It is a sign of the times that Uría Menéndez, the Iberian law firm, has just announced plans to open a small office in Beijing next year and so become what it says will be the first Spanish or Portuguese law firm with a presence in the Chinese capital.

By opening its first Asian office, Uría Menéndez will not only serve the Chinese operations of its European and American clients but also help Chinese investors with their investments in Latin America, a region that is now a big exporter of agricultural commodities and minerals to China.