Baker McKenzie Celebrates 50 Years in Taiwan

February 26, 2025
Baker McKenzie’s Taipei office celebrates its 50th anniversary this year with events and initiatives that highlight its positive impact in Taiwan over the past five decades, as well as how Baker McKenzie works with clients and the community to “Focus on the Future” – the celebration’s theme, which underscores the Firm’s commitment to working with clients and the local community in Taiwan to shape a brighter future. The year-long celebration campaign kicked off on February 21, 2025 with a gala dinner and the release of the commemorative book, which documents the Firm’s years of success in assisting businesses navigate complex legal issues arising from cross-border investments and local and international regulatory compliance requirements. Baker McKenzie Global Chair Milton Cheng congratulated Taipei colleagues on this milestone anniversary, and thanked the Firm’s clients for their support and partnership over the years. He highlighted the office’s growth over the past 50 years, noting its rise as a market-leading international firm. Cheng attributed this success to the Taipei team’s dedication and commitment to serving its clients, delivering a full-service offering underpinned by a connected global experience, industry-leading expertise, and first-rate local market insights. Seraphim Ma, managing partner of the Firm’s Taipei office, said: “Our clients’ success is our success. Over the years, we have been regularly called upon by Taiwanese companies to assist with their domestic legal matters and global expansions, and we have advised multinational companies on their inbound investments into Taiwan. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our clients for their trust in us as their business partner. Through our book, we...

Baker McKenzie names New Global India Practice Chair

November 13, 2024
Baker McKenzie has appointed Mini Menon vandePol as the new Chair of the Firm’s Global India Practice. She succeeds Singapore-based principal Ashok Lalwani, who served in the role for 12 years, and will continue to serve as a member of the India practice’s Steering Committee. Ashok will be relocating to the Firm’s Dallas office next year, where he will be focused on supporting the Firm’s clients with their US-India opportunities and building out the US-India practice. Born in India and raised in Australia, Mini joined Baker McKenzie’s Melbourne office in 1998 and relocated to the Hong Kong office in 2014. She is the Asia Pacific Head of Baker McKenzie’s Investigations, Compliance & Ethics Group, and has served on the Firm’s India Practice Group Steering Committee since 2018. Mini has played a key role in driving the India strategy, advising both multinational and Indian clients on their inbound and outbound expansion activities. As Chair, she will continue to drive this work, while spearheading the Firm’s efforts to prepare for the liberalization of India’s legal market. Mini is widely recognized as a leading investigations lawyer with a career that spans 30 years. “I am very excited to take on the leadership of our Global India Practice and feel privileged to contribute to India’s dynamic and exciting economic vision. India’s fast-growing economy, expansive and young workforce, aspirational consumer base, and increasing relevance in global supply chains have accelerated India’s economic development and foreign direct investment. Bringing global best practices and experience will be integral in supporting our international and domestic clients to leverage these trends and grow their businesses,” Mini commented. Peerapan Tungsuwan, Global Executive Committee Member...

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...