Conference programme

This session will examine how both Singapore law firms and regional law firms should think about Singapore given its importance as “the legal hub of Asia”

This session will hear from leading judges as to their perspective on technology – including AI – and from litigators about the adjustments needed as a result of a much more digitally oriented approach to “justice” and court hearings.

Singapore is a major “money centre”.  Singapore plays an important role in the global payments system.  There have been some recent examples of money laundering taking place in Singapore which has affected the external perception of Singapore.   

This session will discuss what Singapore is doing about that perception (and the reality of all money centres being at risk of being used for money laundering) and the consequences for lawyers doing business in Singapore.  Are lawyers discharging their responsibilities?
 

Pricing, billing and collections are not seen as an attractive part of the practice of law. Many lawyers, including many partners, shy away from getting involved in the ‘business aspects’ of the practice of law. However, financial hygiene, getting the pricing right, getting the billing right and ensuring cash is collected, are critical to the success of any law firm and are ultimately jobs that all partners need to pay attention to. It is also important that law firms put in place the right mechanisms to ensure the burden on partners is not too great and/or using too much of their time. Striking the balance whilst underscoring the importance of financial hygiene is the topic of this session.

There is rightly a focus on India at the moment.  It is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and after many years of discussion there appears to be some progress on “liberalisation” – allowing foreign lawyers to carry on some form of legal work in India.  There is also much scepticism about whether this will really happen.  Given the business connections between Singapore and India, Singapore is already an important hub for Indian legal issues.  How will this be impacted by liberalisation and what are the opportunities for law firms in Singapore and broader Asia?
This session will be an “off the record” update on what is happening in India.

This session will hear law firms’, in-house counsel and client perspectives on the complexities of partner transitions and client management in law firms, focusing on balancing change. We will explore emerging trends in partner movements and their future direction, as well as strategies and best practices for successful integration and retention. Discussions will delve into the legal, ethical and cultural considerations in partner movements, and examine strategies to maintain client trust, relationships and management. We will also address navigating work redistribution and talent retention post-departure, financial planning, compensation structures and governance.

Many law firms are investigating how they can best use AI. Meanwhile, many of our associates are already using ChatGPT and other systems to generate work – sometimes with the knowledge of the firm and sometimes without. Although law firms continue to agonise over artificial intelligence (AI), this session will allow us to hear from the clients. What issues are clients worried about with regard to their law firms using AI? As well as themselves wrestling with how they use AI, there are many issues that they are concerned about so far as their law firms are concerned. We will hear those concerns.

Many law firms prefer ‘international work’. Often, they can charge more than for domestic work. Much of that work comes through their relationships with other law firms. In addition, many law firms rely on a broader set of relationships to win work other than direct relationships with their clients. These include relationships with bankers putting deals together, with alternative legal service providers and with consultants of all sorts and sizes. How should law firms best manage these relationships? Are commission payments acceptable (or indeed allowed)? How should these ‘referrals’ be best tracked and measured? These and other questions will be answered in this session.