HK: Simmons hires I-Mab Biopharma’s CLO
UK law firm Simmons & Simmons has added Richard Cheng Li as a partner and head of its healthcare and life sciences group in Hong Kong. Li was most recently chief legal officer of biotech firm I-Mab Biopharma.

Kirkland, N&A, NO&T, MHM advise on $835 mln Carlyle offer for KFC Japan
Kirkland & Ellis and Nishimura & Asahi are advising Crispy Holdings, a fund wholly owned by Carlyle Group, on a 135-billion-yen ($863 million) tender offer for shares of Tokyo-listed KFC Holdings Japan.

HK: Robertsons hires corporate finance partner from RPC
Hong Kong law firm Robertsons has added corporate finance specialist Janney Chong as a partner from RPC.

Khaitan, SAM, CAM drive $719 mln India real estate deal
Indian law firms Khaitan & Co and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co have advised Brookfield India Real Estate Trust (BIRET) on its acquisition of a 50 percent stake in Rostrum Realty from Bharti Enterprises for 60 billion rupees ($719 million).

Yulchon adds Kim & Chang IP, antitrust lawyer
South Korean Big Six firm Yulchon has continued its aggressive expansion with the addition of antitrust and intellectual property expert Dave Koo, who becomes the firm’s tenth partner hire in 2024. Koo joins from Kim & Chang, where he was a senior foreign attorney.

ALB CONVERSATIONS: Penny Koo, general counsel and company secretary, AIA Singapore 
Penny Koo, general counsel and company secretary of AIA Singapore, talks about why having a team with diverse talent is a strategy she espouses, how she uses the rock-pebble-sand approach to ascertain her priorities, and why all advice—no matter how sound and accurate it is—needs to be concise and compelling. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you're a general counsel based in Asia who'd like to be featured in this series, please email ranajit.dam@tr.com.

SURVEY OPEN: ALB INDIA SUPER 50 2024
In this listing, ALB will pick the most highly recommended private practice lawyers based permanently in India.
SURVEY LINK HERE
Deadline: June 7, 2024

AZB snaps up antitrust partner from CAM in Mumbai
AZB & Partners has bolstered its competition offering with the addition of Kirthi Srinivas as partner in Mumbai from Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.

G+T, HSF act on $1.4 bln Australia-Japan fund administration deal
Australian law firm Gilbert + Tobin has advised Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group on its A$2.1 billion ($1.4 billion) acquisition of Australian pension administration firm Link Administration, which was represented by Herbert Smith Freehills.

SUBMISSIONS OPEN: ALB Asia's Top 15 Female Lawyers 2024
ALB is now accepting nominations for our Top 15 Female Lawyers in Asia ranking. We encourage you to nominate outstanding female lawyers who demonstrate excellence in their practice, commitment to innovation, and dedication to the community.
DOWNLOAD FORM HERE
Deadline: May 31, 2024

Malaysia’s Lee Hishammuddin launches white-collar practice with new hire
Malaysian law firm Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill has launched a white-collar crime practice, hiring partner Tiara Katrina Fuad to head the group, at a time when the Southeast Asian country continues to see a rise in white-collar work.

Choices Surrounding Personal Data Breach Notification [Brought to you by Chandler MHM]
The Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (“PDPA”) mandates prompt notification to the authority and/or affected data subjects in the event of a data breach. Despite this requirement, many operators have historically hesitated to report breaches due to fear of potential non-compliance with the PDPA. However, it is noteworthy that breaches are often brought to light by data subjects, who may take to social media to share their experiences or approach the authority directly without consulting with the operator first. This heightened and abrupt visibility can attract the attention of the authority and the public, potentially damaging the operator’s reputation and increasing the risks of non-compliance. Although the authority has not imposed any penalties on operators, this period of leniency is coming to an end.

Malaysia's 1MDB sues PetroSaudi exec, White & Case
Malaysia's scandal-hit state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) has filed a lawsuit against a top PetroSaudi International executive seeking the return of $1.83 billion invested in a joint venture, state news agency Bernama reported on Thursday.

Indonesia’s FKNK adds cross-border M&A partner
Indonesia’s FKNK Law Firm has bolstered its cross-border investment offering with the addition of partner Gladi Febri Argo, who previously was the managing partner at Indonesian boutique WilberForce Argo, a firm he co-founded in 2012.

First Up with ALB: A Newsletter by Asian Legal Business 
Lawyers eye infrastructure bonanza from Philippines' Luzon Corridor; HK shuffled in take-private wave

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SG: Amazon energy counsel returns to Bih Li & Lee
Singapore boutique law firm Bih Li & Lee has welcomed back energy sector specialist Marina Chua as a partner from Amazon Web Services, where she was a corporate counsel in the energy division.

Luthra merges with Bengaluru disputes boutique
Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India has continued its expansion in the southern part of the country after merging with Bengaluru litigation boutique Aishwarya AnanthKumar and Partners.

Malaysia’s RDS grows disputes offering with partner duo
Malaysian law firm Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership (RDS) has added two more partners to its growing roster, hiring Steven Perian as head of the firm’s economic crimes, fraud and anti-money laundering practice, and Vinayak Sri Ram to its disputes practice.

UPCOMING: ALB Legal Guide to the Greater Bay Area 2025 (EN/ZH)
Asian Legal Business is pleased to announce the release of the ALB Legal Guide to the Greater Bay Area, 2025 edition. The Guide will be available in both Chinese and English and will have one-year shelf life.


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