MINNEAPOLIS (April 1, 2009) — International law firm Dorsey & Whitney announced that it has opened an office in Sydney, Australia, the firm’s first office in that country. Dorsey has 18 other offices across the United States, Canada, Europe, and China.

Dorsey’s Sydney office will be focused on providing U.S. corporate and capital markets advice to clients in the Asia-Pacific region. The Sydney office will be headed by Dorsey partner John Chrisman.

Marianne Short, Dorsey’s Managing Partner, said, “We are committed to our corporate and banking clients in the Asia-Pacific region, and we see favorable prospects in Australia and the region as a whole. Our new Sydney office will bring industry experience and transactional capabilities to companies and banks headquartered in the region and will enhance the work we are already doing to serve our clients in the rest of the world.”

John Chrisman, Dorsey’s Sydney office head added, ”Our team is very focused on providing a high standard of client service in this exciting legal market. We look forward to building long-term relationships with banks, companies, and law firms here who can use our U.S. and capital markets expertise.”