The Legal Practice Committee of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (the “Committee”) offers a forum for solicitors and barristers from the Asia Pacific Region to interact with each other on matters including:

• The Practise of Law
• Professional Development; and
• Law firm management

Activities

The following is a snapshot of the Committee’s activities.  

Beijing, 2007 “Developing China Practice for Foreign and Chinese Clients”  

The panel focused on:

Motorola corporate Counsel based-in-China discussed his experience working with local and foreign counsel in China;

Chinese law firm experience with alliances, foreign offices, and legal networks; and

Foreign firm experience with establishing a presence in China

Los Angeles, 2008 “Globalization and the Transformation of the Legal Profession in Asia: Cause or Effect?”

The panel focused on:

1. Changes to legal profession in Asian jurisdictions including China, India, and Japan; and
2. Assessing the implications of these changes to Asian jurisdictions including the accelerating integration of the Global economy.

Manila, 2009 “Law Firm Continuity in the Face of Emergency Situations”

The panel focused on:

1. Law firm planning for natural disasters such as earthquake, flood, and fire; and
2. Law firm planning for man-made disasters such as terrorism, theft, and reputational loss.

As well in Manila, our Committee, on behalf of the IPBA, co-sponsored with LAWASIA a session on the “Latest Developments in Anti-Corruption laws in Asia”. The session had speakers from different Pacific Region jurisdictions updating the audience on the framework of anti-corruption laws and practises in Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Singapore, 2010 “Legal Storm, from Turbulent Times”

In Singapore, 2010, the Legal Practise Committee is pleased to be working with the Women Business Lawyers Committee and the Employment & Immigration Committee on a joint panel “Legal Storm, from Turbulent Times” whereas the panel will focus on the impact of changes in the economic climate to the practice of law, the running of law firms, the decisions of Corporate Counsel on the appointment of external lawyers, the employment and training of associates by law firms and other related matters.