Dentons Australian Chair Doug Stipanicev Back At Work After Investigation

Linklaters' China Joint Operation Firm MP Joins Haiwen & Partners' Corporate Bench

Brian Yap | December 01, 2023

Haiwen has been actively deepening its rank of senior lawyers with international backgrounds in recent months.

2 minute read

Baker McKenzie Korea Joint Venture Firm Lands Lee & Ko's Disputes Head in Seoul

Brian Yap | November 30, 2023

This marks the first partner hire by Baker McKenzie & KL Partners Joint Venture Law Firm, which was officially launched in November this year.

2 minute read

Timeline

2023: A Legal AI Odyssey

Stephanie Wilkins | November 30, 2023

On the first anniversary of the public release of ChatGPT, we take a look back on a year of innovation and retrace the path generative AI blazed through the legal industry in 2023.

2 minute read

Dentons Takes TMT Partner from Australia's Allens

Christopher Niesche | November 30, 2023

Michael Park is the Global 200 Top 10 firm's sixth lateral partner hire this year in Australia.

1 minute read

Is Singapore the Answer to US Law Firms' Woes in Asia?

Jessica Seah | November 29, 2023

Singapore, widely considered a gateway to Southeast Asia, has become a beacon for global advisers and investors over the past few years. But it's not that simple.

4 minute read

Paul Weiss, Dechert and Others Match Cravath Salary Scale

Patrick Smith | Justin Henry | November 29, 2023

Paul Weiss and Baker McKenzie also said they will pay "discretionary" or "premium" bonuses for high-performers.

3 minute read

Weil, Cooley and BCLP Latest Firms to Announce 2024 Partner Promotions

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | November 29, 2023

Most of the promotions across the three firms were in the US, but five of Weil Gotshal's promotions were in its London office.

5 minute read

Addleshaw Goddard Elects Managing Partner John Joyce's Successor

Jack Womack | November 29, 2023

The partner has been head of the firm's Middle East and Asia practice since 2019, and has ambitions to double the firm's size by 2030.

2 minute read

Clyde & Co's Australian Managing Partner Departs for Kennedys

Christopher Niesche | November 29, 2023

Lucinda Lyons had been in the job for just a year.

3 minute read

Expert Opinion

UK to Reform Arbitration Act to Maintain Position as World Leader in International Arbitration

Davis Williams, Jones Walker | November 28, 2023

The proposed reforms, a fine-tuning of the 27-year-old arbitration law that has not been updated since its original passing, are intended to improve efficiency, lower costs, boost economic growth and ensure the U.K. remains a state-of-the-art seat of arbitration.

5 minute read

Countercyclical and Regulatory Practices Dominate Partner Promotions in 2023

Dan Roe | November 27, 2023

Am Law 100 firms are promoting roughly the same number of partners as last year, but groups like debt finance, antitrust and tax are growing faster than most corporate practices.

4 minute read

Global Firms in Japan Rev Up Hiring to Fill Roles and Add Practices

Brian Yap | November 27, 2023

Warnings of an economic recession late last year prompted many firms to impose a hiring freeze, and overseas offices struggled to get headquarter approval for new hires until the third quarter of this year, according to senior recruiters in Tokyo.

5 minute read

Australia's Allens and Gilbert + Tobin Advise in $1B Malt Maker Deal

Christopher Niesche | November 27, 2023

Allens advised the buyer while Gilbert + Tobin acted for United Malt Group.

2 minute read

M&A Lawyer Departs PwC Legal for Australia's McCullough Robertson

Christopher Niesche | November 27, 2023

Natalie Kurdian is the latest of several lawyers to leave accounting giant.

2 minute read

Expert Opinion

COP 28: What to Expect

Silke Goldberg | Jannis Bille, HSF | November 26, 2023

COP28 is a good opportunity to take a step back to consider what sustainability means for each organisation, write two Herbert Smith Freehills lawyers.

5 minute read

Singapore's Promise Proves Slow to Deliver for Law Firm Entrants

Jessica Seah | November 24, 2023

Faced with a down market and increasing competition in Singapore, will new law firm entrants be forced to reevaluate their hopes for Southeast Asia? Lawyers say their sector focus is the secret sauce but is it too little too late?

8 minute read

Yulchon Expands Disputes Practice with Two Prosecutor Hires in Seoul

Brian Yap | November 24, 2023

The double hire comes just months after Yulchon announced the appointment of international arbitration lawyer and co-founder of Seoul practice KL Partners, Eun Nyung Lee.

2 minute read

The Challenger Law Firm Which Puts Staff Before Clients

Christopher Niesche | November 23, 2023

Happy staff mean happy clients, says Hamilton Locke managing partner Nick Humphrey, whose firm spent over A$1 million last year on staff development and training programs.

5 minute read

Australia's Hall & Wilcox Takes Projects Lawyers from White & Case, Holding Redlich

Christopher Niesche | November 23, 2023

Mark Montag joins Hall & Wilcox along with a team of infrastructure lawyers from Holding Redlich

2 minute read

Skadden, McDermott and Slaughter and May Act On Coca-Cola's $1.8B Philippine Sale

Brian Yap | November 23, 2023

Skadden and Slaughter and May are advising the buyers.

2 minute read

Singapore Firm Bayfront Law Lands Drew & Napier's Disputes Director

Brian Yap | November 22, 2023

Paras Lalwani joins Bayfront as head of its international arbitration practice.

2 minute read

Asia Legal Awards 2024 Entry Deadline Extended

Law.com International Staff | November 22, 2023

Deadline for entries for the Asia Legal Awards 2024 has been extended until December 1.

2 minute read

White & Case, Herbert Smith Freehills Land Key Roles in Chinese Miner's $1.87B Botswana Acquisition

Brian Yap | November 22, 2023

Herbert Smith Freehills advised the buyer while White & Case assisted the seller.

2 minute read

Miura & Partners Announces Fourth International Office Launch This Year

Brian Yap | November 22, 2023

The firm's plans to open in Vietnam follows its opening of three other international offices in San Francisco, Jakarta and London in recent months.

2 minute read

McDermott IP Trio Split To Launch Rimon's Japan Practice, Citing Big Law Rates

Justin Henry | November 21, 2023

'The biggest issue is our rates were too high to do patent prosecution,' said new Rimon partner Tomoki Tanida.

3 minute read

Commentary

Law's Lightbulb Moment: Why AI Needs More Time to Develop

Paul Hodkinson | November 21, 2023

The adoption of AI into law will be gradual, not sudden, and we are probably still waiting for that perfect product to arrive.

4 minute read

Top Insolvency Lawyer Starts Own Firm after Leaving Australia's Gilbert + Tobin

Christopher Niesche | November 20, 2023

Dominic Emmett establishes Sydney-based Emmett Law.

2 minute read

Australian Firm Hamilton Locke Takes Two from PwC

Christopher Niesche | November 20, 2023

Partner and director Depart for Australian Firm Hamilton Locke.

2 minute read

White & Case, Shearman & Sterling Engaged on $1.78B Japanese Buyout

Brian Yap | November 20, 2023

Japanese law firms Mori Hamada & Matsumoto and Anderson Mori & Tomotsune are also advising on the deal.

2 minute read

Kim & Chang Adds Former K&L Gates Korea Head in Seoul

Brian Yap | November 19, 2023

Eric Yoon was succeeded by Tyler Won, a partner in the firm's intellectual property, international trade and antitrust practice groups, as South Korea head earlier this year.

2 minute read

What Bird & Bird's Sandra Seah Learned From the APEC Summit

Alaina Lancaster | November 17, 2023

"In Singapore, it's not good enough to say 'I'm good at lawyering,'" Seah said. "You need to be very, very aware of the commercial context in which our clients operate—the business climate and the geopolitical climate."

3 minute read

Ex-Obama Commerce Secretary And China Ambassador Joins Dorsey & Whitney As Adviser

Justin Henry | November 16, 2023

"Chinese companies need to understand our tax laws, the differences between states, et cetera," said Gary Locke. "All of this is really an extension of the work I did as governor, U.S. commerce secretary and ambassador to China."

3 minute read

'It's Career-Ending': How Division Over Israel-Gaza Is Tearing Through Big Law

Krishnan Nair | November 16, 2023

Interviews with Am Law 100 partners and messages seen by Law.com International reveal partners fearing for their careers for disagreeing with their leaders, the policing of social media activity, and lawyers from rival firms getting involved.

8 minute read

HFW Hires 5 Partners From Australia's MinterEllison

Christopher Niesche | November 16, 2023

U.K.-based Holman Fenwick Willan wants to improve its capability to handle deals related to resources and mining between Australia and China.

2 minute read

Withers' Tokyo Partner Lands Deputy GC Role at PAG

Brian Yap | November 16, 2023

Last year, PAG appointed former Jones Day, Sidley Austin and Morgan Lewis & Bockius partner, Gregory Salathé, as its general counsel.

2 minute read

Singapore to Add Layer of Scrutiny to Significant Investments With New Bill

Jessica Seah | November 15, 2023

Once the bill passes, Singapore will join such countries as China, Japan, the U.S., Australia and the U.K., which have comparable investment regulations.

4 minute read

White & Case Among Trio of US Firms Announcing Global Partner Promotions

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | November 15, 2023

Cleary Gottlieb and Ropes & Gray have also elevated people across their global offices.

6 minute read

China's DaHui Launches Office in Wuhan

Jessica Seah | November 15, 2023

Han Kun Law Offices and Shu Jin Law have both also recently opened in Wuhan.

2 minute read

Hong Kong's Hugill & Ip Takes Team of Five from Local Boutique

Jessica Seah | November 15, 2023

The joining of the former Gall team significantly boosts the Hong Kong firm's contentious practice capabilities, particularly in the private client space.

1 minute read

PwC Australia Exodus Continues as Two Partners Leave for Construction Boutique

Christopher Niesche | November 15, 2023

Nine Australian partners have left since PwC's tax scandal made headlines.

2 minute read

K&L Gates Loses IP Partner in Tokyo

Brian Yap | November 14, 2023

Mitsuhiro Imamura now manages a patent office called MIM Intellectual Property Office in Tokyo.

2 minute read

Norton Rose Replenishes Singapore Disputes Practice with Hogan Lovells Partner

Brian Yap | November 13, 2023

In June, Norton Rose lost its Singapore international arbitration partner Andrew Battisson to Linklaters.

2 minute read

Q&A

ICC Leaders on Why You Should Choose Their Dispute Resolution Venue

Amy Guthrie | November 13, 2023

The strength of the institution, and the oversight it provides, weigh nearly as much as the arbitrators the parties select when engaging in an arbitration, the ICC leaders say.

6 minute read

Squire Patton Boggs Takes Shipping Disputes Team From Ince & Co

Brian Yap | November 13, 2023

The moves mark the latest blow to the independent Hong Kong practice Ince & Co, which recently lost eight lawyers, including three partners, to U.K. law firm Hill Dickinson.

3 minute read

Being Part of 'a Modern-Day Miracle': A Nonprofit's General Counsel Sees Purpose

Christopher Niesche | November 12, 2023

As general counsel of the Fred Hollows Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to provide affordable eye health care and end avoidable blindness in disadvantaged communities around the world, Katrin O'Sullivan oversees seven different legal entities across 25 mostly African and Asian countries.

6 minute read

Webcast

The Indian Marketplace: Poised for a Revolution

Jessica Seah | November 10, 2023

Law.com International will be hosting our Indian Legal Marketplace: Poised for a Revolution webinar on December 5, 2023, at 4pm HKT.

2 minute read

China's Haiwen Continues Strategic Hiring Spree with Addition from Alibaba

Brian Yap | November 09, 2023

The Chinese firm has already recently hired five other partners from Herbert Smith Freehills and Mayer Brown.

2 minute read

Commentary

For Law Firm Leaders in the West, Is Asia the Achilles Heel?

Jessica Seah | November 08, 2023

Are law firm leaders in the West out of step with their offices in Asia? With almost 50 countries so close in proximity yet so vastly distinct in a multitude of other ways, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing the challenges Western-based firms face in the region, writes Jessica Seah in the Asian Legal Briefing.

5 minute read

Global Offshore Firms Scramble for China Restructuring and US IPO Work Amid Traditional Deal Drought

Brian Yap | November 08, 2023

A continued decline in deal flow for traditional work in Greater China has set off fierce competition among global offshore law firms for restructuring as well as U.S. listing and take-private work.

5 minute read

Korea's Bae, Kim & Lee Installs New Management Team, Indian Firms Expand Further with New Hires

Brian Yap | November 08, 2023

Lateral movements are all the rage in Southeast Asia.

5 minute read

China's Jingsh to Launch Office Trio in Japan, South and North Korea

Brian Yap | November 08, 2023

If successful, Jingsh will be the only Chinese law firm to have an office in North Korea. It will also be the first Chinese law firm to be operating in the country.

3 minute read

Johnson Winter Slattery, Sheppard Mullin Advise on $1B Vineyard Sale

Christopher Niesche | November 08, 2023

Herbert Smith Freehills is also advising on the deal.

2 minute read

'A Global Outlier': Japan Is APAC's Bright Spot for Institutional Real Estate Investments, Goodwin Report Finds

Brian Yap | November 07, 2023

Japan, with its stable economy and low interest rates, has out-competed most of its peers in the Asia Pacific for institutional real estate investments.

4 minute read

Chart

Milbank Raises Associate Salaries and Announces Year-End Bonuses

Andrew Maloney | November 07, 2023

The internatinal firm's chair pointed to "a very, very busy year" across the firm—one in which productivity was "materially" increased, as well as increasing cost of living.

2 minute read

Winners of the China Law & Practice Awards 2023

Susan Mok | November 07, 2023

Zhong Lun Law Firm and Clifford Chance took the top spots in the 17th Annual China Law & Practice Awards.

4 minute read

Report Raises Security Concerns About Australian Law Firms Acting for Chinese Entities

Christopher Niesche | November 06, 2023

The report singles out Ashust and King & Wood Mallesons as being lax on cybersecurity when it comes to advising Chinese clients. Both firms say the report is inaccurate.

6 minute read

India-based SpotDraft Hires Ex-Legal Ops Chief at Meta and Coinbase for COO Post

Trudy Knockless | November 06, 2023

"Very quickly in the process, after they asked me whether I wanted to do this, I started asking myself why I wouldn't do this. And I didn't have a good answer to that question," said Akshay Verma, SpotDraft's newly hired COO.

4 minute read

Han Kun Corporate Partner Joins Clyde & Co in Hong Kong

Jessica Seah | November 06, 2023

With Wu's joining, Clyde & Co will count 32 lawyers, led by nine partners, in Hong Kong.

2 minute read

Herbert Smith Freehills Loses Aviation Partner Duo in Singapore

Jessica Seah | November 06, 2023

Subramanian and Kohlemainen both joined HSF in 2018 as part of a four-partner defection from Watson Farley & Williams.

3 minute read

Goodwin Hires Debt Finance Partner from White & Case Hong Kong

Brian Yap | November 06, 2023

White & Case's debt capital markets partner Margie Chan has also recently left the firm's Hong Kong practice.

3 minute read

Behind the Algorithms: 3 International Regulators Share Their Approach to AI Governance

Isha Marathe | November 03, 2023

Every country is treading their own path with AI governance. At the IAPP AI Governance 2023 conference, panelists from Singapore, Canada and the EU shared their regulatory approach to AI.

6 minute read

Latham's New Partner Class Is Male-Dominated, But So Are Many of Its Peers'

Justin Henry | November 03, 2023

The law firm's new partner class is 38% female, an increase over last year's 31%. Six of the new partners are based in London.

3 minute read

Stewarts Hires From Norton Rose for Head of International Arbitration

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | November 03, 2023

Gateley has also added a duo from Clifford Chance to head up its own international arbitration practice.

2 minute read

Australia's Hamilton Locke Takes Team of Ten from Clyde & Co.

Christopher Niesche | November 03, 2023

The departures come after Clyde & Co laid off 10 lawyers in August.

3 minute read

Energy Lawyers Have Entered Southeast Asia in Droves. But How Big Is the Slice of the Renewables Pie?

Jessica Seah | November 02, 2023

Southeast Asian projects are increasingly getting buy-in from players and investors from the Middle East, North America and Europe. But there's a lack of large scalable projects in the region, despite the growing level of interest and dry powder designated for renewable projects, lawyers say.

7 minute read

Baker McKenzie Unveils Flat Revenue and Profit

Kasvi Sehgal | November 01, 2023

The firm's revenue remained flat this year, after last year's 5.5% leap forward.

3 minute read

DLA Piper Adds Real Estate Partner from BCLP In Singapore

Brian Yap | November 01, 2023

DLA has been building its presence in the region, saying 'Singapore is a key office in our Asia network'.

2 minute read

Freshfields Builds US M&A Advisory Capability With Latham & Mayer Brown Partner Hires In Tokyo

Brian Yap | October 31, 2023

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has made simultaneous U.S.-qualified partner hires from Latham & Watkins and Mayer Brown in Tokyo in an effort to win U.S. work mandates from Japanese clients and inbound work from U.S. companies.

4 minute read

Chart

'An Administrative Nightmare': EU's New Foreign Subsidies Regulation Turns Into Bittersweet Victory for EU Companies

Linda A. Thompson | October 31, 2023

European companies are facing unprecedented reporting obligations under a new rulebook meant to help them compete with businesses that benefited from foreign subsidies.

4 minute read

Q&A

'When Women Are Less Isolated, They Speak Up More': ArbitralWomen's Founders Reflect on 30 Years of Empowerment

Anne Bagamery | October 31, 2023

Mirèze Philippe and Louise Barrington spoke recently with Law.com International in Paris about the development of the organization, the difference that women make in arbitration, and what lies ahead.

6 minute read

Skadden, Jia Yuan to Help Launch Hong Kong's First Billion-Dollar IPO of 2023

Jessica Seah | October 31, 2023

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and King & Wood Mallesons have also bagged roles on the much-welcomed transaction.

2 minute read

Swiss-Korean Litigation Boutique Launches Second European Office

Brian Yap | October 31, 2023

The firm's latest office launch coincides with the recent hire of international dispute resolution lawyer Arie Eernisse, who was most recently a senior foreign attorney at Big Six South Korean law firm Shin & Kim.

2 minute read

EU's New Foreign Subsidies Regulation Creates Risk for Foreign Companies, Lawyers Say

Linda A. Thompson | October 30, 2023

Companies that fail to inform Brussels officials of foreign subsidies they received could be hit with a fine of up to 10% of their turnover.

5 minute read

Why the Southern Hemisphere's Largest Fish Market Outsources Its Legal Work

Christopher Niesche | October 30, 2023

Saying that a lot is going on at the Sydney Fish Market is not a fish tale. General counsel Michael Guilday is a busy man and he's more than happy to employ outside counsel—as long as they act as if they're in-house lawyers.

5 minute read

Global Law Firms Land Key Roles in Korea's Largest IPO in 2023, Bain Capital's First Vietnam Investment

Brian Yap | October 30, 2023

Paul Hastings has secured a role in two of Korea's largest IPOs since 2022, with Clifford Chance and Allens advising Bain Capital on its foray into Vietnam.

4 minute read

Hill Dickinson Takes Team of 10 From Ince Hong Kong

Jessica Seah | October 30, 2023

The team includes three partners and 'represents a bold step forward' for Hill Dickinson's marine practice.

3 minute read

Reed Smith Takes Regional Investment Funds Practice Co-Head From Sidley Austin in Singapore

Jessica Seah | October 29, 2023

Reed Smith has been actively hiring for its Asia practice and now has 140 lawyers, including nearly 50 partners, across its four Asian offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Hong Kong.

3 minute read

Former Head of KPMG's Australian Legal Practice Joins 'New Law' Firm Law Squared

Christopher Niesche | October 29, 2023

Kate Marshall, who left KPMG in December and then took a career break, will now serve as Law Squared's chief legal officer, overseeing the firm's practice groups.

2 minute read

Hong Kong's Lukewarm Listings Market Sees Second-Largest Listing, Marks First Foreign Company IPO in 2023

Jessica Seah | October 27, 2023

As of Oct. 12, there have been 51 public offerings on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

3 minute read

'Nothing More Important for a Lawyer': IBA Chief on Promoting the Rule of Law

Anne Bagamery | October 27, 2023

On the eve of this year's International Bar Association conference, IBA executive director Mark Ellis spoke with Law.com International about the goals of this year's conference and the role of lawyers and the legal profession in promoting and supporting the rule of law.

5 minute read

Commentary

A Former Latham Partner Shares His Story and Lawyers Are Coming Undone

Jessica Seah | October 26, 2023

Most of the time, we write about the professional side of the legal industry, but now and then we write about the personal. Law.com International's Jessica Seah did that this week, unexpectedly hitting a nerve among lawyers.

4 minute read

A&O, Clifford Chance Advise Stellantis on Its 20% Stake in China E-Vehicle Maker for $1B

Brian Yap | October 26, 2023

This marks the second stake acquisition of a Chinese electric vehicle maker by a foreign automobile manufacturer in three months.

2 minute read

How a Former Latham Partner is Choosing to Redefine His Childhood Trauma

Jessica Seah | October 25, 2023

Kieran Donovan walked away from Big Law to pursue a passion that tapped into his legal expertise in technology and data privacy. It also helped him address his own childhood trauma. In launching the tech start-up k-ID, he hopes to protect children's privacy and shield them from the evils that can be found online.

9 minute read

Mourant Set To Launch In Singapore with Funds Partner Hire from Maples

Brian Yap | October 25, 2023

The Singapore office will start off with an initial team of five staff members consisting of associates and paralegals with Craig Luton being the first partner on the ground.

3 minute read

Paul Weiss Could Adopt Nonequity Partner Tier in 2024

Justin Henry | October 25, 2023

The New York firm is also considering altering the portion of equity partner pay that comes from firm profits vis a vis bonuses.

4 minute read

Carnival Cruises Loses COVID Class Action Case in Australia

Christopher Niesche | October 25, 2023

Carnival was negligent and deceptive, Australia's Federal Court finds.

5 minute read

'It Takes a Long-Term View': How Mills Oakley Has Kept Up Its Remarkable Growth

Christopher Niesche | October 23, 2023

The Australian firm, which is now a national legal brand, has enjoyed 18 years of consecutive double-digit revenue growth.

5 minute read

King & Spalding Loses Energy Partner to Herbert Smith Freehills in Tokyo

Brian Yap | October 23, 2023

The firm's latest lateral hire in Tokyo comes on the heels of the addition of King & Spalding's project finance partner Anthony Patten to its Singapore office in September.

3 minute read