Asia Business Law Journal

21/11/2025

Experts examine regulatory developments positioning the region’s private equity markets for sustained capital inflows.

Featured lawyers include:
Cyril Shroff, Aditi Manchanda and Saloni Shroff of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas in India;
Yuki Sato, Chiho Saito and Taiki Hashimoto of So & Sato Law Offices in Japan;
James Hsiao and Iting Huang of Dentons in Taiwan.

21/11/2025

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin) is scheduled to close its Singapore office, leaving Hong Kong as its sole branch in Asia.

Despite the closure, Akin said it would continue to invest in and expand its international platform, including its Asia hub in Hong Kong.

Currently, the Singapore branch is headed by funds lawyer and partner Olivia Chung, who has been with Akin for 17 years.

“Chung will be relocating to Akin’s New York office,” the firm told ABLJ.

All lawyers had also been given the option to relocate to other offices within the firm’s global platform, Akin said.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (Akin) is scheduled to close its Singapore office, leaving Hong Kong as its sole branch in Asia.

21/11/2025

🏆 The Thailand A-List 2025: Top 100 lawyers and 28 legal icons
https://law.asia/thailand-top-lawyers-2025/

Asia Business Law Journal reveals Thailand’s top 100 A-List lawyers and 28 legal icons for 2025, highlighting the individuals setting new standards of excellence and leadership in the legal field.

Congratulations to all the commended legal professionals! 👏

21/11/2025

South Korea’s Yoon & Yang has hired partner Young-Joon Cho and senior foreign attorney Eun S*k Shin to bolster its global and offshore finance capabilities.

“Their [Cho and Shin’s] arrival enhances the firm’s ability to advise policy lenders, international banks and other regional market participants on cross-border lending, risk participation, derivatives and funding structures influenced by shifting macroeconomic conditions,” Myung Soo Lee of Yoon & Yang, told ABLJ.

Cho and Shin joined Yoon & Yang from Bae Kim & Lee (BKL). Cho had been with BKL for 28 years and most recently served as a partner. Meanwhile, Shin had a 25-year tenure at BKL, where she was a senior foreign attorney before moving to Yoon & Yang.

South Korea’s Yoon & Yang has hired partner Young-Joon Cho and senior foreign attorney Eun S*k Shin to bolster its global...

21/11/2025

The year 2025 has emerged as a game changer in the evolution of India’s indirect tax laws. Although the goods and services tax (GST) landscape has witnessed major changes since the rollout of the GST in 2017, this year marks a decisive shift.

On one hand, the government introduced the next-generation reforms, popularly termed as GST 2.0. On the other hand, the GST law witnessed a host of significant amendments and rulings.

Shivam Mehta and Tanya Garg of Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan explore some of these changes and their impact on businesses and consumers.

India’s GST regime enters a major transition in 2025 with GST 2.0, new rules on bundled supplies, discount schemes, and limits on parallel proceedings...

20/11/2025

The Japan In-House Lawyers Association (JILA) has hosted its 180th seminar, gathering legal and compliance professionals to examine a new frontier in corporate governance: building culture with evidence, intention and scientific insight in Tokyo.

In her opening message, Kyoko Fukiya, chairperson of the JILA training committee, encouraged participants to rethink the traditional role of in-house counsel.

The keynote address was delivered by Daisuke Fukamizu of Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, who introduced the concept of evidence-based governance.

The panel discussion was moderated by Jumpei Ishii of YKK AP.

Joining the discussion were YKK Corporation’s Toshiyuki Komaki and Jessica Kennett.

The Japan In-House Lawyers Association (JILA) has hosted its 180th seminar, gathering legal and compliance professionals to examine...

20/11/2025

Safeguarding consumers: Legal frameworks in Asia https://law.asia/consumer-protection-laws-asia-legal-frameworks/

From stricter e-commerce regulations to clearer liability standards, consumer laws are reshaping accountability across the region.

Featuring insights from:
Rie Hosaka and Risako Suzuki of City-Yuwa Partners in Japan;
Shen Tsung Yuan and Connie Guo of 理律法律事務所 Lee and Li, Attorneys-at-Law in Taiwan.

20/11/2025

Anglo-Australian firm Ashurst and US firm Perkins Coie LLP have agreed on a transatlantic merger to launch Ashurst Perkins Coie, boasting physical regional coverage in the Asia- Pacific spanning from Greater China to Australia.

The USD2.7 billion transatlantic merger allows Perkins Coie to benefit from Ashurst’s finance, energy and infrastructure capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region. Ashurst will gain access to Perkins Coie’s strengths in technology and intellectual property.

Leadership continuity will be ensured, with Bill Malley of Perkins Coie and Paul Jenkins of Ashurst, serving as global co-CEOs as the merged firm enters its next growth phase.

Until the merger formally closes in the third quarter of 2026, subject to partner votes and regulatory approvals, both Ashurst and Perkins Coie will continue to operate independently.

Anglo-Australian firm Ashurst and US firm Perkins Coie have agreed on a transatlantic merger to launch Ashurst Perkins Coie, boasting physical regional coverage in the Asia- Pacific spanning from Greater China to Australia

20/11/2025

From India’s GST 2.0 to the Philippines’ tax overhaul, policy shifts are driving simpler and fairer systems across Asia.

Featuring insights from:
Shivam Mehta and Tanya Garg of Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan Attorneys;
Deborah Acosta-Cajustin, Keanu Castañeda and John Edcel Q Andes of PunoLaw.

From India’s GST 2.0 to the Philippines’ tax overhaul, policy shifts are driving simpler and fairer systems across Asia...

20/11/2025

Ashurst boosts cross-border offering with Tokyo talent https://law.asia/ashurst-hires-chihiro-ashizawa-tokyo-cross-border-finance/

Ashurst has hired Chihiro Ashizawa as a partner for its global loans and global markets practice in Tokyo to strengthen the firm’s Japanese law and cross-border financing capabilities.

Ashizawa joined the firm from Clifford Chance in Tokyo where she was a counsel for 16 years and the head of the capital markets (Japanese law) team.

20/11/2025

Taiwan’s private equity market has evolved considerably in the past two decades.

Prior to the 2008 global financial crisis, international PE funds were active market players in Taiwan, participating in deals across sectors such as banking and cable television.

James Hsiao and Iting Huang of Dentons highlight Taiwan’s evolving private equity market shaped by regulatory reforms, diversification, and institutional capital.

Taiwan’s private equity market has evolved considerably in the past two decades. Prior to the 2008 global financial crisis,

19/11/2025

UK-based Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW) has launched an office in Brisbane, Queensland, led by newly hired partner Christopher Rowden, to expand its international construction practice across the region.

“Brisbane has become an increasingly important shipping and logistics hub for the east coast of Australia to support Queensland’s mining and infrastructure development, as well as providing a feeder base for Papua New Guinea’s oil and gas and mining projects, and the South Pacific islands and Oceania generally,” Gavin Vallely of HFW told ABLJ.

Rowden joined the firm in October alongside special counsel Jason Pungsornruk and Thomas Law, senior associate Samantha Fry and associate William Lowes. He previously served at a principal at Australian firm CDI Lawyers for eight years.

UK-based Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW) has launched an office in Brisbane, Queensland, led by newly hired partner Christopher Rowden,