Albar & Partners took home four awards at Malaysia's first-ever law awards, organised by Asian Legal Business magazine, including the Managing Partner of the Year award – which went to its managing partner, Datuk Syed Zaid Albar – as well as the Malaysia Law Firm of the Year, which it won along with Azmi & Associates.
The event, held at The Westin in Kuala Lumpur on March 27, was supported by the Malaysian Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA), whose president, Thavakumar Kandiahpillai, was the Guest of Honour. "Someone should have done this sooner, but it is ALB who finally did," said Kandiahpillai, who is also vice-president of legal affairs at SapuraKencana Petroleum. "I can see this event growing and becoming the awards everyone competes for and envies."
In his speech, Kandiahpillai also said he wished more MNCs headquartered outside Malaysia would choose Malaysia as the regional or global hub due the great talent in the country, not to mention the cost competitiveness. He added that he hoped more lawyers would venture outside of pure legal work and end up running major companies like accountants and engineers do.
Datuk Albar also clinched the Dealmaker of the Year award, while law firm Adnan Sundra & Low won awards in five categories, including Banking and Financial Services Law Firm of the Year and the Malaysia Deal Firm of the Year.
Beninder Singh Johl, head of legal and compliance at Universal Trustee, and one of the judges for the Managing Partner of the Year award, praised Datuk Albar’s dedication and lauded him as a “leading individual lawyer” in Malaysia. “[He is] a person with a rich character, as well as a vast knowledge of the legal field,” Johl said.
Among the in-house categories, Mohammad Nasri Sallehuddin of Khazanah Nasional was named Malaysia In-House Lawyer of the Year. "Nasri's win was not unexpected," said Revantha Sinnetamby, treasurer of the MCCA, and one of the judges adjudicating the award. "He has led Khazanah’s legal team to a great many innovative firsts over the last year; particularly when considering the deals based on Islamic financing principles and those in the health insurance sector."
Meanwhile the CIMB Group’s legal team picked up three awards, including the Malaysia In-House Team of the Year. Iskandar Leong, chief compliance officer at The Lion Group, and one of the judges, praised CIMB’s team for its “spread of quality, varied and innovative works besides the traditional support roles of advising, drafting and implementing of new regulations.”
Wong & Partners, Baker & McKenzie’s member firm in Malaysia, won three awards, including Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year. A full list of winners can be found here.