Japan has long been investing in infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia, but in recent years, the shift has been towards renewable energy projects.

Indonesia's haphazard rules are causing it to lag behind its Southeast Asian neighbours, according to the country’s own investment chief

The shipping industry may be expecting to see some recovery in 2018, but it faces a number of other challenges, ranging from increasing regulations to the rapid emergence of technology – and resulting cybersecurity concerns.

While guests relax at their resorts, in-house lawyers at hospitality companies have been busy keeping up with the latest technology trends, compliance and regulations, all the while moving mergers and acquisitions forward.

Companies today increasingly expect their in-house lawyers to play a bigger role on the business side, and as a result, the skills required from potential hires are evolving as well.

Merger and acquisition activity in Hong Kong rose by almost a half in 2017 compared to a year ago, driven by deals in the property and insurance sectors. And this has kept lawyers in the city extremely busy.

South Korea plays an outsized role in the global cryptocurrency market, and lawyers there have been busy helping companies based in the country as well as abroad with everything from raising money through a new digital currency venture, to navigating the changing, and occasionally confusing, regulatory landscape.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is unanimously the top tech trend in the legal space, particularly in because of its applicability and practicability, and Herbert Smith Freehills has been one of earliest adopters.

The year 2017 was a good one for Indonesia: A ratings upgrade to BBB- from S&P gave it investment grade status from all global rating agencies, the country climbed 19 spots on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings, and the stock market repeatedly hit new highs.

Last month’s $11 billion biotech binge fuels forecasts of an M&A surge in 2018.