COVER STORY: M&A RANKINGS 2017

In its annual ranking of Asia’s best firms in the mergers and acquisitions space, ALB names the go-to law firms in each major jurisdiction when it comes to M&A. Submissions are now open; please email eileen.ang@thomsonreuters.com to request a submission form.

FEATURE: SHIPPING

The global marine shipping industry is consolidating rapidly, leading to a new trend toward so-called “megashippers.” Last year, Japanese container lines Nippon Yusen KK, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha agreed to join businesses, and more recently Cosco Shipping offered $6.3 billion to acquire Hong Kong’s Orient Overseas International. We look at what this means for the industry, and the lawyers doing shipping and maritime work.

REPORT: KOREA

Much uncertainty today surrounds South Korea due to factors like Brexit, Trump’s trade policies, the North Korea threat, domestic instability following the impeachment and ouster of President Park, and more. This has led to foreign direct investment in South Korea decreasing for the first time in two years in the first half of this year, and the new administration has its hands full enacting all its policies. We speak to law firms about what the immediate future holds.

FEATURE: CONSTRUCTION

China’s Belt & Road Initiative is expected to spur a boom of construction in Southeast Asia, including roads, bridges, ports and more, and this will generate a significant amount of legal work as well. We look at how law firms in the region are preparing themselves for this.

REPORT: THAILAND

IPOs in Thailand have raised $884 million in the first half of the year, but the country is aiming for much more in the second half, with $8 billion of IPOs targeted in 2017. This would be a massive boost for Thailand’s SET, which has seen new listings dwindle since 2013, and has been among the worst performing exchanges in the Southeast Asian region. We look at the capital markets landscape in Thailand, and speak to lawyers about the trends they are seeing – and expect to see.

FEATURE: LABOUR + EMPLOYMENT

As employment law become increasingly sophisticated in Asia’s fast-growing markets, law firms have been expanding their employment practices as clients seek more in-depth legal advice. We speak to some key law firms about their employment practices, and some of the trends they are seeing.

MANAGING PARTNER ROUNDTABLE: INDONESIA

We speak to the leaders of three top law firms in Indonesia about the kind of work their firms are doing, the obstacles the legal industry is facing, and what the immediate future looks like.

FEATURE: INVESTMENT IN INDONESIA

Rating agency Standard & Poor recently upgraded Indonesia's sovereign ratings to investment grade, in a long-awaited move that sent Jakarta shares soaring on hopes it could spur a wave of investment into Southeast Asia's biggest economy. We speak to law firms about some of the challenges that investors face, and how the firms are helping clients overcome them.

FEATURE: E-DISCOVERY

We look at some of the cutting-edge trends in ediscovery that have become widespread in the past few months, including increased use of AI and analytics, the important of analytics-based workflows, the increased emphasis on cybersecurity and data privacy, improvements in privilege review, and the expanded use of ediscovery beyond just litigation.

FEATURE: INSOLVENCY

New legislation to manage failing financial institutions came into force in Hong Kong recently, putting the city ahead of its regional rivals in establishing a regulatory framework to protect tax payers from having to bail out struggling banks. We speak to lawyers in Hong Kong about the impact the legislation will have.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Amantha Chia Head of Legal Media Business
T: +65 6870 3917 / M: +65 9642 9895 / E: amantha.chia@thomsonreuters.com
18 Science Park Drive, Singapore 118229

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