Axiom Asia: Transforming the Business of Law in Asia
In September of 2013, Eric Chin of Australia’s Beaton Capital explained why by 2018 — Axiom may become the world’s largest legal services firm. Founded in 2000, Axiom is among a new breed of private equity-backed alternative providers of legal services commonly referred to as “NewLaw”. These “NewLaw” firms […]
India Addresses Implementation Issues In New Company Law
The Government of India has woken up to India’s poor ranking on the Doing Business Report and is taking active steps to get into the roots of the problem. A few more measures were announced in this regard, the most significant of them, being the long […]
Facilitating China-Canada cross-border investment: A Q&A with Stephen D. Wortley of McMillan
Think Asia, Think Hong Kong, a conference focused on facilitating trade and investment with China via Hong Kong, took place in Toronto June 8. Key among the participants was Stephen D. Wortley, Chair, Hong Kong Office and Co-Chair, China Practice Group at McMillan LLP. In conjunction […]
From lawyer to Tokyo startup entrepreneur: An interview with Nikola Pavesic of Justa
Elise Hu (@elisewho), reporting for NPR earlier this month, outlined how the startup scene in Japan is now beginning to gain momentum in an economy still centered around traditional companies that made it big in the latter part of the last century. The Japanese government, however, […]
The Current State of the Malaysian Legal Market: A Q&A with Eddie Law, Founder of eLawyer.com.my
The Malaysian legal market is currently undergoing structural reform while competition is increasing. Here’s an update on the market in the second quarter of 2015 from Eddie Law, Founder of eLawyer.com.my: How would you describe the overall current state of the Malaysian legal market? In general, […]
With Focus on Ease of Doing Business in India, Modi Government Ushers in its First Anniversary
The Narendra Modi led Government, which completes its first anniversary this month, continued its focus on simplifying procedures for ease of doing business in India. The annual updation to the consolidated foreign direct investment policy was published this month. The controversial MAT levy is being relooked […]
Japan to outspend China on Asia infrastructure
Japan announced this week that it will lend around US$ 110 billion to help fund infrastructure development in Asia over the next five years via the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Asian Development Bank. The announcement by Japan comes amid […]
For foreign law firms expanding in Asia – Hong Kong or Singapore?
For foreign law firms eyeing the possibility of expansion into the Asia-Pacific region, a fundamental question is often: Should we open in Singapore or Hong? The two cities are key financial centers in the region and often serve as regional headquarters for foreign law firms here. […]
Expanding business via Hong Kong the focus of Toronto and Chicago events
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will stage its large-scale promotion, “Think Asia, Think Hong Kong” in Toronto, Canada, and Chicago, the United States in June 2015. What is “Think Asia, Think Hong Kong” all about? How does it benefit companies in Hong Kong and […]
Foreign Investment Opportunities in Vietnam’s State-Owned Enterprises
Dr Net Le, Partner at LNT & Partners in Vietnam and Head of the firm’s Arbitration and Financial Services Practices was among the panelists addressing the issue of state-owned enterprises amid the transformation of command economies on Saturday, May 9th at The Inter-Pacific Bar Association’s (IPBA) 25th Annual Meeting and […]
State-Owned Enterprises in Asia-Pacific’s Evolving Command Economies
The Inter-Pacific Bar Association’s (IPBA) 25th Annual Meeting and Conference are being held this week from Hong Kong ( 6 – 9 May 2015). This international legal conference brings together IPBA members, corporate lawyers, international business lawyers and colleagues from around the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. One […]
Future for Women in Law addressed at Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) Annual Conference, Hong Kong, May 6-9, 2015
Olivia Kung (@oliviahykung), Associate Attorney at Hong Kong-based OLN law firm (@OldhamLiNie) and Vice Chair of the Women Business Lawyers committee of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA), will be a panel speaker representing Hong Kong at the organization 25th Annual Meeting and Conference this week in Hong Kong, […]
Will US Law Firms Lose Work in Asia over AIIB Opposition?
Some Background The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a new multilateral development lender, whose focus will be on providing financing for infrastructure projects in Asia. Founded by China, the AIIB has been joined as founding members by most regional governments as well as the UK and […]
India: Retrospective Tax on Foreign Investment a Step Backward
In the past month the Indian Government took action towards facilitating foreign investment as was promised in the annual Union budget. However, all the beneficial steps were overshadowed by the controversial levy of Minimum Alternate Tax on capital gains by Foreign Institutional Investors. There were welcome […]
Why NewLaw should seek to define itself in Asia
In April of 2013, Richard Granat (@rgranat) asked: Is Axiom Law a Law Firm? in a blogpost which appeared on his widely-read eLawering Blog. And Granat is well qualified to both ask and answer the question. Granat is both a virtual lawyer and a CEO and investor […]
South Korea considers reversing course on legal market liberalization
In 2011 and 2012 respectively, the European Union (EU) and the United States entered into bilateral Free-Trade Agreements (FTA’s) with South Korea. The aim of those agreements was to increase bilateral trade and investment between Korea, the EU and the US. The agreements span a wide […]