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.
Showing the Way
In today’s world, general counsel face an ever-increasing demand to manage exponentially more risks, involving greater complexity, in much shorter time frames and with more potential impact on business performance. As expectations upon them evolve, law firm networks are assisting GCs in making their organisations more agile and effective.
As Asia Data Privacy Laws Get Teeth, Larger Fines Are Expected
Since Europe’s GDPR came into force more than two years ago, data privacy and protection have become priorities for regulators and businesses across the Asian region. Between 2019 and 2020, a flurry of data privacy laws was developed, with China, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Japan and Hong Kong among those offering new guidelines and requirements. And still, more are expected, now bringing with them the prospect off larger fines than before.
‘We are now opening our doors to foreign lawyers’
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune recently broke ground as the first Japan Big Four law firm to allow foreign lawyers to become equity partners. Atsutoshi Maeda, partner at the firm, recently spoke to ALB about why adaptability is critical for law firms in the country, and more broadly in the region.