Many years ago, I walked into a junior colleague’s cubicle and saw him “buried” amidst stacks of documents. There were piles of documents stacked on the floor, spilled across his desk, and lined the shelves. He smiled while we chatted, but I could see he was stressed. That image stayed …

I’m glad someone is talking about this essential though not so glamorous side of legal practice—bill collection. Our payment term is 30 days, and I send periodic reminders if an invoice isn’t settled on time. No client has ever said, “Don’t worry, you can take more than 30 days to …

Working on corporate transactions in a legal career can be pretty stressful. It’s often a race against time while ensuring accuracy in identifying material issues and drafting high-stakes provisions with clarity. Many lawyers have heard how a missing or misplaced comma can cost companies millions. Many late nights and weekends …

Here’s how I conduct legal due diligence. Before diving into drafting the sale and purchase agreement for an M&A transaction, it makes sense to first understand the business of the target company and the regulatory framework in which it operates. Consider the following: 1. Business Activities What are the principal …

When I tell people that I’m a lawyer, they often respond with, “Oh, you must have a good memory. That’s so much to memorise.” I believe it’s more important to understand and apply the law rather than memorise it. After all, you can always refer to online resources or statute …

Part of due diligence skills lies in organising documents in a way that allows you to connect the dots. If a legal due diligence exercise spans more than a few months, it’s essential to have a system for tracking the documents you have reviewed. It can be frustrating when the …

When I sent my car for repair, I paid a deposit for the mechanic to diagnose the issue. Once the issue was identified, I was provided with a fee quote. After agreeing to the fee quote, I was asked to pay 50% of the charges upfront before any further work …

During initial discussions with clients who are seeking to undertake acquisitions, it is useful to start by asking their reason for acquiring a particular company or business. Understanding the underlying motivation behind the clients’ decision for their acquisitions helps to achieve the following: (a) direct focus to what matters most …

If you’re interested in sale and purchase of shares of companies in Malaysia, three significant legal developments are worth noting: 1. Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements The Companies Act 2016 has been amended on 1 April 2024 to introduce beneficial ownership reporting requirements. Companies have a 3 months’ time frame from …

For IPO exercise in Malaysia, the following usually takes place before submission of the IPO application to the authorities: conversion of the holding company (Listco) from a private company to a public company (Conversion); the Listco enters into agreements with promoters to acquire their shares in the proposed subsidiaries to …