Analysis

As we enter 2012, the general sentiment appears to be a positive one. Amidst uncertainties in the global economy, M&A activity is expected to increase through the year in Malaysia in addition to an uptake in private equity investments. Malaysia’s legal market is also likely to see a recalibration of players in the coming year.

Southeast Asia offers an enticing getaway in a stormy 2012. Growth will slow along with the global economy, but Asia’s emerging economies should still outpace developed neighbours. That’s likely to cool stocks, but as interest rates fall to offset slower growth, government bonds should benefit.

Chinese investors in the Middle East are becoming increasingly risk-averse, but can law firms seize this opportunity to bring about a change in their PRC clients’ business culture? Matthew Townsend analyzes the potential opportunity.

The Korea-EU free trade agreement has taken effect, and European law firms are now able to establish offices onshore. But with the Korea-US free trade agreement still awaiting ratification, what does this head start mean for the South Korea aspirations of US firms?

Vietnam watchers have argued since mid-2010 that it was again “safe to go back into the water” following Vietnam’s mid-2007 M&A wave “crash” caused by heart-stopping inflation, constricted credit markets, plunging securities exchanges and debilitating trade deficits." Rajah & Tann Partner Christopher Muessel shares his insights.

The Court of Final Appeal of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has handed down its much anticipated judgment in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ors v FG Hemisphere Associates LLC.

Well informed law firms around the Asia-Pacific are keeping a close eye on Clifford Chance and Microsoft’s recently announced business relationship – to develop a document management system (DMS) based on the latter’s SharePoint suite of products.

While PRC banks are ramping up their lending in support of Chinese companies' foreign expansion, acquisitions and trade, PRC law firms are not just waiting around for their time to shine

West China Cement becomes the third Chinese company to delist from AIM in 2010. Its shares transfer to the HKSE may mark the start of companies shifting their listings to Greater China exchanges and bring about new opportunities for capital markets lawyers in the region.

Talks of Australian law firm mergers may be continuing to simmer,but the real action is happening in the Northern hemisphere

On the first anniversary of Taiwan opening its borders to investment from the mainland, cross-Strait economic ties have been further strengthened with the signing of the Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement.

Indian legal process outsourcers (LPO) may have flagged their intention to enter the flourishing Australian legal services market, but they would be ill-advised to replicate their Indian model in Australia. ALB investigates.

Blake Dawson in Tokyo, Clayton Utz in Hong Kong and Minter Ellison in Beijing: there seems to be an Asia renaissance for Australian firms. ALB investigates

The collapse of the Allen & Gledhill-Zaid Ibrahim alliance is more than just a failure of strategy: it highlights some of the challenges facing Southeast Asian law firms looking for regional expansion

Lovells’ Crispin Rapinet and Hogan & Hartson’s Jun Wei explain why they feel their firms will succeed where others have faltered

A landmark decision recently handed down by the High Court constitutes a setback for foreign law firms looking to enter India

Law firms are developing climate change expertise to stay ahead of the curve

The financial crisis has created opportunity for investment banks Asia to accelerate expansion plans both within and beyond the region.

Are international firms increasingly using the title 'counsel' to provide an extra career path for their lawyers or an extra weapon in their business development agendas? ALB finds that the truthful answer varies from firm to firm and lawyer to lawyer...

As delegates from 16 lawyer associations who came together at the Cross Strait Four Regions Lawyers Summit in Hong Kong recently found, minds must be kept open if lawyers are to contribute optimally to the future development and prosperity of Greater China.