MIDDLE EAST: ‘Law firms offer very little innovation’
Mohammed Jamil is the group general counsel of Petromin Corporation, Saudi Arabia. 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…
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.
BRIEF: Malaysia Offers Investors Cooling IPO Respite During Sluggish Summer
In a year when global IPO markets have wilted under the economic heat, Bursa Malaysia has stood out as a surprising oasis of activity.
Q&A: ‘Technology is key to assisting the evolution of arbitration’
Hong Kong-based LegalTech non-profit eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre was established in 2018, and currently offers online deal-making and dispute resolution services, among others.
A time for tie-ups
As Asian law firms find themselves operating in an increasingly globalised space, a number of them are forging alliances across the region in order to offer their clients services across borders. This is particularly evident in Southeast Asia, where with the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) due next year, firms are moving quickly to set up partnerships with overseas peers, and also establish networks like Singapore’s Rajah & Tann has recently done, finds Ranajit Dam
A booster shot for Islamic finance
Islamic finance in Indonesia is still the ‘step child’ of the country’s banking sector, even with the country’s population of 210 million Muslims. Yet with Jokowi coming on as president in October, and a new blueprint from the Ministry of Finance due at the end of the year to expand the sector, there could be no better opportunity for Islamic finance to finally go mainstream in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, finds Aviel Tan
Journeying abroad
With growth grinding to a halt at home, more Japanese companies are expected to follow the likes of Suntory Holdings in acquiring companies overseas to gain a foothold in faster-growing markets. The country’s banks and government agencies, awash with cash, are helping fuel this expansion. Many mid-sized companies too are looking overseas for the first time, with Southeast Asia as a prime target. Japan’s law firms are responding to this trend, and the so-called ‘Big Five’ firms are investing heavily in their outbound plans. Kanishk Verghese reports