First Thursdays Breaking Fast: A Ramadan Special

For our next First Thursday, SCCA joins Ashurst to celebrate the diversity of our legal profession. We will be hosting a Buka Puasa event for SCCA members and other guests. We look forward particularly to meeting those observing fasts. We will also have Muslim members of the legal profession share about the significance of Ramadan and their own reflections balancing religion and the practice of law.

Join us at Ashurst for the next installment of our First Thursdays series as we observe the month of Ramadan with our Muslim friends.

Programme

6:00pm -  Registration

6:30pm -  Introduction

7:11pm -  Buka Puasa

8:30pm -  End of Programme 

Legal and Financial Risks with High Value Deals

Introduction

Legal finance has attracted considerable attention in a number of important jurisdictions globally, particularly U.S., England and Australia. It is an important tool for corporations to manage litigation risks and enhance balance sheet efficiency, but is yet often underappreciated by general counsels, CFOs and corporate treasurers.

Dispute resolution is an essential responsibility of a corporate legal function, and it can demand considerable management time and financial resources. Cases are taking longer and costing more to litigate, so even well-funded organisations have an increasing need to manage exposure and lay off risks. Legal finance is a powerful tool in facilitating this process, and effectively transforms disputes from potential liabilities into assets.

The session will provide an understanding of how legal finance works, and how it could be used as a tool for optimising a company’s balance sheet and diversifying legal risks.

Seminar Content

• Single Case / Portfolio Financing. Classic litigation finance, where a third-party capital provider would pay for the expenses relating to the pursuit of a claim in return for a share of the recovery of the litigation (only upon a successful outcome).
• Asset Recovery. Where the capital provider would fund the post-settlement enforcement process or monetise the judgment or award obtained by the claimant.
• Legal Risk Management in Corporate Activities. Other ways of evaluating and monetizing legal risks include the underwriting of legal risks associated with corporate acquisition activities.

Speaker Profile

 Quentin Pak

Director, Burford Capital

Burford Capital is a leading global finance firm focused on law and the largest provider of strategic capital to the legal market. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, judgment enforcement and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange, and it works with law firms and clients around the world from its principal offices in New York, Chicago, London and Singapore.

Quentin Pak is a Director responsible for running Burford’s office in Singapore and expanding Burford’s presence in Asia and Australia. Quentin has over 20 years’ experience in finance and law, most recently as Head of Commodities (Asia) at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. His previous experience includes senior positions at major global financial institutions including Barclays, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank. Before going into banking, Quentin practised law for a number of years with Allen & Overy in both London and Singapore.

Legal Data Analytics & Optimisation: Challenges & Trends in Legal Management & Operations

Join Yerra Solutions and the Singapore Corporate Counsel Association for a roundtable discussion on challenges and trends in legal management and operations, followed by networking drinks on May 28, 2018.

“All the Tech in the world but nobody to use them.”

Technology is a means—not an end—to improving performance of legal delivery. That requires collaboration between and among in-house counsel, techies and businesses. Therefore, it is important to ensure alignment on scope between procurement, legal teams and IT at the commencement of a project.

The focus of the open discussion will touch on trending topics, such as:

• Optimizing the use of legal technology
• Driving efficiency and mitigating risk in critical processes
• Delivering greater value to your organisation with actionable metrics
• Lessons learned from legal digitalisation initiatives
• Data Analytics

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

Cyber and Data Risks in China and Asia Pacific

Seminar Introduction

Cyber and data risks remain one of the largest challenges for legal teams in Asia Pacific. From the emergence of national cyber security laws and regional data privacy and protection regulations, to geopolitically driven social media hacks and fake news stories , cyber is now top of senior counsels’ agenda.

Governments around the world are reacting by making changes to the way digital information is managed.  The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), one of the most important changes in data privacy regulation in 20 years, is dominating the headlines. Closer to home, China, Singapore and Australia have all enacted laws pertaining to cyber security, with supporting regulations continually evolving. Unfortunately, the approaches taken by the various regulators are not uniform, posing challenges for organisations as to how they collect, manage and process their data across multiple jurisdictions.

Please join Jim Fitzsimmons, Director of Cyber Consulting at Control Risks, who will answer key questions on the minds of senior counsels in Asia Pacific with respect to the changing digital risk landscape, including:

• What is driving the China Cyber Security Law and what are the implications for companies operating in China?
• Which other countries in the region are drafting cyber security and data regulations, and what are the potential implications?
• What are the key considerations for counsels when considering the compliance of their data in a highly fragmented regulatory environment?
• What are the elements that corporate counsels should consider when addressing cyber risk?
• How is the cyber risk landscape changing and what should the legal department do to prepare?

Who Should Attend?

SCCA members with compliance, crisis management, data privacy and protection, information security and cyber risk in their portfolio.

Programme

5:00pm – 5:30pm Registration & Networking

5:30pm – 6:30pm Presentation on Cyber and Data Risks in China and Asia Pacific

6:30pm – 7:00pm Q&A

Speaker Profie

Jim Fitzsimmons

WELL-BEING CHAPTER LAUNCH

THIS IS A PUBLIC EVENT AND SCCA WELCOMES ALL OUR MEMBERS AND GUESTS.

About the Well Being Chapter - HERE. 

PROGRAMME SUMMARY

Positive psychology is the scientific study 
of what makes life worth living.  During this 
evidence-based and practical discussion, we will 
explore this science of well-being, and will introduce 
actions you can take to support yourself during the busy 
reality of modern life.  

Delivered by Positive Psychology Practitioner, Ms Tara Schofield, 
we will discuss the various pathways to well-being, including 
the use of strengths, engagement, relationships, purpose 
and achievement. You will have opportunity to 
practice some techniques and understand how these 
concepts could fit into your everyday life.

Workshop to introduce techniques to
increase well-being:

- Savouring
- Active Constructive Responding
- What Went Well 
- Leveraging your strengths

Programme

4:00pm – 5:00pm Registration & Health Screening

5:00pm – 5:15pm Introduction

5:15pm – 6:00pm Workshop by Tara Schofield, Positive Psychology Practitioner

6:00pm – 6:30pm Panel discussion with Jacqueline Low & Monisha Kamdar. Moderated by Michelle Thiew

6:30pm Onwards, Networking

Launch of Business Development Chapter

*THIS EVENT IS STRICTLY FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS IN LAW FIRMS ONLY"

Join us at the launch of the Business Development Chapter. The Business Development Chapter aims to bring together business development professionals in law firms to collaborate and network as a means to facilitate the curation of legal products to help in-house counsels. 

Venue: 30 Merchant Road #02-01

Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm

First Thursdays at Mapletree

Mapletree

The premiere real estate developer in Singapore combines a multitude of business strategies ranging from real estate development to capital management. Its reputation needs no introduction, simply take a walk around the city or any significant commercial space and you are bound to see the logo of Mapletree emblazoned on its side.

The Mapletree Business City, where Mapletree operates out of, is a state-of-the-art integrated business hub that puts work-life balance at the forefront. Complete with eco- and user-friendly features, recreational facilities and amenities, the Mapletree Business City's environmentally friendly and sustainable design has garnered numerous local and international awards.

Join us for our next First Thursday as we tour the company that owns and manages over $39 billion in assets! This is a networking opportunity not to be missed!

Networking drinks will be on a cash bar basis at Harry's. 

Launch of SCCA BAFIS Insurance and Reinsurance Group

SCCA proudly introduces the new BAFIS Insurance and Reinsurance Interest Group under the BAFIS Chapter. 

In this age of volatility, it is paramount for insurance in-house counsel to stay aware and informed of the latest developments and how to deal with them. This special interest group aims to support all in-house insurance counsels by providing a platform for discussions on the industry, its changes and its disruptions to help in-house lawyers find the way forward. 

Program schedule: 

• 3.45 to 4pm – Registration
• 4pm to 5pm – Workshop
• 5pm to 6pm – Cocktails

We hope to see all in-house insurance counsel there!

*Please note this event is strictly for in-house counsel from insurance and reinsurance organisations.

All Things India - A Complimentary event for all In-House Counsel

About the event:-

India has regained the title as the fastest growing economy worldwide and all eyes are on them. Managing the legal landscape can be tricky if you face challenges in dealing with this emerging market, then join us alongside PwC and Squire Patton Boggs to hear from experienced professionals on how to navigate India’s legal landscape.

Event Program

1400 hrs – Registration

1420 hrs – 1435 hrs - Opening

Legal teams have a constant challenge in working the language on a contract or a negotiation and the actual requirement that a business often needs.

The challenge is multiplied when it comes to India. The business culture, the individual’s culture, and the organization culture is quite an array of color, much like India and no one model will fit the bill.

INDIA – How can legal departments get their head around to successfully working with their Indian stakeholders?

1400 hrs - 1500 hrs

Breaking into World Bank's Top 100 Ranking of Ease of Doing Business - legislative and regulatory changes that made the difference

1500 hrs - 1530 hrs - Changing paradigms of India's Exchange Control and Corporate law Framework.

1530 hrs - 1600 hrs - Tea Break

1600 hrs - 1645 hrs- Foreign Investment in India - Practical Challenges and Issues

Most foreign investors in India have to deal with the contradiction of the market. On the one hand, India is one of the fastest growing emerging markets and is politically more stable than in previous cycles, on the other hand, investors often have to deal with issues related to fraud, corruption and security. 

The panel will cover:-

- Fraud risk foreign investors will face

- The control of operations in India

- Corporate governance 

- Operating Practices and mitigation measures

- Accounting and audit standards

- Legal and Regulatory framework

1645 hrs - 1730 hrs - Navigating India's local licensing regime              

1730 hrs - 1800 hrs- Recent developments in Cross-Border Arbitrations and Mediation in India

The Indian economy has seen an increasing number of commercial disputes in recent times. Disputes in sectors including construction, energy, pharmaceutical, etc., are snowballing and becoming more and more complicated. Parties are increasingly turning to arbitration and mediation over traditional court litigation for cross-border disputes in India. Hear from experts in arbitration and mediation.

1800 hrs - Networking Drinks

_______________________________________________________________________

Speaker Profiles

Reshmi Khurana
Managing Director
Kroll

Reshmi Khurana is Managing Director and Head of South Asia in Kroll’s Investigations and Disputes practice, based in the Singapore office. Reshmi has more than 15 years of experience in the United States as well as in South and Southeast Asia conducting complex corruption investigations, litigation support projects, and due diligence on the management, operations, and business models of organizations. Her experience includes helping clients identify and bridge gaps in internal controls and corporate governance through people, processes, and technology.

Reshmi advises a wide range of clients, such as asset management companies and banks; corporations in the mining, oil and gas, consumer packaged goods, retail, and pharmaceutical industries; and law firms. Reshmi joined Kroll in 2003 in New York, where she worked for six years. She then moved to Kroll’s Singapore office, where she oversaw the operations in Southeast Asia before joining Kroll’s Mumbai office in 2011. Recently, she has led assignments in India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

Prior to joining Kroll, Reshmi was a consultant with McKinsey & Company in India, where she advised clients on strategy and operations in the telecom, retail, and consumer packaged goods sectors.

Reshmi has a Master degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and is an Independent Director on the Board of a leading international education institute in India.

Biswajit Chatterjee 
Partner
Squire Patton Boggs

Biswajit Chatterjee co-chairs our India Practice and leads the Capital Markets team in South East Asia. He is New York and India qualified and has extensive experience in corporate finance, capital markets, private equity and M&A transactions in Asia Pacific with a particular focus on India and South East Asia.

He has represented issuers and investment banks in a wide range of corporate finance transactions, including some of the largest equity and debt offerings in India and South East Asia. Bis has worked on complex, multijurisdictional private and public transactions, equity and debt deals, SEC registered, Rule 144A and Reg S offerings, private placements, ADRs and GDRs, MTN programs, FCCBs and high yield bond deals across a range of industries, including technology and e-commerce, infrastructure, engineering and construction, oil and gas, green energy, financial institutions, mining, real estate, retail and logistics.

Kaustubh George 
Senior Associate
Squire Patton Boggs

Kaustubh George is a senior associate within the Capital Markets and M&A Practice based in the Firm’s Singapore office. Kaustubh’s practice covers the diverse areas of capital markets, private equity, mergers and acquisitions and foreign investments and corporate commercial advisory.

He has represented and assisted both issuers and underwriters in India in fundraising through public offers, international issuances, private equity and venture capital funding. He has also been involved in drafting, reviewing and negotiating transaction documents for a diverse variety of mergers and acquisitions-related transactions.

Himansu Mohanty 
Executive Director, Regulatory
PwC India

Himansu Mohanty joined PwC in July 2016 after over 30 years of experience in various functional areas of the Reserve Bank of India including currency management, regulation of financial markets, government banking, etc.

He has been involved in administration of the exchange control regime in the mid 1980’s and with implementation of the transition from the FREA to FEMA regime in 1999-2000. He has been spearheading the liberalization and rationalization of the regulatory framework for cross border transactions during the last three years.

Between 2006 and 2013, he was involved in Reserve Bank’s monetary policy and exchange rate policy implementation as well as regulation of financial markets. During this period, he was closely involved in management of the massive surge in foreign exchange inflows during 2006-08, the down turn in market conditions post-Lehman, and the volatile conditions of 2013. He was a key official in formulation and implementation of Reserve Bank’s crisis response.During this period, he was also involved in various measures to develop the financial markets. Some of these are: introduction of exchange traded currency futures and options, interest rate futures, credit default swaps, etc.

During 2013 and 2016, he was instrumental in liberalization of the foreign investment regime. Besides, as head of the Forex Markets Division, he was also played a crucial role in liberalizing the regime for hedging foreign exchange risks, improving upon the cross border remittance regime, etc.

He has been associated with several working groups and committees on various matters relating to financial markets and institutions. He has been actively involved with Foreign Exchange Dealers’ Association of India, Fixed Income Money Market and Derivatives Association of India, and Forex Association of India and address several of their national and international conventions. His international exposure include IMF,FRBNY, BIS, Bank de France, Bank of Korea, Bank of Thailand, etc.

Himansu Mohanty has done his Masters in Economics from Delhi School of Economics and is a Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers. He was a Visiting Fellow in the University of California during 2005-06 and among others, worked in the area of financial markets, institutions and risk management. 

Akash Gupt 
National Leader Regulatory
PwC India

Akash is a Partner & Leader of the Regulatory Service practice at PwC India where he has been for over 20 years. His current areas of expertise include providing advice to Clients and Governments on policies, regulations and economic legislations, besides matters relating to foreign investment policy, exchange controls, capital market regulations, insolvency, anti-trust regulations and relevant industry policy/ regulatory framework across sectors.

Over his 20+ years of professional career, he has helped companies set up new businesses, enter into joint ventures, undertake transactions, obtain licenses/ approvals, navigate new regulations and deal with regulatory disputes/ investigations.

He is also focusing on public policy advisory - helping companies navigate the policy maze, assess trends in changing landscapes, advice on strategy for stakeholder engagement, technical analysis of business impact of an upcoming regulation and also support business planning from a regulatory standpoint, which is becoming more and more relevant today with technological innovation, evolving business dynamics, changing political situations and resultant complex & volatile policy environment.

Akash is a law graduate and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. 

Devottam Sengupta
Senior Legal Counsel
Louis Dreyfus Company

Devottam Sengupta is a Senior Legal Counsel at Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) Group, based in Singapore. He’s the global lead counsel for the Structured Trade Finance business of LDC Group, one of the largest traders of agricultural commodities. Additionally, Devottam is a part of the Asia-Pacific M&A team and the regional lead Treasury lawyer. He also supervises the India legal team at LDC.

Devottam extensive in-house and private practice, having previously worked as a regional counsel for Cargill Group, and as principal associate with Amarchand & Mangaldas (now Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas). During the course of his career, Devottam has worked on significant cross-border M&A, acquisition financing, structured hybrid financing, and distressed company M&A. 

A graduate of India’s premier law school, National Law School of India University (Bangalore), Devottam also holds a European Masters in Law and Economics, awarded jointly by the University of Hamburg and the University of Manchester. He was also the recipient of an Erasmus Mundus scholarship from the European Commission. 

In addition to being a lawyer, Devottam is also a writer and his translation to English of a Bengali novel was recently published. 

Hazel Tang - Centre Director

Hazel is an accredited mediator in Singapore and Shanghai.

Prior to joining Singapore International Mediation Centre, Hazel was a partner with a leading Singapore law firm with a regional presence, and was based in China for a period. Hazel’s experience cover a wide range of contentious and non-contentious work in the construction and infrastructure industry, and has effectively represented clients in international arbitration, litigation, adjudication and mediation proceedings.

Hazel also regularly conducted regular in-house training on risk prevention and mitigation.

Hazel is also an arbitrator with the leading arbitration institutions.

Click here to download the programme and speaker profiles.

*This seminar is strictly for in-house counsel. 

Clauses That Courted Trouble

About the Seminar

An under-estimated role of in-house counsel is to anticipate problems and help the organisation steer clear of disputes. Avoiding clauses that court trouble is fundamental to that role. There are invaluable lessons and practical tips to be learned from the mistakes made by others who found themselves on the brink of disputes and the less-fortunate who end up being embroiled in legal proceedings.

Seminar Content

An analysis of a variety of clauses from real life examples and which are of general applicability to organisations: what went wrong, what was overlooked in the drafting process and how it could have been avoided.

Speaker Profile

Marina Chin

JOINT MANAGING PARTNER AND CO-HEAD OF DISPUTES, TKQP

Marina is one of the senior and founding partners of TKQP. She is also the joint managing partner and co-head of the firms's disputes practice.

Recognised as a leading lawer in her field of practice and with more than 27 years of experience, Marina has advised market participants on disputes and general business matters across a broad spectrum of industry sectors in Asia.

Click here for the seminar brochure and for the full speaker profile.

Please note this seminar is strictly for in-house counsel only.