Although Latham & Watkins’ announcement that the firm was shuttering their Shanghai office was maybe less earth-shattering that first appeared (the office has a single resident partner in Shanghai and the firm has stated it will consolidate operations in Beijing, relocating people as required) it is yet another episode in the unfolding narrative that westernContinue reading “China loses its lustre for Western firms”
Category Archives: Market Overview
Seoul the heart of activity in Asia
While most of Asia Pacific’s legal markets are recovering, sustaining, and growing, Seoul seems to have stolen the spotlight in 2023 in terms of activity. Ashurst’s Korea JV was announced in May; DeHeng, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, and Watson Farley & Williams also expanded operations to Seoul. In addition, K&L Gates appointed a newContinue reading “Seoul the heart of activity in Asia”
Legal Move Updates (Jul – Sep 2023)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. July 24 Jul – Baker Botts (Singapore, Singapore) U.S. law firm Baker Botts has tapped Ashurst again for an energy-focused partner in Singapore, two months after it launched its office in the country with partner hires from the UK-based law firm. Andrew Roche, who joins Baker Botts’ globalContinue reading “Legal Move Updates (Jul – Sep 2023)”
Should a Lawyer be a Coder?
“Everybody should learn to program a computer because it teaches you how to think,” said Steve Jobs in 1995[1]. At that moment, programming seemed a foreign language for many industries, including the legal profession. However, after almost three decades, coding is now accorded as a compulsory subject every school child must learn[2]. Should this alsoContinue reading “Should a Lawyer be a Coder?”
Legal Move Updates (Apr – Jun 2023)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. June 22 Jun – Hogan Lovells (Singapore, Singapore) Hogan Lovells has named corporate partner and India practice co-head Biswajit Chatterjee as managing partner of its Singapore office. From July 1 Chatterjee will succeed corporate and finance partner Alex Wong, who has been head of the firm’s Singapore officeContinue reading “Legal Move Updates (Apr – Jun 2023)”
Legal Move Updates (Jan – Mar 2023)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. March 24 Mar – Mishcon de Reya (Singapore, Singapore) Mishcon de Reya has promoted eight of its lawyers to partner—fewer than half the number made up the previous year. The law firm has promoted a single lawyer, Singapore-based Hong Chong Yi, to equity partner—as well as seven lawyersContinue reading “Legal Move Updates (Jan – Mar 2023)”
Tips on how to finish 2022 strongly
2023 is coming soon! Here are our suggested ways for lawyers to have a strong year-end finish. Make the most of the holiday season When many practices are slowing down, and partners and clients are traveling during the holidays, the last few weeks of 2022 are a useful time for lawyers to prepare and tryContinue reading “Tips on how to finish 2022 strongly”
The Lion City awakens
Greater China, traditionally a major Asian powerhouse of lateral hires, witnessed a quiet 2022. On the other hand, Singapore had a strong Q3 and moved ahead of Hong Kong, China, and India as the joint busiest hiring market in Asian Pacific, alongside Australia. The lateral hiring markets in Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia grew stably inContinue reading “The Lion City awakens“
Omicron-related social restrictions impair Asia Pacific Legal Recruitment Growth
When most of the Asia Pacific’s legal markets are recovering, sustaining, and growing, China witnessed a quiet first half of 2022 due to the spreading of Omicron. A strong lockdown has been adopted in Shanghai since March and has been extended into other Chinese cities, including Beijing. With the easing of social restrictions, we witnessedContinue reading “Omicron-related social restrictions impair Asia Pacific Legal Recruitment Growth”
Legal issues and opportunities in Web3
Whether you hate or love Web3, it is hot now because technology influencers like Venture capitalist Marc Andreesen, former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, and Tesla chief Elon Musk are recently debating it.[1] The Web3 advocates also believe it is reshaping the economic landscape. Gartner estimates that Web3 will increase global GDP by USD 1.76 trillionContinue reading “Legal issues and opportunities in Web3”
Omicron wave slows Asian legal markets’ recovery
In January, firms and lawyers were full of hope, expecting a lively 2022 fueled by global liquidity, recovery from the pandemic, and growing opportunities in the tech and biotech industries. However, the Omicron surge in China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, and Korea slowed the recovery. Compared to Q1 2021, we witnessed a significant decline inContinue reading “Omicron wave slows Asian legal markets’ recovery”
Tech Unicorns continue to lure big names from Private Practice in Asia
The news that US IPO doyenne Julie Gao was leaving Skadden Arps to join TikTok owner ByteDance as Chief Financial Officer was initially greeted with shock and surprise by the market but, given a brief cooling off period, it seems like the move makes a lot of sense and is indeed part of an increasingContinue reading “Tech Unicorns continue to lure big names from Private Practice in Asia”
Boutiques target International Arbitration in Singapore
There have been a number of eyecatching moves in the Singapore international arbitration market over the past year, with senior partners making moves few would have predicted. At the turn of 2022 it was announced that partner Simon Dunbar and counsel Kevin Lim would be leaving international arbitration titans King & Spalding for diminutive SingaporeContinue reading “Boutiques target International Arbitration in Singapore”
Slowdown in recovery is real, but optimism is ahead
The ripple effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy and legal industry dominated 2021. We were happy to see legal hiring markets across the Asia Pacific rebound strongly in early 2021. However, the emergence of the Delta and Omicron variants saw a slowdown as we neared the end of the year. That being said,Continue reading “Slowdown in recovery is real, but optimism is ahead”
Private Practice Round-up 2021
Welcome to the new year; same as the old year? The news in 2021 was dominated by something that was emerging as a mere curiosity this time two years ago. Those who had lived through the original SARS outbreak were confident (or at least hopeful) that the then-named Coronavirus would be eradicated in the warmerContinue reading “Private Practice Round-up 2021”
Asia In-house Legal Market Outlook 2022
2021 is generally touted as a year of recovery. Although the economic growth for Asia-Pacific remains the fastest moving region in the world[1], there were twists and turns along the way. As the highly transmissible Omicron variant lingers, we expect the Covid-19 crisis to continue to present challenges that shape the business outlook for theContinue reading “Asia In-house Legal Market Outlook 2022”
Now is the right time to consider changing jobs
When the Covid-19 pandemic erupted in the legal industry last year, many professionals felt blessed to retain their jobs even with the challenges of working remotely and coping with additional challenges like childcare, home schooling and health risks. These combined stresses prompted the “Great Resignation” (also known as the “Big Quit”). As a result, highContinue reading “Now is the right time to consider changing jobs”
Despite ongoing Covid-19 issues, legal markets are picking up across Asia Pacific
The Covid-19 challenge has been unprecedented and persists throughout 2021. However, we are happy to see legal markets across Asia Pacific are picking up so far this year. Compared to 2020, we witnessed growth of recruitment activities in India and Singapore. Both the Australian and Hong Kong legal markets remained relatively stable. After China’s strongContinue reading “Despite ongoing Covid-19 issues, legal markets are picking up across Asia Pacific”
Dentons land where others fear to tread
By Sam Kenworthy It has taken maybe longer than expected but global behemoth Dentons has finally planted a flag in the Vietnam market by forming an association with local firm LuatViet. The Vietnamese firm is not top heavy, with only three partners but over 30 legal professionals in total, but crucially it does have officesContinue reading “Dentons land where others fear to tread”
Legal Move Updates (Oct – Dec 2021)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. December 2021 17 December – Herbert Smith Freehills (Singapore, Singapore) Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has elected Fatim Jumabhoy as its first-ever Singapore managing partner. Jumabhoy will begin leading the Singapore team effective 1 January. (from http://www.thelawyermag.com) 16 December – Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (Mumbai, India) Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM)Continue reading “Legal Move Updates (Oct – Dec 2021)”