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CHINA REPORT: When Capital Meets Law

by Hu Yangxiaoxiao 胡阳潇潇 |

 

Third-party litigation funding, introduced to Asia's legal market in 2017, is gaining momentum in China. This innovative approach allows external parties to finance legal disputes, addressing high litigation costs and improving access to justice. Chinese firms are adapting the concept to meet local needs, particularly in complex cross-border disputes and…

INTERNATIONAL TRADE: Fool Me Once

by Sarah Wong, Nimitt Dixit |

Renewed uncertainties brought by Donald Trump’s White House comeback have prompted law firms in Asia to prepare for a wave of geopolitical and economic challenges anticipated from a new era of America First. 

THE BRIEFS: Dynamic Injunctions Reshaping Fight Against Online Piracy in Singapore

Online piracy has long been a thorn in the side of content creators and distributors worldwide.

THE BRIEFS: Regulatory Advisory in Demand as Hong Kong Rides Take-Private Wave

by Sarah Wong |

Hong Kong's capital markets have witnessed a significant surge in take-private deals in recent years, as geopolitical tensions and China's soft economic outlook dampen fundraising appetite in what was once Asia's premier financial hub.

THE BRIEFS: HK Legal Recruitment Market To Continue Strategic Evolution Into 2025

by Nimitt Dixit |

As 2025 approaches, the Hong Kong legal market is reflecting on a year of cautious resurgence and strategic transformation. The 2024 recruitment landscape was characterised by a gradual but meaningful recovery, marked by selective hiring, targeted practice group expansions, and a rollercoaster of market dynamics.

EXPLAINER: Is the Takeover Battle of Fuji Soft Rewriting the M&A Rulebook in Japan?

by Sarah Wong |

Japan has been navigating a slew of market changes in recent years as the country’s corporate reforms move ahead with full steam. While the dearth of M&A persists in other major Asia hubs, Japan’s historically conservative dealmaking sphere is witnessing a boom in activity.

THE BRIEFS: Malaysia’s Data Centre Boom Prompts Firms To Bolster Regulatory Expertise

by Sarah Wong |

Malaysia is rapidly positioning itself as a premier destination for data centres in Asia and potentially worldwide.

Q&A: “We want to support our clients to seize Korea’s substantial opportunities”

by Sarah Wong |

In October, Baker McKenzie entered into a joint venture with Korean law firm KL Partners in a show of the firm’s commitment to grow in Asia at a time when some other international firms were shrinking their footprints. The JV will be jointly run by Bakers’ Jae-Hyon Ahn and KL’s Beomsu Kim, who tell ALB how this will benefit clients in both Korea and overseas.

BRIEFS: Singapore to Regulate Investments in Entities Critical to National Security

Singapore is introducing a new law to regulate investments in “a handful of critical entities” in the city-state in a proposed legislative framework that sets out a new investment management regime. The proposed law, put forward by Singapore’s Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong in August, means companies will have to seek approval when there are certain changes in ownership or leadership.

EXPLAINER: Cambodia Plans New Commercial Court

by Sarah Wong |

Cambodia has taken a major step towards furnishing its commercial legal infrastructure. The Southeast Asian country’s Ministry of Justice has finalised a draft law that could see the country’s first commercial court up and running in Phnom Penh as soon as the end of 2023.