Asia Business Law Journal

16/10/2026

BKL closes Shanghai office after deregistration approval https://law.asia/bae-kim-lee-shanghai-office-closure/

Bae Kim & Lee (BKL), South Korea’s second-largest law firm by lawyer headcount, has closed its Shanghai representative office after China’s Ministry of Justice approved its deregistration.

“BKL has restructured its Greater China footprint from three – Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong — to two, consolidating its Chinese mainland operations into its Beijing office,” Joonki Yi, senior managing partner at BKL, told Asia Business Law Journal.

Yi said the decision was intended to concentrate advisory resources in Beijing to respond more effectively to shifting Chinese regulatory requirements, including export controls and merger control filings.

“Our Beijing team will continue to serve clients in Shanghai and across eastern China,” said Yi.

16/10/2026

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, DLA Piper and Kirkland & Ellis have advised on Shionogi’s USD2 billion acquisition of IntraBio, strengthening its rare disease portfolio with AQNEURSA and specialist expertise.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton counselled Shionogi, with the team comprising Benet O’Reilly and Kimberly Spoerri; Isa Julson Barahona; Lina Dayem, Marc-Antoine Leblanc, Isabel Keene and Sam Clinton-Davis.

DLA Piper advised IntraBio, with a team led by Josh Seidenfeld; Michael Patrone; and Philipp Tsukanov.

Kirkland & Ellis also represented IntraBio. Its team included Graham Robinson, Dan Li, Liam Murphy, Timothy Nelson, Hannah Fraley, Josh Owings, Justin Coddington, Maria Raptis, Daniel Rosenthal, Shellie Freedman, Dennis Williams, Kiyong Song, Jennifer Lee and Tamar Donikyan.

Adam Hustad, Dami Ashaye, Olivia Chilcott, Erin Davey, Brittany Baker, Mackenzie Pike and Cooper Barghols, along with Jack Borrow, also advised on the transaction.

Shionogi acquires IntraBio for USD2 billion, expanding rare disease portfolio with AQNEURSA and specialist capabilities

16/10/2026

New ICC-HK committee chair shares reform plans for Hong Kong https://law.asia/kathryn-sanger-icc-hk-arbitration-reforms/

Kathryn Sanger, newly appointed chair of the Standing Committee on Arbitration and ADR at the International Chamber of Commerce – Hong Kong(ICC-HK), unveils her plans during her tenure.

Sanger, head of disputes for China and Japan at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, said her plans from the get-go would focus on Hong Kong’s ongoing reforms of its Arbitration Ordinance.

“Short term, we want to ensure that Hong Kong continues to contribute substantively toand is seen as an integral part of the ICC’s global network,” she told Asia Business Law Journal.

Providing a longer-term outlook, Sanger said she aimed to continue reinforcing Hong Kong’s standing as a dispute resolution hub.

Sanger began her term on 1 October 2026. She is supported by vice-chairs Yvonne Shek, counsel at Clifford Chance, and Sherlin Tung, a consultant at Withers.

16/10/2026

Milbank has advised Danantara Indonesia, its investment holding Danantara Investment Management, and Energi Mega Persada (EMP) on two separate transactions with HighPeak Energy, totalling USD450 million.

The Milbank team for both transactions was led by Iliana Ongun and Scott Golenbock, David Zemans, and Jacqueline Chan.

Milbank has advised Danantara Indonesia, its investment holding Danantara Investment Management (DIM), and Energi Mega Persada...

16/10/2026

Asia Business Law Journal is conducting extensive research for the 2026 Korea Law Firm Awards.

As part of this process, we are requesting nominations from in-house counsel, corporate executives and legal professionals around the world.

Nominate now 👇
https://research.law.asia/zs/WBC5Q8

The deadline for making nominations is 6 November 2026.

Thank you for your support. We look forward to receiving your nominations!

Asia Business Law Journal is conducting extensive research for the 2026 Korea Law Firm Awards, the results of which will be announced in the next edition of Asia Business Law Journal

16/10/2026

Indonesia’s domestic arbitration regime underwent significant reform between 2023 and 2025, primarily through Supreme Court Regulation No. 3 of 2023 and the 2025 BANI Rules.

In 2026, a series of measures by the Indonesian government and legislature signalled a more deliberate effort to position the country within the global arbitration landscape.

Mahareksha Dillon, Nico Mooduto and Ahmad Ramadinan Saptara of SSEK Law Firm review the principal rules under the Pusat Finansial Internasional Indonesia (PFII) Law concerning the establishment of the PFII Arbitral Institution, along with key points expected to arise in practice.

Indonesia’s domestic arbitration regime underwent significant reform between 2023 and 2025, primarily through Supreme Court Regulation...

16/10/2026

Restructuring on the cards for Myanmar’s Yoma Central project https://law.asia/yoma-central-ownership-restructuring/

Charles Russell Speechlys, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto and SCM Legal have advised on the proposed restructuring of Meeyahta Development Limited’s (MDL) ownership and financing arrangements concerning the Yoma Central project in Yangon, Myanmar.

Charles Russell Speechlys acted as lead counsel to MDL. Tun Zaw Mra led the team, supported by Hannah Tablan, while Philip Withey and Cara Whiffin advised on project finance matters.

SCM Legal worked alongside Charles Russell Speechlys as local counsel, advising on Myanmar law issues and the local regulatory approval process for the restructuring and financing arrangements. Stefan Chapman of SCM Legal, led the team.

Mori Hamada also advised on the transaction, but only confirmed to ABLJ that Takeshi Mukawa was the lead partner.

16/10/2026

The Philippines is rapidly adding generation capacity, but persistent delays in the development of transmission infrastructure strand completed power plants, result in generation curtailment and prevent new supply from reaching consumers.

Recent Department of Energy and Energy Regulatory Commission issuances seek to address this bottleneck by opening transmission development to the private sector while preserving the competitive structure established under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

Joseph Vincent Alvaera and Gabriel Roberto Orestes Cadiz of Puno and Puno Law Offices highlight new regulations allowing private sector participation in transmission infrastructure development to reduce delays and improve electricity supply in the Philippines.

The Philippines is rapidly adding generation capacity, but persistent delays in the development of transmission infrastructure strand...

15/10/2026

Singapore’s Shook Lin & Bok drives Hafnia’s share offering https://law.asia/hafnia-usd300-million-share-offering/

Singaporean law firm Shook Lin & Bok has advised Hafnia, one of the largest product and chemical tanker companies, on its ordinary share offering.

Shook Lin & Bok acted as Singapore counsel to Hafnia. Teo Mae Shaan and Lim Ziwei led the team, with support from Andre Ong and Cheryl Lee.

15/10/2026

Indonesian law firm ABNR has advised telecommunications company Telkom Indonesia on completing the second phase of the spin-off of its wholesale fibre connectivity business into Telkom Infrastruktur Indonesia (InfraNexia).

ABNR’s team was led by Emir Nurmansyah, Chandrawati Dewi and Novario Asca Hutagalung, with support from Gerry Razi, Afif Hirzi, Tanisha Maharani, Irfan Sasongko and Jennifer Astrid.

Indra Setiawan and Ridzky Amin advised on employment matters with Marintan Panjaitan and Ricky Raytona. Mahiswara Timur handled the telecommunications and regulatory aspects of the transaction.

Indonesian law firm ABNR hasadvised telecommunications company Telkom Indonesia on completing the second phase of the spin-off...