Partnering with
Law Firms

Across APAC, law firm relationships remain central to navigating complex transactions, regulatory shifts, and cross-border disputes.

Domestic champions continue to expand regionally, while international firms maintain strategic footholds or reassess local tie-ups. The nature of these partnerships—whether through formal alliances, talent movement, or arbitration mandates—offers insight into how clients are engaging counsel in a fast-evolving legal landscape.

Our research this year has continued to show the importance that clients place on finding the right external counsel for their business. GCs highlight the extensive range of factors they will evaluate in selecting the right external counsel for each matter.

Alongside legal acumen, commercial awareness remains a core priority. As Rishi Gautam, Global GC of Tata Consumables, told Chambers:

“Nowadays what we expect from the external law firms is becoming really strategic. In an unexpected situation, can you be the sounding board, can you give us high-level, strategic advice rather than just a simple legal interpretation of what the law says?”

Alongside this, interviewees stress that speed of response, value for money, legal expertise and commercial awareness remain key considerations in their decision-making processes.

Although in-house teams are looking to reduce legal spend, our research shows they will still prioritise quality of advice when seeking counsel for complex work. As one source explained: “Many businesses are implementing cost-cutting measures, which include a desire to reduce the need for external legal advice. This is not new. It needs to be balanced with the complexity of deals that businesses are trying to undertake. It is therefore very important to show value-adds to assist the business in justifying the appointment of external advisors.”

Watch: An In-House Counsel View of Partnering with Law Firms

Kenji Tagaya, Executive Officer, Head of Legal & Secretariat Division, JERA

Despite the highly competitive market that law firms are operating in, our research suggests that in-counsel continue to see value in building longer term partnerships with law firms. Sources highlight that, given the fast turnaround required by businesses, having this partnership in place means that the right legal advice is available when needed at short notice.

This point was highlighted by Kenji Tagaya, Head of Legal at JERA, during an interview for the Chambers Asia-Pacific launch. “When challenging situations happen, you have to make a decision — there is no luxury to start explaining then. So, in normal times, we make the effort to cultivate the relationship with selected external law firms.”

The legal market in APAC offers a greater range of options to clients than ever before. Clients are frequently segmenting work according to matter complexity and expertise required.

A wide range of international law firms continue to offer clients the benefits of extensive coverage in the region. This may be via offices in locations such as Greater China, Singapore, Australia, Japan and South Korea, or through close relationships with local law firms in the region. In the last decade, national law firms have also expanded their reach and become important regional players, including in South-East Asia where firms such as Rajah & Tann, Drew & Napier and Allen & Gledhill have established offices and tie-ups in multiple countries.

Finally, it is worth noting that, despite this wide range of considerations, ultimately the personal relationship still plays a key role in legal procurement. GCs and their business leadership still place importance on finding the right individual partner as much as trusting the wider institutional strength of a law firm.

Watch: An In-House Counsel View of Partnering with Law Firms

Rishi Gautam, Global GC, Tata Consumables

Which of these factors is most crucial when selecting a law firm?

Legal expertise
Commercial understanding
Flexibility and agility
Cost-effectiveness