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.

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.

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.

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.

Among the biggest hindrances to women advancing in the legal profession in Asia is the challenge of maintaining a balance between raising children and focusing on their careers.

A law change that relaxes restrictions on foreign lawyers is being welcomed in Japan, as the market gradually embraces international talent.

Is Indonesia’s star corruption watchdog too good at its job? A raft of changes that weaken state institution Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) has cast doubt over political promises that the Southeast Asian nation is serious about cracking down on corruption.

Recently elected as Baker McKenzie’s first Asian global chair, Milton Cheng has ambitious plans to grow the firm’s Mainland China presence, while maintaining a steady commitment to the Hong Kong market.

Law firm networks are today a critical part of the legal industry globally. In this roundtable, senior representatives of four leading networks talk about how they are going the extra mile to get member law firms future-ready, assisting clients to cope with changing global business conditions, and setting strategies and goals for the coming years.

China is becoming one of the world’s key countries for the development of financial technology, and lawyers are set to reap the benefits.