2 Asian Legal Business | September 2024 From the editor Head of Legal Media Business, Asia & Emerging Markets Amantha Chia amantha.chia@thomsonreuters.com Managing Editor Ranajit Dam ranajit.dam@thomsonreuters.com Asia Journalist Sarah Wong sarah.wong@thomsonreuters.com Asia Writer Nimitt Dixit nimitt.dixit@thomsonreuters.com Rankings & Special Projects Editor Wang Bingqing bingqing.wang@thomsonreuters.com Copy & Web Editor Rowena Muniz rowena.muniz@thomsonreuters.com Senior Designer John Agra john.agra@thomsonreuters.com Traffic/Circulation Manager Rozidah Jambari rozidah.jambari@thomsonreuters.com Sales Managers Hiroshi Kaneko Japan, Korea (81) 3 4520 1192 hiroshi.kaneko@thomsonreuters.com Jonathan Yap Indonesia, Singapore (65) 6973 8914 jonathan.yap@thomsonreuters.com Krupa Dalal India, Middle East, Singapore (91) 22 6189 7087 krupa.dalal@thomsonreuters.com Romulus Tham Southeast Asia (65) 6973 8248 romulus.tham@thomsonreuters.com Simon Wan Hong Kong (852) 3462 7730 simon.wan@thomsonsreuters.com Steffi Yang South and West China (86) 010 5669 2041 qifan.yang@thomsonreuters.com Steven Zhao China Key Accounts (86) 10 6627 1360 s.zhao@thomsonreuters.com Yvonne Cheung China Key Accounts, Hong Kong and Korea (852) 2847 2003 yvonne.cheung@thomsonreuters.com Senior Events Manager Julian Chiew julian.chiew@thomsonreuters.com Senior Events Manager, Awards Tracy Li tracy.li@thomsonreuters.com Navigating uncertainty In the dynamic landscape of Asian mergers and acquisitions, the importance of expert legal counsel has never been more pronounced. As we unveil our Asia M&A Rankings in this issue, it’s crucial to reflect on the current market dynamics and the pivotal role that law firms play in navigating these choppy waters. The first half of 2024 has been a sobering reminder of the challenges facing the M&A sector in Asia-Pacific. PwC’s analysis reveals a stark 23 percent decrease in deal volumes and a 35 percent drop in values compared to the same period last year. The private equity arena has not been immune to this downturn, with Asian funds raising a mere $100 billion in 2023 – the lowest in a decade, according to Bain & Company. However, as we often see in the business world, challenges breed opportunities. While the initial months of 2024 showed muted activity, there are encouraging signs of preparation for more favourable conditions. Amidst this cautious optimism, certain sectors continue to attract investor interest. Healthcare, technology, infrastructure, energy, financial services, and retail remain hotbeds of activity for domestic, regional, and international investors alike. Yet, the path forward is far from straightforward. The regulatory landscape across Asia is in flux, with some jurisdictions relaxing foreign ownership restrictions while others tighten competition regimes. Navigating these complex and often contradictory frameworks demands not just legal expertise, but a nuanced understanding of local business cultures and practices. In this context, the right legal counsel becomes not just advisable, but essential. The law firms featured in our rankings have demonstrated their ability to guide clients through these intricate terrains, balancing regulatory compliance with strategic business objectives. Ranajit Dam Managing Editor, Asian Legal Business, Thomson Reuters Asian Legal Business is available by subscription. Please visit www.legalbusinessonline.com for details. Asian Legal Business has an audited average circulation of 11,402 as of 30 September 2016.Copyright is reserved throughout. No part of this publication can be reproduced in whole or part without the express permission of the editor. Contributions are invited, but copies of work should be kept, as Asian Legal Business can accept no responsibility for loss. MCI (P) 004/02/2024 ISSN 0219 – 6875 KDN PPS 1867/10/2015(025605) Thomson Reuters Alice @ Mediapolis, 29 Media Circle, #09-05, Singapore 138565 / T (65) 6775 5088 10/F, Cityplaza 3, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong / T (852) 3762 3269 www.thomsonreuters.com
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