Conference Program
Please note that the below is a preliminary conference program and subject to change. Information correct as at 24 April 2020.
“Beyond the Horizon”
Sunday, 6 September 2020 | ||||||
0900 – 1200 | LAWASIA Executive Committee Meeting (Exco members only) This event is by direct invitation only. |
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1900 – 2100 | President’s Dinner This event is by direct invitation only. |
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Monday, 7 September 2020 | ||||||
1000 – 1630 | LAWASIA Annual Council Meeting (Council members only) This event is by direct invitation only. |
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1500 – 1700 | Delegate Registration | |||||
1800 – 2100 | Welcome Reception | |||||
Tuesday, 8 September 2020 | ||||||
0800 – 0900 | Delegate Registrations Continues | |||||
0900 – 1030 |
OPENING CEREMONY Opening Address – Chunghwan Choi, President of LAWASIA Keynote Address |
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1030 – 1115 | Morning Refreshments & Networking | |||||
1115 – 1245 | BAR LEADERS FORUM Self-Governance of Legal Profession/Representing Interests of the Legal Profession One of the central characteristics of a lawyer is independence. Only this guarantees that the lawyer can fulfil his obligations to fight for his clients rights on an equal footing with the other organs of the administration of justice (judges and public prosecutors). Ensuring this independence of lawyers should be one of the essential tasks of bars and associations. They should be committed to safeguarding the freedom of lawyers from state influence and to the independent status of the legal profession in state committed to the rule of law. Why this independence is so important? How can this independence be guaranteed? What are the threads to this independence? These and more questions should be discussed in the session. The voices of individuals can easily be ‘lost’ or drowned out. It is the choir, the collective voices of many, which ensure a hearing. Chambers, associations and Bar organisations of the legal profession bring lawyers to work together to promote, advance and defend similar principles, values and interests. The organisations should have in place mechanisms and well-established instruments at its disposal to represent the interests of the legal profession and to be able to exercise direct influence on the legislative and executive bodies of governments. What are the essential tools bars and associations of the legal professions should implement and use to be able to represent the interests of the legal profession should be discussed in this session. |
LAW MANAGEMENT Managing a Law Firm in the next decade The session will look at the current challenges of managing a law firm, no matter what the size is, the challenges law firm managing directors and partners will face in the next decade and how they can overcome it. |
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Protecting Artificial intelligence algorithms Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly the key to significant innovations across almost all segments of society. However, AI algorithms can be stolen, imitated, or capitalised. Without the protection of AI algorithms, innovators may be unable to commercialise their inventions, which could undermine investment in this dynamic field of research and development. AI algorithms may be possible to be protected as ‘trade secrets.’ Legal protection options comprising patent, copyright, and others to protect algorithms will be discussed from an intellectual property perspective. |
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1245 – 1345 | Lunch & Networking | |||||
1345 – 1515 | CORPORATE SECURITIES & INVESTMENT Cross Border M&A Deals in the Asia Region: Challenges to be Overcome In 2020, Asia’s GDP is expected to overtake the GDP of the rest of the world combined. Asia is an increasingly attractive area to focus on the cross-border M&A. Asian corporates are optimistic and eager to grow through acquisitions both within the region and globally. Legal and cultural challenges to be overcome will be discussed in this practically orientated program. |
EMPLOYMENT LAW The Need for Employment Flexibility when External Factors Overwhelm the Business Increasing flexibility has for some years been one of the mega trends of employment, and never more so than when extreme external factors occur. These possibilities include pandemics and the consequences of climate change such as seal-level rise. Inevitably the rights and obligations of employers and workers face increased scrutiny when these things happen. The session will include comparative analyses of what the laws of different jurisdictions prescribe in such circumstances. Speakers will explore a range of concepts such as force majeure, frustration of contract, redundancy, relocation of workforces, termination for sickness, mandatory health testing of workers, temporary suspension of work, and the like. |
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW In the Steppes of Time: Current Environmental Problems in North Asia The session will examine the most pressing environmental problems in Mongolia and North Asia and their legal solutions. |
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1515 – 1545 | Afternoon Refreshment & Networking | |||||
1545 – 1715 | BANKING & FINANCE Sustainable and Developmental Financing / Legal & Regulatory Regimes Regarding SME Finance and Governance The session will explore how best mainstream financing can reach out to less developed regions and at the same time ensuring that such financing respects environmental preservation in those regions. |
CRIMINAL LAW International Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters The international community needs to ensure that criminals cannot evade prosecution because the evidence or proceeds of their crimes are in different countries. Mutual assistance is the process countries use to obtain government-to-government assistance in criminal investigations and prosecutions. Mutual assistance can also be used to identify and recover the proceeds of crime and is an important tool to combat criminal activity as it becomes increasingly transnational. This session will discuss the key issues, including the challenges and complexities, surrounding mutual assistance in criminal matters. |
COMMUNICATIONS, TECHNOLOGY & DATA PROTECTION Big Data, Privacy, GDPR and the Law Big data is the core technology of the fourth industrial revolution, promising more efficient data analysis and opening up new business opportunities. However big data has increased access to sensitive information that can directly jeopardise the privacy of individuals and violate data protection law. In an era where the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has introduced substantial penalties for data misuse and has heightened awareness of privacy issues globally, a balance needs to be struck. We will discuss the international connotations of legal requirements in Europe and elsewhere. |
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1715 – 1815 |
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LAWASIA Committee / Section Meetings | LAWASIA Committee / Section Meetings | |||
1900 | Social Function |
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Wednesday, 9 September 2020 | ||||||
0900 – 1030 | ENERGY & RESOURCES Legal Challenges for Sustainable Energy and Regional Corporation This topic will explore legal challenges and developments in respect of sustainable and affordable energy challenges in a climate change world as well as energy connectivity, particularly cross-border connectivity and regional cooperation. |
HUMAN RIGHTS Human Rights in Emerging Economies Often referred to as the ‘Workshop of the World”, emerging economies in Asia and the Pacific region have grown in eminence during the 21st Century. What are some of the implications of these emerging economies from a human rights perspective? Do people enjoy a better standard of living today, or do we suffer from the ever-expanding gap between rich and poor, increasingly authoritative governments and global exploitation? This session will examine the common challenges related to human rights in emerging economies that lawyers are addressing across the region today. |
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT New Obstacles to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)? Globalised trade has been existing already for centuries. Globalised investment on a large scale is a fairly recent development. There has been a lot of openness towards foreign investment in the 20th century, in recent time foreign investment are limited by national governments. What sort of traditional obstacles to FDI do some jurisdictions pose?
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1030 – 1100 | Morning Refreshments & Networking | |||||
1100 – 1230 | BELT & ROAD Building Connectivity for Sustainable Belt and Road Development As countries along the Belt and Road step forward to implement sustainable development and investment projects, Belt and Road hubs are fast developing to connect China across great distances with the rest of the Belt and Road Initiative countries spanning the globe. This session will focus on “Connecting Belt and Road Hubs for Legal, Mediation, Arbitration and Other Infrastructure Development Services” with Panel Speakers from China, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Speakers will address Singapore Convention and Mediation Along the Belt and Road as well as address latest issues facing Chinese Belt and Road Investments. |
ANTI-TRUST & COMPETITION LAW Session details TBC |
INTERNATIONAL MOOT FINALS Final Rounds 1100 – 1300 |
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1230 – 1330 | Lunch & Networking | |||||
1330 – 1500 | ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION Revitalization of International Arbitration System and Training of Legal Experts in Asia / Are We Moving Towards a Uniform System or Is It Being More Diverse? Asia has excellent legal personnel and Asian countries occupy important positions in the global economy. However, the handling of international arbitration cases is insignificant. We will discuss the implementation of laws to improve the arbitration systems, the improvement of practical practices, and the reorganisation of necessary laws. Also, we will find ways to revitalise the international arbitration system in Asia and foster legal experts. Arbitration counsel often accuse the other side for not complying with “international standard practice” for example in discovery or evidence taking. Sometimes, the failure to meet with certain expectation or norm can even have cost consequences. Are procedural guidelines or rules intended to be universal or inflexible; is there a truly international arbitration practice or standard; or is diversity the true feature of international arbitration? |
DOING BUSINESS IN MONGOLIA Investment and Regulatory Framework in Mongolia The content is how to incorporate presence in Mongolia, what are legal forms are available for investors, what are tax and non-tax incentives offered to investors under laws, general taxation environments, which sectors are regulated or require a license, limitation to hire expatriates, what are dispute resettlement mechanism is in place etc. |
YOUNG LAWYERS FORUM Future for Young Lawyers! – Expansion of Young Lawyers’ Role and Value / New Opportunities for Young Lawyers – The Role of Lawyers in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Many of young lawyers are interested in how they can become big name lawyers and compete with senior lawyers. Young lawyers are also interested in the latest technologies that could assist them to compete. We would like to discuss with the speakers/auditors and make an opportunity for them to know how other jurisdictions’ young lawyers are doing. It is the 4th Industrial Revolution era where radical changes are taking place in all areas of the all over the World including Asia. Along with preparing for a legal system that fits the times, and legal demand is rapidly growing with new industries and opportunities. With new technology, new roles of lawyers are needed. The role of young lawyers is more important in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. |
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1500 – 1530 | Afternoon Refreshments & Networking | |||||
1530 – 1700 | RUSSIAN SESSION Session details TBC |
CONSTITUTIONAL & RULE OF LAW Session details TBC
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COVID-19 The New Normal for Lawyers & the Legal Professional The COVID-19 pandemic crept up on us and took the world by storm. It was both a health and economic crisis. Many jurisdictions had to grapple with taking measures to deal with the disease, and at the same time to keep their economies on life support systems. Most jurisdictions had implemented some measure of ‘lockdown’, and in varying degrees of strictness and severity. Businesses were not permitted to open or were much constrained. Lawyers and the legal profession were not immune to the health threat and ensuing economic fallout. We had to learn to find ways to remain in legal practice and new means to do so. This session will explore and discuss the affect the pandemic has had on lawyers, law firms and the legal profession generally, as well as what we need to do and how to do it in order to adapt, innovate and prevail. |
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1700 – 1800 | LAWASIA Committee / Section Meetings | LAWASIA Committee / Section Meetings | LAWASIA Committee / Section Meetings | |||
1830 – 2200 | Social Function | |||||
Thursday, 10 September 2020 | ||||||
0930 – 1030 | JUDICIAL FORUM Ballroom |
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1030 – 1130 | FAMILY LAW & FAMILY RIGHTS Ballroom Family Law & Family Rights: International Marriage Issue – How to survive in the stepparent’s nation as the foreign parent’s child |
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1130 – 1200 | Morning Refreshment & Networking | |||||
1200 – 1330 | CLOSING CEREMONY Ballroom MOOT Awards Presentation Summary Remarks
Announcement of 34th LAWASIA Conference 2021 |
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1300 | End of Conference |