ENERGY: Renewable Roadblocks
Law firms interviewed: A&O Shearman; Reed Smith
In recent years, the combination of trade conflicts, the pandemic, and regional tensions have resulted in increased volatility for businesses in the energy, transportation, and commodities sectors. In Southeast Asia, where the transition to green energy is one of the…
MIDDLE EAST: Eastern Promise
China's economic ties with the Middle East have been rapidly expanding, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $500 billion in both 2022 and 2023.
MIDDLE EAST: ‘Law firms offer very little innovation’
Mohammed Jamil is the group general counsel of Saudi Arabian lubricant maker Petromin Corporation. Jamil has over 20 years of in-house experience working as an attorney across multiple jurisdictions. In the Middle East, he has worked in the legal teams of Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Kuwait Finance House, and TRW.
RANKINGS: ALB Asia Top 15 GCs 2024
In the fast-paced world of Asian business, general counsel are emerging as key players in shaping corporate strategy. Gone are the days when these legal experts were confined to the sidelines of compliance and risk management. Today, they're at the forefront of innovation, building trust, and driving their organisations forward.
THAILAND: Going Electric
Thailand has established itself as the most dynamic automotive market in Southeast Asia, particularly during a period of industrial transformation in the region. In response to cost and regulatory factors, manufacturers and automakers from China are realigning their supply chains, resulting in increased competition within the Thai market. And while the surge in Chinese electric vehicles in Thailand is creating new opportunities for legal services, lawyers need to adapt quickly to grab their share of the work.
LEGAL NETWORKS: Network-Powered AI
Proactive legal networks are playing a unique role in the proliferation of the latest in artificial intelligence within the legal industry.
EXPLAINER: Can Vietnam’s Updated Telecom Law Help Attract Foreign Investment?
Vietnam, one of the fastest-growing countries in Southeast Asia in recent years, has been eager to bring its economy to the forefront of the latest technological evolution.
A Time to (Re)Build
The COVID-19 pandemic has battered economies across the Asian region, and governments are currently scrambling to get back on the growth track. One way is via a substantial increase in infrastructure investment, but with the public purse stretched thin, funds are being sought from private investors as well as other governments.
Cyber Crisis
The pandemic has heightened the risk of data breaches that could expose corporations to a great deal of liability, so it’s imperative that they start to take steps to mitigate the risk immediately.
‘Traditional modes of dispute resolution will continue to mutate’
With COVID-19 travel restrictions expected to hold firm for the next few months at least, lawyers are continuing to rely on remote working practices. In the field of arbitration, this adjustment has been rather smooth, as the pandemic accelerates trends already in process, but Francis Xavier SC, regional head of the dispute resolution group at Rajah & Tann and the immediate past president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), says that this also comes with risks.