Asia Business Law Journal – March/April 2026

Dire straits

Force majeure thrust into the spotlight

As the conflict in the Middle East continues, its disruptive impact on global trade shows little sign of easing. With supply chains under strain and commercial uncertainty deepening, lawyers say it is time to reinforce contractual safeguards, particularly force majeure provisions.

Our Cover story, titled Strait jacket, examines how force majeure clauses are defined, interpreted and applied in practice. Amid a surge in force majeure declarations, buyers and suppliers alike are grappling with a critical question: at what point does disruption justify non-performance?

As scrutiny intensifies, both sides are being urged to engage legal counsel early, revisit the language underpinning existing agreements, strengthen risk allocation mechanisms, and refine force majeure provisions to reflect today’s realities.

Lawyers and general counsel across the Asia-Pacific share their perspectives on the different categories of force majeure declarations, common pitfalls, the growing wave of disputes, and the key considerations for buyers and suppliers seeking to future-proof their contracts.

This issue’s Intelligence report, titled Cracking the bad eggs, examines the major changes to Indonesia’s criminal code and mounting pressure on both local and foreign businesses to adapt swiftly or face significant consequences. Robust compliance frameworks and internal policies have become critical to ensuring companies do not fall foul of the reforms, which are also intended to curb corruption in high-profile industries.

Legal experts in Indonesia share their thoughts on how businesses can navigate the new criminal regime, and highlight potential enforcement challenges that may arise.

The Asia-specific report, titled IP: Asian shapes, interviews Walter Chia, the International Trademark Association’s (INTA) chief representative officer for Asia-Pacific. In this dialogue, he talks about the changes taking place in IP, challenges facing APAC, how INTA is responding and key issues he will bring to the spotlight at this year’s annual meeting in London in early May.

We are also delighted to present our Japan outbound investment guide, which offers legal intelligence and advice from across the region. Designed for Japanese in-house counsel and senior management, it highlights the key considerations when expanding into specific jurisdictions.

This issue also features two Practice guides. The first, which centres around private wealth, offers insight into latest happenings in the Chinese mainland, India, South Korea and Taiwan. The trademark guide, meanwhile, provides an in-depth analysis of developments across India, Indonesia, Russia and Taiwan.

Our Expert Briefing section features a guide to Taiwan’s instrumental role in the global semiconductor supply chain. Taiwan is also the focus of our trade secrets expert briefing, where experts examine the legal regulations governing this area in the jurisdiction. Another guide explores the regulatory rules foreign shipping companies must follow when operating in South Korean waters.

In our Head-to-Head series, we examine renewable energy opportunities in Japan, alongside Taiwan’s legislative efforts to advance sustainability.

We also encourage you to explore the Vietnam Law Firm Awards 2026 and Malaysia Law Firm Awards 2026, where we recognise the achievements of the most outstanding law firms in each jurisdiction over the past year. VILAF and YKVN took home the top honour in Vietnam, named Law Firms of the Year, while Christopher & Lee Ong, a member of Rajah & Tann Asia, secured the top accolade in Malaysia. Additional award categories include Best Overall Law Firms, Best Boutique Law Firm, Best New Law Firm and firms distinguishing themselves in various practice areas.

Finally, the Indonesia A-List showcases the top 100 lawyers plus 41 Legal Icons in Indonesia. This list is selected by the independent research team of Asia Business Law Journal, based on nominations and endorsements from domestic and internal clients, as well as peers worldwide.