Asia-Pac law firms are proactively targeting international growth
Law firms in Asia-Pacific are focusing on international growth according to a new report from industry analysts. The report, from LexisNexis Enterprise Solutions, reveals that 62 per cent of law firms in the APAC and EMEA regions are proactively targeting international growth.
Pricing (52 per cent) and competition (46 per cent) are highlighted by respondents who include marketing and business development professionals from law firms in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
With high expectations of success alongside the pricing and competitive challenges, 88 per cent of respondents are shifting their marketing and business development strategies and activities in order to win new business.
The report found that the majority of firms acknowledge that it would be desirable for business development and marketing to be headed by two separate roles but often the two are combined.
HFW hires asset finance team in Singapore
Holman Fenwick Willan has hired an asset finance team for its Singapore aviation practice. Partners David Brotherton and Justin Sun will join the firm from Berwin Leighton Paisner, along with five associates.
The firm has been making significant investments in building its international finance capability and the hire of David and Justin comes on the back of a number of other recent important hires into the team, including Shyamal Jeewoolall (Singapore), Haydn Dare (Indonesia) and Leigh Borrello (Sydney/Singapore).
Four new hires for offshore specialists
Offshore specialist law firm Harneys has hired four lawyers for its Hong Kong office. They are ex-Walkers finance counsel Paul Sephton, who joins as Partner, and associates Leela Patel, James McKnight and Sharon Cong. The firm has four offices in Asia-Pac now having opened last year in Shanghai and Tokyo to complement its Hong Kong and Singapore locations.
Madonna risks legal action with Brisbane concert antics
She’s no stranger to controversy but Madonna’s latest antics could have ended in legal action for sexual assault. The singing legend was performing at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Thursday night and was joined on stage by a 17-year old fan, Josephine Georgiou.
After complimenting the barista, Madonna pulled down the teenager’s top to an awkward reaction from the crowd, the video has since gone viral.
University of Queensland law expert Dr Paul Harpur told Stuff.co.nz that on face value, pulling down a woman's top in public to expose their breast is an act of sexual assault, if it's non-consensual., but that was certainly not on the mind of the fan who said it was “the best night of her life”.
