INSOL's Asia Hub is pleased to introduce a Vlog series Insolvency Influencers in Asia which will put a spotlight on insolvency practitioners who have deep Asian credentials in restructuring and insolvency engagements. This will be a monthly (10 in the series) Vlog featuring practitioners across all Asian jurisdictions and kicked off in mid- May 2022 with a focus on Malaysian lawyer, Lee Shih who is at the forefront of the restructuring and insolvency landscape in Malaysia.
BlackOak LLC, a niche legal practice for distress and special situations, is the sponsoring host of this series. INSOL's Asia Hub is thankful to BlackOak LLC for its support and to its Director, Ashok Kumar for leading the interviews in the series.
Episode 10 - Ashok Kumar: In conversation with Professor Wisit Wisitsora-at
Professor Wisit Wisitsora-at has a distinguished track record within the civil and criminal justice fields in both Thailand and internationally. He is the incumbent Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) and has held many positions in the Thai justice system including, amongst many others, as Director- General of the Office of Justice Affairs and Director-General of the Legal Execution Department. He has played a vital role in Thailand’s bankruptcy reform and was instrumental in the establishment of the specialist Thai Central Bankruptcy Court.
Prof. Wisitsora-at is also recognised as a prominent figure in the development of the legal framework of international trade law with specialisation in bankruptcy and insolvency. To date, he is the longest serving Chairman of United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)’s Working Group V on Insolvency Law (1999-2019).
Additionally, he is a Professor of Laws and continues to share his breadth of experience and knowledge lecturing at universities and professional development courses in Thailand.
Prof. Wisitsora -at graduated with Bachelor of Law (Hons) degrees from Thammasat University as well as the University of Wales and is admitted as a barrister to the Thai Bar Association and the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn in the United Kingdom.
Episode 9 - Ashok Kumar: In conversation with Francisco Lim
Francisco Lim, is Senior Partner at Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law offices (ACCRALAW) | Philippines.
Francis is a well-seasoned highly respected lawyer who served as the President of the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. and the Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines and is the incumbent chairman of the FINEX Academy and the Justice Reform Initiative as well as Co-Chairman of the Capital Market Development Council.
He was closely involved in the enactment of several Philippine laws including the Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act and in the formulation of a number of Philippine procedural rules such as the Financial Rehabilitation Rules of Procedure, and the Financial Liquidation and Suspension of Payments Rules of Procedure. As a columnist of Rappler and former columnist of The Philippine Star and Philippine Daily Inquirer, he has written extensively on investors’ rights and insolvency law issues, and various other business-related topics which he has also covered as speaker in various foreign and domestic fora.
Francis continues to share his in-depth legal expertise with young minds in his capacity as a law professor in the School of Law, Ateneo de Manila University and School of Law of San Beda University.
Every accolade in the long array of accolades Francis has received from international and domestic institutions, including a most recent award of “Elite Practitioner” in Capital Markets and Dispute Resolution (2020-2022) by AsiaLaw Profiles is testament to his dynamic accomplishments and contributions to the Philippines legal landscape. He is a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Philippine Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
Episode 8 - Ashok Kumar: In conversation with Lingqi Wang
Lingqi Wang is a partner at Fangda Partners and specialises in insolvency, restructuring and commercial dispute resolution. He is particularly experienced in handling significant insolvency and restructuring matters with cross-border elements, representing a number of foreign companies in respect of their bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings from a Chinese law perspective. He is admitted to practice law in China and New York State.
He played a consultative role in the process that led up to the Mainland China / Hong Kong Mutual Recognition Framework for Insolvency Proceedings.
Lingqi is frequently invited to speak at seminars and conferences on bankruptcy and dispute resolution and is a published author.
Episode 7 - Ashok Kumar: In conversation with Andi Y Kadir
Andi Y Kadir is a Senior Partner and heads the Dispute Resolution and Restructuring & Insolvency Practice Groups at Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners (HHP) in Jakarta. With 21 years of experience behind him, he has extensively represented clients in domestic and international arbitration, complex litigation proceedings, PKPU/ bankruptcy/insolvency matters, compliance, anti-corruption, and regulatory issues in the context of investigations and corporate crime matters. His excellent reputation extends to employment litigation and administrative law disputes with government departments and agencies including judicial review to annul government regulations. He is well experienced in handling diverse industry sectors such as construction, energy, shipping and logistics, finance, consumer goods and retail, healthcare and life sciences, and technology.
Andi is co-chairman of the Arbitration and the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Indonesia and a court member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration. He is also a registered arbitrator at Badan Arbitrase Nasional Indonesia (BANI), Shanghai Arbitration Commission (SHAC), and has recently been appointed as arbitrator and mediator at Lembaga Alternatif Penyelesaian Sengketa Sektor Jasa Keuangan (LAPS-SJK). He has served as a tribunal member in the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) cases involving Indonesian businesses and been called as an expert witness in ICC, SIAC, KCAB International and the Singapore and BVI courts giving opinions on various contractual issues, including illegality of contracts, quantum of damages and force majeure, and Indonesian company law issues.
Episode 6 - Ashok Kumar: In conversation with Mitsue Aizawa
Mitsue Aizawa is a well-regarded insolvency and restructuring attorney in Japan and renowned for her work on corporate reorganizations and civil rehabilitation proceedings for global financial institutions. She is currently an equity partner at TMI Associates, the second largest law firm in Japan which has many branches worldwide and leads its Insolvency and Restructuring practice group.
Her substantial experience includes serving as a deputy trustee in the case of Kyoei Life Insurance, which underwent the largest corporate reorganization in Japan’s history, and as chief legal counsel for Yamaichi Securities’ insolvency. Yamaichi Securities which became insolvent in 1997 was one of Japan's leading full-service securities brokerages and its transactions were global in reach.
She is also the author of numerous leading publications on insolvency/restructuring including “A Complete Guide to Financial Restructuring and Insolvency Practice” published in 2020.
Episode 5 - Ashok Kumar: In conversation with Judge Christopher S. Sontchi
Christopher S. Sontchi featured in Episode 5 of Vlog Series Insolvency Influencers in Asia is an International Judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) and one of the most prominent and well-respected bankruptcy jurists in the world. His appointment on SICC is seen as a bold move by Singapore towards becoming the jurisdiction of choice for corporate restructurings. Judge Sontchi brings with him the experience of his 16 -year tenure at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, one of the busiest courts in the U.S. for commercial bankruptcies. He is a frequent speaker in the United States and abroad on issues relating to corporate reorganizations, having made over 100 appearances.
Episode 4 - Ashok Kumar: In conversation with Viola Jing of Allen & Overy
Viola Jing, our first female Asian influencer to be featured, is a partner at Allen & Overy based in Hong Kong and a member of its APAC Restructuring and Recovery Group. She has an impressive track record on complex multi -jurisdictional restructurings, insolvencies and workouts, and extensive experience in cross -border matters with PRC elements. Passionate about lending support to female practitioners in the restructuring and insolvency market in Hong Kong, she served as the Secretary of the Hong Kong Network Board, International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, for three consecutive terms. Having recently passed down the role, Viola continues to dedicate herself to support IWIRC and the nurturing of next generation female lawyers in restructuring and insolvency.
Episode 3 - Darius Tay: In conversation with Sushil Nair of Drew & Napier LLC
The third episode features Sushil Nair who is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Drew & Napier LLC and he also heads up its Corporate Restructuring & Workout practice group. Sushil has an illustrious reputation in the field of insolvency and restructuring and is frequently mandated to advise on headline matters, including those involving China and Indonesia where he has been involved in some of the largest restructuring exercises in Asia.
Episode 2 - Ashok Kumar: In conversation with Shardul S Shroff, Executive Chairman of Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co
This episode features eminent lawyer Shardul S Shroff, Executive Chairman of Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. He heads the firm’s highly regarded and diversified Insolvency and Bankruptcy practice which has been at the forefront of shaping the constantly evolving insolvency law and policy in India. Mr Shroff is widely acknowledged as a market- leading Restructuring & Insolvency lawyer by several international fora and publications.
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