CHINA REPORT: When Capital Meets Law
Third-party litigation funding, introduced to Asia's legal market in 2017, is gaining momentum in China. This innovative approach allows external parties to finance legal disputes, addressing high litigation costs and improving access to justice. Chinese firms are adapting the concept to meet local needs, particularly in complex cross-border disputes and…
INTERNATIONAL TRADE: Fool Me Once
Renewed uncertainties brought by Donald Trump’s White House comeback have prompted law firms in Asia to prepare for a wave of geopolitical and economic challenges anticipated from a new era of America First.
THE BRIEFS: Dynamic Injunctions Reshaping Fight Against Online Piracy in Singapore
Online piracy has long been a thorn in the side of content creators and distributors worldwide.
THE BRIEFS: Regulatory Advisory in Demand as Hong Kong Rides Take-Private Wave
Hong Kong's capital markets have witnessed a significant surge in take-private deals in recent years, as geopolitical tensions and China's soft economic outlook dampen fundraising appetite in what was once Asia's premier financial hub.
THE BRIEFS: HK Legal Recruitment Market To Continue Strategic Evolution Into 2025
As 2025 approaches, the Hong Kong legal market is reflecting on a year of cautious resurgence and strategic transformation. The 2024 recruitment landscape was characterised by a gradual but meaningful recovery, marked by selective hiring, targeted practice group expansions, and a rollercoaster of market dynamics.
EXPLAINER: Is the Takeover Battle of Fuji Soft Rewriting the M&A Rulebook in Japan?
Japan has been navigating a slew of market changes in recent years as the country’s corporate reforms move ahead with full steam. While the dearth of M&A persists in other major Asia hubs, Japan’s historically conservative dealmaking sphere is witnessing a boom in activity.
THE BRIEFS: Malaysia’s Data Centre Boom Prompts Firms To Bolster Regulatory Expertise
Malaysia is rapidly positioning itself as a premier destination for data centres in Asia and potentially worldwide.
BRIEFS: Shipping Lawyers Try To Guide Clients Through Red Sea Crisis
The ongoing tensions in the Middle East have put international shipping companies on tenterhooks as tit-for-tat missile strikes have turned the Red Sea into a high-risk zone for transit, clog-ging global trade and snarling supply chains.
FORUM: Bulletproofing the Future
The year 2024 is shaping up to be one that combines optimism and caution. Geopolitical contagion and economic headwinds continue to cloud companies' planning, while market optimism and bullish prospects on emerging technologies ignite hope for better days ahead. General counsel share with ALB the risks they perceive, and how they plan to hedge against them.
BRIEFS: SE Asia poised for robust M&A year as tech, energy sectors drive dealmaking
With global businesses and investors growing weary of China's anaemic economic rebound and geopolitical upheaval, Southeast Asia has continued to solidify its standing as a key regional destination for dealmaking. While 2023 didn't match the highs of 2022, either in terms of deal value ($129.8 billion versus $90.6 billion) or volume (1,278 versus 933) – as per research from Mergermarket, White & Case, and ION Analytics) – last year dwarfed 2021 in terms of number of deals, and beat both 2019 and 2020 in terms of total amount.