Mistakes in corporate law don’t always come from big decisions. Sometimes, it’s the small slip-ups that leave the biggest impression. I try to get names and honorifics right in every email. It’s a small thing, but to me, it signals respect and professionalism. One evening, after a long day and …

“It’s urgent.” I’ve heard that phrase countless times over the years. Sometimes, it really is. Other times… not so much. Rarely does anyone explain why it’s urgent. Sometimes, the same people calling it urgent are the ones who let the deal stall. Ironically, when it comes to paying invoices, their …

M&A work isn’t always high-stakes negotiations. I remember working on an acquisition of an F&B group during the pandemic. It was after hours, and we needed to fill in a detailed schedule of the representations and warranties given by the sellers on the target companies’ registered trademarks. Each one had …

“Can you please eyeball the agreement?” This is one of my least favourite instructions. It usually means a high-level review is expected, nothing too detailed. But I know that in order for me to truly understand an agreement, I need to spend time reading the details. In M&A deals, the …

Lawyer: Please provide register of members, register of directors, all returns of allotment, all stamped transfer forms… Representative of Target Company: Please refer to company search from the Companies Commission of Malaysia. Lawyer: CCM search is not sufficient. Please provide register of members, register of directors, all returns of allotment, …

“Sorry, this is urgent.” A senior manager of a corporate client called. Normally, she would text first to check if it’s convenient to speak, but that day, she called right away. I could sense the anxiety in her voice. She explained that her management had instructed for an announcement on …

I have heard it many times… that most clients are unable to distinguish between a mediocre lawyer and a good one. Is that true? Can’t a client tell when a lawyer is well-prepared, having reviewed all the documents and anticipating potential questions, versus one who might not be as ready …

I was asked whether being in corporate practice is less stressful and less hectic than being in litigation practice. I think this kind of generalisation is not particularly helpful. Different law firms have different cultures and expectations of their lawyers. Clients’ demand would also determine whether a particular project or …

Like other lawyers, I often receive queries via WhatsApp. While I don’t mind answering “simple/quick questions” when they are straightforward, I often find that these quick questions come with underlying complexities. A seemingly straightforward question may require a deeper understanding of the issue at hand, and sometimes I need to …

As a corporate lawyer focusing on M&A and equity capital markets transactions, I always try to plan ahead for corporate transactions. From my experience, lawyers often face urgent deadlines – not always because clients give short notice, but because partners delay giving instructions to the team until the last minute. …