About us

The Asian Business Law Institute (ABLI) is an Institute based in Singapore that initiates, conducts and facilitates research and produces authoritative texts with a view to providing practical guidance in the field of Asian legal development and promoting the convergence of Asian business laws. 

Among ABLI’s core tasks are: 

• to evaluate and stimulate the development of Asian law, legal policy, and practice, and in particular make proposals for the further convergence of business law among Asian Countries and regions; 
• to study Asian approaches regarding business laws and practice in drafting legal instruments, restatements of law or model rules; 
• to conduct and facilitate pan-Asian research, in particular to draft, evaluate or improve principles and rules which are common to the Asian legal systems; and 
• to provide a forum, for discussion and cooperation, between the business community and the legal fraternity including, inter alia judges, lawyers, academics and other legal professionals, who take an active interest in Asian business law development. 
• To accomplish its tasks, ABLI operates on its own initiative. It is also, however, available for consultation by institutions involved in the development of law on an Asian, international or national level. 

About this role

We are looking to appoint a proven leader in laws within the digital economy at the Singapore Academy of  Law’s subsidiary, the Asian Business Law Institute (ABLI), to lead and develop projects supporting the convergence of laws and regulations in the digital space in Asia Pacific.

This role will build and reinforce ABLI’s projects on personal data protection and privacy laws in Asia. The successful candidate will build similar initiatives in complementary areas of law, with the aim of strengthening and facilitate cross-border dealings for the digital economy.

Working directly with ABLI’s Executive Director, SAL’s leadership team and senior legal industry representatives, the role will drive ABLI’s development of national and regional legal research for the development of consistent regulations and approaches in an area of strategic importance for Asia Pacific.

Responsibilities

Key Accountabilities

• Ensure project outputs meet the requirements of the audience(s) for projects:
  • Obtain adequate data from project audience(s) on their requirements;
  • Develop output strategies to meet the needs of the audience(s);
  • Develop metrics to measure the success of project outputs against audience(s) requirements;
  • Ensure project outputs meet those performance metrics.
• Ensure project stakeholders are engaged with projects:
  • Identify and prioritise stakeholder groups for project outputs;
  • Develop strategies to ensure engagement of stakeholder groups;
  • Develop metrics to measure stakeholder engagement;
  • Ensure stakeholder engagement meets those metrics.
• Secure financial contributions from stakeholders to support project delivery:
  • Identify and prioritise stakeholders for funding;
  • Develop strategies to secure funding for stakeholders.
• Ensure projects meet milestones for delivery of outputs:
  • Develop milestones for project delivery;
  • Ensure project outputs meet relevant milestones.

(A)    Research & Analysis:

• Formulate and execute strategies to establish ABLI as an essential partner to support the development of coherent regional legal positions in the digital economy, such as in the fields of e-commerce, e-consumer protection, fintech and digital payments, regulation of intermediaries, Over-The-Top platforms, cybersecurity, law enforcement in cyberspace, etc.
• Propose and ensure the development of research and analysis activities that will contribute to: 
  • Innovative national and regional initiatives aimed at establishing a seamless digital business environment among the APAC countries, and between them and other parts of the world (e.g. Digital Economy Agreements, Regional Partnerships, etc.);
  • National digital policies and strategies of Asian jurisdictions that rely on digital to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, for instance in the context of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework;
  • The roll-out in Asia Pacific of common strategies and blueprints on e-commerce and the digital economy developed by supra-national organisations; and
  • Any other areas in the digital economy which would benefit from review by ABLI to establish a cross-border regional digital economy. 

It is expected that the output of such research and analysis will be in the form of papers, articles or any other modes of dissemination.

(B)    Representation & Advocacy:

• Formulating and executing strategies to drive convergence of Asian laws with an impact in the digital economy, and promote the Singapore legal thought to fulfil the following objectives:
  • Establish ABLI as the go-to regional think-tank for deep research and practical guidance to facilitate cross-border digital dealings and a safe digital environment to do business in Asia. 
  • Take steps to represent ABLI in local and international consultations and forums with a competence in digital to raise awareness, inform and promote the work done by ABLI.
  • Cultivate business networks, research and funding partnerships with key government, business, legal, and academic thought leaders relevant to the work of the project.
  • Support plans made by ABLI and SAL management (e.g. fundraising, monetisation of Intellectual Property) to financially support ABLI’s mission.

Skills and Qualifications

• Demonstrated skills in legal evaluation, analysis and insight into the legal issues within the digital economy. Policy development experience a plus.
• A track record of supporting and influencing internal and external stakeholders, and local and international partners, across varying levels of seniority.
• Substantial experience participating in speaking engagements and interacting with media.
• Experience in strategic planning and management of professional /expert teams or organisations.
• Team player with commitment to supporting and developing colleagues to succeed with creativity, energy and rigour. Experience in leading teams a plus.
• At least 10 years’ working experience in the legal industry with an advanced degree in the law (preferably in one or more of the following areas: commercial law, international trade, technology law). Experience in leading research projects a plus.
• Experience working in research institutions, think-tanks or policy units will be an advantage.

Interested candidates are invited to apply here.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.