All posts by Asia Law Portal

A forum for discussion of news, information & opportunity in the Asia-Pacific legal markets.

How change is transforming Singapore’s legal market

Key changes transforming Singapore’s legal market are one highlight of a new book by this author which provides “A Comprehensive Guide to the Asia-Pacific Legal Markets.”  Integral to the book was the participation of the region’s lawyers, legal services sector professionals, and law firm management in […]

Tokyo tower

New book provides “A Comprehensive Guide to the Asia-Pacific Legal Markets”

A new book entitled A Comprehensive Guide to the Asia-Pacific Legal Markets has just been published.  Authored by this writer and published by London-based Ark Group, the book begins with an introduction analyzing whether projections for dramatic growth in the region are realistic.  Some of the […]

Griffith park

China’s investment into Los Angeles doubles between 2009-2014

“Investment into Los Angeles County from China has doubled over the past five years” according to two new reports issued by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (@LAEDC], as Kevin Smith (@SGVNBiz) reported in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune yesterday.  “’International Trade Outlook for the […]

Hong kong china city

Distinguishing your law firm among clients in global M&A

In April of 2013, a globally best law firms in Asia, Baker & McKenzie, in association with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) issued a study marking current trends in the cross-border M&A market.  The results of that study, entitled Opportunities Across High-Growth Markets: Trends in Cross-Border […]

Singapore asia law portal

Mayer Brown launches Asia trade consulting arm in Singapore

International law firm Mayer Brown, one of the world’s 22nd largest law firms in Asia, has launched an Asia trade consulting arm in Singapore, according to a media release issued by the firm last week.  Richard Smith (RWS_01), Australian business development professional, also noted the event […]

New research outlines Asia-Pacific regional opportunities for international law firms

Eric Chin (@EricJYChin), Senior Analyst to the professions on strategy, structure, capital, recoveries and removals at Beaton Capital in Melbourne has just published new research marking occasions for international law firms in the Asia Pacific region. As Chin frames: “The Asian Century is upon us. And from […]

Emerson eric

The state of free-trade in Asia-Pacific: An interview with Eric Emerson, Steptoe & Johnson LLP

Free trade in the Asia-Pacific region has received much attention in recent years.   Two major proposed trade agreements are currently center-stage in the region, The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and The Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) “The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a proposed expansion of the […]

Floating ship near skyscrapers

Trademark law takes center stage in Asia

As Paul Kossof, author of Chinese Trademark Law: The New Chinese Trademark Law of 2014 recently outlined in a series of exclusive articles in Asia Law Portal. “On May 1, 2014, China’s new trademark law will come into effect. This law will usher in substantial changes […]

Exploring the Impact of Global L.P.O on the Business Landscape

The global market of Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) was estimated to be USD 13.2 Bn in 2022. And the expectations are to reach USD 134.7 Bn by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 29.6% from 2023 to 2032, according to a report published by Market.us. Legal firms […]

Sun set view

Asia business opportunities outlined at Los Angeles conference

US business leaders gather this week at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business for the Asia/Pacific Business Outlook Conference (APBO).  The conference, co-presented with the United States Department of Commerce, is aimed at helping US exporters and investors target Asian markets, confirmed legal […]

Asia-Pacific region foreign investment rules relaxed

Legal marketing in Asia is all the rage! A liberalization of foreign investment regulation is taking place. It has expanded across the Asia-Pacific region, according to a recent study conducted by international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills. The study, entitled Asia-Pacific M&A Review, “considers performance in 2013 […]

India to lift restrictions on law firm websites

“The Bar Council of India has responded to widespread demands by announcing it is to lift restrictions on law firm websites”, according to a recent report by Melissa Lesh in The Global Legal Post. As Lesh outlined: “The bar is planning to amend the regulation dealing with law […]

Japanese law firms continue Asia expansion drive

Japan’s top law firms are continuing an Asia expansion drive. This is in an effort to assist Japanese companies in their expansion drive in the region – as well as to capture market share from high growth economies in China and the ASEAN region. In January, […]

Five critical strategies for US law firms to succeed in Asia

Law firms in Asia have helped businesses in the long run. Professional services providers around the world have much opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region – should they approach the market with 5 critical actions, according to a new report by Eric Chin, Senior Analyst at Beaton […]

US law firms likely to continue to follow clients to Asia

Anthony Lin, writing in The Asian Lawyer last week, outlined the prospects for American law firms in Asia for the foreseeable future.  The bottom line of Lin’s article comes down to Lin’s prediction that the Asian marketplace will continue to grow, continue to attract US business, […]

Marina bay sands singapore

Asia-Pacific M&A activity high, characterized by intra-regional deals

LegalWeek.com reported this week that “Dealflow and value in the Asia Pacific, excluding Japan, last year soared to its highest level since 2001, according to new data from Mergermarket.  The region saw 2,577 deal announcements in 2013 compared with 2,297 in 2012, marking a year-on-year rise […]

Hazy city view

US law firms in renewed focus on Asia market

DLA Piper and Duane Morris have in recent months both initiated new drives to capture more work out of the Asia-Pacific region. Last December, DLA Piper announced “the appointment of [a] new three-strong Asia advisory committee…designed to create more synergies between the firm’s US and Asia […]

Singapore poised to become the capital-raising hub for Myanmar companies

Singapore is poised to become a magnet for Myanmar companies seeking growth opportunities as they emerge from isolation and face challenges with their banking and financial systems, according to discussions in the Asia-Pacific legal markets forum. Lawyers and financial advisors who work closely with Myanmar firms […]

U.S. Law Firms Facing Competitive Challenges in China

As Yun Kriegler outlined recently in The Lawyer, after spending ten years in Asia, U.S. law firm Vinson & Elkins decided to close its Shanghai office. In July 2013, the Houston-based firm announced that it will shut down its three-partner office to consolidate its China practice […]

The state of private equity in Asia in 2013

The state of private equity in Asia in 2013

According to Ms Julia Leong, Hong Kong’s Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury. Who spoke at the 12th HKVCA China Private Equity Summit on June 11 of this year. “The private equity industry is now a key player in Asia’s evolving financing landscape.” In […]

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Russian nuclear power investments in Vietnam an opportunity for lawyers

As the Voice of Russia recently reported: “Vietnam’s power industry plans to build 13 nuclear power units with an overall generating capacity of 15 gigawatts by 2030″.  Vietnam.net outlined: “The nuclear power market in Vietnam at present is estimated to be worth about $10 billion and is […]

Foreign law firms “flying into” Singapore

Singapore’s central location in the high-growth ASEAN region, it’s status as a safe financial hub and the increasing ease by which foreign firms can access the country, has led to a recent increase in the influx of foreign law firms. Read more: Will Hong Kong’s law firms […]

US law firms set their sights on Asia

Phil Bolton of Global Atlanta reported yesterday that “With its acquisition of a California firm completed and the opening of a new office in Korea, the law firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP will be increasingly committed to international work and focusing even more intently on […]

Will Hong Kong’s law firms adapt to new competition?

LegalWeek.com reported this week that Australia-based fixed-fee law firm AdventBalance “has brought its unconventional business model to Hong Kong with the opening of an office in the city”. The firm “seconds senior lawyers to clients’ offices for specific projects and transactions; agreeing a fixed payable amount for the […]

Myanmar’s first investment

Myanmar’s first investment bank reflects the region’s opportunity for professional services firms

The opening of the Myanmar economy to international trade. The democratization of the country has been widely reported around the world in recent months. As the New York Times reported: “After years of stagnation, change is coming to Myanmar at a rapid pace.  Since taking office in […]

Hong Kong Legal social media

Hong Kong legal social media entrepreneurs gaining traction

I met Stephen Lai, Managing Director of Hong Kong-based Conventus Law, in the eclectic Sheung Wan section, blending traditional and modern, located a mile away from Hong Kong’s gleaming office towers, where he spearheads Hong Kong legal social media. A former Associate Publisher of Euromoney Legal Media […]

Malaysian legal market

Malaysian legal market opening to foreign firms

As Star Online reported from Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian Parliament The Dewan Rakyat passed the Legal Profession (Amendment) Bill of 2012, which will soon allow foreign lawyers to open offices and practice law in Malaysia. What practices will foreign law firms be permitted to establish? Lee Shih, Partner in […]

A platform to discuss news, info and opportunities in Asia-Pacific legal markets, focusing on Hong Kong as the gateway to China.

Hong Kong, China gateway: An interview with Deacons Executive Partner, Jeremy Lam

Introduction Hong Kong is both a gateway into China, but also as a superb conduit for Chinese outbound foreign investment. As the China Daily reported recently, echoing a sentiment expressed earlier this year by Deacons Executive Partner Jeremy Lam in an interview in BusinessWeek.  During the first […]

India's legal industry

India’s legal industry growing rapidly

India’s legal services industry is growing at a rate of about 40% per annum”, according to a report by Daisy Khanna, of KPO Consultants, a New Delhi-based consulting company which provides business solutions exclusively to the Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) industry. While driven in large part […]

legal market liberalization Korean law firms

Opportunities for Korean law firms -US bilateral trade

The Inter-Pacific Bar Association Annual Meeting begins tomorrow here in Seoul – and I thought this would be a good opportunity to outline in particular what opportunities exist for lawyers in Korea and the US to capitalize upon the growing bilateral trade relationship between the US and Korea. Some background […]

Chinese law firm Yingke

Chinese law firm Yingke enters the Israeli legal market – what’s next?

The Lawyer magazine (UK) has reported that one of the Chinese law firm, Yingke – has entered the newly liberalized Israeli legal market. The Lawyer reported that Yingke “merged with Israeli boutique firm Eyal Khayat Zolty, Neiger & Co, for its. The first step into the jurisdiction. The local […]

Asia-Pacific legal

Latin America–Asia bilateral trade growth offers law firms new opportunities

The high growth and increasingly mutually engaged economies of Latin America and Asia offer significant new business development opportunities to law firms and other professional services firms – provided they put in place and execute plans to effectively secure new cross-border business. Latin America – Asia bilateral […]

Law Firms in Asia

Law Firms in Korea: Foreign Firms Can Now Tap into South Korea’s Lucrative Legal

As a result of two recent landmark free trade agreements between South Korea, the European Union and the United States. The South Korean legal market will now be open for American and European law firms. According to Ranajit Dam’s article in Asian Legal Business, South Korea’s […]

Asian legal market

Impact of Asian legal market liberalization outlined at Seoul conference

The panel discussion at the Inter-Pacific Bar Association Annual Conference in Seoul, Korea last week focused on the impact of legal market liberalization on specific legal jurisdictions in the Asian legal market. Lawyers practising in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Korea made presentations highlighting the […]

Law Firms in Asia

Projected Growth of Law Firms in Asia: Market to Double by 2017

Projected 6-7% growth in Asia’s legal services sector over the next 7-8 years will transform the global legal market’s composition and structure, as per Hodgart. This growth presents a significant opportunity for Law Firms in Asia to expand and tap into the rapidly expanding market. Hodgart […]