Most Recent Articles
A Step in the Right Direction: Recent Amendments to the Singapore International Arbitration Act
Reading Time: 5 minutesIntroduction On 5 October 2020, the Singapore parliament passed the International Arbitration (Amendment) Bill (the “Bill“), which was assented to the President on 5 November 2020, introducing two key amendments to the International Arbitration Act (Cap. 143A) (the “IAA“). The amendments aim to enhance the current framework in Singapore, so as to ensure that Singapore’s […]
Finding Your Silver Lining in the Age of Uncertainty
Reading Time: 6 minutesDisruption. This is one word that can be used in response to any sentence involving COVID-19. In an age where the world is our oyster and we do not have any limits on where we can go and what we can do, this year has completely turned that notion on its head. In this article, […]
Finding Clarity Through Different Lenses
Reading Time: 4 minutesLate last week, I had some contemplative thoughts as I went to my optometrist for my usual eye checkup. As I was asked to recite the alphabets in front of me, I was thinking – 20/20 vision is often an optometrist’s medal conferred on the eye that has normal visual clarity. However, for most humans […]
New Foreign Investment Law to Take Effect in China in 2020 Foreign-invested Enterprises Under Same Corporate Governance Regime as Chinese Companies
Reading Time: 6 minutesOn 15 March 2019, the National People’s Congress of China adopted the new Foreign Investment Law (the “Law”). It aimed to unify and streamline the framework of foreign investment in China, and build a market environment with stability, transparency, predictability and fair competition. The Law will take effect on 1 January 2020. How will the […]
Leveraging Government Incentives to Grow Your Manufacturing Business in Malaysia
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe global manufacturing industry has been developing rapidly in recent years, entering an era of “Industry 4.0” where digital transformation dominates production lines. Malaysia, ranking 17th in the Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index 2016, is surely a significant player in the game. Since the manufacturing industry is a crucial drive of the country’s economy, the government has launched various incentives to draw and retain foreign investors. The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) is the statutory body in charge of foreign direct investment and […]
The Practical Guide to Starting a Business in Malaysia
Reading Time: 3 minutesMalaysia, as one of the most open economies in the world, emerges to be an ideal location for setting up a business. Strategically located in Asia, Malaysia has lower start-up costs compared to other Asia-Pacific countries, thus attracting increasingly more entrepreneurs to form their companies there. This article will outline some procedures for setting up […]
Strategising Digital Transformation and Training Data-literate Teams for Business of Tomorrow
Reading Time: 3 minutesIn the wake of COVID-19 comes a shower of government-led incentives to accelerate digital transformation in the business world, including the highly anticipated Distance Business Programme with funding worth HK$500 million. While the epidemic as a driving force is a most unfortunate and costly one, it does urge decision makers, especially of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME), […]
Christopher Huang, Managing Director of CHP Law, shares the unique impetus behind setting up his own law firm
Reading Time: 10 minutesChristopher is the Managing Director of CHP Law. As a corporate and tax lawyer, he focuses primarily on deal structuring, fund raising, and mergers and acquisitions. In doing so, he is an exponent of advice that reflects practical commerciality and tax sensitivity. He speaks to us about some of the values and behaviours he […]
SMU Lexicon: When Employees Leave: Confidentiality and Non-compete Clauses
Reading Time: 7 minutesI. Introduction When good employees leave, there is often a risk that they will join a competitor or set up a competing business. If you are the employer, the employment contract might protect your interests through a confidentiality clause preventing the employee from using or disclosing confidential information. It might also have a non-compete clause […]
Withers strengthens international arbitration and litigation practice in Asia with the hire of Shaun Leong, FCIArb
Reading Time: 2 minutesInternational law firm Withers has further strengthened its international arbitration and litigation practice in Asia with the hire of new partner Shaun Leong, FCIArb, in Singapore, as demand for commercial disputes resolution services continues to grow. Shaun is an international arbitration specialist with more than a decade of experience in complex cross border commercial disputes […]
Vitoria Owyong, at CHP Law, speaks on how the future of law will integrate with technology
Reading Time: 5 minutesVitoria Owyong is a corporate lawyer with a primary focus on merger and acquisitions, she also has experience in the entertainment and media law industry for a number of years. She has many interests ranging from the Formula 1 races to the operas and visiting museums and galleries. These activities greatly remind her of how […]
Wong & Partners wins accolades at the ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2020
Reading Time: 2 minutesKuala Lumpur, 17 August 2020 – Wong & Partners, a member firm of Baker McKenzie International is proud to announce that our partners and Firm have won several awards at the recent Asian Legal Business (ALB) Malaysia Law Awards 2020. This year’s Awards ceremony was held virtually on 14 August 2020, due to Covid-19 restrictions. […]
Personal
SMU Lexicon: Protection from the Peeping Tom – Interpreting the New Offence of Voyeurism
Reading Time: 18 minutesIntroduction A series of voyeurism incidents on university campuses in 2019,[1] as well as recent news of Telegram chat groups set up to share obscene images,[2] have highlighted the prevalence of these offences[3] and the need for the law to catch up. Following the passing of the Criminal Law Reform Act 2019,[4] such situations will […]
Business
Know Your Lawyer: Joshua Tan, Partner at Aquinas Law Alliance, Believes That Law Is A Business
Reading Time: 6 minutesLaw is a business. This is one of the first things Joshua shares with me, just three minutes into our interview. Two or three decades earlier, this matter-of-fact utterance would have raised eyebrows and blood pressures, and sent senior lawyers within earshot spewing diatribes in defence of the sanctity of the legal profession. But to […]