In 2019, Cambodia had its best year in terms of foreign direct investment. According to the 2020 World Investment Report by UNCTAD, Cambodia saw $3.7 billion of FDI, a rise of 16 percent compared to the $3.2 billion it received in 2018.

As lawyers in Asia continue to work hard under the challenges of a sustained global pandemic, the pressure is on managing partners to guide their teams through a rapidly changing landscape.

Since the military coup earlier this year, devastating scenes of brutal violence and deep civil unrest have continued to emerge from Myanmar, along with allegations of human rights breaches and telecommunication blackouts.

Data has become an increasingly critical part of the way law firms do business, with difficult decisions now being weighed using analytics and information. While lawyers are united on the fact that data is the way forward, firms take different approaches in how they get the best out of the information at hand.

In June, India’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs proposed new e-commerce rules that are expected to have an impact on online marketplace operators such as Amazon and Flipkart. These rules include limiting flash sales, reining in a private label push, compelling e-commerce companies to appoint compliance officers, and impose a fallback liability.

Veteran corporate lawyer Mohit Saraf recently established his own firm after an acrimonious split from L&L Partners, a firm that he had been a part of since 1995. He tells ALB about why Saraf and Partners, with 21 partners and offices in three cities, will be a different experience for both lawyers and clients.

COVID-19 has taught us new ways of working remotely. However, while working remotely, one of the challenges we encounter is ensuring that legal agreements and other documents are signed properly. Though the practice of electronic signatures has been widely adopted and accepted by majority, however, there is always a question as to whether the electronic signing of legal agreements is duly recognised under Indian law.

With in-person hearings becoming untenable due to the pandemic, courts across India have moved to virtual hearings. Lawyers say that while the experience has been pleasant so far, virtual hearings still come with their disadvantages.

In its second annual list, ALB showcases outstanding private practitioners in India when it comes to client service. These lawyers were selected based on client recommendations sent directly to ALB. The list is in alphabetical order, and some lawyers have been profiled.

In its annual list of Asia’s Top Offshore Litigators, ALB highlights top disputes practitioners working with offshore law firms, who have successfully handled significant cases and exceeded client expectations in the process. The full list is in alphabetical order, and a few lawyers have been profiled here.