Legal 500 is delighted to return to Singapore to recognise Southeast Asia’s leading law firms and lawyers, as well as outstanding in-house counsel, whose work continues to support some of the region’s most prominent industries and corporations.
After several years of macroeconomic uncertainty, Southeast Asia has demonstrated sustained resilience, driven by strong inward investment, buoyant projects and energy markets, continued momentum in manufacturing, and improving capital markets. In 2024, the region recorded a combined GDP of nearly USD 4 trillion and aggregate growth of 4.6%, with forecasts indicating a further increase to 4.7% in 2025.
Singapore has firmly established itself as a regional data centre hub and continues to strengthen its position as a leading destination for high-profile international arbitration. Indonesia, among the strongest performers within the G20 and ASEAN, continues to post robust growth underpinned by the energy transition, digitisation, and capital inflows into infrastructure, data, and digital real estate. Malaysia is seeing significant activity across high-growth sectors including semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, AI and biotechnology, and digital operations, particularly in hubs such as Selangor, Penang, and Johor. Reflecting the broader data centre and digital infrastructure trend, the Philippines market is expanding rapidly and is expected to triple in value by 2030, driven by rising cloud adoption and enterprise demand.
Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam have similarly contributed to the region’s overall resilience, with both local and international firms playing key roles in significant projects and transactions across Southeast Asia.
Nominations and winners are determined through Legal 500’s market-leading independent research, encompassing full-service, boutique, local, and global firms, each demonstrating distinct strengths and market positioning. Winners are selected by a judging panel with deep expertise across jurisdictions and practice areas.
The awards evening will bring together leading legal figures from across the region, offering a unique opportunity to celebrate Southeast Asia’s diversity, its constituent cultures and markets, and the factors underpinning its sustained growth.