Legal Industry News & Trends: Nov Week 1

Legal Industry News & Trends: Nov Week 1

Legal Industry News & Trends: Nov Week 1

1. Sentiments

Over 40% of Lawyers View Overwork and Stress as Inherent to the Job

A recent survey of 460 lawyers in Singapore reveals that while many lawyers accept stress and overwork as part of the job, a majority feel that their firms actively promote work-life balance.

  • About 52% found their workload manageable.
  • 57% reported frequent stress.
  • Notably, 60% of firms have embraced flexible work arrangements, with 69-72% of lawyers benefiting from work-from-home options and flexible hours.
  • However, only a minority of respondents felt that their firms genuinely prioritised their work-life balance, with concerns over mental health and clear boundaries between work and personal time.

Takeaway: The survey suggests that the issue lies more in work culture than just offering flexible options. Experts highlight that firms must foster a culture of trust that truly supports employees to retain talent and reduce turnover.

 

2. People Moves

i. MY: Zul Rafique

Zul Rafique: Malaysian law firm Zul Rafique & Partners added Ainal Marlinda Md Said as a new partner to its real estate practice. Ainal, who previously served as the legal head for Sime Darby Property, has over 20 years of expertise in real estate transactions, including leases, tenancies, and banking facilities relating to acquisitions. Ainal’s appointment follows that of another in-house lawyer, Syed Haris Syed Yahya, who joined from Sapura Energy earlier this month.

 

ii. CN: Jingtian Gongcheng

Jingtian Gongcheng: Jingtian & Gongcheng added Liu Ping as a partner to its criminal law practice in Shenzhen. Liu Ping previously held positions at Shangquan Law Firm and Guantao Law Firm, where he first specialised in criminal cases. His expertise includes anti-fraud, anti-bribery, economic crimes, financial securities, futures crimes, criminal compliance and internet-related offences. Liu’s track record includes securing the acquittal of a wrongfully convicted individual after 14 years and defending another against long-standing charges of tax evasion and false accusations.

 

iii. JP: Nagashima Ohno

Nagashima Ohno: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu added Hitoshi Sumisawa, the former commissioner of Japan’s National Tax Agency (NTA), as a special adviser to its tax practice in Tokyo. Sumisawa is experienced in tax planning and execution and has a robust network within the tax bureau. Having started his career at Japan’s Ministry of Finance in 1988, Sumisawa adds significant credibility and experience to the firm’s advisory team, which also includes former Supreme Court justices Hiroyuki Kanno and Yuko Miyazaki.

 

iv. ME: CMS and Clyde & Co

Clyde & Co: Clyde & Co appointed Shahd Makhafah as its first female partner in Saudi Arabia, effective November 1. Makhafah, a corporate law expert based in Riyadh, has been with the firm since 2017. Her practice areas include mergers and acquisitions (M&As), capital markets, corporate governance, compliance, divestitures, joint ventures, incorporations and restructuring. Her promotion reflects the firm’s push to nurture female talent and junior legal professionals through its in-country training programmes.

CMS: CMS relocated its partner Eleanor Lane from Scotland to its Dubai projects and maritime team. Lane has over 20 years of experience and specialises in maritime and infrastructure projects, including public-private partnerships, public service concessions, and strategic outsourcing. The move comes amid a surge in maritime infrastructure development in the region, fuelled by economic diversification and increased trade.

 

3. Business Moves

i. Nishimura Enters the Hong Kong Market

Japanese law firm Nishimura & Asahi continued its international expansion by opening a office in Hong Kong. This office is set to open by the end of 2024 and will be led by Ryuichi Sakamoto along with Saori Okada.

  • Sakamoto has over a decade of experience in asset finance. He specialises in vessel and aircraft leasing, fund and asset management, including private equity funds, investment trusts, ETFs, and other finance-related matters.
  • Okada, a former Nishimura partner and the name partner at Okada Law Firm spent nearly 10 years in Hong Kong and is experienced in local transactions, including M&As and corporate matters.

Takeaway: This marks the first time a major Japanese firm has established a direct presence in the Asian financial hub and reflects the firm’s broader strategy to follow clients into international markets. Nishimura has also recently expanded into Southeast Asia, with offices in the Philippines and partner hires in Thailand and Vietnam.

 

ii. Anli Sets Up Office in North America

Beijing-based law firm Anli Partners expanded into the North American market by opening an office in Prince Edward Island, Canada. The new office will be led by Xu Xiaomeng, who specialises in foreign investment, M&As, IP, litigation, arbitration and family trusts. He had served at international law firms, the US Embassy’s Commercial Office in China, Fortune 500 companies, prominent domestic publicly listed companies, and internet firms. Honorary counsel James McNutt and consultant Sara Huang will support him.

Takeaway: This makes Anli the first Chinese firm to establish a presence in the province. The move follows the firm’s previous international expansion with the opening of its Tokyo office. It reflects its strategy to tap into the growing opportunities for cross-border legal services, particularly as Chinese businesses increasingly globalise.

 

Discover More Industry Trends with JC

For the latest industry trends or to explore new career opportunities, connect with our legal recruitment consultants for a chat. With executive search firms in Singapore and China, and operations in key business hubs like Hong Kong, you can count on our team for timely access to regional insights that can create synergy for your career and operations.

For employers: Beyond the legal industry, we also have dedicated desks for several sectors that enables us to meet your varied recruitment needs:

Image Credits:

  • Straits Times
  • Law Society Journal
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