Morning Briefing: Could junior lawyers become victims of automation?

Junior lawyers under threat, says Law Society president
The president of the Law Society of Singapore has been warning that junior lawyers could become the victims of greater automation. Thio Shen Yi wrote in the society’s Law Gazette that legal search engine Ross and US-based LegalZoom are examples of disruptive technologies which are set to shake up the city state’s legal profession. He has urged lawyers to stand out and do things that technology cannot.

Asia leads Europe on M&A
Mergers and acquisitions have soared in Asia during the first 9 months of 2015 and now account for the second highest level by value behind the US. Asian deals amounted to U$770.9 billion, overtaking Europe according to Dealogic data. About half of the Asian total involved Chinese firms. Global deals amounted to $3.41 trillion.
 
International arbitration is the choice of construction industry
The construction industry prefers to use international arbitration for cross-border disputes according to a new study from Queen Mary University in London and international law firm White & Case. The poll showed that international arbitration was the preferred option of 90 per cent of respondents, up from 73 per cent when the study was first conducted in 2006. London and Paris are the favored venues although Hong Kong and Singapore are gaining with the latter voted as the most improved over the last five years.
 
Magna Carta begins tour
An original copy of the 800 year old Magna Carta has begun a new leg of its tour. The historic document which forms the basis of legal systems in many parts of the globe will visit the US and China along the way. There is a Magna Carta Feast in Queensland on October 24^th.
 
Baker & McKenzie celebrates 40 years in Taiwan
Baker & McKenzie celebrated its 40^th anniversary in Taiwan on Wednesday with a gathering of longstanding clients and friends of the firm. Bakers was the first international law firm to establish a presence in Taiwan.