Asia Business Law Journal

31/12/2024

Miura & Partners grows Asean work with Thai office https://law.asia/miura-partners-bangkok-office-launch/

Miura & Partners has expanded its presence in Asia with the upcoming launch of a Bangkok office, the Japanese firm’s third outfit in Southeast Asia, to respond to strong requests from clients previously served via its Indonesia and Vietnam branches for the same support in Thailand.

“Utilising the firm’s regional presence in Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam, our firm will also assist Thai companies in expanding into as well as conducting M&A in those markets,” Ryota Miura, founding partner of the Tokyo-based firm, told Asia Business Law Journal.

The firm has appointed Ryoichi Inoue, a head partner of the Asia practice with experience handling M&A transactions in Thailand and other Asian countries.

Inoue will work alongside partner Taro Tanaka, a specialist in Asian dispute resolution, business and human rights with experience working for international organisations in Asia.

27/12/2024

The In-House Counsel Forum (IHCF) celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul on 12 November with 240 in-house counsel, law firm lawyers and guests attending.

Founded in 1999 by then in-house counsel Daniel W Lee and Jai Wook Lee, the IHCF is the oldest in-house counsel association in South Korea.

The In-House Counsel Forum (IHCF) celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul on 12 November...

27/12/2024

The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Singapore hosted its “Sparkle and Cheer” themed party on 5 December at PS Cafe in Dempsey.

Awards presented during the festivities including best dressed awards to Faz Hussen, head of legal, government relations and sustainability at McDonald’s Singapore, and Nancy Zhang, shareholder at Littler Singapore.

Benjamin Heng, region legal counsel and country counsel for Singapore at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, was recognised as most engaged member of the year. James Collison, director and senior counsel, intellectual property at Mastercard, won the Instagram launch competition award.

Event partners included: diamond sponsor Drew & Napier; platinum sponsors FTI Consulting Asia & Caribbean, Harry Elias Partnership, and Khaitan & Co; gold sponsors Bird & Bird, Cooley LLP, Kim & Chang, Littler, LSEG Risk Intelligence, and Morrison Foerster; silver sponsor Stephenson Harwood; and principal recruitment partner Horizon Recruitment.

The event organising team was led by: Nicola Fell, ACC board director and general counsel APAC at Zurich Insurance; Nathalia Lossovska, ACC vice president and head of legal APAC at Willis Towers Watson; Victoria Child, ACC executive director; and Natalie Dollard, founder of Thirty Degrees, facilitating arrangements and decorations. Photographer W***y Foo, founder of LiveStudios Interactive Photography, captured the event.

The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Singapore hosted its “Sparkle and Cheer” themed party on 5 December at PS Cafe in Dempsey.

26/12/2024

Japan In-house Counsel Network (JICN) held its year-end networking party on 11 December at Pebble Beach Kitchen in Tokyo.

Providing an opportunity to connect with colleagues and meet new faces in the in-house counsel community, the networking dinner was part of a commitment from JICN co-presidents Angela Yuen, deputy general counsel (global legal, tech & innovation) at JERA, and IBM Japan general counsel Anthony Luna to keeping the network connected, updated and engaged.

Japan In-house Counsel Network (JICN) held its year-end networking party on 11 December at Pebble Beach Kitchen in Tokyo.

26/12/2024

The Singapore Corporate Counsel Association (SCCA) held its annual black-tie gala dinner on 7 November at Raffles Hotel.

The event celebrated SCCA’s 22nd anniversary and brought together more than 270 guests from the legal community.

The event was headlined by the 8th Chief Legal Officer Awards, recognising outstanding legal professionals who have made exceptional contributions across three categories.

The SCCA also introduced the inaugural Hope Award to celebrate legal departments’ pro bono contributions that positively influence the community.

The Singapore Corporate Counsel Association (SCCA) held its annual black-tie gala dinner on 7 November at Raffles Hotel.

26/12/2024

The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Hong Kong celebrated its annual party on 21 November at the American Club in Central.

One highlight was a performance by Stuart Palm, a psychic entertainer and founder and director at Third Sight Studio.

Madam Justice Yvonne Cheng, ACC Hong Kong patron and judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, also attended as a special guest.

The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Hong Kong celebrated its annual party on 21 November at the American Club in Central.

24/12/2024

Asia Business Law Journal wishes all of our clients, friends and colleagues a merry Christmas and a new year full of opportunity and success.

24/12/2024

Miura & Partners has expanded its presence in Asia with the upcoming launch of a Bangkok office, the Japanese firm’s third outfit in Southeast Asia, to respond to strong requests from clients previously served via its Indonesia and Vietnam branches for the same support in Thailand.

“Utilising the firm’s regional presence in Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam, our firm will also assist Thai companies in expanding into as well as conducting M&A in those markets,” Ryota Miura, founding partner of the Tokyo-based firm, told Asia Business Law Journal.

The firm has appointed Ryoichi Inoue, a head partner of the Asia practice with experience handling M&A transactions in Thailand and other Asian countries. Inoue will work alongside partner Taro Tanaka, a specialist in Asian dispute resolution, business and human rights with experience working for international organisations in Asia.

Miura & Partners has expanded its presence in Asia with the upcoming launch of a Bangkok office, the Japanese firm’s third outfit...

23/12/2024

South Korean in-house counsel group, the In-House Counsel Forum (IHCF), has appointed an Australian lawyer with 16 years of experience at global pharmaceutical companies as its new president.

At its annual general meeting on 18 December 2024 at the Shilla Seoul hotel, the IHCF appointed Won-Young Jung, one of the current vice presidents, as its 13th president, to succeed C Y Park, who was elected president in 2021.

Before Janssen, Jung worked as a legal counsel at GSK for five years, accumulating experience in the global pharmaceutical industry.

She will be the third female president of the IHCF when her two-year term begins on 1 January 2025, after Eunice K Kim and Jay Son Yang.

IHCF appoints Australian lawyer with global pharmaceutical experience as new president in Seoul, marking leadership transition in South Korean legal group.

20/12/2024

Baker McKenzie KLP JV adds arbitration veteran in Seoul https://law.asia/baker-mckenzie-klp-jv-sean-lim-arbitration/

Baker McKenzie & KL Partners Joint Venture (Baker McKenzie KLP JV) has grown its international arbitration practice with the onboarding of veteran Sean Sung Woo Lim as a partner in Seoul, who has joined from Shin & Kim, one of the largest law firms in Korea.

“With cross-border disputes gathering pace as businesses look overseas for growth opportunities and risk diversification, Sean’s arrival will bolster our ability to meet our clients’ growing needs,” Beomsu Kim of Baker McKenzie KLP JV, told Asia Business Law Journal.

Lim had spent 35 years at Lee & Ko and was the co-head of the international arbitration practice, before joining Shin & Kim in June 2024.

Recently, Baker McKenzie KLP JV has expanded its arbitration team with the addition of several partners, including Sun-young Kim and David Kim in May 2024 and December 2023, respectively.

Both Sunyoung Kim and David Kim worked at Lee & Ko with Lim before joining Baker McKenzie KLP JV.

20/12/2024

Patricia Bunye, Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia’s senior partner and head of the firm’s mining and natural resources department and the energy practice group, is set to take the helm as the new managing partner on 1 January 2025.

Bunye will succeed Joe Nathan Tenefrancia, who has served in the role since 2013 and will now be the firm’s chairman.

Patricia Bunye, Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia’s senior partner and head of the firm’s mining and natural resources department...

20/12/2024

Offshore jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the Cayman Islands play a significant role in series finance transactions as they offer a cost-competitive, tax-neutral and tried and tested means of deal structuring.

Peter Vas of Spencer West LLP explores key legal considerations in series finance transactions involving BVI and Cayman Islands companies.

Offshore jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the Cayman Islands play a significant role in series finance transactions...

20/12/2024

Yulchon grows IP practice with return of partner https://law.asia/yulchon-rehires-ip-expert-keejeong-kim/

Korean law firm Yulchon has welcomed back IP expert Keejeong Kim as a partner from LIN, where he has served as a partner for four years from 2020.

“Kim’s exceptional expertise in cross-border transactions and his strong international capabilities are key factors in our decision to re-engage him.” Doil Son, head of the IP & technology practice at Yulchon told Asia Business Law Journal when asked about the key reasons for the rehire.

Earlier in his legal career, Kim served as a public-service judicial officer between 2006 and 2009 before joining Yulchon as an associate.

20/12/2024

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (AMT), one of Japan’s four largest law firms, has undertaken a rebranding exercise aiming to target significant areas of further growth for the 70-year-old Japanese firm.

The Tokyo-based firm, which added that it would disclose more details on its growth strategy going forward early next year.

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (AMT), one of Japan’s four largest law firms, has undertaken a rebranding exercise aiming to target...

19/12/2024

KCAB names Hyun Yoon Shin as new president https://law.asia/hyun-yoon-shin-appointed-president-kcab/

The Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB) has appointed Hyun Yoon Shin as its 12th president, effective on 16 December 2024 until 2027.

“Fundamentally, it is important to further promote domestic and international arbitration. To achieve this, efforts should be made to address the demands of the new era..." said Shin when Asia Business Law Journal asked what would be his prime target for the next three years.

Shin previously served as president of the Korea Commercial Law Association. He was most recently the concurrent president at the Korea Fair Competition Federation and the Korea Competition Forum from 2019 and from 2021, respectively, until he joined the KCAB.

18/12/2024

Quintet steers Alibaba’s USD5bn dual-currency bond https://law.asia/quintet-steers-alibaba-dual-currency-bond/

Simpson Thacher, Maples Group, Fangda Partners, Sidley Austin LLP (Official) and Jingtian & Gongcheng have acted on Alibaba’s USD5 billion issue of USD and RMB-denominated senior unsecured notes, the biggest corporate bond issue of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region this year.

Simpson Thacher acted as Alibaba’s US legal counsel, with Daniel Fertig and Christopher Wong, and Jonathan Cantor, among the team.

Maples Group’s Richard Spooner and Karen Zhang Pallaras counselled the issuer on Cayman Islands law.

Jeffrey Ding and Brian Liu represented Fangda Partners to advise Alibaba on PRC law.

Sidley Austin’s Carrie Li acted as the underwriters’ US legal counsel, while Jingtian & Gongcheng counselled on PRC law.

18/12/2024

Baker McKenzie & KL Partners Joint Venture (Baker McKenzie KLP JV) has grown its international arbitration practice with the onboarding of veteran Sean Sung Woo Lim as a partner in Seoul, who has joined from Shin & Kim, one of the largest law firms in Korea.

“International arbitrations are becoming increasingly complex. With cross-border disputes gathering pace as businesses look overseas for growth opportunities and risk diversification, Sean’s arrival will bolster our ability to meet our clients’ growing needs,” Beomsu Kim, head of dispute resolution practice group for Baker McKenzie KLP JV, told Asia Business Law Journal.

Admitted to practice in both Korea and New York, veteran practitioner Lim had spent 35 years at Lee & Ko and was the co-head of the international arbitration practice, before joining Shin & Kim in June 2024.

Recently, Baker McKenzie KLP JV has expanded its arbitration team with the addition of several partners, including international arbitration practitioners Sunyoung Kim and David Kim in May 2024 and December 2023, respectively. Both Sunyoung Kim and David Kim worked at Lee & Ko with Lim before joining Baker McKenzie KLP JV.

Baker McKenzie & KL Partners Joint Venture (Baker McKenzie KLP JV) has grown its international arbitration practice...

18/12/2024

Anderson Mori eyes expansion in rebranding as AMT
https://law.asia/anderson-mori-rebrands-amt-expansion-strategy/

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (AMT), one of Japan’s four largest law firms, has undertaken a rebranding exercise aiming to target significant areas of further growth for the 70-year-old Japanese firm.

The Tokyo-based firm, which added that it would disclose more details on its growth strategy going forward early next year.