Resistance to legal tech innovations in Malaysia — a threat to the rule of law?

The Malaysian Lawyer4 Comments

 

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Guest writer Pang Jo Fan—Head of Marketing & Communications at legaltech lawyer-discovery service CanLaw—presents his views on why Malaysia’s Bar Council should be encouraging the development and introduction of legaltech to ensure access to justice.

Of late, there has been a spike in legal technology startups in the Malaysian market providing innovative tech solutions to assist both the public and lawyers in their day-to-day legal needs. Other than the more veteran players such as eLawyer and OfficeParrots who have been tirelessly serving Malaysian law firms with their human resource needs, there are also recent players such as Lesys Tenancy (tenancy agreements), BurgieLaw (legal directory), Dragon Law (document drafting), EasyLaw (calculators for lawyers), Locum Legalis (MOB app) and, of course, CanLaw (lawyer-discovery).

Much has been said about the Bar Council’s denial of Dragon Law’s entry to the Malaysian market and the infamous lawsuit against Answers-In-Law. The Malaysian Lawyer also provided an insightful update on the said matters based on the report by the Legal Profession Committee dated 1 December 2016 contained in the 2016/17 Annual Report of the Malaysian Bar. As it stands, it appears that the legal industry remains rather cautious of any form of tech innovations that are being introduced into the profession, mostly due to the general misconception that technological innovations pose a threat to the livelihoods of law practitioners in the country.

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10 Common Issues Arising from the Companies Act 2016

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With the coming into force of the Companies Act 2016, a number of practical issues and questions have since cropped up. The Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) did release its helpful FAQ document. This document has been updated from time to time (presently, it has been updated up until 3 April 2017) and helps to answer the most frequently asked questions.

Nonetheless, there are still other common issues arising from the Companies Act 2016. I come across these queries in my practice or at the talks that I give. I set out below 10 of these key issues. Companies can consider seeking further clarification or advice. These issues range from the constitution, dividends, director-related issues, and transitional matters.

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Kota Kinabalu Companies Act 2016 Talk

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On Wednesday 26 April 2017, I will be speaking at a Companies Act 2016 seminar in Kota Kinabalu. This is organised by CLJ Law in collaboration with the Sabah Law Association. Click on the image below for the registration form.

This is the final leg of my book tour as well. You will be able to purchase a copy of my book ‘Companies Act 2016: The New Dynamics of Company Law in Malaysia‘ at a special price at this seminar. We will be there to sign the books as well. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Bankruptcy Amendment Bill Passed by Malaysia’s Lower House of Parliament

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On 29 March 2017, it has been reported (see Bernama and the New Straits Times) that the Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2016 has been passed by the Dewan Rakyat, being the lower house of Parliament of Malaysia. The changes to the law will not be in force just yet. The Bill will now be sent to the Dewan Negara and then subsequently receive Royal Assent. The coming into force of the new law will then be on a gazetted date.

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The Malaysian Lawyer and Legal Logic Asia: Companies Act 2016 Talk

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As earlier posted, TheMalaysianLawyer.com is partnering up with Legal Logic Asia for this upcoming Companies Act 2016 talk. It will be on 4 April 2017 at Pullman Hotel Bangsar. Click on the image below for the registration form.

Set out below is a preview of some of the topics that will be covered at the talk. I highlight below 6 common areas I come across frequently in practice.

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Speaking at the MIA Audit Committee Conference 2017

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I have been invited to speak at the MIA Audit Committee Conference 2017 on 5 April 2017. The conference will be held at the Connexion Conference & Event Centre. The registration form can be downloaded over here.

I will be speaking at the panel session on the Companies Act 2016 and its impact on the audit committee’s responsibilities. We will be covering the new management requirements, the utilisation of share premium and the capital redemption reserve and the new business review section. It is a good combination of speakers drawn from across the various industries. I am very much looking forward to this.