BCLP officially launches in Hong Kong, Singapore

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner is now officially operating in Hong Kong and Singapore under its new name.

The international firm previously operated its Hong Kong office in association with Haley Ho and Partners; and launches under its new name in the region following the combination of Bryan Cave and Berwin Leighton Paisner earlier in the year.

Andrew MacGeoch becomes managing partner of the Hong Kong and Singapore offices in addition to his existing roles as Head of Asia Real Estate and Infrastructure and Global Co-Head of the firm’s Hospitality & Leisure Group.

“We’re pleased to have formally launched in Hong Kong and Singapore under the new name,” said MacGeoch. “The business has been working collaboratively since the wider global launch on 3 April 2018 with some excellent referrals from East to West and vice versa. With increased knowledge and depth globally, we’re in a great position to offer clients an enhanced range of services as they seek advice on increasingly complex international matters.”

New innovation team for Kennedys
A new 9-strong IT development team will form the backbone of a new innovation business at Kennedys.

Kennedys Kognitive Computing is based in India and led by Tony Joseph who has more than 15 years’ experience in technology businesses. He will report to Head of Research and Development, Karim Derrick.

The team began working with Kennedys under a formal exclusive partnership in July 2017.

Lack of female representation for NZ courts
Women are underrepresented in New Zealand’s courts according to a new report.

New Zealand Bar Association has published a report this week which shows that women were lead counsel in just 27% of appearances before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court during a 6-year period.

The overall figure drops to 16% female representation when the Crown Law Office is excluded from the data.

“The most shocking aspect is the absence of any material improvement over the six years that the study covers,” says Jenny Cooper QC. “This demonstrates the fallacy of the argument that it is just a matter of time and gender inequality will take care of itself. Active measures are needed to overcome entrenched attitudes that deprive women of opportunities to prove themselves as advocates.”

Only around 9% (10.4% for Court of Appeal and 7.47% for Supreme Court) of appearances by QCs are by women. Overall there is an approximately 80:20 split of male/female QCs in New Zealand.

“While many of us may have thought there was a gender imbalance for higher court legal representation, this research definitely confirms it. There has been a focus on trying to address the issue through gender equitable briefing, but clearly the legal profession needs to do more, and move more quickly in order to create fairness and opportunity for women barristers and solicitors,” says NZ Bar Association Clive Elliott.