Asia Business Law Journal

31/12/2025

Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft have announced their intention to merge, becoming Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, the largest law firm combination to date, creating a global footprint covering the Americas, EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), and the Asia-Pacific (APAC).

The merger will establish the world’s fifth-largest law firm, with more than USD3.6 billion in annual revenue and 3,100 lawyers worldwide. It is also set to strengthen Hogan Lovells’ transatlantic finance platform and provide Cadwalader with a global, multidisciplinary firm with regulatory and sector expertise.

The merger will provide both firms with access to more than 140 APAC lawyers across corporate, finance, compliance and investigations, TMT, IP, life sciences, data protection and international trade.

The proposed combination is subject to customary closing conditions, including partner approval votes at both firms, expected in 2026.

Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader plan a merger to form a global firm with 3,100 lawyers and USD3.6bn revenue

24/12/2025

Merry Christmas from Asia Business Law Journal.

We wish you a wonderful holiday season!🎄

23/12/2025

South Korean firms Lee & Ko and Kim & Chang have advised on domestic alternative investment firm Glenwood Private Equity’s KRW1.4 trillion (USD950 million) acquisition of LG Chem’s water solution business, which closed in December this year.

“This deal involved the separation and relocation of part of a manufacturing facility located within an industrial complex, and thus, consultations with multiple government authorities — including the industrial complex management body — were required under applicable industrial and environmental regulations,” said Hyoung Geun Hong, one of the lead partners at Lee & Ko, acting for LG Chem.

Lee & Ko’s advisory team for LG Chem was also co-led by Daehoon Koo and Namgu Ryu, with Ki Wook Kang and Do Kyeom Kim also playing key roles.

Kim & Chang confirmed it had advised Glenwood on the transaction.

South Korean firms Lee & Ko and Kim & Chang have advised on domestic alternative investment firm Glenwood Private Equity’s KRW1.4 trillion...

22/12/2025

Jones Day, which operates in Greater China, Japan, Singapore and Australia, has elevated three of counsel across its Taipei, Singapore and Melbourne offices to partnership as part of a firm-wide promotion of 33 lawyers globally.

Taipei-based Barry Lai, Singapore-based Zack Oswald and Melbourne-based Lauren Moses are set to be admitted to Jones Day’s partnership on 1 January next year, spanning several practice areas from global disputes to private equity and tax.

Jones Day, which operates in Greater China, Japan, Singapore and Australia, has elevated three of counsel across its Taipei,

19/12/2025

Trio drive first UK IPO on KOSDAQ https://law.asia/teraview-first-uk-company-lists-on-kosdaq-korean-ipo/

Cambridge-based TeraView Holdings has become the first UK company to list on the Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations market (KOSDAQ), completing an IPO valued at KRW40 billion (USD27 million), a transaction that entailed cross-border legal complexities.

“The most challenging issue was determining whether UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax would be imposed under UK tax laws, in connection with TeraView’s public offering in Korea, which involved depositing existing and newly issued shares with the Korea Securities Depository and issuing Korean Depositary Receipts in Korea,” said Sung Woon Kang of Yoon & Yang LLC who led the transaction.

The cross-border legal due diligence processes, including reviews on whether the company validly holds all licences and permits that are required, were handled by Kim & Chang and Taylor Wessing.

While Kim & Chang's Hye Sung Kim, Hyungjune An, Jae-In Bae, Jeong Hyun Park and Jackie Yang handled the Korean side, Taylor Wessing’s Liz Wilson handled the British side, with additional input from Ben Eaves.

19/12/2025

Baker McKenzie has strengthened its finance and projects bench in the Asia-Pacific with the addition of project finance specialist Matthias Schemuth as a (partner-equivalent) principal and Asia-Pacific co-head of projects for its Singapore office.

“[Schemuth’s] hire will help us further cement our position as a trusted adviser that is able to assist our clients with their project financing, project development and energy transition needs across the APAC region and beyond, working closely with our local offices,” said Emmanuel Hadjidakis of Baker Mckenzie.

Schemuth has joined Baker from DLA Piper where he was a partner. He also practised as a partner at Ashurst, and White & Case.

Baker McKenzie has strengthened its finance and projects bench in the Asia-Pacific with the addition of project finance specialist...

19/12/2025

The In-House Counsel Forum (IHCF) held its annual general meeting and year-end party on 17 December at the Shilla Seoul, attracting nearly 300 participants who came together to network and mark the close of 2025.

“The IHCF had continued to grow throughout 2025, with the interest and support of its members and sponsors,” said Won-Young Jung, the current and 13th president of the IHCF.

Hong-Sik (Justin) Chung, deputy minister for international legal affairs at South Korea’s Ministry of Justice, delivered a congratulatory speech.

Soon-Youl Jo, the president of the 서울지방변호사회(Seoul Bar Association), said that is South Korean companies want to strengthen their standing on the global stage, “they have to build trust, as well as maintain strong compliance and ethical management; and in-house counsel play a central role in these efforts.

Other guests included Miyang Wang, president of the Korean Women Lawyers Association; Jaehwan Lee, president of the Korean In-house Counsel Association and general counsel at Musinsa; Tak K Hong, vice president of the International Association of Korean Lawyers; and Pui-Ki Emmanuelle Ta, secretary general of the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board International.

The In-House Counsel Forum marked the end of 2025 with its annual meeting in Seoul, highlighting the role of in-house counsel in compliance..

19/12/2025

Lee & Ko, Kim & Chang steer sale of LG Chem’s water solution asset https://law.asia/lee-ko-kim-chang-lg-chem-water-solution-glenwood-pe-deal/

South Korean firms Lee & Ko and Kim & Chang have advised on domestic alternative investment firm Glenwood Private Equity’s KRW1.4 trillion (USD950 million) acquisition of LG Chem’s water solution business, which closed in December this year.

“This deal involved the separation and relocation of part of a manufacturing facility located within an industrial complex, and thus, consultations with multiple government authorities — including the industrial complex management body — were required under applicable industrial and environmental regulations,” said Hyoung Geun Hong, one of the lead partners at Lee & Ko, acting for LG Chem.

Lee & Ko’s advisory team for LG Chem was also co-led by Daehoon Koo and Namgu Ryu, with Ki Wook Kang and Do Kyeom Kim also playing key roles.

Kim & Chang confirmed it had advised Glenwood on the transaction.

18/12/2025

Jones Day lifts Asia trio to partnership https://law.asia/jones-day-elevates-trio-partner-asia-pacific-promotions/

Jones Day, which operates in Greater China, Japan, Singapore and Australia, has elevated three of counsel across its Taipei, Singapore and Melbourne offices to partnership as part of a firm-wide promotion of 33 lawyers globally.

Taipei-based Barry Lai, Singapore-based Zack Oswald and Melbourne-based Lauren Moses are set to be admitted to Jones Day’s partnership on 1 January next year, spanning several practice areas from global disputes to private equity and tax.

18/12/2025

Japan continues to rank as the most favoured and active market for hotel investment and M&A in the Asia-Pacific region, with the buoyant market enjoying just shy of a record JPY1 trillion (USD6.4 billion) in transactions in 2024.

While not expected to surpass this turnover in 2025, transaction volumes are expected to remain steady in a robust market.

Christopher Marc Hodgens, Hayato Kimura and Akiko Hosokawa of Atsumi & Sakai explore Japan’s robust hotel investment and M&A market, structures, drivers, and recent transactional trends.

Japan continues to rank as the most favoured and active market for hotel investment and M&A in the Asia-Pacific region,

17/12/2025

Malaysia’s ASL launches dedicated practice, adds new head https://law.asia/malaysia-asl-launches-employment-practice-rohan-arasoo-jeyabalah/

Kuala Lumpur-based Adnan Sundra & Low (ASL) has established a dedicated employment advisory and litigation practice as part of the firm’s broader litigation strategy, and has hired Rohan Arasoo Jeyabalah as an equity partner to lead the new team.

“With the recent amendments to the Employment Act 1955, expanding employer obligations and enforcement exposure, we see an opportunity to support clients who now face more complex workforce‑management risks,” said Putri Norlisa Najib of ASL.

She added that Jeyabalah’s experience across advisory and contentious employment matters positioned the firm to meet these needs effectively.

Jeyabalah has joined ASL from Harold & Lam Partnership where he was a partner for a decade.

He has appeared as counsel at all tiers of the Malaysian judicial system including the Industrial Court and in arbitrations, and has also acted as counsel in adjudication disputes under the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act 2012.

17/12/2025

Cambridge-based TeraView Holdings has become the first UK company to list on the Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations market (KOSDAQ), completing an IPO valued at KRW40 billion (USD27 million), a transaction that entailed cross-border legal complexities.

“The most challenging issue was determining whether UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax would be imposed under UK tax laws, in connection with TeraView’s public offering in Korea, which involved depositing existing and newly issued shares with the Korea Securities Depository and issuing Korean Depositary Receipts [KDRs] in Korea,” said Sung Woon Kang of Yoon & Yang who led the transaction.

The cross-border legal due diligence processes, including reviews on whether the company validly holds all licences and permits that are required, were handled by Kim & Chang and Taylor Wessing.

While Kim & Chang's Hye Sung Kim, Hyungjune An, Jae-In Bae, Jeong Hyun Park and Jackie Yang handled the Korean side, Taylor Wessing’s Liz Wilson handled the British side, with additional input from Ben Eaves.

Cambridge-based TeraView Holdings has become the first UK company to list on the Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations...