By Office Parrots
Are you a student seeking an internship, a fresh graduate looking for your first big break, or an experienced worker thinking of a change? Regardless, finding your next job is always a challenge, but information about potential employers is becoming increasingly accessible. Researching your next workplace – or just an industry you’re interested in – online has become more popular and even exciting.
So which firms in the Malaysian legal industry were you all most interested in finding out about? The results are in – here are the top 10 most viewed law firm employers of 2016:
10. Shearn Delamore & Co.
Established in 1905, and one of Malaysia’s largest and oldest law firms, Shearn Delamore & Co. practices a vast range of areas, from Corporate & Commercial to Personal Data Protection & Privacy Law. The firm has consistently been recognised for its work, most recently by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific law directory, Asialaw Profiles, and Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific.
Employees appreciate the comprehensive practice areas and guidance given by seniors:
“In a nutshell, it is a wonderful place for fresh grads to start off, especially when one has no idea of which practice area to specialize in or when one has zero experience in the legal field,” shares a former Chambering Pupil.
9. Rahmat Lim & Partners
This full-service Corporate and Commercial firm, one of Malaysia’s fastest growing law employers was also in view in 2015, but has since been bumped down from 3rd place.
Established in 2010 and one of Malaysia’s fastest growing firms, the firm also maintains a regional presence through association with the Allen & Gledhill LLP South East Asia law network. They have been recognised for their quality work by, among others, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific & Chambers Global / Asia-Pacific, for its practice in Banking & Finance, Dispute Resolution, Corporate Real Estate, and many more.
Lawyers, Pupils and interns generally find it as a good place to work, with good training and access to high value work, although work hours may be long and demanding. According to an Associate, the firm also has a “high learning curve, with good compensation and benefits”.
Rahmat Lim & Partners is presently looking for an experienced Banking & Finance Services Associate. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply immediately.
8. Malek, Paulian & Gan
Founded by Azri Malek in 2014 as Azri Malek & Partners, this boutique law firm has since grown. The firm focuses on Civil, Corporate & Litigation matters, with practice areas from Corporate & Commercial to Property, Building & Construction.
The firm believes in giving back to society, and offers free legal clinics on Fridays. Partners also practice social responsibility by taking on pro bono briefs, and encouraging employees to engage with initiatives put forth by the Legal Aid Clinic.
Malek, Paulian & Gan is constantly looking for eager and responsible legal interns to join them. If you need any more convincing, a former intern has shared that the firm has a “friendly and approachable boss, [and] excellent work-life balance.”
7. MahWengKwai & Associates
The firm boasts 30 years of experience and focuses on Litigation & Dispute Resolution as well as Corporate & Commercial matters. They are committed to building lasting relationships with their clients, participating in lunch talks and information-sharing events within Malaysia’s law industry.
Their team has recently grown with the addition of Richard Wee, who joins MahWengKwai & Associates after separating from Richard Wee & Yip in late 2016.
Employees also find it a pleasant place to work, as one former intern highlights:
“There is no discrimination between the senior and junior members and the Associates will treat you as an equal”
6. AmerBON, Advocates
Self-styled “Legal Mercenaries With a Conscience”, AmerBON, Advocates are a new law commune with a reputation for providing pro bono legal services and representation for the needy, particularly in matters of public interest and human rights.
Formed in late 2015 through a merger of BON, Advocates and Amer Hamzah & Sharizad, the firm practices – among others – in areas including Corporate & Commercial, Capital Markets, Human Rights, Matrimonial, and Personal Injury.
Employees can expect a driven, unique and autonomous work culture; a former Case Engineer comments, “The commune-style working environment enabled us to engage in informal discussions and exchange ideas which led to greater insights about our work.”
5. Skrine
Moving up from 8th place last year, Skrine is another of Malaysia’s oldest and largest law firms. Their practice is divided into the principal divisions of Corporate, Dispute Resolution, and Intellectual Property. As a larger, established firm, Skrine maintains a global reach through their membership and participation in networks such as Lex Mundi and the Pacific Rim Advisory Council (PRAC).
Junior workers praise the firm’s willingness to guide, but cautions that the experience varies. A former Chambering Pupil comments, “many are committed to their work, motivated and professional. Work is heavy, but this is expected of a top Malaysian firm.”
4. Trowers & Hamlins
Trowers & Hamlins debuted in 2015 as Malaysia’s first Qualified Foreign Law Firm. The firm has a strong international and cross-border experience, providing services ranging from Banking & Finance to Telecommunications, Media & Technology.
With a worldwide reach and offices across the UK, Middle East, and now Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, employees are exposed to opportunities for secondments and training in one of their networks abroad. The firm’s culture challenges and encourages juniors to learn from experience, on the job.
Trowers & Hamlins is currently growing its team and has openings for an Experienced Banking & Finance Associate and an Experienced Corporate Associate. Interviews are ongoing and interested individuals are encouraged to apply immediately.
3. Peter Ling & Van Geyzel
This relatively young and charismatic boutique law firm moved up from 6th place last year to be among the top 3 most viewed law firm employers. Founded in 2013 by Partners Peter Ling and Marcus Van Geyzel, the firm’s practice areas include, among others, Banking & Finance, Dispute Resolution, and Corporate & Commercial matters.
They maintain an excellent standing and has since been recognised and recommended by the Legal 500 Asia Pacific directory back-to-back in 2016 and 2017 for its work in Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions, and Labour & Employment. Its accolades also include “Rising Law Firm of the Year” by the Asian Legal Business Malaysia Law Awards 2016.
Employees praise the firm’s drive for excellence and independence. A Chambering Pupil shares, “[I] was given the opportunity to essentially run & manage many active files independently under the supervision of the Partners.”
Partner Marcus Van Geyzel is an avid disseminator of knowledge, from his online participation on social media, legal blogging on TheMalaysianLawyer and advice-giving to young professionals, to his recently published book Law For Startups to guide entrepreneurs in legal matters.
2. Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill
This multi-practice law firm – organised into main practice areas including Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Intellectual Property, Telecommunications, Media & Technology, Shipping, and Tax, GST & Customs – maintains its standing as among the most viewed law firms since 2015.
Formed in 2005 through merger of Allen & Gledhill and Lee Hishammuddin, the firm has branches throughout KL, Johor Bahru and Penang, and boasts a century’s worth of history and experience. Their quality service was also recognised by the Chambers and Partners Asia Pacific Awards as a Leading Firm in both 2016 and 2017.
Working at Lee Hishammuddin offers you “friendly colleagues, good supporting staff, [and a] healthy working environment,” according to a former Associate.
1. Zaid Ibrahim & Co.
Still the top viewed law firm employer, Zaid Ibrahim & Co. is the largest regional law firm in South East Asia, with offices in Brunei to Vietnam Malaysian branches in Kuala Lumpur, Kedah Johor, Sabah and Sarawak. Their legal services cover Banking & Finance to Real Estate.
Zaid Ibrahim & Co. is consistently recognised by The Legal 500 for its performance in various sectors. Employees are exposed to, according to a Senior Associate, “high profile matters” and can expect “good staff support”, although will be faced with “long working hours [and] high stress levels.”
There you have it. The top viewed law firms in 2016 – research which hopefully brought you insight into employers you’d love to work with!
Note: Our ranking is based solely on objective, statistical viewer tracking data and is not subject to or contingent in any way on sponsorship or payment of fees, or participation by these employers on our platform.
Source: http://www.officeparrots.com/single-post/2017/02/24/Top-10-Most-Viewed-Law-Firms-Employers-Of-2016
