Women in Japan’s legal industry have steadily made gains in recent years, and more are joining law firms than ever before. John Kang speaks to female lawyers about their progress so far and how technology can help keep talented women in the profession.

Frequently in the news of late, North Korea has a well-earned reputation for being isolated, eccentric, and completely unpredictable. South Korean lawyers who do regular work in or related to the hermit kingdom say that their experience backs up this perception.

This week, we took a closer look at marketing heads within law firms, who have a growing role in helping their employers meet targets. We also provided a snapshot of Sri Lanka’s legal market and spoke to Orrick, which recently marked 20 years in Tokyo.

The Law Society of Singapore recently identified 23 law firms in the city-state as “SmartLaw” firms, or local law practices that have “adopted technology to improve productivity.” ALB profiles three of them.

This week, we looked at the growing participation of women in Japan’s legal industry, thanks in no small part to technology. We also took a look at Brunei’s legal market and tracked Asia’s lateral hires in the second quarter of 2017.

In this week’s ALB Insights, we took a closer look at the Maldives’ booming legal sector, spoke to Ropes & Gray global managing partner David Chapin on how the HK office is coping recent exits, and profiled three law practices dubbed as “SmartLaw” firms by SG’s Law Society.

This week, we look at why some law firms have opted for open-plan offices while some are still holding back. We also chat with a leading offshore law firm that just marked 10 years in HK, and spotlighted a high-growth startup from India.

This week, we found out what skills lawyers need to join the fintech boom and why Asia needs to add more women in boardrooms. We also chatted with Georgia Dawson and Sue Kench about their new roles at Freshies and KWM, respectively.

South Korea’s FLC Act was revised last year to restrict foreign ownership in JVs between international and Korean firms. But despite the initial outcry, it hasn’t affected global law firms’ plans in the country.

Taiwan's legal sector tends to be overshadowed by both the People’s Republic and Hong Kong, but the rise of data privacy work is changing the status quo.