Events

*This event is strictly for in-house counsel only.

Event Overview

From global geopolitical uncertainties to operational intricacies such as internal malfeasance and local compliance challenges, general counsel have much to keep watch on in 2019. 

US-China trade disputes, increasing data regulations and the continuing surge of nationalist politics are some of the key global risks for businesses in 2019. Changes abound, and a new world reality is set to emerge for global businesses in the coming year. How will companies in Asia Pacific be affected by these global developments, and more importantly, what are the implications for general counsels in this region?

At the same time, a key challenge for businesses in 2019 will be to avoid being overly distracted by geopolitical drama. Foreign companies ensnared by corruption scandals and capricious local regulatory implementation or blindsided by internal malfeasance and attacks on local partners often find they were not focusing on local, material threats to their business. While it is key to keep an eye on global issues, it is businesses that remain focused on the matters closer to home that are well-positioned to adapt to rapid changes in the local environment and operate successfully in any market.

Join Steve Wilford, Senior Partner at Control Risks, as he discusses the top global risks for businesses in 2019 and their implications for Asia Pacific, as well as the key “operational” risks that every general counsel should always pay attention to. He will also share examples and case studies of how companies in similar situations have managed the geopolitical and operational minefield.

Speaker Profile

Steve Wilford, Senior Partner at Control Risks

Steve Wilford is a Senior Partner for Asia-Pacific in Control Risks’ Global Risk Analysis team, and leads a group of specialists conducting country, sector and regulatory risk assessment work. Prior to this, Steve was the Director of Corporate Investigations for South-East Asia. This remit encompassed joint venture partner/new purchase due diligence, litigation support, discreet enquiries and broader national, provincial and micro-scale political and regulatory risk analysis.

Steve’s recent consulting experience includes:

• Conducted a highly sensitive investigation into government-linked corruption allegations surrounding a major multinational facing sanction by an international financial institution.
• Investigated extortion against a major US multinational.
• Designed and executed numerous joint-venture risk assessments in complex jurisdictions, such as Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia.
• Advised multinationals on pre-entry and operational policy for hostile environments in Asia, including in the oil and gas, telecommunications, non-governmental and manufacturing industries.

Steve is a regular BBC, CNN, CNBC, radio and print media commentator on trends in insurgency, political succession, corporate governance and threats to business assets in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as a frequent presenter at regional risk management conferences.

In a long career with Control Risks, Steve variously set up and ran Control Risks’ first operational presence in India, managed the South-East Asia business development team, ran the Jakarta office’s Corporate Investigations practice and spent several years as the company’s South-East Asia analyst.

Steve holds a master of philosophy in international relations from the University of Oxford, and a first-class honours degree in South-East Asian studies and language from the University of Hull, where he specialised in Thai military politics and Malaysian corporate governance issues.