Covid-19: Proposed legislation provides temporary relief

On 25 August 2020, the Temporary Measures for Reducing the Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Bill 2020 (Bill) was passed by the Dewan Rakyat. The Bill seeks to provide temporary measures to mitigate the financial and social impact of Covid-19. Read more

Japan reforms laws affecting foreign lawyers: a win for Japanese companies

The House of Representatives in Japan passed a bill to expand the Act on Special Measures concerning the Handling of Legal Services by Foreign Lawyers (the “2020 Gaiben law”). This is significant as it allows foreign lawyers to act in a broader range of arbitrations, and it reduces the post-qualified experience required for foreign lawyers to be registered in Japan. Read more

Section 17A of the MACC Act: TRUST-ed adequate procedures for your corporation

Malaysia is anticipating the new corporate liability provision to take effect on 1 June 2020. The new corporate offence under the MACC Act is applicable to the broadly defined “commercial organisation”, which not only includes Malaysia incorporated companies but also commercial organisations incorporated outside Malaysia that carry on business or any part of a business in Malaysia. Read more