ALB Conversations

Hooi Bien Chuah talks to ALB about how the legal team supported Lazada Malaysia’s launch of new initiatives in the e-commerce market, and why working for causes greater than oneself can make work “super meaningful and motivating.”

Benjamin S. Tolosa, Jr. is the managing partner and head of litigation and dispute resolution at Tolosa Javier Law Firm (TJ Law) in the Philippines. In this chat with ALB, he talks about how his firm has grown in less than two years of its founding, the importance of open and transparent communication to the firm, and how he wants TJ Law to solidify its reputation as a premier litigation firm in the Philippines.

Kyuchul Lee, managing partner of Korea’s DR & AJU, talks to ALB about why he feels the country’s legal industry is declining, his goal of getting his firm to the 100-bilion-won club, and the three key qualities he looks for in potential hires.

Sabrina Lin is the deputy chief legal officer for overseas businesses and head of legal for overseas investment arm at Charoen Pokphand Group. In this chat, she shares with ALB about how U.S.-China tensions and COVID-19 are adding extra elements of complexity to her work, why she looks for people with a “personal touch” when it comes to hiring, and what her average day looks like.

Wendy Wysong, the managing partner of Steptoe & Johnson’s Hong Kong office, talks about what it was like to open the Hong Kong office during a pandemic, why it’s important for colleagues to provide support, encouragement, and collegiality, and how she wants clients to have the firm on speed-dial.

Putu Dewika Angganingrum, the head of legal and compliance at Indonesian investment bank PT Danareksa, talks how external counsel have to provide true value beyond just Google searches, the need to meet business goals while sticking to goal corporate governance principles, the need for women to develop thick skin to survive in the industry.

Cameron Adderley, managing partner of the Hong Kong office at offshore law firm Appleby, talks about why law firm leaders need to be both proactive and adaptive, the manner in which the pandemic has shifted expectations of service delivery for both lawyers and clients, and how developing talented individuals is a great motivation for him.

Heidi Hui, chief counsel for Asia at Refinitiv, shares how her legal team has adapted to the challenges posed by the pandemic, why legal departments must be not only reactive but also proactive when it comes to supporting internal clients, and the critical factor to ensure technology is truly impactful.

Jean-François Harvey, the founder of the corporate and immigration-focused Harvey Law Group, talks about why good leaders are good listeners, the firm’s willingness to always explore new markets, and how the pandemic will make the entire legal industry a little more flexible and tech-savvy.

Jasmeet Wadehra, head of legal for India and South Asia at Visa, talks about why it is important for leaders to de-clutter employees’ lives, how law firms are being flexible in their engagement to support client needs, and why change management and technology adoption should go hand in hand.