Agenda

8.30am-9.00am Registration

9.00am-9.10am Welcoming note from Legal 500 editor and GC keynote speaker

9.10am-10.00am Shareholder oppression or activism defence? voting power, activism and corporate control, in association with Mark Lee Chambers Law Corporation (ML Chambers) 

As shareholder activism hits an all-time high across the Asia Pacific region, the balance of power within corporations is recalibrating. Shareholders are increasingly exercising their voting rights to influence strategy, challenge boards, and drive outcomes creating new pressure points and, in some cases, disputes.

This panel will explore the power and limits of shareholder voting, and how its evolving use is reshaping corporate stewardship and governance. At its core, the discussion will examine questions of corporate control, alongside the practical realities of shareholder activism preparedness, passivity, and defence.

    • Mark Lee, managing director, Mark Lee Chambers Law Corporation (ML Chambers)
    • Sarah Yeo, Director, Mark Lee Chambers Law Corporation (ML Chambers)

10.00am-10.50am Vietnam Dispute Spotlight, in association with YKVN

10.50am-11.10am Coffee break

11.10am-12.00pm Choice of form and forum of dispute resolution; considerations of procedure, efficiency and enforceability, in association with Duane Morris & Selvam LLP

Modern business collaborations across borders are forcing businesses to seriously consider their choice of forum for resolving commercial disputes. Parties must consider their options of dispute resolution forum from a cost, efficiency, timing, and enforcement perspective.

This panel will examine how businesses approach the structuring of dispute resolution clauses, including the advantages and limitations of different forums, jurisdictions, and procedures. The discussion will focus on how parties can manage risk and ensure disputes are resolved efficiently and with ease of enforceability.

    • Sarbjit Singh Chopra, managing director, Duane Morris & Selvam LLP
    • Ramiro Rodriguez, director, Duane Morris & Selvam LLP
    • Akshay Kishore, director, Duane Morris & Selvam LLP

12.00pm-12.50pm Managing workforce change in Thailand: executive exits, restructuring, and emerging employment disputes, in association with ES Counsel

The employment dispute landscape in Thailand in 2026 is increasingly shaped by global economic pressure, technological transformation, and regional restructuring strategies. Many multinational companies are consolidating functions at the ASEAN or Asia-Pacific level, while domestic businesses are focusing on cost rationalization and leaner workforce structures. At the same time, the growing adoption of AI and automation is accelerating changes in workforce composition.

These developments are driving a rise in disputes relating to workforce restructuring and executive termination. Employers are navigating redundancies, role reallocations, and senior employee exits, often in situations where employment contracts provide benefits beyond statutory requirements or where restructuring decisions are driven by regional headquarters but implemented locally.

This panel will explore how companies operating in Thailand can manage these employment challenges while balancing operational needs with effective workforce management and compliance with Thai labour laws.

    • Ekawat Piriyawarasakul, managing partner, ES Counsel
    • Jirati Suwanworabun, partner, ES Counsel
    • Uten Lerttaweepornkul, partner, ES Counsel
    • Burapat Buaprasertying, associate director (Legal), Krungthai Xspring Securities Company Limited

12.50pm-1.50pm Lunch break

1.50pm-2.40pm Airing the dirty laundry: current issues in anti-corruption and anti-money laundering, in association with RCLT

Over the past two years, Singapore has seen significant changes in its legal regime against corruption and money-laundering. This session provides a deep-dive into the latest trends and developments surrounding this area of the law that any GC should be up to date with.

    • Navin Thevar, joint managing director, RCLT Law Corporation
    • Remy Choo, joint managing director, RCLT Law Corporation
    • Sinyee Koh, director, Integrity Consulting

2.40pm-3.10pm Panel 6, in association with Watershed Law

3.10pm-3.40pm Panel 7, in association with QWP

    • Michael Palmer, director, Quahe Woo & Palmer LLC (QWP)
    • Keith Lim, associate director, Quahe Woo & Palmer LLC (QWP)
    • Joel Moosa, associate director, Quahe Woo & Palmer LLC (QWP)

3.30pm-4.00pm Closing remarks