Asia Business Law Journal

12/12/2024

Revealed: Japan Law Firm Awards 2024 ✨
https://law.asia/japan-law-firm-awards-2024/

Asia Business Law Journal has carefully identified Japan’s law firms proven to be the best in the country.

We have identified four law firms as the elite of the elite, with one standing out as the Law Firm of the Year. We also recognise four leading foreign law firms, the top boutique law firm, the best new law firm and more exceptional law firms across 25 other categories.

Congratulations to all the awarded law firms! 👏

12/12/2024

Paul Weiss and Milbank have, within the first week of December, confirmed their respective plans to pull out of mainland China, joining a wave of exits by fellow US law firms in the past year.

In their response to Law.asia’s request for comment, both firms said they would continue their operations in Hong Kong — their only presence in Greater China following the Beijing office closure — as part of their commitment to the Asian market.

Paul Weiss currently has four corporate lawyers in the Chinese capital, including veteran partner Greg Liu, the firm’s website shows as of 6 December.

As of 6 December, Milbank houses managing partner Shepard Liu and two associates.

Paul Weiss and Milbank have, within the first week of December, confirmed their respective plans to pull out of mainland China...

12/12/2024

First female KC from Singapore joins Blackstone Chambers https://law.asia/sapna-jhangiani-joins-blackstone-chambers/

Blackstone Chambers has welcomed King’s counsel Sapna Jhangiani, an international commercial disputes specialist, in Singapore.

In 2020, Jhangiani was the first female lawyer in Singapore to be appointed as a King’s counsel in England and was a former partner at Clyde & Co.

12/12/2024

Duo aids Commonwealth Private’s USD3.2bn sell-off https://law.asia/cba-sale-commonwealth-private-lgt-crestone/

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Allens have advised on Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s sale of Commonwealth Private’s personal advice business to LGT Crestone, involving about 500 clients, 19 investment advisers and more than AUD5 billion (USD3.2 billion) in client assets.

“For CBA, which is Australia’s largest bank and one of Australia’s most highly regulated companies, the transaction is important strategically as it aligns with CBA’s strategy to focus on expanding its private banking services,” HSF’s Amelia Morgan said.

HSF acted as counsel to CBA on all legal aspects of the sale, with Morgan leading the team, supported by Fiona Smedley. The team collaborated with CBA’s in-house legal team.

Allens advised LGT Crestone, led by Tom Story and Simun Soljo.

12/12/2024

DeHeng Law Offices has officially entered Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, becoming the first Chinese law firm to establish a presence in the country.

The new office, co-led by William Jia and Dhari Saad Alharbi, is affiliated with locally based DSH Law Firm and it currently has a team of 18 lawyers.

DeHeng Law Offices has officially entered Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, becoming the first Chinese law firm...

12/12/2024

Oh-Ebashi bolsters tax capability with veteran hire https://law.asia/oh-ebashi-hires-hidehiro-utsumi-tax-expert/

Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners has deepened the firm’s tax expertise with the hiring of new partner Hidehiro Utsumi, a tax veteran who has advised on Japan’s largest leveraged buyout and tender offer, in Tokyo.

Management partners of Oh-Ebashi told Asia Business Law Journal that they expected Utsumi, who had joined from TMI Associates, to not only strengthen the firm’s tax practice, but also, from a tax planning perspective, to contribute to M&A and overseas investment practices.

Having started his legal career at Nishimura & Partners in 1996, Utsumi served at Linklaters and Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman) in the first half of his legal practice. In 2009, he joined TMI Associates until his recent move to Oh-Ebashi.

10/12/2024

Duo guides on Korea’s second largest real estate buy in 2024 https://law.asia/prime-office-acquisition/

Bae, Kim & Lee and Yoon & Yang have advised on NH Nonghyup REITs Management’s acquisition of Donuimun D Tower, a prime office building in central Seoul, for KRW895.3 billion (USD 640 million) from Mastern Asset Management.

“This is a significant transaction from a market perspective,” Chiyoung Song of Bae, Kim & Lee who co-advised Mastern along with Jaehwa Park told Asia Business Law Journal.

NH REITs has enlisted Yoon & Yang as its legal counsel. Young Woo Park, Jae Ryun Cho and Eun Chul Choi led the Yoon & Yang team, with Hyeji Shin, Yea Eun Hwang and Kyu Min Lee providing additional advice.

10/12/2024

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Allens have advised on Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s sale of Commonwealth Private’s personal advice business to LGT Crestone, involving about 500 clients, 19 investment advisers and more than AUD5 billion (USD3.2 billion) in client assets.

“For CBA, which is Australia’s largest bank and one of Australia’s most highly regulated companies, the transaction is important strategically as it aligns with CBA’s strategy to focus on expanding its private banking services,” HSF’s Amelia Morgan said.

HSF acted as counsel to CBA on all legal aspects of the sale, with Morgan leading the team, supported by Fiona Smedley. The team collaborated with CBA’s in-house legal team.

Allens advised LGT Crestone, led by Tom Story and Simun Soljo.

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Allens have advised on Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s (CBA) sale of Commonwealth Private’s...

10/12/2024

💡 Japan Law Firm Awards 2024 is now live!

Asia Business Law Journal is pleased to reveal the Japan Law Firm Awards 2024, celebrating the country’s best in the past year.

Nishimura & Asahi won the Law Firm of the Year. It is also ranked among the Best Overall Law Firms, alongside Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto and Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu.

We also recognise four leading foreign law firms, which include A&O Shearman, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Morrison Foerster and White & Case LLP. Tokyo International Law Office captured the Best Boutique Law Firm, while Groombridge Wu Baughman & Stone was named Best New Law Firm.

See the full list and accompanying analysis below 👇
https://law.asia/japan-law-firm-awards-2024/

Congratulations to all the recognised law firms, including:
Abe Ikubo & Katayama
AI-EI law firm
Allen & Overy
Aoyama & Partners
Araki International IP & Law
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker McKenzie
City-Yuwa Partners
Clifford Chance
Daiichi Law Office
GI&T Law Office
Greenberg Traurig
Hibiya Sogo Law Offices
Hiratsuka & Co
Jones Day
Latham & Watkins
Linklaters
Marks IP Law Firm
Milbank LLP
Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners
Ohno & Partners
Okabe & Yamaguchi
So & Sato Law Offices
southgate
Sparkle Legal
Taiyo Nakajima & Kato
TMI Associates
Uchida & Samejima
Vanguard Lawyers Tokyo
Withers
Yoshida & Partners

Discover the top law firms in Japan at the Japan Law Firm Awards 2024. Stay updated on the legal landscape and industry leaders.

10/12/2024

US pair becomes latest to divest from China https://law.asia/us-firms-exit-china-beijing-closures/

Paul Weiss and Milbank have, within the first week of December, confirmed their respective plans to pull out of mainland China, joining a wave of exits by fellow US law firms in the past year

In their response to Law.asia’s request for comment, both firms said they would continue their operations in Hong Kong — their only presence in Greater China following the Beijing office closure — as part of their commitment to the Asian market.

Paul Weiss currently has four corporate lawyers in the Chinese capital, including veteran partner Greg Liu, the firm’s website shows as of 6 December.

As of 6 December, Milbank houses managing partner Shepard LIU and two associates.

06/12/2024

Bae, Kim & Lee and Yoon & Yang have advised on NH Nonghyup REITs Management’s acquisition of Donuimun D Tower, a prime office building in central Seoul, for KRW895.3 billion (USD 640 million) from Mastern Asset Management.

“This is a significant transaction from a market perspective,” said Chiyoung Song, a Seoul-based partner at Bae, Kim & Lee who co-advised Mastern along with associate Jaehwa Park.

NH REITs has enlisted Yoon & Yang as its legal counsel. Partners Young Woo Park, Jae Ryun Cho and Eun Chul Choi led the Yoon & Yang team, with associates Hyeji Shin, Yea Eun Hwang and Kyu Min Lee providing additional advice.

📲 Sign up for the latest updates in the legal industry: https://law.asia/subscription-register/

Bae, Kim & Lee and Yoon & Yang have advised on NH Nonghyup REITs Management’s acquisition of Donuimun D Tower....

06/12/2024

Ashurst grows energy practice with new partner in Singapore https://law.asia/ashurst-energy-practice-new-partner-singapore/

Ashurst has bolstered its energy capabilities in Southeast Asia with the addition of new partner Kok Jin Ong, previously a counsel at A&O Shearman, in Singapore.

“Jin’s practice fits well with our existing capabilities and our strategic focus on sustainability and energy transition.” said Jean Woo, Singapore office managing partner of Ashurst.

Ong rejoined Ashurst more than 10 years after being a trainee solicitor at the firm’s London office. Before joining A&O Shearman in 2022, Ong worked at Herbert Smith Freehills and Jones Day.

06/12/2024

A significant legal case is unfolding before Delhi High Court with the Indian news agency ANI (Asian News International) suing OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, alleging copyright infringement, false attribution and improper use of their content.

Vaishali Mittal, partner at Anand and Anand in Delhi, explores the critical questions about the intersection of artificial intelligence, data ownership and intellectual property rights in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

📢 Sign up for the latest updates in the legal industry: https://law.asia/subscription-register/

Asignificant legal case is unfolding before Delhi High Court with the Indian news agency ANI (Asian News International) suing OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT...

05/12/2024

DLA Piper adds corporate partner to Seoul office https://law.asia/dla-piper-jang-yeo-south-korea/

DLA Piper has recruited Jang Hyuk Yeo as a corporate partner in Seoul to strengthen their corporate consulting services in South Korea.

“Jang has extensive experience in both South Korea and the US, making him superbly placed to support clients as they look to capitalise on the opportunities both markets have to offer,” said Dr Benjamin Parameswaran of DLA Piper.

Before joining DLA Piper, Yeo served at Greenberg Traurig. Earlier in his career, Yeo worked at Lee & Ko from 2012 to 2021.

05/12/2024

Jakarta-based Batavia Advocatorum (B.Av) has grown its dispute resolution practice with the onboarding of litigation partner Raditya Anugerah Titus, who has joined from Makarim & Taira S, one of Indonesia’s oldest law firms.

Syafrullah Hamdi of B.Av in Jakarta, told Asia Business Law Journal that the firm sought to strengthen its market position through Titus’s strong litigation and dispute resolution capabilities, including international arbitration.

Before joining B.Av, Titus had practised at Makarim & Taira S for nine years, including a three-month secondment to Drew & Napier.

Jakarta-based Batavia Advocatorum (B.Av) has grown its dispute resolution practice with the onboarding of litigation partner...

05/12/2024

Raising the bar for directors https://law.asia/enhancing-director-accountability-inter-pacific-petroleum-case/

If a company director is asked to sign off on an audit confirmation request for a customer to confirm that USD132 million is due to the company, what should the director do? Sign and move on?

In this video, Una Khng at Helmsman highlights the Singapore High Court's ruling on directors' responsibilities, focusing on the duty of care and accountability in corporate governance.

05/12/2024

Does the Philippines need a new trading system to guide it towards a domestic carbon credit scheme?

Jose M. Layug Jr. at DivinaLaw highlights the Philippines' need for a domestic carbon credit or EAC trading system to support climate goals and drive renewable energy investments.

Does the Philippines need a new trading system to guide it towards a domestic carbon credit scheme? The authors have a suggestion to...

05/12/2024

Mori Hamada to open second US office eyeing new work https://law.asia/mori-hamada-san-francisco-bay-area-office/

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto has plans to launch a San Francisco Bay Area office, setting out to provide an Asia practice to clients based on the West Coast to tap technology and startup-related legal needs.

To achieve this, the Tokyo-based firm has appointed partner Mikito Ishida to co-lead the new US office. The other co-leading partner will be Stephen Overton.