1. THE APA LAWYER IN THE ASIA PRACTICE
Panelists
Amy Chang Lee, U.S. Department of Justice
David Cheng, Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP
Nobuhisa Ishizuka, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Alex Young K. Oh, Partner, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Moderator
Ronald Cheng, Partner, O’Melveny & Myers LLP
2017 National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Convention
Washington, DC

2. AmLaw 100 Firms in Asia by City (2016)

3. Issues in 2017 Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the United States
The Asian geopolitical environment after TPP
Security issues in Northeast Asia and the South China Sea
China’s economic situation
Emerging markets in Southeast Asia
Human rights

4. Asian Legal Environment and Culture: Assumptions or Fact?
Corruption and lack of transparency
Unequal treatment (“local protectionism”)
Concepts particular to individual countries:
Losing face
“Guanxi”
Entertainment
How accurate are these assumptions?

5. Expectations by Non-Asians of APAs in the Asia Practice
Foreign language
Culture
Developing Business / Developing the Relationship
Do expectations differ depending on who is making the decision?
Cases in point: the “first timer in Asia,” the “China hand”
“Security” issues – are these concerns genuine or not?
Does this depend on the area of practice:
private practice v. government
litigation v. transactions

6. Expectations by Asians of APAs
Gender issues
While the number of female lawyers is growing in Japan, their “Big Four” only average 11% female in their partner ranks. Nationwide, in Japan, 18% of all lawyers are women.
Increasingly more common for women to have a seat at the table, and to also be seated centrally in a manner that shows cultural importance as a decision maker.
Foreign language
Familiarity with local culture
To what extent do Asians still prefer to deal with “the American”

7. Ways to Deal with Unequal Treatment
Situation 1
Asian counterpart deals only with the “American” on your side
Situation 2
Asian counterpart tries to have you intercede with your side on an issue because you have an “understanding” of the way things are done in Asia
Situation 3
Your colleague treats you as if you were “local staff.”
Are these products of an unconscious bias?

8. Office Dynamics
Dealings between Asian Pacific Americans and expat attorneys in Asian offices
Dealings between Asian Pacific Americans and local attorneys in Asian offices
Dealings between Asian Pacific Americans and Asian expats in the U.S.
Do Asian expats in the U.S. have different issues?  Do APAs understand those issues?

9. What to Expect When “Coming Home”
One of the first questions to ask before going abroad
Answer can vary depending on length of time away
Pluses and minuses of acquiring specialized skills in Asia
Reintegration at the firm, office and practice group levels
Challenges of maintaining and continuing to build client relationships

10. What is the Value of the Overseas Experience?