Singapore’s Drew strengthens India offering with new disputes director
Singapore heavyweight Drew & Napier has bolstered its India-focused disputes practice with the addition of international arbitration specialist Abhinav Bhushan as a director in Singapore.

South Korea’s DR & AJU launches legal AI Q&A chatbot
South Korean law firm DR & AJU Law Group has launched a legal chatbot powered by artificial intelligence, called AI DR & AJU, which it says is the first of its kind in the country.

Orrick closes in Shanghai, Taipei as Greater China retreat continues
U.S. law firm Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe will consolidate its China offering into its Beijing office after deciding not to renew its lease in Shanghai, a spokesperson has confirmed. It has also terminated its lease and operations in Taipei.

Withers enters into association with Indonesian boutique Karna
UK law firm Withers has broadened its ASEAN offering after entering into a formal association with Indonesian boutique Karna Partnership.

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Skadden advises on Trial Holding’s $258 mln Japan IPO
U.S law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom has advised Japanese discount-store chain operator Trial Holdings on its $258 million initial public offering on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), the largest IPO of the year so far.

Vietnam’s Asia Counsel forms European alliance, hires partner from rival
Vietnamese boutique Asia Counsel has announced that it has entered into an alliance with European law firm Kinstellar, and also hired M&A veteran Justin Gisz as a partner from local rival Frasers Law Company.

IPO landscape: The lure of tax benefits to the companies [Brought to You by Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan]
The year 2023 has been a special year for Initial Public Offerings (IPO) in India as activity slowed in other major markets across the globe.  India has seen a surge in IPOs, as more and more companies including starts ups are raising capital from the primary market. A company may choose to structure the IPO as (i) a fresh issue, (ii) an Offer for Sale (OFS), in which existing shareholders sell a portion of their existing shareholding in the company to the public, or (iii) a combination of a fresh issue and an OFS. OFS offers an exit for early investors in the company.  Also, generally post the IPO, the employees also get an opportunity to liquidate the shares allotted to them by the companies against the Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOP).

Saraf adds ELP securities pro in first 2024 partner hire
Indian law firm Saraf and Partners has continued its aggressive expansion from last year with the addition of Abhiraj Arora as a partner in its securities and regulatory practice. Arora joins from Economic Laws Practice, where he was associate partner.

CRS gets arbitration capability in SG with hire from K&S
Private client specialist firm Charles Russell Speechlys has hired international arbitration and investigations expert Peter Brabant as a partner in its recently opened Singapore office from King & Spalding, where he was a counsel.

Indonesia’s FKNK adds corporate partner
Indonesian boutique FKNK Law Firm has hired M&A pro Meilisa Husein as a partner in Jakarta. Husein was most recently running her own firm, Meilisa Husein & Partners.

Seoul: Dentons Lee makes senior healthcare hire from Jipyong
Dentons Lee, the Korea member firm of Dentons, has bolstered its healthcare practice by tapping Bernard Ham to head its Life Sciences and Healthcare practice as a senior foreign attorney.


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