As the mammoth Belt and Road initiative touches some 70 countries, complex commercial disputes cannot be avoided.

In December, Herbert Smith Freehills named Hong Kong-based Asia managing partner Justin D’Agostino as its next chief executive officer. After the holiday break, D’Agostino sat down with ALB to talk about the evolution of the market, the recent unrest in Hong Kong, and the importance of D&I.

The ALB 2020 Asia In-house Survey results are in – and while the numbers may map conservative change, the emerging picture is far from mundane. As the in-house role continues to evolve, lawyers are no longer tied to their desks 24/7. Instead, they’re out speaking to customers, designing new ways of working and drastically reshaping the role as we know it.

With multiple government agencies finding 2019 to be the second-hottest year on record, individuals and business of all stripes need to step up now and do their part in addressing the climate crisis. And lawyers and firms are no exception.

Last year, the Monetary Authority of Singapore announced that it would be issuing digital bank licenses, as the city-state seeks to liberalise its banking sector.

As the legal market grows increasingly competitive and law firms vie to attract the best talent, a carefully crafted social image has become a powerful tool to promote, engage and stand out.

As the deadly coronavirus continues to spread, closing offices and triggering a face-mask frenzy both on the mainland and in Hong Kong, law firms in both places are exercising caution, with many advising their staff to work from home.

Herbert Smith Freehills has appointed Asia managing partner Justin D'Agostino as its next chief executive officer. In a media statement, the Anglo-Australian firm said D'Agostino would continue to be based out of Hong Kong.

The year could not have gone more differently for Asia’s two legal hubs. In Hong Kong, a dim economic outlook coupled with uncertainty from the U.S.-China trade war has cast a shadow over the special administrative region, while protests – occasionally violent - have dented the city’s economy. Meanwhile, in Singapore, the country continues to develop its reputation as an arbitration hub and a legal tech capital of Asia.