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Legal Fees Mysteries– Legal Fees Must-Knows
Features

Reading Time: 1 minutesIn our “Legal Fees Mysteries” series, learn more about how and whether you are being charged fairly for your legal fees. Getting a quote from a lawyer before committing to their services and fees is easy with Asia Law Network’s Request A Quote service. Not sure if you need to hire a lawyer? Get preliminary […]

The CFA clarifies the relationship between “bribery” and “misconduct in public office” in Donald Tsang’s case
Criminal and Litigation,Hong Kong,Regional Law

Reading Time: 5 minutesIntroduction In our previous newsletter “Donald Tsang’s Conviction Sheds Light on the Offence of Misconduct in Public Office”, we discussed the conviction in February 2017 of Mr Donald Tsang Yam-kuen (“Tsang”), the former Chief Executive of Hong Kong (the “Chief Executive”), of the charge of misconduct in public office. Tsang first appealed to the Court […]

Lawyer Feature: Cheryl Yang from AEI Legal
Features,Lawyer Features

Reading Time: 4 minutesWhat does corporate legal work entail? For lawyers like Cheryl, it’s about the challenge and satisfaction that comes from helping clients close complex deals. In our interview with Cheryl, she debunks some of the common misconceptions that others have about her work. Cheryl Yang is an Associate Director of AEI Legal LLC. Her work involves […]

SMU Lexicon: Busting Myths: Understanding Prosecutorial Discretion
Criminal and Litigation,Legal Everyday

Reading Time: 12 minutesIntroduction The December 2017 decision to charge a couple who tortured their flatmate, Annie Ee, with the offence of “voluntarily causing grievous hurt”, as opposed to murder, sparked controversy in Singapore.[1] In response, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (“AGC”) released a media statement explaining its decision,[2] and Attorney-General (“AG”) Lucien Wong referred to the matter in his […]

Lawyer Feature: Ng Shi Yang of the Law Society Pro Bono Services (LSPBS), Singapore
Criminal and Litigation,Features,Lawyer Features

Reading Time: 8 minutes“When you can help to get someone a fair outcome for their case, you are giving time back to them and their family.” That is what pro bono work means to Ng Shi Yang, CLAS Advocate, Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS). Asia Law Network sits down with Shi Yang to learn how he made the transition […]

Legal Fees Mysteries– Unhappy With Your Bill?
Features

Reading Time: 1 minutesIn our “Legal Fees Mysteries” series, learn more about how and whether you are being charged fairly for your legal fees. Getting a quote from a lawyer before committing to their services and fees is easy with Asia Law Network’s Request A Quote service. Not sure if you need to hire a lawyer? Get preliminary […]

新加坡法院承认在美国进行的关于新加坡注册公司的破产程序为外国主要程序
Business,Insolvency

Reading Time: 1 minutes简介 2019年3月4日,新加坡高等法院(「法院」)就Re Zetta Jet Ptd Ltd and others (Asia Aviation Holdings Ptd Ltd, intervener) [2019] SGHC 53一案颁下判词,全面承认美国破产程序为《新加坡示范法》下的外国主要程序。 背景 Zetta集团(包括Zetta Jet USA, Inc及Zetta Jet Ptd Ltd(「新加坡Zetta」))于2017年在美国破产法院被入禀申请自愿破产(「美国破产程序」)。介入人于2017年9月19日在新加坡取得了禁制令,阻止新加坡Zetta及其他人在美国破产程序中采取进一步行动(「新加坡禁制令」)。然而,美国破产程序仍继续进行。 2017年12月13日,受托人向法院申请承认美国破产程序。法院于2018年1月24日在Re Zetta Jet Pte and Others [2018] SGHC 16一案中有限度地承认了美国破产程序,但仅限为了让受托人能够申请解除新加坡禁制令。 2018年3月9日,新加坡Zetta提出要求解除新加坡禁制令的申请。新加坡禁制令于2018年7月12日经各方同意而被解除。 《新加坡示范法》 新加坡自2017年5月23日起采纳及实施了《联合国国际贸易法委员会跨境清盘示范法》(1997年5月30日)(《示范法》),具体规定载于新加坡《公司法》(第50章,2006年修订版)附表十(《新加坡示范法》)。 根据《新加坡示范法》,外国代表可向法院申请承认外国清盘程序,如果符合指定条件,且法院信纳,承认该程序不会违反新加坡的公共政策(「公共政策例外情况」),则法院则必须承认该外国清盘程序。 承认外国清盘程序为主要程序或承认其为非主要程序存在分别,两者的济助及后果各有不同。 外国主要程序比外国非主要程序可享有更广泛的济助:只有外国主要程序可自动享有《新加坡示范法》第20(1) 条下的济助。主要程序是指在债务人的主要利益中心进行的程序。 在本案中,法院需审理的主要争论点包括如何确定新加坡Zetta的主要利益中心,以及公共政策例外情况是否适用。 主要利益中心 关于新加坡Zetta的主要利益中心,法院考虑了评估主要利益中心的日期以及评估的方式。 评估日期 关于评估主要利益中心的日期,法院考虑了其他司法管辖区的做法: 英国及欧洲的做法,以及《联合国国际贸易法委员会示范法制定及诠释指引》(2013年)采取的做法:采用外国清盘程序的开始日期。 澳洲的做法:采用申请承认外国程序的聆讯日期。 美国的做法:采用申请承认外国程序的存档日期。 法院决定采纳美国的做法,认为这种做法能提供较大的确定性、更切合实际商业环境以及《示范法》条文的措词。 法院表示,在外国清盘程序开始后,容许公司酌情决定将主要利益中心转移至另一个司法管辖区以争取最大机会达致有效的重组方案(避逃刑事或类似法例除外),是无可非议的。 相关因素 《示范法》及《新加坡示范法》并无界定「主要利益中心」。根据《新加坡示范法》第16(3) 条,债务人的注册办事处所在地点被推定为债务人的主要利益中心(「该推定」)。法院裁定,该推定并非一项可被推翻的法律推定,而是视乎特定案情可被其他因素取代的起始考虑因素。 除了该推定,法院认为并无实际的法定指引,说明何谓债务人的主要利益中心。法院考虑了联合国国际贸易法委员会发出的指引,以及参考了英国、欧洲、澳洲和美国的案例。 法院认同英国、欧洲及澳洲的司法惯例,裁定上述的其他因素应该是一般能够由第三方(特别是债权人及潜在债权人)客观地确定的因素。法院应着重实际发生的事实,并进行范围广泛的查讯,以了解有关公司在某个地方的活动及与该地方的关连。在考虑这些因素时,无需严格辨别Zetta集团内的不同实体,因为确定主要利益中心并不涉及独立法团身分的概念。 法院考虑了以下因素: […]

Is it likely for the Court to order one of the parents in a child relocation application to pay security for costs?
Divorce and Child Custody,Personal

Reading Time: 5 minutesIntroduction An order for security for costs requires a Plaintiff to pay into the Court an amount of money that the Court considers appropriate for the Defendant’s costs of the proceedings. Whilst it is common for a party to take out an application for security for costs in civil proceedings (such as shareholder disputes), it […]

Feature with Lam Chee Kin, Managing Director & Head of Legal & Compliance of DBS Bank
Features,Lawyer Features

Reading Time: 4 minutes“It is and will always be about great decision making, and the legal analysis is only one facet of very complex intertwined issues.”  Lam Chee Kin is the Managing Director and Head of the Legal and Compliance Team at the DBS Bank. Considered one of the frontrunners in the legal and financial technology spaces, Chee […]

Myanmar Legal Update: Oil & Gas Blocks Tender 2019 – The new Draft Petroleum Law and Revised PSC
Business,Environment,Legal Updates,Myanmar,Regional Law

Reading Time: 3 minutesIn early 2019, the Ministry of Electricity and Energy (“MOEE”) announced that it would soon be calling a new round of international tenders for 18 onshore and 15 offshore oil and gas blocks expected to take place in early 2019. The tender round was subsequently delayed and is now anticipated to occur in Q3 or […]

Myanmar Tax Update: Significant Changes Under the New Tax Administration Law
Legal Updates,Myanmar

Reading Time: 2 minutesOn 7 June 2019, the Union Parliament (“Pyidaungsu Hluttaw”) enacted Law No. 20 otherwise known as the Tax Administration Law (“TAL”). This TAL is one of the major pieces of tax legislation being introduced in Myanmar as part of the Internal Revenue Department’s (“IRD”) tax reform program. This Law aims to modernize and provide guidance […]

Personal

SMU Lexicon: A Non-parent’s Maintenance Obligation

Reading Time: 7 minutesIntroduction Imagine you marry someone with a child from a prior relationship. Initially, you do not mind caring for this child. Then, your marriage sours and you no longer want anything to do with your spouse or the child. However, can your initial conduct of caring for the child unknowingly saddle you with a legal […]

Business

Singapore’s latest push as a restructuring and insolvency hub – Amendments to SICC rules

Reading Time: 3 minutesSingapore has earned a budding reputation as a hub for debt restructuring and insolvency in Asia, with its transparent legal system and judicial expertise. This growth can also be attributed to enduring efforts to innovate and reform. To enhance Singapore as a forum of choice in international restructuring and insolvency proceedings, the Rules of Court […]

Gabriel The

Gabriel The (pronounced TAY) is passionate about building a mission-driven company with a clear and focused goal to make significant impact in people’s lives. He runs marketing at AsiaLawNetwork and also leads content strategy.

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