A&O Shearman Strengthens its Middle East Offering With New Corporate Partner

August 30, 2024
As part of A&O Shearman’s ongoing investment into the UAE and the wider Middle East, Turkey & Africa region, corporate partner Benjamin Crawford has relocated from Beijing to its Abu Dhabi office. Ben brings a unique skillset, having trained in A&O Shearman’s London office and worked in its Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai offices. Admitted to practice both in Hong Kong SAR and Victoria, Australia, he is also fluent in Mandarin Chinese, so his expertise and experience having been based in Greater China for the last 15 years will be a significant differentiator in the region. Ben’s practice focuses on multijurisdictional cross-border M&A transactions, joint ventures and complex shareholder and commercial arrangements, with extensive experience advising on transactions involving the financial services, technology and energy & natural resources sectors. His arrival will strengthen the firm’s ability to both support Middle East outbound activity in Asia, and also assist Asian clients with their investments into the Middle East. Ben Ward commented: “Asia-Middle East investment flows have increased rapidly in both directions in recent years, underpinned by supply chain diversification, energy transitions, digitalization and emerging technologies. The GCC’s growing relationship with Asia is evidenced by many of the gulf sovereign wealth funds increasing their investments in Asia’s markets and also opening offices in key hubs, so it’s clear that this move will enable us to further capitalise on these strategic opportunities.” Ibrahim Mubaydeen, managing partner of A&O Shearman’s Abu Dhabi office, added: “Ben’s legal expertise, coupled with his fluency in Mandarin, brings a unique and valuable perspective to our team. His arrival further strengthens our capabilities and will undoubtedly create new...

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co Appoints New Chief Operating Officer

August 30, 2024
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co has appointed Amit Jaiswal as Chief Operating Officer. He will be located at the Delhi office and will be leading the Business Services team to drive innovation and efficiency across all facets, including Finance, HR, IT, Legal, Administration and Markets. Amit has more than two decades of leadership experience in Indian and global consulting firms, including helping clients in articulating their strategic direction, business plans, and driving transformational operational efficiencies. Prior to joining SAM & Co, Amit worked as Executive Director at Russell Reynolds Associates, with specific focus on leadership advisory and executive search. Prior to this, he spent more than 15 years with Grant Thornton Bharat in various roles, including being their Chief Operating Officer and also as leader of the Human Capital Consulting practice. Amit holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Jadavpur University (Gold Medalist), and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. On his new role at the firm, Amit said, “I am very excited to join India’s leading law firm. I am looking forward to contributing to the firm’s continued success and endeavour to be the best in class law firm in the country, making it the most preferred firm for our clients and our people.” Executive Chairman Dr. Shardul S. Shroff expressed delight on having Amit on board. “We are very confident that he will play an important role in the continued success of our firm. His valuable experience in strategy and leading business support systems will help our business operations and to the growth of the firm. We wish him all the success in his...

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co Unveils Enhanced Compensation and Benefits Program

August 30, 2024
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co has significantly enhanced its compensation and benefits program, reflecting its commitment to attracting, retaining and nurturing the best legal talent in India. This revamp underscores the Firm’s dedication to ensuring that its top members benefit not only from the best in class work but are also rewarded handsomely, while recognizing the importance of building a support system to fuel both professional and personal well-being. Highlights of the program include the revision of the entry level associate compensation and revision based on holistic performance evaluation of all other Associate and Salaried Partner compensation. The Firm continues its unparalleled and objective variable compensation policy of up to 200 percent, and introduces new people-centric policies, such as work from anywhere (two weeks annually), caregiver leave (up to three weeks), paternity leave (increased to three weeks), additional childcare leave, health check-ups and sabbatical policies for associates and partners. The Firm will also implement programs with increased focus on well-being and professional development, having been the first Indian law firm to have mainstreamed the conversation on mental health at the workplace, and introduce free counselling for all members of the firm and their families with the help of professional agencies engaged by the firm. These further improvements include Annual Rejuvenation Break between Christmas and New Year (25 December to 1 January (both days inclusive)), formal recognition of Mental Health Days, on-site physiotherapy services, introduction of a new Workplace Anti-Harassment Code, and Mentorship and coaching support. “With today’s announcement, our firm is forging a renewed path. Our people are the cornerstone of our success, and we seek to enable them to thrive in...

Who’s Afraid of AI? – Tech Tales with Paul Haswell

August 9, 2024
Join Paul Haswell, a partner at K&L Gates in Hong Kong, as he explores the transformative impact of technology on the legal profession in his new column for IHC Magazine. Paul offers insights into the challenges and opportunities for in-house and external counsel, providing thought-provoking perspectives on the future of law in the digital age. In his first article, he asks "Who's afraid of AI?"

IHC Magazine: July 2024 issue with focus on AML, Corruption and Sanctions

July 31, 2024
The interactive edition of the July 2024 issue of the IHC Magazine (In-House Community Magazine) is now live. You can read it below or also download a copy on your device by clicking here. This issue focuses on critical and evolving areas of Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and Corruption, which are increasingly important in today’s challenging global business environment. As regulatory landscapes become more complex and enforcement more stringent, understanding these issues is essential for in-house legal professionals as well as external counsel. Gain critical insights into Vietnam’s new Anti-Money Laundering Law (Russin & Vecchi). The article provides practical guidance on navigating the complexities of the new legislation, essential for advising clients and protecting their interests in Vietnam’s evolving regulatory landscape. Lawyers from Morrison Foerster look at the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, which highlights stagnation in the global fight against corruption, with Asia Pacific showing limited progress. The article helps to understand the latest trends in corruption perceptions and enforcement across Asia Pacific, assess the impact of legal and regulatory changes on compliance obligations, and prepare clients for potential risks. Khaitan & Co‘s lawyers analyse Press Note 3 (2020 Series) and its impact on foreign direct investment in India. This article examines the requirement for prior approval for investments from entities in land-bordering countries, particularly affecting Chinese investments, and offers insights into navigating the changing legal landscape amid geopolitical tensions. Elsewhere in the issue, lawyers from Pisut & Partners discuss key concerns on trademark registration: through the Madrid system in Thailand. The article expands on insights from the Thai Trademark Office, focusing on the process and challenges associated with...