SINGAPORE, Aug 23- Ahead of the launch of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, eight of the region’s leading law firms have teamed upto form a one-stop service under a common banner, Rajah & Tann Asia.
The eight firms are R&T Sok Heng Law Office (Cambodia), Assegaf Hamzah & Partners (Indonesia), Rajah & Tann (Laos) Sole Co Ltd, Christopher & Lee Ong (Malaysia), Rajah & Tann NK Legal Myanmar Company Ltd, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP, Rajah & Tann (Thailand) Ltd, and Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers (Vietnam).
Rajah & Tann Asia draws together more than 500 lawyers from nine countries to provide seamless legal services in Southeast Asia.It is headed by a Regional Management Council, which comprises representatives from each of the eight firms and is chaired by the Managing Partner of Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP, Lee Eng Beng SC.
Speaking at the launch Friday, Lee said that the launch marked a major milestone, noting that Rajah & Tann Asia was born and bred in Asia, and looked
forward to serving clients in this region.
“Clients will not only be offered a full slew of quality legal services and the biggest legal network in Southeast Asia, but a ‘home team’ of lawyers who have local knowledge, language skills, cultural familiarities and contacts that are crucial for businesses navigating in this diverse region.
He said one of the catalysts for the formation of Rajah & Tann Asia was the impending launch of the AEC in 2015, which is poised to create enormous opportunities for intra-regional trade and commerce for clients across the region.
With the collaboration between firms across Southeast Asia’s diverse jurisdictions, Rajah & Tann Asia also expects to have enhanced capabilities to develop business opportunities with clients and establish a dominant regional presence under a common brand and vision.
The AEC will integrate the 10 economies in the regional grouping into a single market and production base by eliminating to various degrees, trade barriers such as import taxes, foreign ownership curbs, and restrictions on skilled labour mobility.
– BERNAMA
