IHC eMagazine February 2026: Celebrating Legal Excellence Across Asia and the Middle East
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What’s inside this issue?
This edition of the In-House Community Magazine highlights leadership, excellence and innovation among in-house legal teams and external counsel across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. It features the 2025 Counsel of the Year Awards, Top-Tier In-House Counsel List, and Commended External Counsel recognitions. You’ll also find timely insights on China’s cybersecurity rules and Vietnam’s new AI Law, along with analysis on how legal teams are embracing AI. The issue includes an anniversary feature with SAT & CO and coverage of our Ho Chi Minh City Congress, plus the latest moves, deals and developments from the regional legal community.
At the centre of this issue is our coverage of the In-House Community Counsel of the Year Awards 2025, celebrating outstanding in-house legal teams that have evolved into true strategic partners to their businesses. Across sectors including banking, technology, energy, FMCG, aviation, life sciences and the public sector, these teams demonstrate how modern legal functions are driving efficiency, managing risk, embedding technology and delivering measurable commercial impact.
We are also proud to present the Top-Tier In-House Counsel List 2025, recognising individual in-house leaders who exemplify influence, innovation and leadership within their organisations. Now in its second year, this list reflects the growing seniority and strategic importance of in-house counsel across the region.
Alongside this, we recognise excellence in private practice through our Commended External Counsel of the Year 2025 list. Selected based on testimonials, peer recommendations and votes from in-house counsel, this list celebrates external lawyers who consistently deliver outstanding advice, commercial insight and trusted partnership to in-house teams.
Beyond the awards, this issue delivers practical and timely insight into key regulatory and technology developments.
You’ll find a detailed overview of China’s latest cybersecurity incident reporting requirements, authored by Atticus Zhao and Danni Sima of King & Wood Mallesons, offering clear guidance on reporting thresholds, timelines and compliance obligations for organisations operating in China.
We also include a practical analysis of Vietnam’s first Artificial Intelligence Law, written by Vaibhav Saxena of VILAF, which comes into force in March 2026. The article breaks down the new risk-based framework for AI systems, notification and transparency obligations, and what in-house teams need to prepare for ahead of implementation.
On the technology front, Brian W. Tang, Chief Editor of the ALITA State of Legal Innovation in Asia-Pacific (SOLIA) Report 2025, explores how AI is transforming legal service delivery across Asia-Pacific. Drawing on regional data, the article examines how in-house teams are already using AI, the governance and risk challenges they face, and how expectations of legal departments are shifting as AI becomes part of everyday legal work.
This issue also features an in-depth Q&A marking SAT & CO’s 10-year anniversary, with insights from the firm’s partners on dispute resolution trends, enforcement strategy and how in-house counsel can better manage complex, cross-border disputes in an increasingly regulated and digital environment.
You’ll also find highlights from the Ho Chi Minh City In-House Community Congress 2025, where senior legal leaders gathered to discuss future-ready legal teams, workplace investigations, data protection in M&A and the expanding strategic role of in-house counsel in Vietnam.
As always, we round out the issue with the latest news, moves and deals from across the region.
Help shape our next edition
As we continue planning our 2026 editorial calendar, we’d love to hear from you. Whether it’s feedback, a story idea, a nomination, or an advertising enquiry, please write to us at publications@inhousecommunity.com.
I hope you enjoy reading this issue.
