COVER STORY INNOVATION LIST 20I8 In our annual list of law firms embracing change by adopting innovation, we spotlight a mixture of domestic and international outfits who are using out-of-the-box thinking to blaze a trail in Asia’s legal industry.

LIST AND TEXT BY ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS

This list was created purely on the the firm can configure to meet each basis of submissions received by ALB. client’s needs, with features that include Firms are listed in alphabetical order. the ability to give clients tailored access to multiple advisors, document manage- ment options, uploading or working with ASIAN FIRMS clients to create precedent documents, and schedules and project plans. Dentons’ Nextlaw In-House Solutions, DENTONS RODYK launched in November 2017, meanwhile, brings together more than 50 former Although blockchain, virtual curren- general counsel and legal counsel cies and ICOs are all the rage these across the globe to provide integrated, days, not many laypeople can under- multi-disciplinary solutions to in-house stand it, and even fewer law firms can counsel – along with legal technology claim expertise. One of these is Dentons and process management experts and Rodyk & Davidson, which recently professionals across the spectrum of launched its Blockchain & Initial Token legal operations disciplines. “Dentons Sales practice, led by senior partners is demonstrating that we are a catalyst Kenneth Oh and Hsu Li Chuan. “In the for change in the delivery of solutions to absence of specific regulations and a our clients’ challenges,” the firm says. lack of governing framework, the firm has demonstrated its capabilities in helping clients navigate the borderless FITZGERALD LAWYERS world of blockchain through our market- leading expertise in advising companies In the past year, the Hong Kong- in a wide range of industries, including headquartered FitzGerald Lawyers has various high-growth fintech and tech- been doing an increasing amount of nology companies, as well as fundraising disputes work related to technology. through ICOs,” says Dentons Rodyk. Since the middle of 2017, the firm Two other initiatives launched by has seen a number of bitcoin-related the firm in the past year are the Dentons disputes and cases. “As our own practice Direct online collaboration tool, and the – and thankfully, the field of law as a Dentons’ Nextlaw In-House Solutions. whole – starts to use more innovation, Dentons Direct is a secure website that we realize that the criminals out there

WWW.LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS – MARCH 2018 31 COVER STORY are doing the same – and, even so, their transformation in a holistic approach. Similarly, Yulchon says, when it means of innovation are advancing as Most law firms tend to publicise client- comes to forensic analysis, law firms well in some very interesting and sophis- facing solutions while neglecting often turn to third-party providers. The ticated ways. As the criminals of the backend interfaces or taking a hard look Korean firm’s Internal Investigations world race to innovate, we must also at what needs to be done in legal trans- Team, on the other hand, has set up an keep up,” says the firm. In the past year formation. We are the disruptor,” says in-house digital evidence analysis war the firm’s startup practice also whole- the firm. “Collectively, over 25 people room, which houses Nuix Investigator heartedly embraced legaltech and we and 24,000 hours have gone into this ARX system, a top-of-the-line digital have partnered up with Zegal, formerly transformational project while concur- evidence analysis and investigation known as Dragon Law, to provide rently, we continue to operate with no tool. “Yulchon also has a strategic startup clients with cloud-based legal service disruptions to clients.” alliance with a professional mobile document services and a helpdesk Then in March last year, the Law forensic expert firm. With such tools feature through which clients can access Society of Singapore issued a guidance and resources, we are the best firm for attorneys through an instant-messaging note stating essentially that law firms handling digital forensic work for any application. are permitted to use cloud services if device, including mobile devices,” says Through Zegal, the firm says they ensure that their data is secure. the firm. In December last year, Yulchon its clients can access a cloud-based “Once it became clear that there was also launched a general digital compli- database of common legal documents, no regulatory prohibition, we started ance strategy, named AlgoCompliance, ranging from employment and founders’ our migration with a clear focus on a fully configurable, fully collabora- agreements all the way to convertible ensuring security and client confiden- tive compliance process management notes and other fundraising instruments, tiality remain protected at all times,” framework. Additionally, the firm has says the firm. “We believe that this is the says Rajah & Tann. “We are the first launched the Asia Future Fintech Forum, way to work with startup clients who have fully cloud-based law firm in Singapore, the first forum of its kind initiated by a some level of sophistication in under- if not the region.” Other innovations have law firm, which brings together almost standing what they want and what their included the launch of Rajah & Tann every stakeholder including major corporate structures should look like.” Technologies, which aims to meet the fintech companies, industry associ- In addition, the firm believes that it is a demands and challenges of the “new ations, academia, press, regulatory cost-effective and efficient way for it to economy” driven by technology and AI, authorities, and lawmakers. work with its startup clients as FitzGerald introducing data breach readiness and Lawyers can essentially work with them response services as well as data protec- on customized legal documents that are tion officer services. INTERNATIONAL FIRMS tailored for their business operations but not completely bespoke. “This allows us to give our clients legal advice and YULCHON BAKER MCKENZIE documents on par with best practices but at a lower (and more predictable/ Korean law firm Yulchon has made it its Previously, Baker McKenzie and energy fixed) price with a quicker turnaround mission to find cost-effective solutions company BHP Billiton had worked time,” says the firm. to clients’ issues; this has included intro- together to co-develop Forests bonds, ducing ten client-friendly legal applica- a first-of-its-kind investment mechanism tions. “Our development is innovative that unlocked private financing for RAJAH & TANN ASIA in that we offer a platform for interac- reducing deforestation. This addressed tive mobile applications. While other law the issue of finding private sector invest- The past year has been an innova- firms publish isolated applications, we ments to benefit forest conservation, tion-filled one for the Singapore- believe that our clients are best served as government efforts so far have not headquartered Rajah & Tann. For one, by an ecosystem of interacting, interac- been adequate. To build on this, Baker it implemented what it calls Rajah & tive applications. For example, a client McKenzie and BHP Billiton last year, Tann Asia 2.0, an initiative that got more concerned about global sanction needs along with Conservation International, than 1,000 people – lawyers and support to deploy mobile compliance policies launched the Finance for Forests (F4F) staff – across 12 offices in 10 countries on anti-money-laundering, know-your- initiative, which is working to capitalize to embrace technological solutions. This client, as well as anti-corruption. We on private sector finance to contribute to included updating backend interfaces, offer an application in each area that the conservation of the world’s forests. implementing client-facing portals, and is interconnected so that a client name It advances the private sector’s under- transforming legal services in all aspects that comes up during an anti-corrup- standing and support for forest conser- of all areas of law. “We believe we are the tion test can refer to other related laws.” vation via REDD+, which is the United only home-grown Asian/Singaporean The applications can be found on the Nations program for reducing emissions law firm to be doing this legal technology platform eYulchon.com. from deforestation.

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Implemented on January 2017, the The firm says that another innova- new model finance, data analytics, initiative focuses on engagement with tive way of servicing asset finance and cybersecurity, blockchain and regula- the oil and gas, mining, aviation and clients is through using a remotely based tory aspects. The firm has also whole- technology sectors, as well as institu- legal services delivery team, based in heartedly embraced technology, offering tional investors to increase private sector Manchester in the UK and dedicated to clients a wide range of tech-based understanding of forest conservation supporting BLP fee earners in delivering solutions, including twoBirds Access through REDD+, share BHP’s experience those aspects of client work that can be (which comprises bespoke solutions, to encourage others to pursue similar process engineered and follow a struc- an online portal for communicating opportunities, develop new, innovative tured “checklist” approach. It comprises with clients, and a virtual data room for finance tools, extend these ideas beyond lawyers and non-lawyers focused on the data related to transactions), a contract forests to other ecosystems. The F4F delivery of volume and repetitive work risk assessment tool, an e-document initiative is looking to help encourage (including, for example, document review platform, a patent intelligence replication of these investments and the drafting for repeat aircraft financing offering, premium content platform for exploration of other innovative private and aircraft delivery work). This enables issues related to disputes, and a brand finance tools to conserve forests and clients to benefit from more competitive monitoring technology. The firm has also further advance REDD+. It also serves fees with first drafts of documents being launched five apps. as a learning hub once countries tran- prepared at a lower cost base.” sition, with the support of businesses, following through on Paris Agreement PINSENT MASONS commitments. BIRD & BIRD Ever since China announced its One Belt Notable innovative work for Bird & Bird One Road (OBOR) initiative, Pinsent BERWIN LEIGHTON PAISNER has included advising on Hong Kong’s Masons has developed a reputation new patent system, creating a new for OBOR work, many of which have As an example of our innovative outlook, patent right and launch of its first ever required innovative contracting struc- BLP has been directly involved in Patent Office. As the only legal advisor tures and approaches. Notable work has advising the HK Government in intro- engaged by the government in this included advising a Chinese client on ducing a concessionary regime which ambitious multi-year project, Bird & the development of a coal-fired power came into effect in July 2017, with legis- Bird’s remit included making recommen- project in Zimbabwe, the largest power lation implemented specifically to dations based on leading patent systems station in the country; and acting for encourage the use of Hong Kong as a worldwide, amendments to primary and China Harbour Engineering Company jurisdiction of choice for aircraft leasing. secondary legislation, and the establish- Limited in negotiations with the Sri “Our team has been at the forefront of ment of Hong Kong’s first ever Patent Lankan government on the biggest changing the competitive landscape Office with accompanying rules and overseas investment of the company of aircraft leasing industry,” says the regulations. The firm says the reform, to date, as well as the largest foreign firm. “Ireland is an established leading apart from aiming to place Hong Kong at investment project in the history of Sri global hub of aircraft leasing, and has the heart of the knowledge economy in Lanka. directly benefited from the exponential Asia, and establishing it as an IP trading Additionally, after the Hong Kong growth of the Asian aviation industry in hub, enabled Hong Kong to have its own government adopted a policy to procure recent years. Singapore has also intro- independent patent system encouraging all projects under New Engineering duced new legislative changes providing innovation and IP trading. “The changes Contracts (NEC) wherever possible, attractive incentives to the aircraft will further attract IP rich companies to Pinsent Masons has been heavily leasing industry. BLP was tasked with establish in Hong Kong, helping realise involved in the process, pioneer the use realising the Government’s ambitions the Government’s vision of becoming one and development of NEC in the city. “We of making Hong Kong a viable, compet- of the world’s leading knowledge-based have helped pioneer the use of NEC in HK itive alternative to those markets. From economies,” says Bird & Bird. through a combination of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ vision to execution and implementation, Among the firm’s various innovative pilots, extensive training and engage- Hong Kong Partner William Ho in his practices, it cites as an example fintech, ment with public authorities on roll out,” capacity as Secretary of the Hong Kong which combines Bird & Bird’s banking the firm says. It has also developing the Aircraft Leasing and Aviation Finance and finance expertise with its technology P2C Platform to support the provision of Association has been directly involved sector focus. The firm provides assists its Procurement to Completion project in the new leasing regime, starting from clients on matters involving innova- advisory service. This comprises a cloud- advising on the initial development of the tive payment services, blockchain tech- based portal through which the legal legislation, through to leading the BLP nology, open data and APIs, robo-advice and commercial risks on projects are asset finance practice in terms of imple- and new lending platforms. Expertise managed collaboratively from procure- menting the legislation into practice.” also includes digital payment platforms, ment to completion.

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