DOCSLIB.ORG

Bold Ideas and Fresh Thinking in Asia's Legal Industry

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Bold Ideas and Fresh Thinking in Asia's Legal Industry TIME OF RECKONING Singapore’s legal market at the crossroads GROWING ARSENAL Litigators have an array of tech tools to choose from GETTING ON TRACK A closer look at the ASEAN’s railway plans BOLD IDEAS AND FRESH THINKING IN MCI (P) 060/02/2017 ISSN 0219 – 6875 ASIA’S LEGAL INDUSTRY KDN PPS 1867/10/2015(025606) BUSINESS, LAW AND THE “INTERNET OF THINGS” 5 APRIL 2017 / 9AM - 5PM / SINGAPORE The “internet of things” (IoT) already exists, is growing interviews and round-table discussions with actual IoT rapidly, and is beginning to have a significant effect on developers, regulators and highly experienced lawyers. business structures, commercial contracts and contract • Make a crucial and positive contribution to the future management in all sectors. Research conducted by Cisco of your business by knowing how to address the legal predicts up to 50 billion connected devices by 2020, up requirements that come with adopting IoT solutions from approximately 18 billion in 2015. What are the legal (particularly those related to contractual relationships). and business ramifications of these developments? 6 Public Asian Legal Business presents an intensive one-day PRICING: workshop that equips you with the knowledge to stay Standard Rate: SGD1,000 CPD points ahead of the game. Get a detailed understanding of the Early Bird: SGD 800 (ends 22 March 2017) Practice Area: Corporate/ legal ramifications of IoT such as cyber security, data Group price: SAVE ADDITIONAL 20% - Register five Commercial protection and contractual obligations. participants from your organisation and the fifth person Training Level: General attends for free. SILE Attendance Guidelines: TARGET AUDIENCE: Participants who wish to claim • Senior in-house counsel/general counsel To register for this event, go to: CPD Points are reminded that • Private practice lawyers www.regonline.com/IoT2017_SG they must comply strictly with • Chief Technology Officer (CTO) the Attendance Policy set out in the CPD Guidelines. This includes • IT coordinators / consultants For more information about this event, go to: signing in on arrival and signing • Procurement specialists and contract managers www.legalbusinessonline.com/masterclass/IoT2017_SG out at the conclusion of the activity • Legal departments in government bodies/regulators in the manner required by the CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: organiser, and not being absent from the entire activity for more BENEFITS OF ATTENDING: Taranjit Kaur than 15 minutes. Participants • Be ahead of the game by getting a detailed +65 6870 3909 who do not comply with the understanding of the legal ramifications of IoT such [email protected] Attendance Policy will not be as cyber security, data protection and contractual able to obtain CPD Points for attending the activity. Please refer obligations through revealing case studies. to www.sileCPDcentre.sg for more • Get insider information by listening to extracts from information. AGENDA: 8.30am or less contract management? • What is a “Decentralized because your organization uses Registration • What happens when there is a Autonomous Organisation” IoT breach of contract? (DAO). Is it really a new business • What are the lessons of the 9.00am structure? If so, how does it work? October 2016 Dyn cyber-attack? The fourth industrial revolution? 10.00am • What is the relationship between What is IoT? Where are the Data: who owns, controls and has start-ups, universities and 3.00pm opportunities? responsibility for data generated by established business? Afternoon tea break • More than just “self-driving cars”: IoT devices • What are the key issues for joint bringing the internet into the • Making sense of the “truck load ventures and acquisitions? 3.30pm physical world of sand”: IoT and fine-grained • How can business models adapt Drafting and negotiating key • Standards, platforms and data analysis to embrace IoT? contract terms: what are the main interoperability • Blockchain, distributed ledger • Data and privacy: the risks issues • Streamlined processes and “just and data protection involved in cross border transfers • Intellectual Property (IP) rights in time” fulfillment • Data collection, retention, and offshore storage • Warranties and indemnities: what • Asset-tracking and dynamic analysis and monetisation: who you need to cover contracts benefits? 12.30pm • Limiting and excluding liability • Real-time data and analytics • Data security: who is responsible? Networking luncheon • Drafting for dispute resolution in for government, business and Who is liable? an online world without borders individuals • Compliance in the cloud: how to 1.30pm ensure adequate protection The issue of liabilities 5.00pm 9.15am • What are the principal legal and End of event Dynamic contracts and supply 10.30am compliance risks? chain efficiency Morning tea break • How far does existing law cover • How do “smart” or “dynamic” novel situations likely to arise contracts work? 11.00am from the IoT? • When, how and where are Business structure and IoT • How is the law developing around dynamic contracts formed? • How is IoT development being the world to accommodate IoT? • Do dynamic contracts mean more organised and funded? • Are you at risk of liability just CONTENTS MARCH 2017 38 Employees of a solar farm company walk between panels at the farm in Nakorn Ratchasima province, Thailand. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha COVER STORY FEATURES BRIEFS 20 18 back of consumer 36 3 ALB Innovation In-house Q&A promise Keeping ASEAN The Briefing List 2017 In conversation on track In our annual list with Jeff Bullwinkel, 30 Countries in 6 spotlighting new ideas associate general Time to build Southeast Asia have Q&A and fresh thinking counsel and director In the first of our series plans to build a rail within Asia’s legal of corporate, external on Chinese investment network connecting 6 industry, we spotlight & legal affairs, Asia into Southeast Asian the entire region. Asia Deals 15 organisations that Pacific and Japan, at countries, we look These ambitious are making waves Microsoft at the Philippines, transportation 8 with their innovative which recently signed projects, however, face Appointments approaches 24 a massive investment complex legal and BY RAJ GUNASHEKAR City at the crossroads and financing package regulatory challenges 10 Law firms in Singapore with China Startup Talk are now facing a fairly 38 clear choice: to react 32 Bright future 16 quickly to the changes Brave new world As part of its League Tables happening to the As commercial integrated energy industry, or risk being disputes increase blueprint, the Thai left behind across Asia, support government is placing services for litigation increasing emphasis 28 and arbitration are on solar power, and Looking inwards mushrooming as well, lawyers are already Inbound China M&A with technology firms witnessing an uptick takes flight on the playing a big part in related work LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS – MARCH 2017 1 NEW TRICKS FOR AN OLD PROFESSION. The winds of change sweeping the legal industry have today reached gale-force proportions. Firms are beginning to realise they are under siege, from a combination of increasing competition, changing client habits and fast- evolving technology in the legal space. Severe disruptions to the industry have meant that old ways of thinking are just not PUBLISHER Amantha Chia valid any more, and choosing not to change – or changing [email protected] too slowly – can be a surefire recipe for disaster. If the writing isn’t already on the wall for legal service providers, there’s a MANAGING EDITOR good chance a jolt of the new reality will hit them very soon. Ranajit Dam [email protected] The time, then, has come to discard the old ways and embrace innovation – begin making changes to the way NORTH ASIA JOURNALIST you do the most basic of things, and adopt an attitude of John Kang nimbleness and flexibility along the way. It is not an easy [email protected] sell, for the legal industry has been notoriously resistant to ASSOCIATE EDITORS change. Just by the virtue of being the kind of word it is, Eileen Ang “innovation” is easily misconstrued and frequently brushed [email protected] off, a fuzzy word that is more closely associated with Raj Gunashekar meaningless management-speak than it should be. [email protected] For at its most simple, innovation implies nothing more SENIOR DESIGNER than simply a new method, idea or product. And that is its John Agra RANAJIT DAM greatest strength as well, for innovation can provide simple [email protected] Managing Editor, solutions to many of the complex problems that the legal Asian Legal Business industry sector today. And this innovation doesn’t have to be TRAFFIC / CIRCULATION MANAGER Thomson Reuters Rozidah Jambari anything absolutely revolutionary. A change in mindset can [email protected] be innovative, as can be rethinking the most basic processes to deliver effective results. So read the writing on the wall, ACCOUNT MANAGERS Shyanne Chen look hard in the mirror and get started. Advertising Sales Manager (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore) (65) 6870 3253 [email protected] Henry Cheng Account Manager (Hong Kong, Korea) (852) 2847 2016 [email protected] Amy Sim Sales Manager (Japan, Singapore, Taiwan) (65) 6870 3348 ERRATUM [email protected] In the “Firms To Watch” feature in the February issue of Asian Legal Sardor Yangibayev
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Lion and the Tiger
    Trade & investment Cover story The lion and the tiger Singapore is seeking to enhance its standing as India’s business hub for Asia. Yet as India’s legal and financial markets mature, its reliance on offshore expertise and capital may be falling Vandana Chatlani reports elcome to Singapore – India’s most efficient city. a partner at Clifford Chance. It may be working: “A number At least that’s how the Singaporean government of Indians joke that Singapore is India’s fifth metro,” says W would like its equatorial republic to be perceived. Narayan Iyer, a partner at Linklaters. “The biggest metro ... Singapore has worked hard to strengthen ties with India and and everything works!” promote the city as a base for inbound and outbound Indian Indians comprise Singapore’s third-largest ethnic group investment. The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and have played a prominent role in its political and economic Agreement signed between the two countries on 1 August development. Ethnic Indians such as Singapore’s sixth and 2005 focuses on bilateral investment, trade, security and edu- current president, SR Nathan, continue to hold high office. It is cational interests and is the first such extensive agreement even believed that the Sanskrit words simha and puram – lion between India and any of its trading partners. city – gave the island its name. “The Singapore government is encouraging people to think “Singapore has a significant and very successful Indian of Singapore as another state of India,” says Rahul Guptan, population, throughout the Singaporean legal community, November 2009 India Business Law Journal 19 Cover story Trade & investment The Singapore government is International legal hub encouraging people to think Most foreign law firms operating in Singapore provide of Singapore as another English, US or Australian law advice.
    [Show full text]
  • Innovative Lawyers 2016
    INNOVATIVE LAWYERS 2016 OCTOBER62016 FT.COM/INNOVATIVE-LAWYERS RESEARCH PARTNER SUPPORTEDBY Foreword Innovations abound with Europe in flux INNOVATIVE LAWYERS 2016 This editionofFTInnovativeLawyers, our11th, appears at a OCTOBER 62016 time of upheaval across thecontinent.Two bigconundrumsfor FT.COM/INNOVATIVE-LAWYERS thecitizens, businesses andinstitutionsofEuropewill test the foresightand ingenuityoflegal professionalsfor yearstocome: theaftermath of theUKvoteonJune23toleave theEU, and theintensifyingrefugee andmigrant crisis.Inthismagazine, we show howlawyers arealready innovating to address both (Brexit, page 8; Social Responsibility,page12). Thebusiness worldasseenthrough thelensoflawyers is changing too—new industries andalliancesare erodingthe RESEARCH PARTNER SUPPORTEDBY traditionallines of competitionand separation of sectorsfaster than ever,forcinglawyers to getahead.Lawyers areresponding by creating newtypes of firms,blurring oldboundaries in EDITOR Harriet Arnold search of newsolutions.The individual lawyer,the nature of ASSISTANT EDITOR legaladviceand theway in whichthatadviceisdelivered are Josh Spero undergoing deep change. PRODUCTION EDITOR George Kyriakos In addition,there arenew centresofpower andchangein ART DIRECTOR thelegal industry:millennialsrefusingthe partnershiptrack; Kostya Penkov DESIGNERS technologistsintroducing artificialintelligence; andgeneral Harriet Thorne, Callum Tomsett counselactingasentrepreneurs, rather than just as lawyers. PICTURE EDITORS MichaelCrabtree,AlanKnox Againstthisbackdrop, theFinancial
    [Show full text]
  • Reporter Issue 02 (2019)
    Reporter Issue 02 (2019) Dentons Rodyk Dialogue 2019 Privacy in the Age of Social Data privacy, data IN THIS ISSUE Media and Data Breaches security, and cyber Dentons Rodyk Dialogue 2019 1 After more than a decade of security Singapore Ministry of Health 4 individuals giving up their publishes fee benchmarks for personal data for the It seems that every breath we surgical procedures in the convenience and utility of take leaves a trace in the ether. private sector networking and messaging at no The volume of data collected Business Bulletin cost, the perils and dangers of every day is mind-boggling. Singapore Budget 2019: Tax 6 doing so have been brought Developments home by scandals over how In his Opening Address, Dr personal data has been exploited Puthucheary delineated three Inward Re-domiciliation – 10 for political and commercial gain, areas for discussion: data Practical Pointers as well as multiple serious data privacy, data security and cyber IP Edge security. First, data privacy raises breaches. Governments, The “new” 2014 Geographical 12 regulators and business need to the question of whether the use Indications Act respond to this crisis, and the of personal data collected by Litigation Briefs question of how best to do so private companies is sufficiently was the subject of the Dentons controlled by the mechanism of Need for Speed: Get your 16 Anti-Suit Injunction Fast! Rodyk Dialogue 2019. requiring consent from users, given that many users would Legal Update: Delayed 19 The Dentons Rodyk Dialogue neither read nor necessarily detection of lung cancer – 2019 marked the third year of the understand the lengthy terms and a patient’s suit against a partnership between Dentons conditions they agree to.
    [Show full text]
  • Transnational Law Practice
    Case Western Reserve Law Review Volume 44 Issue 2 Article 10 1994 Transnational Law Practice Richard L. Abel Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/caselrev Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Richard L. Abel, Transnational Law Practice, 44 Case W. Rsrv. L. Rev. 737 (1994) Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/caselrev/vol44/iss2/10 This Symposium is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Journals at Case Western Reserve University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Case Western Reserve Law Review by an authorized administrator of Case Western Reserve University School of Law Scholarly Commons. TRANSNATIONAL LAW PRACTICE Richard L. Abelt T RANSNATIONAL law practice has grown dramatically in recent years, but scholarship has not kept pace. This Article fills the void in three different, yet related, ways. The first section seeks to explain the patterns of transnational law practice that have emerged in recent decades. The second describes the constraints on transnational practice, especially those imposed by national and supranational regulation. I conclude with proposals about how lawyers, professional organizations, and governments should regulate transnational law practice. Since there is no comprehensive account of the growth of transnational law practice, I have appended one, drawn from a wide variety of sources, including Martindale-Hubbell, the International Financial Law Review, and Business Lawyer,' as well as a dozen interviews with lawyers in t Professor, U.C.L.A. (B.A., 1962, Harvard; LL.B., 1965, Columbia; Ph.D., 1974, London). 1. In addition to the sources cited throughout the entire article, I have benefitted from consulting a number of sources, see generally MARC GALANTER & THOMAS PALAY, TOURNAMENT OF LAWYERS: THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE BIG LAW FIRM (1991); LAW FIRMS IN EUROPE (John Pritchard ed., 1992); Alice Finn, Foreign Lawyers: Regulation of Foreign Lawyers in Japan, 28 HARV.
    [Show full text]
  • 4 Comparative Law and Constitutional Interpretation in Singapore: Insights from Constitutional Theory 114 ARUN K THIRUVENGADAM
    Evolution of a Revolution Between 1965 and 2005, changes to Singapore’s Constitution were so tremendous as to amount to a revolution. These developments are comprehensively discussed and critically examined for the first time in this edited volume. With its momentous secession from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965, Singapore had the perfect opportunity to craft a popularly-endorsed constitution. Instead, it retained the 1958 State Constitution and augmented it with provisions from the Malaysian Federal Constitution. The decision in favour of stability and gradual change belied the revolutionary changes to Singapore’s Constitution over the next 40 years, transforming its erstwhile Westminster-style constitution into something quite unique. The Government’s overriding concern with ensuring stability, public order, Asian values and communitarian politics, are not without their setbacks or critics. This collection strives to enrich our understanding of the historical antecedents of the current Constitution and offers a timely retrospective assessment of how history, politics and economics have shaped the Constitution. It is the first collaborative effort by a group of Singapore constitutional law scholars and will be of interest to students and academics from a range of disciplines, including comparative constitutional law, political science, government and Asian studies. Dr Li-ann Thio is Professor of Law at the National University of Singapore where she teaches public international law, constitutional law and human rights law. She is a Nominated Member of Parliament (11th Session). Dr Kevin YL Tan is Director of Equilibrium Consulting Pte Ltd and Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore where he teaches public law and media law.
    [Show full text]
  • Singapore Management University School of Law Commencement 2011 29 July 2011
    Singapore Management University School of Law Commencement 2011 29 July 2011 Keynote Address by Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong Minister for Education, Mr. Heng Swee Keat, Chancellor, Mr. Yong Pung How, Chairman, SMU Board of Trustees, Mr. Ho Kwon Ping, President, Professor Arnoud De Meyer, The Class of 2011, Parents, guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. 1 It is a privilege to be here this morning to witness the 8th Commencement Ceremony of the Singapore Management University for the conferment of LLB degrees (106 graduands) and JD degrees (17 graduands) on the first batch of law students to graduate from the SMU School of Law. 2 It is also a pleasure for me to speak to the law graduating class of 2011 at this historic event. I wish to thank the SMU for giving me the opportunity to do so. Today’s commencement for the law class is a historic event, history being a remembrance of events past. So, it will be remembered as such in the future as the law school and university climb to greater heights. 3 Today’s event brings my mind back to an equally significant ceremony (at least to me) 50 years ago when I was among the pioneering graduating class of 22 law students of the first law school in 1 Singapore. So, you and I share something in common, and in years to come, you will come to treasure this event and its historical significance. Today will always be remembered in the history of legal education in Singapore as the day the SMU proudly presented to Singapore – and to the world – its first law graduates.
    [Show full text]
  • Partner Moves July
    Lateral Partner Moves in London July/August 2013 Addleshaw Goddard focus is on commercial real estate investment and Kambiz Larizadeh joins the firm from the London development. office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom where he was counsel. His focus is on complex cross- Duane Morris border commercial litigation and arbitration. The addition of Proskauer Rose corporate tax partner, Jennifer Wheater strengthens the firm’s corporate Berrymans Lace Mawer capability. Nick Gibbons moves to the insurance and dispute resolution firm from Ince & Co. He joins the TMT DWF practice concentrating on contentious and non- The firm has recruited Toby Askin from Wragge & Co contentious IT. to become Head of Real Estate in London and Birmingham, as well as national Head of Investment Brown Rudnick and funds. He will be based in London. The US firm has strengthened its white collar crime practice with the hire of Tom Epps from Hickman & Eversheds Rose. Former head of Sidley Austin’s IP and life sciences team in London, Brett Rowland has joined the firm. Bryan Cave He is dual qualified in Australia and England and Dan Larkin, previous European global Head of handles both contentious and non-contentious work. Hospitality and Leisure at legacy firm Salans, has been hired by Bryan Cave. Joining the transactions group, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher he leaves Dentons. The hire of disputes and international arbitration partner Penny Madden, from Skadden Arps marks an CMS Cameron McKenna expansion for the firm’s London office. Banking and finance partner Martin Brown has left Ashurst to return to his previous firm. Jones Day Raymond McKeeve, Berwin Leighton Paisner global Covington & Burling private equity head since March 2009, will leave to A boost for the firm’s international arbitration and strengthen Jones Day’s EMEA private equity and energy practices, with a double hire from CMS finance practice.
    [Show full text]
  • Wednesday 11 November 2015 the Great Hall 1.00Pm–3.30Pm
    This fair guide has been produced in association with Edgbaston, Birmingham, Wednesday 11 November 2015 B15 2TT, United Kingdom www.birmingham.ac.uk 11375 © University of Birmingham 2015. Printed on a recycled grade paper containing 100% post-consumer waste The Great Hall 1.00pm–3.30pm 11375 Careers Fair - Law Fair Cover_AW.indd 1-2 14/09/2015 14:19 Welcome to the Careers Network Law Fair. This event aims to provide Careers Network has a you with the opportunity to meet high quality employers face to face host of useful resources and discuss employment opportunities for vacation schemes and training contracts for 2017. information n ideas n vacancies n guidance n skills training Information p On occupations, employer research, further study, a year out, CV writing, completing applications, and much more Advice and guidance appointments Our Careers Advisers offer a arrange of appointments to provide careers support including: p General careers advice p CV checks p Practice Interviews These can be booked via Careers Connect at intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/careersconnect Employer presentations and workshops To help you through the recruitment process, come to our activity based sessions that will improve your confidence and performance, as well as help you research your ideas and make career-decisions. Sessions include: Interviews, Assessment Centres, Career Planning, Personal development training workshops, as well as Occupational and Industry specific events. Employer presentations during the Autumn term also provide an opportunity to meet employers and hear about what they can offer you. Visit our website at intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/careers for p News – all the latest happenings and updates p Vacancies p Employer events and career fairs Individually brilliant, p Links to employers and searchable databases of information collectively extraordinary p Sign up for events and workshops Offi ces worldwide.
    [Show full text]
  • Neville Eisenberg
    LBAS05 p1-48 23/2/05 1:48 pm Page 46 MANAGEMENT PARTNER OF THE YEAR WINNER As if that were not enough, Eisenberg also embarked on a strategic review of the firm, with more than 100 task forces set up in mid-2003 to do a bottom-up assessment of what Neville could be done better. David Battiscombe, a real estate partner who joined BLP from Finers Stephens Innocent, says: ‘Neville has succeeded in embedding a firm-wide “can-do” culture Eisenberg that is bearing fruit in every direction.’ MANAGING PARTNER, BERWIN LEIGHTON PAISNER Increasing profitability, lateral hires, tenacity Under Neville Eisenberg’s leadership, Berwin Leighton Paisner has been transformed from a sleepy real estate practice to a full-service City firm that is the envy of its peers. Eisenberg was elected leader in 1999 with an ambitious strategy to build a balanced firm with equal real estate, corporate and finance capability. The idea was to maintain the real estate team’s market-leading position, while increasing international work, and growing profitability. In 2004 there was no longer any doubt that Eisenberg was delivering: turnover surpassed £100m, and average equity partner profits are set to exceed £500,000 during this financial year. Furthermore, 15 lateral hires joined from some of the UK’s finest firms. (L to R): Ian Hislop, Neville Eisenberg, and Dominique Graham of Graham Gill HIGHLY COMMENDED JONATHAN GOLDSTEIN, DAVID CHILDS, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Clifford Chance Olswang When David Childs was appointed COO at Clifford Goldstein took the reins at Olswang in 1998, aged only Chance in 2003, he brought a new dynamism to the 32.
    [Show full text]
  • Pharma & Biotech Patent Litigation
    This year marks 30 years since the inception of C5 Group. C5 It is time to match our brand with the dynamic strides we have made. Business Information in a Global Context See inside for details… a C5 Group Company 14th & 15th March 2016 | The Wyndham Apollo Hotel | Amsterdam, Netherlands C5’s 8th Conference on PHARMA & BIOTECH PATENT LITIGATION Invaluable insight from members of the Kevin Mooney Pierre Veron Alan Johnson Up to 14.5 key Unitary Patent Chair Member Chair Advisory Committees UPC Drafting Committee UPC Drafting Committee AIPPI’s UPC Committee CPD Get ready for the new Unitary Juergen Dressel Arturo Lucas Practical guidance from senior Head of Patents Litigation Senior Counsel Patent Regime Novartis Pharma AG (Switzerland) Chemo Group (Spain) in house counsel of Pharma with a first-hand and Biotech Corporations: James Horgan perspective from Assistant Managing Counsel, renowned experts Merck Sharpe & Dohme (UK) in the patent litigation field. KEY AREAS OF FOCUS Ask the questions you want AND DISCUSSION: answered from members of the Unitary Patent 1 The landmark Lyrica case, the ripple effect throughout different jurisdictions and consideration Preparatory and Drafting of how all players in the industry will react. Committee and listen to The very latest position on the practical implementation of the Unified Patent Court directly from patent judges from across 2 those who are devising the rules. Europe debate the key considerations for devising Crucial debate around how to plan your patent portfolio opt in/opt out strategy and manage 3 your risk once the new regime begins. effective patent litigation strategies in this changing Understand how Supplementary Patent Protection Certificates will work in practise within the environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Abandoning the Fetishisation of the Courtroom Advocate
    Published on 14 November 2019 ABANDONING THE FETISHISATION OF THE COURTROOM ADVOCATE [2019] SAL Prac 25 Daryl XU Advocate and Solicitor (Singapore). I. The fetishisation of the courtroom advocate 1 In the inaugural article of the SAL Practitioner,1 Mr Nicholas Poon sought to prove the “common perception” of the decline in opportunities for adversarial oral advocacy amongst young lawyers by head-counting “lead counsel” appearances in reported judgments of the Singapore courts across two generations of lawyers.2 He suggested that reversing the trend is paramount to ensuring the growth of future “exceptional advocates” for sustaining Singapore’s global brand as a leading seat of dispute resolution, and made predictions about the consequences that may follow if the phenomenon he identified is not immediately arrested.3 Junior dispute resolution lawyers can easily empathise with the sentiments expressed in Mr Poon’s article, itself a commendable and impressive project. Yet, one cannot but wonder if those sentiments are truly pertinent, or whether they are borne out of a fetishised view of the courtroom advocate. 1 Nicholas Poon, “The Decline of Oral Advocacy Opportunities: Concerns and Implications” [2018] SAL Prac 1, reported in the mainstream media at K C Vijayan, “Lawyers taking longer time to gain top court experience” The Straits Times (18 September 2018). 2 Nicholas Poon, “The Decline of Oral Advocacy Opportunities: Concerns and Implications” [2018] SAL Prac 1 at paras 12–26. See also, for a fuller data analysis, How Khang, “Singapore’s Legal Profession: Data Analysis of Lead Counsel Appearance Numbers” Medium (6 December 2018), archived at <https://perma.cc/3PU6-B6XU>.
    [Show full text]
  • Ben Hubble QC
    Ben Hubble QC Call: 1992 Silk: 2009 +442078222000 [email protected] Clerk: Tom Woolsey [email protected] +442078222039 +447841344153 Clever, calm and confident. He’s notable for his incredible memory for detail. - Chambers & Partners Ben Hubble QC is a specialist in professional liability, disciplinary, regulatory and commercial work. Much of Ben’s work involves claims against accountants, actuaries, auditors, directors, financial advisers, financial institutions, insurance brokers, lawyers, pension consultants and tax advisers often following on from corporate collapse, lender losses, increased pension scheme liabilities or failed tax and investment schemes. Multi-party and group litigation is a particular expertise. In addition, Ben concentrates on: commercial arbitrations and litigation both on and offshore; banking; insurance (particularly coverage and indemnity disputes) and claims arising from the financial services sector. Ben is a Senior Decision Maker for the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. In April 2020, Ben was featured as both ‘Lawyer of the Week’ in The Times and as the first ‘Barrister of the Week’ in The Lawyer. Ben’s recommendations in the Directories extend to Professional Negligence, Professional Discipline & Regulatory, Pensions, Offshore and Insurance. He is variously described as “superb on every level: rolls up his sleeves and solves issues; adds huge value to anything he touches“”, “absolutely at the top of his game and excellent to work with“, “his advocacy is fantastic. He really makes it all very simple and based in common sense”, “analytical, innovative and easy to approach”, “highly rated for his advocacy, focused advice and prompt response”, “[a QC who] immediately earns clients’ confidence due to his understanding and his forensic approach”, “as conscientious and thorough as can be”, “hardworking, bright and responsive”, “the first name I think of for professional discipline accountancy cases”, “one of the ‘big beasts’ of the Professional Negligence Bar and our first choice for big-ticket claims in that arena.
    [Show full text]