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The Asia Chronicles: Welcome!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008 6:18 PM - By Asia Corporate Lawyers

Asia Asian law blogger blawg Above the Law blog.jpg[Ed. note: Our search for Asia columnists is complete. We are pleased to present their inaugural post.]

Welcome to the first edition of The Asia Chronicles, a weekly column about the careers and lifestyles of American corporate lawyers in Asia. The column is collectively written by an intimate cabal of high-flying, hard-charging corporate associates working throughout Asia, each sworn to secrecy and known to each other only by smell. As long-time readers of ATL, we are honored to join the ranks of its writers. Over the next few months, we will do our best to give you a full download of our experiences working and living in this part of the world.

Let’s start our column with a basic question: What brings U.S.-qualified lawyers to Asia? Some might say it’s the opportunity. As businesses across Asia continue to grow in size and sophistication, U.S. lawyers are often presented with novel and challenging legal issues.

For others, the money is the draw. In most of the major cities in Asia where U.S.-qualified lawyers are in demand, firms often pay at New York levels, and also throw in sizable housing packages. It’s not uncommon for associates in Hong Kong, for example, to receive monthly rent allowances in excess of $5,000.

For still others, Asia is home. The ranks of American law school graduates hailing from Asia continues to swell, and many jump at the opportunity to practice U.S. law in their home countries, close to family. These lawyers are also typically fluent in two languages, allowing some to enjoy better long-term career prospects than they otherwise would in the U.S.

According to Evan Jowers, managing director of the Hong Kong office of Kinney Recruiting (and, in full disclosure, sponsor of this post), there are many reasons for U.S. associates to seek Asia positions, going even well beyond the obvious financial benefits and geographical considerations. Evan has placed over 40 U.S. associates in Asia in the past 15 months (and Robert Kinney and the rest of Kinney Recruiting’s Asia team, including Steven Holzman and Joanne Kim, have also made numerous Asia placements of U.S. associates, partners and in-house counsel).

There are a number of benefits to moving from a U.S. law firm to a smaller Asia overseas office, according to Evan. These include “the opportunity to work in a small group, much more responsibility than in a large U.S. or London office, and, in many cases, one-on-one mentoring by a senior partner. Such an experience is not for everyone, but for the U.S. associate with strong entrepreneurial drive, then an Asia move — even if just for a few years — can greatly advance one’s career prospects, in both major law firms and in-house opportunities down the road, in both the U.S. and Asia.”

Over the next few months, we’ll write in more detail about these and other topics related to practicing law in Asia. We hope to both inform and entertain, and we welcome your feedback. Please leave a comment or email us at asiacorporatelawyers at gmail dot com. Thanks!

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