The Singapore Corporate Counsel Association (SCCA) is set for official Singapore government recognition as the national body for in-house counsel.
Impending recognition was confided by Minister for Home Affairs and Minister of Law, Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam SC, at the SCCA’s annual Asia-Pacific (APAC) Legal Congress.
Shanmugam revealed plans to upgrade the SCCA as the national body for in-house counsel in his keynote speech at the region’s premier corporate in-house legal counsel gathering.
“We will support the SCCA to significantly scale up its capacity and play a more central role in the professional development of the in-house counsel community as a whole,” he said.
He also highlighted the ministry’s commitment to bolstering support for in-house counsel amidst international geopolitical challenges affecting global markets.
Specific initiatives included enhancing partnerships in the legal technology sector to foster innovation and the digitalisation of legal processes.
The SCCA’s annual two-day regional corporate in-house counsel conference gathered about 600 delegates on 23-24 April at One Farrer Hotel in Singapore.
Essential insights to adeptly manage key intricacies of the modern digital landscape included evolving challenges in data privacy and artificial intelligence such as AI-related privacy risks, as well as strategies for managing cross-border data transfers.
Among other highlights, a session led by the Kim & Chang team focused on Korea’s competition law, the intricacies of Korean criminal procedure, and cross-border investigations. Speakers included Jong Seok Kim, co-chairman of the regulatory reform committee and a senior advisor at Kim & Chang.
Pressing issues of fraud detection, asset tracing, digital forensics and supply chain resilience were spotlighted by the Kroll team, which included managing director and global head of compliance risk and diligence, Kevin Braine.
Keynote addresses were also given by Stephen Rotstein, representing In-House Counsel Worldwide (ICW), and Hideyuki Sakamoto, chair of the Japan In-House Lawyers Association (JILA).
Far-ranging discussions extended to cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, e-commerce, the rising dominance of the virtual world, dispute settlement, managing legal teams, making sense of environmental, social and governance, navigating trade and supply chains, and diversity, equity & inclusion.
Delegates also engaged in various discussions and unrivalled networking opportunities, fostering a rich platform for dialogue, co-creation, cross-pollination of ideas and collaboration.
SCCA co-president Renita Sophia Crasta underscored the collective team effort that made the event a resounding success, lauding the invaluable contributions and collaborative spirit of sponsors, speakers and a dedicated SCCA team.
She also said the Ministry of Law of Singapore’s official recognition of the SCCA highlighted a pivotal moment for the legal profession.
Ushering in promising years for in-house counsel across the region, she said: “We’re sure many are excited and looking forward to the journey ahead; do stay in touch to know more.”
