BOOKING DEADLINE: 16 March 2016 MATERIAL DEADLINE: 23 March 2016

COVER STORY: EMPLOYER OF CHOICE 2016

ALB’s annual survey of the best law firms to work for in Asia is now into its fifth year. The 2016 Employer of Choice survey, open to lawyers working for law firms - from the paralegal level right up to managing partner - quizzes respondents on a variety of issues, ranging from career prospects within their firm to mentorship opportunities and work-life balance. Responses to the survey are then used to pick the best law firms to work for in each jurisdiction, or the “Employer of Choice.”

GUIDE: RECRUITMENT

Accompanying the Employer of Choice list is the 2016 Recruitment Guide, which talks recruiters across Asia, particularly in the twin hubs of Singapore and Hong Kong, on the trends in legal recruitment in the region, both in the in-house and private practice spaces. We also speak to notable managing partners and general counsel on what kind of candidates they are looking to hire at present, and how they are going about doing so.

REPORT: SINGAPORE

As the dust settles following a tumultuous year of mergers and alliances in Singapore, we delve deeper into the legal market in the city-state. As growth remains sluggish and transactional work depressed, which law firms are thriving, and which firms are barely surviving? What are some of the steps firms are taking to make the most of this situation? And where do they see the market heading?

FEATURE: LEGAL NETWORKS

As Asian law firms increasingly look to become international, doing cross-border work and assisting clients overseas, an invaluable resource for them is law firm networks, which help build bridges across various countries. We look at some of the key international law firm networks, and how they are differentiating themselves from the rest.

ALSO: A Q&A with Carl Anduri, the president of Lex Mundi.

REPORT: TAIWAN

With Taiwan coming fresh off a general election, we look at how the new DPP government is looking to change economic and investment policy, and the rules and laws it is passing in that regard. How will the new policies affect, for example, cross-Strait ties, and also Taiwan’s technology industry? We speak to lawyers on the ground about the changes they are witnessing.

FEATURE: ANTI-CORRUPTION

As cross-border trade and transactions increase, due diligence and risk management strategies are required. How can companies manage these third-party risks, and what kind of tools do they have? What are the key elements of a risk-based due diligence framework for M&A and JV deals, and what needs to be done if an acquisition is flagged as “high risk”? Finally, what are some of the key risk factors companies need to be aware of?

ALSO: We speak to general counsel about some of the key challenges they face in combating corruption, and the kind of measures they are putting in place to overcome them. 

FEATURE: TMT

According to a report by A.T. Kearney and Axiata, the ASEAN has the potential to become one of the top five digital economies in the world by 2025, adding $1 trillion to the region’s GDP over the next 10 years. This will be driven by an increase in broadband penetration, higher worker productivity and new digital industries such as e-commerce, mobile financial services, IoT and cloud computing. We speak to top TMT lawyers about some of the key trends in the space.

FEATURE: LEGAL TECH

Digital business models, marketing technologies and data analytics are completely transforming the way that law firms operate globally, but how many are currently riding the wave, and how many look set to get left behind? We speak both to technology providers – about how Asian law firms are embracing technology today – as well as law firms themselves on why it’s imperative to make the switch.