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Lawyers at firms throughout Asia are advising on a 17,000km submarine cable that will connect bandwidth technology between China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines. On completion the cable will be able to carry 90 million voice conversations simultaneously.

Securitization is an important tool in helping financial systems and capital markets to evolve and expand, but so far the world’s richest nations have had a competitive advantage over their less developed neighbours. Lakshman Alles of Australia’s Curtin University discusses the challenges of bringing securitization to the developing world

"This alliance is defined more by what it is not" - Allard Metzelaar, Stibbe Dutch firm Stibbe insisted it would maintain its independence and position in the market after announcing in December that it is to join the Anglo-German alliance between Herbert Smith and Gleiss Lutz Hootz Hirsch.

Canadian firms may be coping well with in the present economic climate but many in the legal market are still struggling to decide on a strategy. Tom Nicholson reports

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) specialists are hoping that Emerson Electric's acquisition of one of China's most profitable private companies may signal a change of attitude from the government.

Coudert Brothers LLP

Danaharta, Malaysia's state-owned asset management company, has finally completed its first asset-backed securitization (ABS). Allen & Overy won the mandate against inevitable competition from Clifford Chance and Freshfields, the two firms that have traditionally dominated the Asian securitization market.

The Competition Bill 2001, which seeks to repeal the Monopolistic and Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1969, was introduced during the monsoon session of parliament and may be passed during its winter session, starting November 21 2001. The Bill applies to all enterprises, including companies, firms, sole proprietorships, societies, trusts and any body corporate/associations of persons, whether incorporated or not in India, which carries on a business or commercial activity. The Bill seeks to prohibit or regulate: (i) anti-competitive agreements; (ii) abuse of dominant position; and (iii) combinations.

In July the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) issued a consultation paper intended to promote the protection of investors using exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This followed the pioneering launch in May of two Hong Kong ETFs relating to the Taiwan and Korea markets, and the anticipated future listing of other ETFs. The consultation paper's key recommendations include:

Australia has ventured furtively into the world of compulsory financial philanthropy. A new provision, s1013D of Australia's Corporations Act 2001, requires fund managers, superannuation funds and life insurance companies to disclose "the extent, if any, to which labour standards, environmental, social or ethical considerations are taken into account in the selection, retention, or realization of the investment".