‘Being in investment management, we need to capture investments when markets are positive and navigate the markets when recoveries are slow,’ says Amy Ng on her role at CBRE Global...

ANZ’s Asia legal head Ben Hamilton finds leading and developing people one of the greatest sources of satisfaction in his role. ‘I feel overwhelmed by having such talented people who...

Former head of DFDL’s Laos offering, Brennan Coleman, is RMA Group’s first general counsel. The company specialises in assisting governments, aid agencies and other non-commercial enterprises with support in developing...

Brett Graham, who heads a team of around 50, relishes the variety of work involved in his role as Asia Pacific general counsel for one of the world’s leading financial...

Burat Luengthada led a cross-functional team in the implementation of new FCPA-related procedures, including a new pre-approval online system and process for Thailand and Indochina. He greatly relishes the daily...

‘Calvin Park is an IT and antitrust lawyer with unrivalled expertise and experience in Korea,’ according to one source. As in-house counsel at mobile phone company Qualcomm Korea, Park has...

Southeast Asian copper and gold producer PanAust has a portfolio of organic growth projects in Laos, Papua New Guinea and Chile. Its Laos-registered company Phu Bia Mining is centred on...

CIMB’s award-winning group legal head Chee Fei Meng is highly respected not only in her own organisation, but across the industry as a whole. ‘CIMB is relatively young in terms...

A recognised insurance expert, Chongmiao Xu has co-authored several texts focusing on legal developments in the industry. China Life Insurance Company’s legal department grew significantly following the company’s 2003 New...

Currently heading the Asia legal function for Hays Plc, UK and Australia-qualified Chris Dancey’s career has moved full circle, having once worked as a legal recruitment consultant. He developed Hays’...

Chris Drake has been general counsel at finance portfolio manager Portigon for 15 years and currently manages a team of five lawyers across Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Sydney. During...

Chris Kim currently leads an eight-strong team which he built up himself, overseeing Facebook’s international legal function. ‘I love being ringside for the Facebook story. I love the variety. You...

Christine Yixin Chen oversees JPMorgan Chase’s China legal function. A dual-qualified lawyer, her current position gives her a unique perspective on the challenges facing US financial institutions operating in the...

Clare Cheah provides front-line legal support to Disney’s real estate activities across the whole of Asia Pacific. She acted as lead negotiator for the legal real estate and development aspects...

‘One of the success factors of an in-house counsel is the ability to stay close to the business,’ opines Diana Lee, Ceva Asia Pacific’s senior vice president. Lee began her...

The Galileo Japan Trust is a $900m real estate investment trust listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, and a part of The Galileo Group, which is involved in numerous Australian...

‘As in-house counsel we can no longer content ourselves with just being good lawyers,’ says Elizabeth Colfer. ‘We need to invest time and energy, and factor into our legal analysis...

When asked what he enjoys most about leading Nikon’s 120-strong IP Division, Eric Kirsch replies, ‘solving problems’. Since he began his role he has taken steps to improve communication lines...

Faris Alsagoff manages 175 people across luxury resort and casino Marina Bay Sands’ legal and surveillance functions. Delphi Automative’s former Asia Pacific general counsel joined in 2010 when the centre...

Frances Wong leads a large, highly skilled team and is actively involved in industry groups. Wong most enjoys working closely with her legal team and the business on resolving transactional...

Hony Capital, one of China’s biggest private equity firms, worth over $7bn, announced its $1.54bn purchase of restaurant chain Pizza Express in 2014. The move comes as part of Hony’s...

‘Innovative and forward looking, with strategic vision’, Tan Gin Boon heads both legal and risk at leading regional telecommunications company Axiata. ‘The highlights have been building the department from a...

‘Looking back at my career, I believe my biggest personal achievement is having built up a strong, capable, dedicated, effective and conscientious team,’ says Ginney Lim, reflecting on her 20...

As well as managing all legal and risk functions, Gordon Chin sits on many of Lunar’s funds’ investment committees, keeping him exceptionally close to the business. ‘Lunar is a very...

Praised for his ‘drive’ and ‘strategic vision’, US-qualified Gunny Cho has a varied legal and entrepreneurial career history, including a deep involvement in Asia’s financial services sector. Formerly an attorney...

Former Ng & Partners partner Hing Yew Woo has 10 years’ experience focusing on maritime businesses within electronic and mechanical instrumentation specialist, The IMC Group. He is currently group general...

‘Hiro established and is currently building one of the most innovative legal teams in Japan,’ says one bystander. When Hiro Kato joined the international oil and gas company, it had...

Vale is the world’s second largest mining company. ‘Practical, very efficient and dedicated’ Hoi Yean Loi heads a small team covering all legal aspects of central and northern Malaysian operations,...

‘Very technically strong and yet very practical,’ Hoon-Leng Phuak leads a small team overseeing UBS’s corporate function across Asia. ‘My role is to be a trusted advisor,’ he says. ‘But...

Hua Liu is general counsel for state-owned entity China National Cotton Reserves Corporation (CNCRC). Established to manage, regulate and distribute national cotton reserves, CNCRC has become the largest cotton warehouse...

Most recently director and associate general counsel for New York and Hong Kong-listed luxury brand Coach Inc., Jasmine Karimi’s varied in-house career has spanned multiple jurisdictions in diverse industries including...

‘Work at Dymon Asia is never mundane or routine,’ says Jason Eng, general counsel and compliance head of leading alternative asset manager Dymon Asia. During his time at the company,...

In August 2013, Sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corporation (CIC) was responsible for managing $572.2bn of China’s foreign exchange reserves. Jennifer Chen joined CIC in 2010, after 10 years working...

‘Honeywell is a unique platform because its businesses encompass several different industries,’ says the company’s ‘diligent, detail-oriented and organised’ China IP head Jerry Xia. ‘I particularly enjoy such cross-industry exposure...

‘It was a good time to join – it’s exciting to be a part of something that’s growing,’ says Joanne Low, on her decision to become RRJ Capital’s first in-house...

John Lee is managing director for Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA), which is the world’s largest private manager on infrastructure assets. He works as general counsel for MIRA’s Asia-based...

‘A great lawyer’, ‘highly energetic’ and ‘results-oriented’, John Paul Huntington Vigman has 13 years’ in-house experience across Holland, Germany and Japan. He is particularly skilled in major project financings across...

‘One of Logitech’s mottos is that “success is never final”,’ Judith Crosbie-Chen says. ‘I agree with that statement but also tell my team members that “on the Journey, successes need...

Justus Chua led on the legal aspects of Reckitt Benckiser’s de-merger and spin off of its pharmaceuticals arm into a stand-alone business. As the first in-house lawyer in Reckitt Benckiser...

Kenji Tagaya has worked at Japan Bank for International Cooperation for four years and was promoted to chief counsel and director of legal affairs in 2013. He previously worked for...

Founder of peer-to-peer networking group The Asian Hedge Fund Legal and Regulatory Group, Kher Sheng Lee is the first general counsel of Azentus Capital. An SFC-regulated, multi-strategy, global investment manager,...

When Kristen Harris joined Harley Davidson in 2011, she was taking on an entirely new role, with all legal work previously handled in the Milwaukee global headquarters. ‘The initial phase...

‘I believe I face the same challenge that every general counsel is facing today,’ says Lai Minh Thuy, Citigroup’s Vietnam legal counsel. ‘We are responsible for advising our business partners...

Leading global pharmaceutical Bayer specialises across healthcare, agriculture and high-tech polymer materials. With over 15 years’ private practice and in-house experience combined, Lam Vu Thao heads the Vietnam business’s legal...

Prior to her current role, Lay Sang Tan had a long history in Asia’s telecommunications sector, through roles at France Telecom subsidiary Equant in Singapore, and Nokia Siemens Networks in...

‘In the past 10 years, I participated in almost all the major outbound petroleum M&A events that Chinese SOEs initiated, and also witnessed a lot of landmark transactions’. To name...

State Grid International Development (SGID) is the state-owned entity’s flagship body for international business and overseas investment. During Li Ling’s tenure as legal head and executive board member, SGID has...

China National Electric Engineering Corporation (CNEEC) successfully agreed to expand Thailand’s TPI PP 60MW MSW Power Plant in 2014. General counsel Li Liwen led all legal aspects of the agreement,...

‘Extremely good with exceptional depth’, Lily Zhang’s biggest challenge, she says, is ‘providing excellent legal support for the rapidly-evolving and growing business’. During her time with Alibaba Cloud she has...

Loo Hwee Fang is praised for her ‘agility’ and ‘innovative’ approach to structuring deals in ‘the foremost frontier market’ of Myanmar. Hwee Fang joined Yoma Strategic Holdings Ltd. in 2013. The...

‘I enjoy it most when the company successfully achieves a goal through cross-divisional collaboration,’ Mariko Mimura says. Mimura heads a 27-strong team, including Japan and foreign-qualified lawyers. ‘I changed legal...

Mark Jenkinson holds a combined legal and commercial role at innovative Norwegian oil and gas exploration company Petroleum Geo-Services. ‘It’s an opportunity to deal with quite unique work,’ he explains....

One of the world’s leading real estate investors, LaSalle manages $50bn assets under management, operating across 16 countries worldwide. Praised for her ‘efficiency’ and management of a regional team, Marnie...

‘Very well regarded’ managing director and senior counsel Matthew Slater has been Goldman Sachs for eight years, and was formerly at Latham & Watkins and Clifford Chance. He is particularly...

Melissa Obegi ‘has that rare combination of remarkable intelligence, a steady hand and plenty of charm’. She was previously managing director and regional counsel for Oaktree Capital’s Asia Principal Opportunities...

Michelle Koh began her career handling business maintenance contracts at Pidemco Land, which would later merge with DBS Land to become CapitaLand, before studying her law degree via distance learning....

Millette Asuncion-Arnedo has primary responsibility for Pfizer’s Asia Pacific’s legal function, spanning 12 jurisdictions. ‘As an in-house counsel, you are expected not just to give a legal opinion that is...

Hong Kong-listed AIA Group is the world’s largest independent, publicly-listed, pan-Asian life insurance group. It has wholly-owned main operating subsidiaries or branches in 14 markets in Asia Pacific, including China,...

When Mitsuro Claire Chino became executive officer in 2013, she was not only Itochu’s youngest employee to do so, but the first woman to reach executive level in any of...

Global integrated healthcare leader Sanofi develops and distributes therapeutic solutions, with seven growth platforms including: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and its new...

In his role as country compliance officer and legal counsel at ABB, Nobou Karakami prides himself on ‘embedding an integrity culture into the organisation’. His recent professional highlights include handling...

Osamu Toriumi has been at Mitsui & Co for over 30 years, and has spent time working in its New York and London offices. During this period, he has expanded...

‘Very technically strong and yet very practical’, Pamela Ng has acted on some of the largest IPOs in Asia and the world. In total, Ng, and her award-winning team, have...

During his decade-long career at global telecommunications company Telstra, Paul Abfalter has handled some of its most significant transactions. In his current role, he takes a deep involvement in strategic...

‘It is cliché perhaps, but what I enjoy the most is definitively being so close to the business,’ Peter De Neef says on his role at GDF Suez. ‘I deliberately...

Though he acknowledges ‘creating a truly diverse and inclusive workplace’ will take time, Peter Siembab feels the cause is ‘trending’. Siembab is an active participant in Bank of America Merrill...

René von Samson-Himmelstjerna is general counsel for German automotive company Daimler’s China business. Established in January 2001 and headquartered in Beijing, Daimler Greater China handles operations of Mercedes-Benz vehicles across...

Richard has over 20 years practise as corporate counsel in banking and financial services in Asia. As well as having a strong regulatory knowledge of the region his experience over...

Richard Walker has been with consumer goods multinational Reckitt Benckiser for nine years, focusing on a number of regions, including Europe and Latin America. In his second general counsel role...

‘I have a passion for practising law but at the same time I see myself as an entrepreneur,’ says Rik Muilwijk. ‘Hence, being the general counsel of one of Asia’s...

‘Very pragmatic and solution-orientated’ Robert Morimoto is ‘fair and courteous to all stakeholders’ and ‘truly invested in developing those around him’. He has held the post of general counsel at...

Otis Elevator Company is the world’s largest manufacturer of lifts and escalators. Since becoming general counsel, Chae has made concerted efforts to promote a more collaborative working environment through the...

‘Business is conducted in an ever-increasing, fast-paced environment,’ Roland Samosir says. ‘Business leaders need to make decisions swiftly with as much information as possible and I enjoy providing counsel in...

San Miguel Brewery (SMB)’s first legal head following SMC’s restructure, Rosabel Teston-Balan sees herself as carrying out a dual role. ‘As general counsel of an operating business unit, I take...

Ross Long joined Asia’s leading asset manager Nikko Asset Management’s senior management team to lead all global legal functions in 2013. Long has extensive legal and regulatory experience across multiple...

‘Incredibly hands on, very good at managing external resources,’ Scott Weenink has vast experience in the telecommunications sector, spanning Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Mobile communications investment company Ooredoo...

The first lawyer in Korea to join a certified public accountants’ firm, Seung Jae Baek established a ‘first-of-its-kind’ legal function from scratch. He also founded the Korea In-house Counsel Association...

In 2006, US billionaire investor Carl Icahn attempted a $10bn hostile takeover of Korean tobacco business KT&G Corporation. ‘This was probably one of the biggest challenges that my company had...

In six years, Sheila Liang has built up leading Chinese internet provider Tencent’s specialist M&A and technology transaction teams from scratch. After having no specialist transactional lawyers when she arrived,...

Shunming Cao, as the general manager of legal department of China Reinsurance (Group) Corporation, leads all legal and compliance functions at China’s largest reinsurer, state-owned China Reinsurance (Group). One of...

For the past three years, Simon Bladen has built up and led a nine-lawyer team across Mongolia and China, dealing with all legal aspects of Rio Tinto’s game-changing Oyu Tolgoi...

‘Tier one’ and ‘very experienced’, Siok Lan Pek joined £223bn investment company Temasek in 2012. She was previously executive vice president and general counsel at ST Telemedia, where she handled...

‘Highly competent and technical’ in the view of the law firms she instructs, Sok Theng Cheng is acclaimed both for her skills as a lawyer and for her management of...

Stéphane Harmand has a long history with world-leading vehicle manufacturer Volvo, having headed their French legal operations for 10 years, before relocating to their China branch in 2008. In his...

Tadashi Nagae, who heads an 80-strong team, including 30 lawyers, acted on Dentsu’s acquisition of Aegis Media and measures related to its subsequent integration. During his time in the role,...

Theresa Low’s appointment as General Counsel and Company Secretary of the Sentosa Development Corporation Group of Companies was the latest in an in house legal career that spanned from listco...

The ‘very impressive’ Thierry Lintermans manages a team of around 75 across the whole of Asia Pacific, including Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan and China. He previously spent...

‘Extremely good with exceptional depth’, Tim Steinert is currently leading Alibaba’s US IPO, which ‘could be the largest initial stock offering in US history’. Steinert has served as Alibaba Group’s...

‘Generally, what is great about in-house work is that it is so much more tangible than private practice work,’ Valerie Tan says. She joined ABN AMRO in 2010 just after...

Vanita Jegathesan oversees all Chevron’s disputes and investigations for the downstream markets across Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Since starting her role she has worked closely with managing...

‘Having been in an in-house role with the company for 15 years, it has been a great journey to see it grow from a private limited to a blue chip...

As San Miguel Corporation’s general counsel, Virgilio Jacinto has been active in the ongoing diversification of the Group’s investment portfolio. Stretching way beyond beer, this currently includes: packaging, property development,...

The Carlyle Group is now the largest private equity firm in Asia, and general counsel Wayne Bannon became managing director in 2012, the same year the company became publicly listed....

‘Our litigation department has the best expertise in Taiwan for handling international disputes,’ says Wei-Fu Hsu, general counsel of TSX-listed technology company MediaTek. The group’s current strength follows a decade-long,...

‘I have been fascinated by China since secondary school,’ says US-educated former journalist William Hay on his two-decade career in the continent. ‘A class act’ in the words of a...

Société Générale was the first French bank to provide services in China in 2008, after China fully opened up to the Société Générale group in 2006. It was also one...

Ya Fang Xia established the seven-strong Asia Pacific legal department at French multinational luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, whose portfolio includes Louis Vuitton, Veuve Clicquot and Fendi. ‘She demonstrates sound judgment...

A leading figure in Asia’s telecommunications market, Equinix’s ‘outstanding’ Asia Pacific vice president Yolande Goh is the first to admit not everything in her career has followed a pre-designed plan....

Aluminum Corporation of China Limited is a multinational aluminium company headquartered in Beijing, People’s Republic of China. It is the world’s second-largest alumina producer and third-largest primary aluminium producer. Yu...

With more than 55 million customers in Japan, NTT Docomo is one of the world’s largest mobile communications operators and has been influential in pushing forwards technological advancement and standards...