Europe-Asia Great Divide in Regulating the Digital Economy

July 26, 2023
FRENY PATEL The proliferation of the Internet and the critical role of technology players in our daily lives have regulators grappling with how best the digital economy should be regulated against the anti-competitive behaviour of large online platforms. Europe has taken the lead towards ex-ante regulations with the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”), which came into effect a little over a month ago on 2 May 2023. The DMA sets the ground rules on what is acceptable behaviour. The DMA is aimed at reining in ‘Big Tech’ and their alleged abuse of power, but is still a work in progress. Digital platforms, often identified as gatekeepers, have the tendency to adopt a winnertakes-all approach and monetize market data. The idea behind ex-ante regulations is to truncate the time period and intervene before the market is entrenched with one or two players. However, a Singapore-based policy director with a leading multinational digital platform recently voiced concerns and cautioned enforcers in the Asia Pacific region to tailor digital regulations according to local economies, given the far-reaching implementation costs of ex-ante rules and the overarching implications. Unlike the European Commission, most Asian enforcers are still sitting on the fence, deliberating on how digital economies should be regulated and whether ex-ante rules are the solution or even warranted. There is clearly a Europe-Asia great divide on how the digital economy should be regulated. Each inquiry requires more time and by the time authorities complete the investigations, reach a finding, and issue directives, the markets may irreversibly tip in favour of the leaders The debate on the need to relook at antitrust enforcement tools has...

Kennedys Strengthens Aviation Team in Singapore

November 24, 2022
Kennedys has further bolstered its aviation team in Singapore with the designation of Anita Quy as Head of Aviation, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the addition of Tristan Thompson as a new partner. Joining the firm in 2014, Anita has specialised in the aviation sector for more than 20 years, and is highly respected across APAC and the London Market. She advises a range of clients, including insurers, airlines, general aviation operators, regulators, ground handlers and maintenance organisations.  Anita has been engaged as lead counsel in a number of cases involving catastrophic losses and regularly handles complex, high-value work, such as hull subrogation claims. She also has extensive dispute resolution experience in cross-border litigation, and regularly advises on non-contentious issues, such as contractual liability, risk management and regulatory matters.  She takes over the role following the departure of Peng Lim, who has moved in-house to long-standing Kennedys’ client, Liberty Specialty Markets, as Head of Aviation Claims. Anita will work alongside new partner, Tristan Thompson, who recently joined the firm from DLA Piper, where he spent the last three years principally working on complex aviation and aerospace product liability claims and hull subrogation claims. Prior to that, Tristan spent eight years at Clyde & Co, where he trained and qualified into their aviation team. An English qualified lawyer, Tristan specialises in handling contentious aviation and aerospace matters on behalf of operators and their (re)insurers across multi-jurisdictions. His experience includes dealing with major airline and helicopter losses, attritional claims, coverage issues and pursuing recovery actions for (re)insurers and...

Baker McKenzie adds Karyn McLean as Director of Business Development, Marketing and Communications

September 8, 2022
  Karyn McLean took up appointment as Baker McKenzie’s Asia Pacific Head of Business Development, Marketing and Communications on 22 August 2022, based in Hong Kong. McLean will be responsible for Baker McKenzie’s business development and marketing strategy and execution across its 17 offices in Asia Pacific. She will also support senior management and industry and practice leads with new business generation, client relationship management, change management, branding, and other key strategic initiatives. McLean is a senior marketing, business development, brand and communications executive with 15 years of experience working in international firms. Her past legal sector experience includes leading the Asia regional BDMC team for DLA Piper and managing the client relationship program for Allen & Overy’s top Asia billing clients. Most recently, she was the regional marketing and communications head of the CFA Institute, where she was also a member of the Asia Pacific Executive Management team and Global MarCom & Client Experience Management team. McLean is a CFA Charterholder and has an MBA from the University of Toronto. She has a passion for mentoring young women to support them in their early career development, and has contributed to programs such as the FT Women in Business Asia Forum, Women in Finance Asia and Young Women in Investment, India. She also serves on the Board of the American Women’s Association and the Advisory Board of the Mission for Migrant Workers. Chris Freeland, Managing Director of Baker McKenzie Asia Pacific commented, “We are delighted to welcome Karyn to the Firm, as she brings with her a wealth of experience in business development and marketing in the legal and professional services industry. We...

Baker McKenzie appoints three new group leaders for Asia Pacific

July 21, 2022
Baker McKenzie has appointed Derek Poon, Stephen Crosswell and Celeste Ang as new leaders for its Asia Pacific practice and industry groups, effective July 1, 2022.  Private Equity/ M&A Partner Derek Poon (Hong Kong) takes over from Kelvin Poa (Singapore) as Asia Pacific chair of the Private Equity Practice. Derek has extensive experience in the Pan-Asia region representing private equity firms, investment banks and major corporations on a wide variety of corporate matters, including public and private M&A, private equity, joint ventures, real estate private equity and distressed M&A transactions.   Antitrust Partner Stephen Crosswell (Hong Kong) also takes over from Adrian Lawrence (Sydney) as Asia Pacific chair of the Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) Industry Group, on top of being the Asia Pacific chair of the Antitrust & Competition Practice. Stephen has more than 20 years of experience advising on a broad range of telecommunications regulatory and competition law issues in Mainland China, Hong Kong and throughout the Asia Pacific. He also regularly advises on competition policy matters, including regulated industry negotiations with governments and regulators, deregulation, privatization and state-owned enterprises reform.  Dispute Resolution and Employment Practice Principal Celeste Ang (Singapore) has taken over from Michael Michalandos (Sydney) as Asia Pacific chair of the Employment & Compensation Practice. Celeste has significant experience acting for global clients in cross-border disputes, and advising on compliance and regulatory issues in cross-border investigations. She also advises on a wide range of employment and employment-related issues, with a focus on contentious or potentially contentious issues. “I am delighted to welcome our new practice and industry group leaders to the leadership team. These appointments attest to our commitment in building our practices...