Singapore has overtaken Hong Kong as the leading financial center in Asia and ranks third in the Global Financial Centre Index 2022, trailing only New York and London globally. Economic prosperity and a high-end quality if life continue to attract foreign law firms to launch or expand their Asia offerings. On the other hand, China’s legalContinue reading “Singapore leads the growth with China on the track to coming back”
Category Archives: Recruitment
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”
Legal Move Updates (Jan – Mar 2022)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. March 2021 30 March – Midosuji LPC (Tokyo, Japan) Osaka-headquartered Midosuji LPC has hired intellectual property expert Kozo Yabe as a partner in Tokyo from Yuasa & Hara, where he worked for more than three decades. Besides intellectual property, Yabe focuses on risk management including scandal response, digitalContinue reading “Legal Move Updates (Jan – Mar 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”
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)”
Legal Move Updates (Jul – Sep 2021)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. September 2021 30 Sep – White & Case (Seoul, Korea) U.S. firm White & Case has strengthened its global project development and finance practice with the hire of Sungjin Kang as a partner in Seoul from Latham & Watkins. Kang, who spent more than a decade with LathamContinue reading “Legal Move Updates (Jul – Sep 2021)”
How to ace your partner interview
Partner recruiting in general is a complex and lengthy process. It can take anywhere from a couple of months to over a year. At the core of the process are the interviews with prospective colleagues and leaders at other firms. In preparing a partner-level interview, you have to be able to present a compelling appraisalContinue reading “How to ace your partner interview”
How your firm can stand out and hire the “right” lawyers in the post-Covid-19 period?
The competition for legal talent remains fierce, even with the pandemic still hampering the economy globally. While approaching the post-pandemic period, law firms, alongside companies across all industries and sectors, in need of new talent will have to hire externally to support their anticipated quick recovery. Therefore, finding the “right” talent is a core driverContinue reading “How your firm can stand out and hire the “right” lawyers in the post-Covid-19 period?”
Legal Move Updates (Apr – Jun 2021)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. June 2021 30 Jun – McDermott Will & Emery (Singapore, Singapore) McDermott, which is launching an office in Singapore a year after it shuttered its offices in China and two years after closing its operation in South Korea, has added projects partner Merrick White from the Singapore officeContinue reading “Legal Move Updates (Apr – Jun 2021)”
India In-house Legal Market Overview – 2020
India has one of the largest legal profession set-ups in the world, fittingly sitting alongside the world’s largest democracy. Which means disruption, doubts, and delays caused by Covid-19 were exacerbated in this market more than most others. Hiring activity remained busy throughout, however, and it will be fascinating to see whether such activity continues inContinue reading “India In-house Legal Market Overview – 2020”
Embracing 2021 with positivity and aspirations
Dear Friends, Candidates and Clients, I hope this message finds you and your families safe and healthy. We all have experienced the challenging year of 2020, globally or locally, personally or professionally. Pay cuts, layoffs, furloughs, and compensation freezes were everywhere last year. Many in the legal industry were unclear whether things will return toContinue reading “Embracing 2021 with positivity and aspirations”
Are you ready? Legal hiring trends to look out for in 2021
Markets expect the world’s economy will bounce back once vaccination programs are underway. Once economic activity increases in the post-vaccine period, we believe that hiring activities will go back to the pre-Covid-19 level. We have continued to see good levels of recruitment activity in Asia since Q4 2020. Both recruiters and jobseekers should be well-preparedContinue reading “Are you ready? Legal hiring trends to look out for in 2021”
Legal Move Updates (Jan – Mar 2021)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. March 2021 31 Mar – Linklaters (Hong Kong, China) Linklaters has appointed William Liu as its new Regional Managing Partner, Asia for a period of four years from 1 June 2021. William succeeds Nathalie Hobbs who has completed her term in the role and will work closely withContinue reading “Legal Move Updates (Jan – Mar 2021)”
Non-Financial Incentives for Lawyers
As the economy continues to struggle through the pandemic, law firms and companies are increasingly competing to acquire and retain top talent. Competitive compensation levels can be important, but truly effective motivation requires a more in-depth approach and a real commitment to people. In many cases, other motivational non-monetary tools can be much more powerfulContinue reading “Non-Financial Incentives for Lawyers”
Hughes-Castell Internship Program 2021
Grow with Hughes-Castell Hughes-Castell, multi-award-winning legal recruitment and executive search firm, was established in London in 1985 and Hong Kong in 1986. We were the first legal recruitment consultancy in Asia, providing in-depth coverage of the Asia-Pacific region. Hughes-Castell has pioneered legal and compliance recruitment in Greater China, ASEAN and in developing markets and wasContinue reading “Hughes-Castell Internship Program 2021”
Law firms & companies continued to hire despite the recurrence of Covid-19
We saw a good level of hiring activity in July despite the 3rd wave Covid-19 slowing lateral hiring in Asia, especially Hong Kong. As many reports stated that China is winning the Covid-19 economy recovery race, including the legal market, Chinese firms dominate the Asian legal recruitment market since Q2. Since Q3, Australia overtook SingaporeContinue reading “Law firms & companies continued to hire despite the recurrence of Covid-19”
Lawyers Embrace The New Normal
As we near the end of what we can all agree has been a unique year, partners are being asked to sum up the challenges and lessons of 2020. Covid-19 has obviously had an effect globally, of varying degrees in different countries depending on the severity of the outbreaks and the levels of governmental interferenceContinue reading “Lawyers Embrace The New Normal”
Handy Interview Tips to Help You Succeed in a Job Interview
We have continued to see good levels of recruitment activity in Asia. Many companies and major law firms are actively hiring across the region. Early 2021 could be the right moment for you to plan your next career move and get prepared. It is essential to know what kinds of questions to expect so youContinue reading “Handy Interview Tips to Help You Succeed in a Job Interview”
Legal Move Updates (October – December 2020)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. December 2020 23 Dec – White & Case (Tokyo, Japan) White & Case has hired a new partner, Clara Shirota, in Tokyo specializing in debt financing deals. (from http://www.law.com) 17 Dec – L&L Partners (Delhi, India) India’s L&L Partners has welcomed a third lawyer in as many months,Continue reading “Legal Move Updates (October – December 2020)”
HK Capital Markets resilient in challenging market
According to Reuters, a recent flurry of IPOs and secondary listings worth at least $4.5 billion due to launch in Hong Kong will put 2020 on track to be the second-busiest year for equity capital markets in the city. Against the backdrop of the turmoil created by the protests earlier in the year which ranContinue reading “HK Capital Markets resilient in challenging market”