Jurisdiction: Asia

Learn about our international reach in legal recruitment.

Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and beyond.

The team at Agnew O'Brien have been assisting lawyers locate positions both domestically and internationally for many years and understand fully what is required to successfully secure a new opportunity. We have deep knowledge and experience of the jurisdictions within which we operate and are able to support our candidates through each stage of the recruitment process. What we don't know immediately we are able to find out quickly, ensuring that those we represent have all the information required to make an informed decision.

We have assisted lawyers relocate to and throughout Asia for many years, placing candidates into law firms across multiple regional jurisdictions. Asia is a fluid legal market, which responds quickly to geo-political changes in the region, which in turn results in the need for pragmatic, commercial lawyers who are robust and can adapt quickly.

Hong Kong

  • Hong Kong is a subtropical, autonomous territory and former British colony. Its sovereignty was transferred to the PRC in 1997 and is now a special administrative region of China. Hong Kong serves as a hub for international firms active in the ‘Greater China’ market.
  • Home to a vibrant, densely populated, multi-cultural urban centre, Hong Kong is a major port and global financial hub that retains a strong ex-pat community.
  • China’s trade and political tensions with the US, as well as increased internal regulations, is the most noteworthy development in recent times and has resulted in a significant downturn in Sino-American transactions. This has, in turn, generated a large amount of divestment, restructuring and repositioning work for Greater China practices and has been largely offset by a greater focus on domestic and regional transactions, as well as a boom of activity in the TMT, biomedical, pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors
  • The “interference” of the PRC in Hong Kong affairs has led to many ex-pat lawyers leaving HK, especially those with families, which has inversely increased the need for additional overseas lawyers in Hong Kong.
  • Lawyers looking to relocate to Hong Kong from overseas jurisdiction will ideally need to be common law qualified. Chinese language skills are increasingly important, given the influence of the PRC on the local economy, but are not always essential depending on the practice area / demand for a particular skill-set.
  • As a major global jurisdiction there are law firms of all shape and size, from local domestic through to larger international firms, including the Magic/Silver Circle, US and leading Offshore practices. Most of whom have committed to remaining in Hong Kong and developing their Asian presence.
  • Candidates with experience in Corporate, Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, FS/Regulatory, Shipping & Aviation, Energy & Resources, Litigation & Arbitration, Corporate Crime & Investigations, Insolvency & Restructuring, TMT and Intellectual Property are of particular interest.
  • Salaries can vary widely, depending on the individual firm and your own skill set / experience level, while most firms will also offer a full benefits package & bonus in addition to relocation assistance, temporary accommodation. Salaries are usually paid in Hong Kong dollars, while the standard tax rate sits at 15%.
  • Non-residents wanting to work in Hong Kong will need to be sponsored by an employer. Legal spouses and children will be issued dependent visas.

Singapore

  • Singapore is a sub-tropical city-state and island country in Southeast Asia which is home to a major international port and global financial hub. A former British colony, Singapore remains a key destination for expats offering excellent career prospects, life-style and culture suitable for families and individuals.
  • Singapore’s status as a major legal hub has grown considerably in recent years. It now boasts one of the premier arbitration regimes in the world, and is quickly developing a highly sophisticated asset management industry and has put in place a world-class restructuring and insolvency regime, while the pharmaceutical, healthcare, life sciences, edutech, and fintech sectors have been extremely busy.
  • International firms are prohibited from providing Singapore law advice unless they meet strict criteria and become a Qualifying Foreign Law Practice (QFLP). International firms have further options in being able to offer local law capabilities, either as a joint law venture (JLV) which allows local and foreign firms to establish a financially integrated entity or via a Formal Law Alliance (FLA), which enables foreign and local firms to collaborate but remain operationally and financially distinct. These approaches are increasingly widespread, although there is still a large cohort of international firms that are satisfied with informal collaborations with their local counterparts.
  • Lawyers looking to relocate to Singapore from overseas will need to be common law qualified. Asian language skills are increasingly important given Singapore’s importance as a gateway to countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and India. That said, English remains a main language with leading regional, joint-venture and international law firms often recruiting high calibre lawyers from the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand as well as the United States and India.
  • More and more global corporates are opening up or moving their operations to Singapore, given its increasing importance in the region, while wealthy Chinese nationals are also relocating there from the PRC / Hong Kong.
  • Candidates with experience in Corporate, Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, FS/Regulatory, Shipping & Aviation, Energy & Resources, Litigation & Arbitration, Insolvency & Restructuring, TMT and Intellectual Property are of particular interest.
  • Salaries can vary widely, depending on the individual firm and your own PQE level & skill set, while most will also offer a full benefits package & bonus in addition to relocation assistance and temporary accommodation. Salaries are usually paid in Singapore Dollars while the standard tax rate sits at 15%.

Japan

  • Japan is an island country in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean. Possessing a temperate climate and circa 3rd largest economy in the world, Japan has long been an attractive destination for lawyers keen to experience its culture and vibrant capital city, Tokyo, which is home to plethora of international companies and financial institutions.
  • Numerous international law firms have offices in Tokyo, given the economic importance of Japan globally, though they are much smaller than in other Asia hubs such as Hong Kong and Singapore. Conversely lawyers in Japan generally benefit from a greater variety of work and increased responsibility in comparison to their peers in other international offices.
  • International investment into Japan continues and the legal sector is no exception, while sectors that have been extremely busy and are drivers for the future include TMT and FinTech.
  • Firms will usually look to hire local lawyers “Bengoshi”, albeit they will relocate foreign qualified candidates also, usually hailing from Commonwealth jurisdictions such as England & Wales, Australia and New Zealand or the United States of America with experience in core areas such as Corporate, Banking & Finance, Project Finance, Energy & Resources, TMT, IP & IT, Competition and to a lesser extent Dispute Resolution / Corporate Crime & Investigations.
  • Japanese language skills are of course beneficial, but overseas lawyers are often hired without such skill sets in practice areas of high demand.
  • Financial packages are very competitive but will vary depending on the firm and candidate while all firms will offer a full benefits & bonus and relocation package and will take care of temporary accommodation and visas. Tax rates are high, up to 45% for higher income earners.

We have also worked extensively in other jurisdictions, including the PRC, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and India, to name but a few.

Recent Testimonials:

“I have had a great experience with James and not only because I am now a partner at a major law firm: James has an excellent knowledge of the market, is a good listener and assisted with all aspects of the recruitment process. He has been patient and effective – in other words, a great professional.”

Arbitration Partner

London

“James is a thoroughly professional and dedicated legal recruiter who thoroughly understands the offshore sector. He handled my search expertly, introducing me to multiple firms across the Caribbean, while advising on the merits of each opportunity and location. James was consultative and empathetic in his approach with a genuine focus on what was best for my career. I would recommend any lawyer looking to move internationally to speak with James.”

Barrister

British Virgin Islands

“James, has vast experience with the off-shore legal market. I used him in relation to my move from London to the Cayman Islands and highly recommend him. Not only does he have great knowledge of the off-shore market but due to his regular contact with law firms he is able to provide an insight into their way of thinking/ mind set . This is valuable when tailoring a CV, preparing for interview and reviewing an employment contract. James is also very pleasant and approachable.”

Structured Finance Counsel

Cayman Islands

“James assisted me with my move from New Zealand to Australia, securing multiple interviews and offers. He actively supported me from start to finish, working with me closely on the preparation of my CV and how to address different interview scenarios, as well negotiating my package and assisting with my exit. A genuine, 360-degree, consultative service from a recruiter who really knows his market.”

Insurance Associate

Sydney

“I wasn’t confident in using a smaller, “boutique” legal recruitment consultancy like Agnew O’Brien when embarking on my move, as felt larger agencies would have greater market penetration, despite some previous bad experiences. I was however recommended to James who quickly dispelled any hesitancy I had. Following a comprehensive and honest assessment of my career to date, business case and expectations, James picked up the phone to a some of his established clients and opened multiple doors. The process was handled with subtly and consideration from start to finish, resulting in receiving a great offer from a firm I had always regarded very highly. Thank you, James!”

Employment Partner

London

“I was given James’ name by a colleague who had worked with him previously. It was instantly apparent on speaking with James, that I was in safe hands. He clearly addressed the pros and cons of my proposed move from London to Hong Kong and what was realistically achievable. James was able to present a number of interesting opportunities that accurately matched my skill sets and ambitions for the future, one of which I ultimately accepted. Professional, personable and dedicated to his candidates, James is a legal recruiter of the highest calibre.”

Senior Banking Associate

Hong Kong

“On my qualification with a Magic Circle firm in London, my ambition was to relocate to Asia. I contacted Agnew O’Brien to see if they could assist with my search, as I noticed they had multiple vacancies advertised. They quickly established what options were open to me and secured several interviews with topflight international law firms, guiding me through the process and offering practical and timely advice along the way. I am now with a leading international law firm in Singapore and very happy. I would strongly recommend Agnew O’Brien to any lawyer looking to make a move internationally.”

Junior Banking & Finance Associate

Singapore

“James is an extremely capable recruiter with a friendly bedside manner. Insightful and proactive, he quickly located an opportunity that fitted my experience and career aspirations and guided me through the process step by step. Always on hand to answer any questions and quick to address any potential road bumps, it was an absolute pleasure to work with him and I couldn’t recommend James and his team highly enough to anyone looking to move offshore.”

Senior Disputes Counsel

British Virgin Islands

“James is an excellent recruiter. He is friendly, personable and is extremely knowledgeable on the Cayman Islands legal recruitment market. James has great connections with senior personnel across Magic Circle and mid-sized Cayman law firms and secured interviews for me and a role within an offshore Magic Circle law firm where there was no publicly advertised role. James’s experience of the Cayman legal market enabled him to deal with the entire recruitment process from initially connecting me with law firms, advising on the interview process, advising on options available post-interview and working with me all the way with me to address work permit issues. James clearly demonstrated that he is willing to go the extra mile for his clients. I would certainly recommend James as a recruiter to any onshore or offshore corporate lawyer seeking a private practice role in the Cayman Islands.”

Senior Regulatory Associate

Cayman Islands

“James has been the best recruiter I have ever met. He really took a definite interest in my candidacy and provided important insights on the recruitment process during our discussions. Apart from his professional skills, he is personable, friendly and supportive. Most importantly, he was capable of correcting my approach where needed and how to overcome weaknesses which may have adversely affected the interview procedure.I cannot thank him enough for always replying to my emails, hearing me out and offering ideas on how to handle various situations. Once again, thank you James!”

Corporate Associate

Hong Kong

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