Notices

PERSOL RESEARCH AND CONSULTING CO., LTD. has updated the “PERSOL HR DATA BANK in APAC” contributed by One Asia Lawyers Group members.

Our group members mainly wrote the contents of the “Labor laws and Labor markets” section and have now updated this section to the latest version.

For more information, please visit the following link.
PERSOL HR DATA BANK in APAC – PERSOL RESEARCH AND CONSULTING (persol-group.co.jp)

Seminar for the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in Singapore has decided to adopt the “Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests” (“Tripartite Guidelines“) starting from 1 December 2024. All companies in Singapore are required to implement policies and processes regarding Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA) and appropriately amend their work rules and employment contracts accordingly.

The “Tripartite Guidelines” are binding guidelines established to complement the Employment Act of Singapore, setting out a series of employment practices that Singapore companies should implement in the workplace. MOM can take appropriate measures against companies that do not comply with the Tripartite Guidelines. In this seminar, we will explain the purpose of the new Tripartite Guidelines, the specific content of Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA), how Japanese companies should respond, the methods for implementing FWA policies and processes, and the ways to amend work rules and employment contracts.

Additionally, we will also provide updates on the latest “Workplace Fairness Legislation (WFL)” scheduled to be introduced in the latter half of 2024, as well as other changes in labor law practices in Singapore. Please join us for this informative session.

【Contents】※ This seminar is provided in hybrid style, in-person and webinar.
Date and time: August 6, 2024, Singapore Time
3:30 pm: Registration
4:00 pm: Commencement of the seminar
   Question and Answer
5:00 pm: Networking.
6:00 pm: End of Event.

★Information★
■Date： August 6 2024 (Tuesday)
Seminar/Webinar: 4:00 PM ～ 5:00 PM（Singapore Time）/ 5:00 PM～ 6:00PM（Japan time）
Networking: 5:00 PM ～ 6:00 PM（Singapore Time）/ 6:00 PM～ 7:00PM（Japan time）* this is offered only at in-person at the venue. We will also offer you snacks and drinks.

■Where/How：
  In-person event at One Asia Lawyers: Focus Law Asia, #21-01/#21-02, 16 Raffles Quay, Hong Leong Building, Singapore 048581
  Webinar: Zoom Webinar

■Fee：Free of charge

■Link to Register： https://forms.gle/zPBMSXYr5f8sjmNw6

■How to attend：Please register from the link above.

■＜Speakers＞
・One Asia Lawyers: Focus Law Asia LLC  
    Lawyer in Japan, Singapore   Tetsuo Kurita (Partner)
    Lawyer in Singapore              Victoria Wah (Senior Associate)

■Should you have any inquiries, please contact the email below:
seminar@oneasia.legal

Establishing And Investing Into Funds: Perspectives from Singapore, Japan, the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands

This seminar will cover the different legal tax reliefs in Singapore and the tax-neutral jurisdictions of the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands. We will also introduce the various onshore fund structures relating to Singapore and offshore fund structures relating to the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands, which are targeted to family offices, fund managers, and other related fund parties. Furthermore, this seminar will also cover certain legal aspects of investments into funds from several multi-jurisdictional perspectives: Singapore, the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Japan.

As such, Focus Law Asia LLC, a Singapore member firm of One Asia Lawyers Group, which is an international law firm with offices and group firms in Japan and ASEAN countries, Mourant Ozannes (Singapore) LLP, which is an international offshore law firm with over 60 years’ experience in the financial services sector, and Trustmoore Singapore, which is a management owned fund administrator well-known for delivering boutique, personalised services, will provide an overview of the legal jurisdictions and fund structures in Singapore, Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands..

【Contents】Singapore Time
4:30 pm: Registration
5:00 pm: Commencement of Panel Discussion:
　　　　(a) Forming fund entities in Singapore, the Cayman Islands, and the British Virgin Islands.
　　　　(b) Legal aspects of investing in funds from multi-jurisdictional perspectives:
　　　　　Singapore, the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Japan.
　　　　(c) Cross-border fund structuring methods for Japanese companies and funds.
6:00 pm: Question and Answer.
6:15 pm: Networking.
8:00 pm: End of Event.

◆One Asia Lawyers Group◆

One Asia Lawyers Group is a network of independent law firms created to provide seamless and comprehensive legal advice for Japanese and international clients across Asia. With our member firms in Japan, Southeast Asia, Oceania and other ASEAN countries, One Asia Lawyers Group has a strong team of legal professionals who provide practical and coherent legal services throughout each of these jurisdictions.  Focus Law Asia LLC is a member firm in Singapore of One Asia Lawyers Group. For any enquiry regarding this article, please contact us by visiting our website: https://oneasia.legal/ or email info@oneasia.legal

◆MOURANT OZANNES (SINGAPORE) LLP ◆

Mourant is a law firm-led, professional services business with over 60 years’ experience in the financial services sector.  We advise on the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey, and Luxembourg and provide specialist entity management, governance, regulatory and consulting services. We bridge the gap between legal advice and its implementation, taking an integrated approach to deliver the best results for our clients. 

We are an international and globally integrated firm with offices in the world’s leading offshore finance centres, as well as London, Hong Kong and Singapore. Our business is intrinsically linked to the global economy and the capital flows that support it. We serve the needs of our clients in all major time zones, facilitating responsible cross-border finance and investment, the pooling and protection of capital and the resolution of disputes.

The Singapore office of Mourant provides Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands legal and governance services to clients based across Asia, with a particular focus on investment funds and alternative asset management.

◆TRUSTMOORE SINGAPORE◆

Trustmoore Singapore is a management owned fund administrator well-known for delivering boutique, personalised services. The multi-faceted organisation operates with four business lines, fund administration, corporate expansion, structured finance, capital markets and private wealth solutions. The firm is highly client centric, choosing to adopt a tailored approach for its clients spread across its 12 offices globally.

Equipped with the latest fund and corporate administration software, Trustmoore is staffed by an experienced team that aims to ease the administration burden for its clients. The group has enjoyed substantial organic growth, while remaining fully owned by its founders and management. Trustmoore is independent and unaffiliated to nor funded by any private equity firm or legal, tax, audit firm or financial institution. This allows the firm to operate without conflicts and always with the best interests of our clients at heart.

★Information★
■Date：14 August 2024(Wed)
4:30 PM ～ 8:00 PM（Singapore Time）/ 5:30 PM～ 9:00PM（Japan time）
（LIVE）
※It is in a live seminar event.
■Where/How：in-person event at One Asia Lawyers: Focus Law Asia, #21-01/#21-02, 16 Raffles Quay, Hong Leong Building, Singapore 048581
■Fee：Free of charge
■Link to Register： https://forms.gle/xBz22C9GKQKn1q3U8
■How to attend：Please register from the link above.
■＜Speakers＞
・One Asia Lawyers: Focus Law Asia LLC Japan Desk
　Tetsuo Kurita (Partner)
　Victoria Wah (Senior Associate)
・Mourant Singapore
　Craig Luton (Managing Partner)
・Trustmoore Singapore
　Desley Tan (Managing Director)

■Should you have any inquiries, please contact the email below:
　seminar@oneasia.legal

Our Lawyer, Hiroyuki Masuda, has won the  LegalOneStellar Accolade (ASEAN) for 2024 by LegalOne.

We are delighted to share the good news that our lawyer, Hiroyuki Masuda, has been selected as a winner of the prestigious LegalOneStellar Accolade (ASEAN) for 2024. This recognition is a testament to his exceptional work and contributions in the legal and business sectors. The selection for the award-winning lawyers is based on his practical skills. Factors considered include the LegalOne Merits rating from the projects he has been involved in, feedback from clients, and other skills relevant to his practice. The editorial department independently finalised the list of winners.

Details are as below;
https://www.legaloneglobal.com/articles/a-1712738184242

LegalOne is an independent global research company that provides a groundbreaking unique source to senior executives, general counsel, and decision-makers by referencing evaluations and exclusive reviews of commercial deals, dispute cases, and intellectual property matters, as well as direct ratings and testimonials from clients to legal advisors.

One Asia Lawyers has been selected as a finalist in 3 categories for the ALB Japan Law Awards 2024, organized by the prestigious assessment body ALB (Asian Legal Business).
The 3 categories are as follows:

• Litigation Law Firm of the Year
• Overseas Practice Law Firm of the Year
• Japan Law Firm of the Year

The ALB Japan Law Awards is a celebration of the top legal practitioners and firms in Japan, recognizing their achievements and contributions to the industry.

More information can be found under the “FINALISTS” tab at the following URL.
https://www.legalbusinessonline.com/law-awards/alb-japan-law-awards-2024

Introduction to Expatriates in Asia / Legal Practice Seminar for Business /OAL Webinar Series

    This year marks the fifth in the annual series of OAL seminar “Introduction to Expatriates in Asia / Legal Practice Seminar for Business.” Our firm group’s lawyers, who have extensive experience and knowledge in each jurisdiction, will provide explanations to expatriates, directors, and contract managers who have been newly assigned to countries in Southeast Asia, South India, Oceania and the Middle East as well as for legal departments, compliance departments, and overseas business departments that support such people from Japan.

    As domestic demand shrinks and competition intensifies in Japan, many companies, regardless of their compensation, are expanding overseas in search of new markets. While the head office in Japan expect local subsidiaries to expand the market and speed up business growth in the local country, management resources to survive the competition tend to be concentrated on sales and marketing, and the establishment of back-office management systems for local subsidiaries tends to end up behind with everything. However, as business becomes more global in scale, the legal system to ensure the proper operation of a company is becoming stricter every year from a global perspective. In recent years, compliance, especially in Asian countries, has become even more stringent than that in Japan, and what is required of expatriates is sifting not only “business growth” but also “managing a local subsidiary with the flexible response in accordance with legal systems which is complex and frequently changes, while growing the business.”

    This webinar series is designed for expatriates, directors, and contract managers in Southeast Asia, South India, Oceania and the Middle East to acquire knowledge of business practices and laws related to business in each country. The webinar will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the basic legal knowledge in each country. Especially, the webinar is not limited to the mere acquisition of legal knowledge but also provides practical information that is essential from a business perspective, such as how to negotiate with local companies, how to manage the labor of local personnel, and how to manage receivables in Asian countries.

Date and Time
Date is depending on the country/region, but all are held from 3PM to 6PM in JST (10 minutes break)
Friday 19^th April 2024：Singapore　
Friday 26^th April 2024：Australia/ New Zealand
Friday 10^th May 2024：Malaysia
Friday 17^th May 2024：Vietnam
Friday 24^th May 2024：Indonesia
Friday 31^st May 2024：Philippine
Friday 7^th June2024：Cambodia
Friday 14^th June 2024：Laos
Friday 21^st June 2024：Myanmar
Friday 28^th June 2024：Thailand
Friday 5^th July 2024：India/South Asia
Friday 12th July 2024: UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)
Friday 19th July 2024: Saudi Arabia

Seminar Detail（※Contents may be different in each region/country.）

1. Business Customs（Commercial customs, legal system/history, negotiation method with local companies in each country, etc.）
2. Measure to Manage Local Companies（Summary of Company Act in each country, the latest amendment of Company Act, the difference with Company Act in Japan, director’s obligation, the obligation that the directors should be aware of after the COVID-19 pandemic, etc.）
3. Labor Management（Summary of Labor Law/the latest amendments of Labor law in each country, the management of labor contracts, the prevention method of harassment, the response to the relevant authorities and the management method of workers after COVID-19 pandemic, etc.）
4. Information Management（Personal Data Protection Act/the latest detected case in each country and the response to the relevant authorities, etc.）
5. Competition Law Management（Summary of Competition Law in each country, cases of violation and the method to build the prevention system and the response to the relevant authorities, etc.）
6. Compliance Management（The prevention system of bribery/the method to build the Whistle-Blowing system in each country, etc.）
7. Debt Management（Methods of ensuring debt collection/obtaining charge in each country, dispute resolution systems, etc.）
8. Intellectual Property Management（Management method of trademark/copyright in each country, etc.）

Speakers：Local lawyers of One Asia Lawyers Group
Language：Japanese
Access：Zoom Webinar
Fee：Free of charge

Registration：Please register from the link below. The Zoom link will be sent after your registration is completed.
Other than Saudi Arabia
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_u5geuTaJRGyIUNH-U96FKA

Saudi Arabia
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Hjnm9V5lRiefn-fNl0VWEA

※ The confirmation email will be sent automatically upon the completion of your prior registration.
※ The personal data in relation to this registration will be used only for the purpose of registration for this webinar and future webinar announcements but not for any other purposes.

■ One Asia Lawyers Group will be holding many seminars in 2024. We are also happy to customize a seminar/webinar for your request. Please feel free to contact us if you are interested.
seminar@oneasia.legal

In order to meet the needs of AI-related legal fields and to provide more advanced and cutting-edge legal advice, we, One Asia Lawyers, have set up the AI Legal Practice Group.

Our AI Legal Practice Group leverages our extensive network of local offices and affiliated firms across Asia. We have a team of lawyers and experts proficient in AI legal matters, not just in Japan but throughout the entire region. We offer a broad spectrum of legal services for AI businesses across Asia, covering the protection of intellectual property rights, compliance with personal data regulations, and support in regions where AI-specific laws and regulations are still developing.

If you have any questions or concerns about complying with laws and regulations as you develop your business related to AI, please contact us at the contact information below.

One Asia Lawyers recently added Mourant as a member firm to cooperate with respect to the furthering of commercial opportunities for both parties with Japanese clients.

The Mourant team in Asia provides BVI and Cayman Islands legal advice, with the wider Mourant group also advising in respect of the laws of Jersey, Guernsey and Luxembourg.

This alliance marks a significant milestone in collaborating on open-ended and close-ended funds work within BVI and the Cayman Islands specially catered to Japanese clients.

Mourant   https://www.mourant.com/

　We are pleased to announce that One Asia Law Firm has entered into a business alliance with SKY LAW (Kua Sy & Yeung Law Offices) based in Metro Manila, Republic of the Philippines, effective April 1, 2023. In the form of a business alliance, SKY LAW will join One Asia Lawyers Group as a Philippine member firm, and the entire One Asia Lawyers Group will respond to the cross-border transactional needs of international companies.

　SKY LAW is a full-service law firm that handles general corporate issues, Mergers and Acquisitions, dispute resolution, labor, intellectual property (including patents), and tax disputes for clients in Metro Manila and throughout the country. SKY LAW has been ranked by the Legal 500 and was a finalist in the Philippines Law Awards 2022, Philippines Client Choice Lawyers 2022, and Asia IP Rankings 2022, among others.

https://skylaw.com.ph/

　The One Asia Lawyers Philippines team is pleased to have a new partner and looks forward to continuing to provide our clients with the best legal services possible.

 Focus Law Asia LLC, a Singapore member firm of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023, received a high rating (Firms to Watch) in the areas of Dispute Resolution and Shipping (Local Firm) law. 

For more information, please check The Legal 500 website.

https://www.legal500.com/firms/237351-focus-law-asia/236563-singapore-singapore/#rankings