Mental Health Resources

Mental Health Resources for Lawyers in Asia Pacific   Australia Wellness support for legal professionals Australian Government Legal Service provides links and resources more specifically for anyone as a legal professional.   Mental Health and Wellbeing The Law Society of New South Wales has a Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Law webpage.   LegalContinue reading “Mental Health Resources”

Nurturing the Legal Mind

In 2016, two studies on the well-being of legal professionals revealed high rates of substance use among law students [1]and elevated levels of depression among lawyers[2]. These findings brought the mental health issue among lawyers to the forefront of the legal profession. In response to these concerns, law firms across the globe have started introducingContinue reading “Nurturing the Legal Mind”

Singapore leads the growth with China on the track to coming back

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”

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

Baker Botts Redraws Asia Strategy Map With Singapore Opening

At the end of 2021 Baker Botts announced it was closing its Hong Kong office, just over a year after shuttering its Beijing premises, bringing to an end a 16-year physical presence in Greater China, and Asia as a whole. Not only was this the latest in a number of law firm withdrawals from theContinue reading “Baker Botts Redraws Asia Strategy Map With Singapore Opening”

Building a network in a post-pandemic world

If you are a junior associate or in-house counsel, networking in the legal profession is vital in making connections, finding clients, creating collegial collaborations, and building referral relationships. However, networking for lawyers poses a few challenges in the wake of the pandemic. For more than a year, lawyers have not been able to attend industryContinue reading “Building a network in a post-pandemic world”

Celebrating IWD 2022 with the first Chairwoman in Vietnam of an international law firm

Dr. Nguyen Thi Lang, the first chairwoman in Vietnam of a global law firm, is also one of the first two J.D. graduates from HCMC University of Law and is therefore an ideal role model to discuss this year’s International Women’s Day theme, Breaking the Bias. In this interview with Sam Kenworthy, Dr. Lang NguyenContinue reading “Celebrating IWD 2022 with the first Chairwoman in Vietnam of an international law firm”

IWD 2022: Work together to break the bias

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is #BreakTheBias. Women are encouraged to take action to interrupt biases that may prevent us from realizing our gender-equal goals. In striving to achieve these goals, we must work together to fight against the bias, stereotypes, and discrimination towards female lawyers and women in all walks ofContinue reading “IWD 2022: Work together to break the bias”

Career Paths for China-based Lawyers with Doreen Jaeger-Soong (Part 1)

Doreen Jaeger-Soong, Managing Director at Hughes-Castell, one of Asia’s leading executive search firms, has been an authority on the legal market in China for over 30 years. In this interview with Art Dicker from China Business Law Podcast, she discusses the different possible paths for lawyers and the choices they must make as they progressContinue reading “Career Paths for China-based Lawyers with Doreen Jaeger-Soong (Part 1)”

Advancements in attitudes still being tested by ongoing Covid-19 crisis

10 October 2021 is World Mental Health Day, which seems particularly timely as we continue to confront Covid-19. The legal industry, both law firms and in-house departments, are increasingly seeking to promote the importance of an emotionally and mentally healthy workplace and at the same time demonstrate their respect for the rights, diversity, and individualContinue reading “Advancements in attitudes still being tested by ongoing Covid-19 crisis”

The right time for lawyers to return to the office?

Morgan Stanley’s Chief Legal Officer, Eric Grossman, has demanded their outside law firms return their lawyers to the office en masse. However most law firms who act for Morgan Stanley have already incorporated some remote working into their return plans after the pandemic. The request immediately delivers a real headache for firms trying to placateContinue reading “The right time for lawyers to return to the office?”

Leaders in Law: Interview with Yang Guang

It is rare for high-profile lawyers to rise to a senior non-legal position of their organization. Yang Guang is one of the few hybrid lawyer-CEOs, Vice President & General Counsel of Johnson Controls Asia Pacific, and formerly President-Asia Pacific at Westport Fuel Systems, General Counsel at TRW Automotive, and Vice President & General Counsel atContinue reading “Leaders in Law: Interview with Yang Guang”

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”

Leaders in Law: Interview with Sarah Wang

When the AstraZeneca vaccine was first introduced, it was hailed as a milestone in turning the tide on the coronavirus and now is a global gamechanger. In this interview, Sherry talks with Sarah Wang, Deputy General Counsel, International & Japan for AstraZeneca, about her secrets to success in this UK-headquartered pharmaceutical giant. Highly respected inContinue reading “Leaders in Law: Interview with Sarah Wang”

Conversation with Natalie Kernisant, Chief D&I Officer, Morrison & Foerster

Diverse and inclusive workplaces have proven to earn deeper trust and more commitment from their employees and clients. With research showing the many benefits of a diverse and inclusive workplace (including higher revenue growth, greater readiness to innovate, increased ability to attract talent, higher employee retention), law firms now more than ever are prioritizing diversityContinue reading “Conversation with Natalie Kernisant, Chief D&I Officer, Morrison & Foerster”

Asia LegalTech Overview, Singapore

Singapore has a thriving LegalTech industry more advanced than most of its Asian neighbors, as LegalTech startups and programs have received substantial government backing in the past few years. We believe nowhere else in Asia has the same level of sovereign investment in LegalTech and innovation as Singapore. LegalTech initiatives are supported as part ofContinue reading “Asia LegalTech Overview, Singapore”

Leaders in Law: Interview with Lian Lian

Lian Lian is the Managing Director, APAC at Kobre & Kim, an international law firm specializing in cross-border disputes and investigations.  She started out as an associate at international law firms focusing on cross-border transactions and corporate practice, then worked her way up as in-house counsel at Honeywell through various APAC General Counsel roles untilContinue reading “Leaders in Law: Interview with Lian Lian”

Leaders in Law: Interview with Xiangjun Kong

Today, we are happy to have Xiangjun Kong, a former Head of Legal for Sanofi China, to join us to share his legal healthcare/pharmaceutical experience and tips for young lawyers as well as his thought on the fast-changing healthcare law landscapes in China. Kong has extensive experience in the field of healthcare and life science and servesContinue reading “Leaders in Law: Interview with Xiangjun Kong”

Consultant Spotlight: Sherry Xu

Consultant Spotlight: Sherry Xu Hughes-Castell is heavily focused on international legal recruitment and has a diverse cultural mix, possessing strong roots in China. Sherry is a Director at Hughes-Castell, based in our Shanghai office, and has eight years’ legal compliance recruitment experience partnering with in-house departments at Fortune 500, major Chinese multinational corporations, and top-tierContinue reading “Consultant Spotlight: Sherry Xu”

Leaders in Law: Interview with Joseph Chan

Joseph Chan, Group Chief Legal Officer at Yum China, was the founding partner of the Shanghai office of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and previously a partner of Sidley Austin, based in its Shanghai office. In June 2019, with an impressive law firm background, Joseph took up the top legal role at Yum China, a USContinue reading “Leaders in Law: Interview with Joseph Chan”