Financial Times crowns King & Wood Mallesons Most Innovative Law Firm in the Asia-Pacific

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Asia's top tier international law firm King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) took out the top award in this year's Financial Times (FT) Asia-Pacific Innovative Lawyers program.

The firm was named Most Innovative Asia-Pacific Headquartered Law Firm in recognition of its digital first approach to client service and people development.  

In addition to the overall award, KWM was also successful in the following categories:

a. Most Innovative Law Firm – Practice of Law – Digital Advisors; and

b. Most Innovative Law Firm – People and Skills.

Strengthening KWM's reputation as a leader in the digital economy, its International Legal Service Center for Digital Economy (the 'Centre') in China won the award for Most Innovative Law Firm – Practice of Law – Digital Advisors. The first of its kind in China, the Centre was established in 2020 to support businesses seeking to capitalise on digital expansion opportunities. An interdisciplinary legal and consulting service offering led by Partner Susan Ning, the Centre brings together digital intellectual property lawyers and lawyers with extensive experience working on large-scale projects that combine new infrastructure with digital market players.

The firm's Transformation Programme in Australia and Singapore was recognised as Most Innovative Law Firm – People and Skills. The Programme is designed to equip lawyers with the skills and knowledge they need to deliver exceptional client experiences in a continually evolving market, and has already resulted in a 368% uplift in adoption of LegalTech. Led by led by KWM Executive Director of Innovation, Michelle Mahoney, the Programme is delivering multiple industry and firm-firsts, such as The Multiplier initiative which 'boosts' productive hours when a lawyer leverages LegalTech on a client matter.

KWM was also a finalist in two other categories. Partner Scott Farrell and the firm's Australian Financial Markets practice was shortlisted in the Moving the Market Forward award, for pioneering a new type of legal architecture for the financial services sector. The firm was also a finalist in the Diversity and Inclusion Award, recognising the success of Waiwa Mudena. Piloted in 2019, Waiwa Mudena is a work placement and professional skills development program that aims to increase the participation of Indigenous Australians in the legal sector and support more effective legal advocacy for First Nations people.

These awards reflect KWM's deliberate focus on optimising the way legal services are delivered through technology, client-centric design and innovative thinking.

KWM's unique global platform allows the firm to share knowledge of emerging trends across multiple jurisdictions and to develop innovative solutions to generate greater value for clients by helping them pursue opportunities in the world's growth markets.

The FT Asia-Pacific Innovative Lawyers Awards are a celebration of the best in innovation from law firms and in-house legal teams in the Asia-Pacific region, and are accompanied by a special report published in the Financial Times.

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