, Cole has been advising Telstra on the restructure of its joint venture with PCCW, something he would not have had the opportunity to be so involved in from his office in Australia.

According to Cole, the deals he is working on in Hong Kong tend to move more quickly than those done in Australia. Yet the real challenge of working in Asia is the range of cultures encountered: “Different clients approach transactions differently. Putting yourself in another’s shoes is the most challenging thing professionally but it makes the job fascinating,” he said.

Joshua is also fast becoming familiar with the variations in practice that exist between Hong Kong’s expatriate professionals. “Hong Kong is a melting pot with lawyers, bankers and accountants from all over the world. Everybody has a slightly different approach and you learn from seeing how they approach things.”He believes learning about these different practices will make him a more well-rounded lawyer.

The key professional advantage of his overseas posting is the exposure to a larger number and broader range of deals, according to Cole. This allows him to participate in transactions that he could not be involved in if based in Australia.

Despite many stays in Hong Kong prior to his posting, Cole concedes that living overseas is very different to visiting. “Hong Kong is easy to get around, although it takes the first few weeks to find your feet,” he said. He credits his easy transition to the strong sense of camaraderie at the office.