9 Asian Legal Business | December 2024 The Briefs A Q&A with Eric T. McCrath, Chair, Morrison Foerster As Chair of Morrison Foerster with its multiple offices across the globe, how do you leverage the firm’s regional strengths to provide comprehensive solutions for clients with cross-border needs? Eric T. McCrath, Chair, Morrison Foerster: Ensuring we consistently deliver for our clients is at the heart of everything we do. This is borne out through our commitment to clientcentric growth and investing in our strengths, so Morrison Foerster has the right expertise in the right place, when and where our clients need us. This approach allows our teams to “follow the sun,” with deep strength across multiple practices in Asia, Europe, and the U.S., and ensures that we are well-placed to advise on our client’s global needs. At Morrison Foerster, we are committed to operating through a One Firm approach, breaking down geographic barriers as much as possible, with a steadfast focus on global connectivity. While clients may experience challenges locally, we know the issues and opportunities our clients face are increasingly global and cross-border. Our attorneys, wherever they are, are attuned to complex, global legal and regulatory landscapes, and work seamlessly to share knowledge and best practices to support our clients in all of their most complex cross-border challenges. What is your vision for Morrison Foerster’s growth and development in the Asia-Pacific region over the next five years, and how does this align with the firm’s global strategy? McCrath: Morrison Foerster has a longstanding commitment to Asia—we celebrated 40 years in Asia in 2023, and it remains a key part of the firm’s global strategy. Our general approach is to grow where our clients are and where they need us, and we know that our clients continue to need legal support as they seek to capitalise on opportunities in the region while they also confront challenges across the dynamic and evolving markets in Asia. We are always looking to invest in talent to help deliver for our clients, particularly around our core practices and industry strengths. We want to be a destination firm for our clients’ most challenging legal issues, most critical disputes, and most significant transactions. For this reason, we are always exploring strategic investment opportunities to bolster and strengthen our presence in Asia, to expand our capabilities and maintain our best-in-class client service in the region. In an increasingly competitive legal market, how does Morrison Foerster differentiate itself from other international law firms, particularly in terms of its service offerings and client relationships across different regions? McCrath: Morrison Foerster is a global law firm that leans into its core values, and we keep them at the centre of everything we do, including our longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, which we believe leads to better client service and outcomes. This, alongside our commitment to exceptional client service, sees our clients in Asia turn to Morrison Foerster to handle its business-critical mandates, which are reflective of our technical legal skill and market awareness as well as our appreciation of local customs and cultures. This powerful combination sees our team consistently deliver for our clients. Q&A with Dan Levison & Tabitha Saw, Co-Managing Partners, Morrison Foerster Singapore You were recently announced as the new leaders of Morrison Foerster’s Singapore office. Can you share your strategy for further enhancing the office’s capabilities and positioning it as a go-to firm for high-quality legal work in Southeast Asia? Dan Levison & Tabitha Saw, Co-Managing Partners, Morrison Foerster Singapore: Throughout our 40+ years in Asia, our strategy has consistently focused on our people and meeting our clients’ evolving needs. As the complexity of our work has increased, investing in our people has positioned us as one of the best-in-class international law firms in Asia. We understand the unique needs of our Southeast Asia clients, and tailor our services to highgrowth sectors such as Technology, Private Equity, Real Estate, Life Sciences, Financial Services, Energy, and Energy Transition. What steps are you taking to ensure that the Singapore office continues to attract and retain top talent? Levison & Saw: By developing talent, fostering growth, and maintaining a collaborative and inclusive environment, we equip our teams to address complex client needs and deliver innovative, highquality, tailored solutions. We attract top candidates by positioning the firm as an industry leader, offering superior professional development opportunities, mentoring, and an exceptional culture. Our hiring processes are designed to identify high-potential candidates who align with our culture and values, ensuring the right blend of technical expertise and cultural fit. We offer the highest quality work and exposure to diverse projects, including pro bono and diversity and inclusion initiatives. Additionally, we empower our lawyers at all levels to build strong client relationships, ensuring they understand unique needs and respond quickly to changing demands. This approach fosters flexibility, responsiveness, and efficiency.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjA0NzE4Mw==