GC Summit Malaysia 2023

VENUE CHANGE: Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur 2, Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The role of general counsel and senior in-house legal advisors is constantly evolving to meet the rapidly changing demands of organisations in today’s business world. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day legal challenges affecting the business and managing legal staff, in-house lawyers are expected to diversify their service offering in order to overcome a growing list of commercial challenges. Whether it is managing internal investigations, defending their company in cross-border disputes, handling complex data or adapting to the shifting trends in M&A, the required skillset of the profession is developing at an exponential rate.

The Legal 500’s GC Summit Malaysia 2023 invites the most esteemed in-house counsel from the country’s most prolific companies, and leading practitioners to discuss their changing roles as in-house leaders and the challenges, issues and opportunities they are set to face in 2023 and beyond.

Between comprehensive panel discussions, presentations and the opportunity to meet and engage with fellow in-house counsel, GC Summit Malaysia promises to be a practical, forward-looking event bringing together the region’s top legal minds.

Agenda

12.00pm – 12.50pm Registration

12.50pm – 1.00pm Welcome remarks

• Joe Boswell, global editor – Powerlist Series, The Legal 500
• Jeff Ong, head of legal and compliance, Tricor Malaysia
• Munir Abdul Aziz, managing partner, Wong & Partners

1.00pm – 1.30pm Managing a modern legal team

A topic which is relevant to all in-house counsel, whether they are part of large or small teams, in this session a panel of top GCs from diverse industries will discuss the evolving role of in-house legal teams, exploring talent acquisition, upskilling, and being an effective leader while building agile, effective teams. Addressing emerging trends, the conversation will underscore the importance of embracing digital tools, ethical considerations, and the imperative for legal teams to proactively align with business objectives in today and tomorrow’s multifaceted corporate environment. 

• Joe Boswell, global editor – Powerlist Series, The Legal 500
• Kwan Keen Yew, group chief legal & compliance officer, CIMB
• Yin Ee Ong, head, group legal, compliance and risk management, Warisan TC Holdings
• Navrita Kaur, chief legal officer, Microlink

1.30pm – 2.20pm Nipping it in the bud – Dispute Avoidance

• Aaron Mathews, president, The Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators
• Alvin Tang, senior partner, Bodipalar Ponnudurai De Silva
• Syarihah Razma, partner Mohanadass Partnership
• Sharin Veriah, group chief legal and compliance officer, Fusionex

2.20pm – 3.10pm ESG Roadmap: Reporting & Disclosure Obligations – How ready is your company?

This panel will see six industry leaders – in-house legal, private practice and sustainability officers – come together to forecast the future landscape of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance in Malaysia, at a time when it is front and centre of corporate counsel’s responsibilities. In a dynamic regulatory environment, the discussion will focus on the need for transparency while building standardised ESG reporting mechanisms. In an era where in-house counsel are set to play a pivotal role in steering organisations toward sustainable practices, this timely discussion is a must-attend.

• Marhaini Nordin, partner, Shearn Delamore & Co
• Putri Noor Shariza Noordin, partner, Shearn Delamore & Co
• Ina Anzalna Shamsuddin, general counsel, Malaysia Airlines
• Saravanan Desigamanie, head of sustainability, research & IR, Malakoff Corporation Berhad
• Fareez Zahir, head of the legal, secretarial and corporate affairs division, Prolintas Group
• Jessica Walch-Barton, manager – corporate sustainability team (Strategy, Policy & Regulation), PETRONAS

3.10pm – 3.30pm Coffee Break

3.30pm – 4.00pm Navigating Legal Challenges in Mergers and Acquisitions 

The legal intricacies of M&A transactions, including employment law considerations during mergers and acquisitions, and how to effectively align corporate advisory strategies with employment law compliance.

• Donovan Cheah, partner, Donovan & Ho
• Shawn Ho, partner, Donovan & Ho
• Joe Boswell, global editor – Powerlist Series, The Legal 500

4.00pm – 4.30pm Fraud in a Pickle: Legal Tricks and Treats – What’s the Scoop?

Hosted by one of the leading practitioners in the region, Kelvin Ng Chun Yee of Vin Cheng & Co, this presentation will interrogate just what in-house counsel need to be mindful of when identifying, preventing and prosecuting fraud within their companies while protecting their businesses.

• Kelvin Ng Chun Yee, managing partner, Vin Cheng & Co

4.30pm – 4.50pm The many hats of the General Counsel

Building on his success with this presentation at other events, Ton van den Bosch will sum up key takeaways from his life as a general counsel from the relatively uncommon position of being a former GC who has now gone back to private practice. Now at Clyde & Co, van den Bosch combines real life experience with the practical analytics of client trends that being a partner at a top law firm allows in this wide-ranging address. Featuring a captivating speaker with a unique perspective, this session will be of particular resonance to those who lead legal functions at their organisations.

• Ton van den Bosch, partner, Singapore Clyde & Co

4.50pm – 5.20pm Innovate to Elevate: AIAC’s Cost-Effective Approach to International Dispute Resolution

President of the AIAC Datuk Sundra Rajoo will use this presentation to unveil pioneering strategies to ensure efficiency and affordability in resolving global disputes at Kuala Lumpur’s premiere arbitration hub. At a time when arbitration assumes even greater importance in the dispute-heavy landscape of the present day, this address promises to provide new avenues for dispute resolution in Malaysia.

• Datuk Sundra Rajoo, director, The Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC)

5.20pm – 5.30pm Closing remarks

• Joe Boswell, global editor – Powerlist Series, The Legal 500

5.30pm – 7.00pm Drinks and canapes 

Speakers

Ton van den Bosch, partner, Singapore, Clyde & Co

Donovan  Cheah, partner, Donovan & Ho

Donovan leads Donovan & Ho’s employment law and dispute resolution practice. His work in the profession has been recognised by publications such as the Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Asialaw and Benchmark Litigation. The Legal 500 Asia Pacific has named him as a recommended lawyer for labour and employment in their last six editions, where he is described as “understanding, efficient and direct“ and “the name to note“.

Donovan assists corporate clients on various employment law issues, including drafting of employment contracts and handbooks, advising on workforce reductions, termination of employees and compliance issues, and representing them in employment litigation such as unfair dismissal claims and judicial review proceedings involving the decisions of the Industrial Court or the Minister of Human Resources. Donovan has extensive experience in dispute resolution and has represented international corporations in a wide range of matters, including commercial and civil litigation, international arbitrations, intellectual property disputes and construction adjudication.

Shawn Ho, partner, Donovan & Ho

Shawn was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 2006. From 2006 to 2010, he was an associate in the tax practice group of Wong & Partners, a member firm of Baker & McKenzie.

Shawn has represented his clients in corporate acquisitions, restructuring exercises, joint venture arrangements, shareholder agreements, employee share options and franchise businesses. He regularly advises Malaysian startup founders and has assisted venture capital funds in Seed, Series A & B funding rounds. Shawn’s practice also extends to real-estate transactions and advising on real-estate related tax planning, including stamp duty, use of tax efficient investment structures for property investment, real property gains tax, goods and services tax and income tax in Malaysia.

Joe Boswell, global editor - Powerlist Series, The Legal 500

Joe Boswell has been a part of The Legal 500’s editorial team, specialising on the in-house legal community, for more than seven years. He now heads The Powerlist team, acting as chief editor for the over 40 separate editions of the GC Powerlist series which serve as The Legal 500’s flagship title celebrating the world’s top in-house counsel, as well as Global Editor for The Legal 500’s Private Practice Powerlist Series.

During the course of researching for the GC Powerlist series, Boswell has interviewed a vast number of world-renowned general counsel, chief legal officers, and legal directors about overcoming the challenges they face, their legal innovations, and how they see the general counsel role progressing in coming years. As well as this, he is a regular speaker at Legal 500 summits, roundtables, award ceremonies and other events, and often writes in-depth reports on business and legal issues.

Boswell is an alumnus of both the University of Sussex in The United Kingdom and the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in The Netherlands.

Putri Noor Shariza Noordin, partner, Shearn Delamore & Co

Marhaini Nordin, partner, Shearn Delamore & Co

Marhaini Nordin’s practice area is primarily M&A and where her experiences other than on acquisitions and takeovers also include securities laws and capital markets work such as Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), placement exercises. Marhaini regularly advise on the offering of securities by foreign corporations. In the area of foreign investments, her practice covers transaction documentation such as joint venture and shareholders agreements. Marhaini’s work covers due diligence for both M&A related as well as regulatory due diligence for public listed companies as part of compliance with regulatory and other requirements. She deals with listed corporations and their group entities as well as private companies. Throughout her years in the Firm, she has handled a variety of corporate and commercial transaction, domestic and cross border transactions and with interest in clients in utility sector, multinationals and companies in a wide array of sectors including ports, power sector, consumer goods, oil and gas and where she has advised on privatization / concession related agreements.

Syarihah Razman, partner, Mohanadass Partnership

Syarihah is one of the founding partners of Mohanadass Partnership. Since its founding, Mohanadass Partnership has come to be recognised in Malaysia and internationally as a leading boutique litigation and arbitration firm and noted by international law directories such as Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners for its expertise.

Syarihah has extensive dispute resolution experience in oil & gas and construction engineering matters and has appeared in arbitrations in London, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. Syarihah also has wide experience in diverse types of disputes including corporate, commercial, and contractual disputes.

Syarihah is active in the Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators where she was council member for a number of years and held the positon of honorary secretary from 2017 to 2019. She was also in the Malaysian Bar Sports Committee as well as the Kuala Lumpur Bar Sports Committee. She is a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators and she currently sits on the Disciplinary Board of the Malaysian Medical Council.

Aaron Mathews, president, The Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators

Aaron Mathews has leveraged on his unorthodox experience in civil litigation to help clients defend their rights and interests, especially in corporate & commercial disputes and public interest cases. With several notable reported cases under his belt, Aaron began his journey as the Principal of Messrs Aaron Mathews. Throughout his career, Aaron has had extensive experience in handling various civil and commercial litigation both as solicitor and counsel. His portfolio includes advisory and drafting work in relation to company law issues, litigation involving shareholders, contract & commercial disputes, land disputes, as well as disputes concerning the fields of construction, engineering and oil & gas. In his spare time, Aaron has given talks on Contract & Commercial Law to various organizations and he is also regularly invited as a judge in mooting competitions. He has sat as a committee member for the Kuala Lumpur Bar Civil Practice Committee and currently is the President of the Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators

Alvin Tang, senior partner, Bodipalar Ponnudurai De Silva

Alvin is a sharp-witted litigator who works on legal disputes like a radical architect on his masterpiece. Litigating complex contentious disputes in corporate and commercial matters is Alvin’s forte. Alvin specializes in multifaceted shareholder disputes and boardroom tussles, as well as insolvency disputes from both sides of the divide. His legal ethos revolves around minimizing risks and providing pragmatic solutions to cater for the clients’ business objectives.

Alvin has acted for a variety of litigants ranging from individuals and listed companies, to regulatory bodies such as the Central Bank and the Securities Commission. Alvin was called to the Bar prior to the millennium and frequently appears as counsel in all the superior courts, as well as in arbitration proceedings both domestic and international.

Alvin also offers his services to train lawyers in advocacy through the Bar Council’s Advocacy Training Course and contributes articles on Malaysian legal developments in international publications.

Sharin Veriah, group chief legal and compliance officer, Fusionex

Sharin Veriah is the Group Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Fusionex International, a technology market leader specializing in Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things and IR 4.0. Having more than a decade of multi-jurisdictional experience specializing in the fields of technology, mergers and acquisitions, corporate, banking and finance, Sharin provides strategic legal advice to the Group, leading a team that oversees all contractual matters and negotiations. She also works closely with key stakeholders, pillar heads and regional leads across the business to fortify regulatory compliance within the Group. Her role also extends to lending commercial insights to the Group, based on skills honed in the course of her career to ensure business of the Group continues without disruption.

Kelvin Ng Chun Yee, Managing Partner, VIN CHENG & CO

• Chin Yuet Sin (as personal representative of Phoon Kian Teong, deceased) & Ors v Menta Constructions Sdn Bhd & Ors [2022] MLJU 2736
• Chin Well Service Centre Sdn Bhd v NHJ Marketing Sdn Bhd & 2 Ors [Civil Suit No. WA-22NCC-599-12/2020]
• Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad v Ta Shih Engineering Sdn Bhd & Ors [Civil Suit No.: BA-22NCVC-224-04/2016]

Datuk Sundra Rajoo, director, The Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC)

Munir Abdul Aziz, managing partner, Wong & Partners

Kwan Keen Yew, group chief legal & compliance officer, CIMB

Jeff Ong, head of legal, ASEAN Tricor Vistra

Jeff Ong is leading the Legal function for the ASEAN region of Tricor Vistra. Prior to joining Tricor, he practiced as a dispute resolution lawyer at Cheah Teh & Su and served as a regulatory compliance manager in HSBC Bank Malaysia.

Ina Anzalna Shamsuddin, general counsel, Malaysia Airlines

Ina Anzalna Shamsuddin spent the past 19 years serving Malaysia Airlines in various roles starting as the airline’s inhouse counsel. She was then promoted to lead the Group’s Policy and Risk Management Unit, and subsequently elected as the Vice President of Aircraft Trading, specialising in aircraft purchase and leasing agreements. While serving in that role, she was also assigned as the Legal Advisor to the Restructuring Management Office to oversee the setting-up of Malaysia Airlines Berhad as the new national carrier. She was then appointed as the General Counsel to head the Malaysia Aviation Group’s legal department, and has been in this role since.

Yin Ee Ong, head, group legal, compliance and risk management, Warisan TC Holdings

Yin Ee takes on a huge set of responsibilities for Warisan TC Holdings, a conglomerate with main activities in automotive, machinery, travel, car rental and consumer products. As well as being general manager and head of group legal, compliance and risk management, she also functions as the group integrity officer and sustainability liaison officer. Alongside legal and regulatory advice, she is a trusted advisor on the Group’s activities both in Malaysia and abroad, particularly in the areas of risk management, sustainability, and anti- bribery and corruption.

Yin Ee has over 20 years of working experience in private practice, financial and automotive industries. Prior to working with Warisan, she was with Tan Chong Motor Holdings, OCBC Bank (Malaysia), Hong Leong Financial Group and Bank. She has international experience, having worked at Hong Leong Bank Vietnam for eight years and supported Hong Leong Bank’s investment in China.

Saravanan Desigamanie, head of sustainability, research & IR, Malakoff Corporation Berhad

Saravanan is the Head of Sustainability, Research & IR at Malakoff Corporation Berhad, Malaysia’s largest IPP and environmental management company. He was instrumental in establishing the Group’s Sustainability Framework and now spearheads the Company’s ESG strategy as well as the execution of Malakoff’s decarbonisation roadmap towards achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2050. Saravanan recently led the Group’s strategic rebranding exercise to carve out the Company’s distinctive positioning in sustainable energy solutions and environmental services – resulting in a new, refreshed brand identity. Prior to his current role in the sustainability space, Saravanan was responsible for the Group’s Strategic Transformation initiatives while overseeing the Program Management Office (PMO). A recipient of the Sime Darby Foundation Scholarship award, Saravanan began his career at Sime Darby Berhad as the Special Officer to the EVP of Group Strategy & Business Development. He was then assigned to the PMO Team of Sime Darby Energy & Utilities, executing on the Division’s transformation initiatives. Saravanan was later appointed as the conglomerate’s Investor Relations Officer and played a pivotal role in carrying out strategic ESG engagement with key funds in Europe.

Fareez Zahir, head of the legal, secretarial and corporate affairs division, Prolintas Group

Fareez is currently the Head of the Legal, Secretarial and Corporate Affairs Division of Prolintas Group and has more than 15 years of experience in many industries ranging from media, retail, property and infrastructure development. Aside from the his Legal and Company Secretarial responsibilities, Fareez loves applying his wide-ranging experience to help companies establish sustainable systems and policies in respect of anti-corruption and governance.

Fareez is also passionate about Environment Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives as well as strategic human capital development focusing on learning and development frameworks that facilitate both individual and organizational growth.

Navrita Kaur, chief legal officer, Microlink

Navrita is the Group Chief Legal Officer (GCLO) of Microlink Solutions Berhad, a technology solutions company trading on the main market of the Malaysia stock exchange. She provides expert and strategic legal advice to senior management on a wide range of matters involving the company’s main business pillars namely the public sector, telecommunications, financial services and trading and distribution. She is also heavily involved in corporate exercises undertaken by the Group, overseeing the negotiation of all contractual documents and drafting key policies to cater to changes in legal and regulatory requirements.

Prior to joining Microlink, Navrita was the Group General Counsel and subsequently GCLO of the Omesti Group. With over a decade of experience in this field, Navrita was recognised and included in the Legal 500 GC Powerlist Southeast Asia 2022 and the inaugural Legal 500 GC Powerlist Malaysia 2023.

Jessica Walch-Barton, manager - corporate sustainability team (Strategy, Policy & Regulation), PETRONAS

In association with...

Established in 1905, Shearn Delamore is one of the leading law firms in Malaysia. With over 100 lawyers and 230 staff, the firm has the resources to run and manage the most complex projects, transactions and matters. This would include coordinating and managing cross-border transactions together with the foreign and international law firms with whom we continuously work. By combining our diverse experience and interdisciplinary collaborations, we are able to provide a complementary range of skills. The firm was recently named Law Firm of the Year for Malaysia at The Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards 2023.

Wong & Partners provides practical advice to help clients meet their business objectives and investment goals in Malaysia and beyond. With a global outlook, innovative technology and seasoned legal talent, we help clients navigate risk and seize opportunity. With more than 20 years of experience in the region, we are able to give advice that reflects a deep understanding of local markets, legal systems and business practices. We have been acknowledged by Asian-MENA Counsel to be among the “Most Responsive Domestic Firms” for several years, and many of our lawyers have been recognised and ranked by reputable legal directories such as Chambers, Legal 500, IFLR1000 and Asialaw Profiles.

Driven by a passion for the law and drawing on extensive legal experience, the lawyers at Mohanadass Partnership provide unrivalled expertise to clients across a broad spectrum of industries. Its partners are well versed with international and domestic dispute resolution, with combined skills that compare favourably to any leading regional firm. In addition to dispute resolution and transactional matters, the partners in this practice are adept at handling legal affairs in all key practice areas.

Founded on core values of integrity and innovation, Mohanadass Partnership believes in delivering sound tactical solutions to safeguard clients’ interests no matter the organizational size, trade or locale. The firm is distinguished by its proactive, progressive approach in legal matters, offering professional services of the highest calibre and is consistently ranked as a ‘leading firm’ in The Legal 500’s Asia Pacific guide.

Donovan & Ho specializes in employment and industrial relations, corporate and commercial law, and dispute resolution. The firm’s approach is where clients can expect effective counsel that yields tangible outcomes. With community engagement as the cornerstone of their ethos, the firm is best known for its mission in making legal knowledge accessible. This vision is exemplified through an extensive repertoire of over 550 legal articles on their website, which have resonated with a global viewership exceeding a million. Their dedication to practical and business-focused legal solutions has garnered external recognition. Donovan & Ho is ranked on The Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Asialaw Profiles, ILFR1000, and Benchmark Litigation.

Clyde & Co is a global law firm providing a complete service to clients in our core sectors of transportation, insurance, oil & gas, renewable energy, infrastructure, trade, commodities, logistics, ports and terminals. With over 5,000 people operating from over 60 offices and associated offices across six continents, Clyde & Co is committed to creating successful outcomes for our clients. Here in Asia, we have 13 offices across Singapore, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Mongolia and Australia. For more information about Clyde & Co, please have a look at https://www.clydeco.com/en/about

Vin Cheng & Co boasts a thriving practice with numerous exciting and cutting-edge disputes spanning construction law, corporate and commercial law, intellectual property, and land. Despite its relatively recent establishment, the firm has achieved various published court decisions, awards, and accolades. Helmed by a team of seasoned practitioners and equipped with a wealth of resources and innovative technology, the firm is anchored to the tenets of justice and dedication to deliver personalized and the highest level of legal representation.

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