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After 10 years of wrangling, the Indian government has privatized its insurance industry. Aparna Viswanathan of Viswanathan & Co asks whether the legislative reforms have created an adequate regulatory framework

President of the International Bar Association (IBA), Klaus Böhlhoff, has requested further information from General Musharaf and the Pakistani authorities, on the removal of Justice Siddiqui as the country's Chief Justice. Böhlhoff would also like an explanation on the suspension of several Supreme Court judges, as well as why the judges of Pakistan must now take an oath of allegiance to the President.

Independent Belgian firm Loeff Claeys Verbeke has lost its head of tax to the UK's Freshfields.

The rapid development of e-commerce can cause regulatory headaches. Lam Wing Wo of Deacons Graham & James, Hong Kong, explains the latest measures taken by the local government to keep apace

IFLR's annual Asian legal awards attracted the legal industry's best and brightest. To view this article with streaming audio and video Click Here

As of December 28 1999 Colombia has a new tool to confront the economic crisis which has threatened the viability of some enterprises. By means of Law 550 of 1999, new regulations intended to help entrepreneurs and their creditors find a solution involving the redemption of the companies, were approved. Among others, Law 550 provides for the elimination of various legal obstacles which prevented profitable companies in difficult financial situation from achieving a recovery. Additionally, the law allows entrepreneurs and their creditors to reach an agreement in order to restructure the companies' financial obligations. The following is a brief description of the most important aspects of this law.

IFLR’s unique data once again reveals the leading legal advisers on international bond issues. Linklaters tops the stand alone issues while Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy lead the market in securitization and MTNs. Rob Mannix reports

UK law firm Simmons & Simmons has acted on behalf of investment bank ICEA Capital, in relation to the first privately owned Chinese company to list on the Growth Enterprise Market of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (GEM).

Swiss companies Clariant AG and Bobst SA have sought the advice of Chicago-based firm Baker & McKenzie, with their respective takeover offers, both of which were posted on January 31 2000.

At the end of 1999, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court had to decide whether parallel imports were legal under the Swiss Patent Act. Kodak SA, a Swiss company, is the exclusive distributor for Kodak products in Switzerland. It fought parallel imports of certain Kodak products arguing that these products where protected by patents. The Commercial Court of Zurich rejected Kodak SA's claim (see our report in IFLR, August 1999). But the Federal Supreme Court held that since the Swiss Patent Act did not expressly allow parallel imports the exclusive rights of patent owners had to be favoured over free trade. This decision received wide press coverage and was much criticised. It is interpreted as protecting the interests of the Swiss pharmaceutical industry which has managed - due to its patents - to maintain a price level for their products in Switzerland higher than in most countries of the EU. In the meantime, members of Swiss Parliament have announced that they will push for an amendment to the Swiss Patent Act allowing for parallel imports of patented goods.