People sometimes ask if I write my own LinkedIn posts. Yes, every post. Most of what I share comes from questions I encounter in my work, points of law that I’m curious about or articles I’ve read recently. Writing helps me clarify my thinking, reveal what I thought I knew …

“Are you passionate about what you do?” I was asked. Honestly? It’s one of those questions I have always struggled to answer. A million thoughts ran through my mind. Who can be passionate about what they do 24/7? Define “passionate”. Is it the kind that lights you up every morning? …

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 …