As environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues take centre stage around the world, governments are taking steps to create investment opportunities and construct a more environmentally friendly operating environment. Lawyers say Thailand, a leader in ESG disclosure in Southeast Asia, is well placed to court the benefits of such a shift. 

Crypto and blockchain investments in Asia-Pacific hit $3.1 billion in 2021, up from just $386.3 million in 2020, according to KPMG. But what this jump also means is that Asia’s key business hubs are likely to tighten their cryptocurrency regulations, as awareness of associated risks grows.

As the impact of COVID-19 slowly recedes, the Philippine economy is showing promising signs of recovery. In a February interview with CNBC, Secretary of Finance Carlos Dominguez said the country had made significant progress containing the pandemic and that he expected a “return to normalcy” this year.

Law firms might not have been unfamiliar with technology prior to COVID-19, but the pandemic has placed that aspect of their operations under the direct spotlight. As a result of this, law firm CTOs and CIOs have been emerging as critical players in their organisations’ continued survival and growth. We speak to four CTOs and CIOs on how they see their role evolving as their firms do.

In February, Adrian Tan, the new president of the Law Society of Singapore, called on the legal industry to modernize in order to staunch the flow of lawyers leaving the profession, saying it was “tougher to be a young lawyer now, than at any time in history.” While firms are adjusting policies to be more accommodating, senior practitioners advise junior lawyers to enter the profession with a game plan and make finding their passion a priority.

Digital transformation has emerged as a key focus for corporations across the Asia Pacific region, particularly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has accelerated the trend. And many of the technologies that have gained prominence in the past two years are likely here to stay.

UK firm Mishcon de Reya has spearheaded the Greener Litigation pledge, which aims to make the disputes process more environmentally friendly. Alexander Rhodes, partner and head of the firm’s ESG-focused practice, Mishcon Purpose, says the next step involves looking overseas.

In October last year, Japan’s biggest steelmaker Nippon Steel had filed a suit against its key customers, carmaker Toyota Motors and China’s Baoshan Iron & Steel, alleging infringement of a patent for production technology related to a key device for electrified vehicles. This rare legal battle also saw a previously submissive steelmaker seeking a court injunction to stop Toyota from producing electrical vehicles. However, what matters is not the rebellion itself, but the IP strategy adopted by Japanese companies, lawyers say.

The Indian legal industry has been witnessing young lawyers set high standards and achieve their goals at a very young age. ALB spotlights Indian lawyers under the age of 40 who have been making an impact in the country’s legal scene. The list is in alphabetical order and some lawyers have been profiled.

Adrian Tan was recently named as the new president of the Law Society of Singapore, at a time when the legal profession in the country – as well as globally – is witnessing a fundamental shift. Tan says lawyers and firms need to adapt to this changing landscape through approaches ranging from utilising social media, to reimagining what a law firm should look like.