How Mayer Brown PK Wong & Nair Pte Ltd is continuously tapping into the digital frontier

PK Wong & Nair LLC ("PK Wong & Nair") is a premier, full-service law corporation with roots dating back over 30 years. Since its inception, the firm has maintained an abiding commitment to providing real, practical solutions to a diverse range of clients dealing with matters at all levels of legal complexity.

"Our firm has been going strength to strength, achieving significant milestones in 2023," says Bryan Tan, a Director at the firm.

"Recently, we represented the bank in its successful appeal in Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, Singapore Branch v PPT Energy Trading Co Ltd and another appeal [2023] SGCA(I) 7. This landmark case underscores our expertise in handling complex legal matters and our commitment to delivering good outcomes for our clients."

It reflects the three core values practised at PK Wong & Nair: a commitment to incorporating best practices, a belief in long-term partnerships with others, and patience in understanding its client's objectives and priorities when navigating legal challenges.

Take the digital space, for example. As clients increasingly embrace digitalisation in their business operations, the firm has also developed in-depth expertise in digital and data protection to better aid its clients in their forays into cyberspace.

"We also take great pride in our inclusive and collaborative work culture," he says. "Our trainees and associates are encouraged to engage in direct discussions with partners on a daily basis, fostering an environment where case strategies are developed collaboratively. This approach not only allows the trainees and associates to learn but also ensures that our clients receive well-rounded and thought-out advice."

Bryan together with the team celebrating a night of legal excellence and camaraderie at The Law Society of Singapore's Annual Dinner. Image by PK Wong & Nair/LinkedIn

A people-centric culture

A big part of PK Wong & Nair's boils down to its people — some of whom have stayed with the firm for years.

"This long-term commitment has fostered a deep understanding of how to work together effectively, harnessing our collective strengths and expertise," Bryan shares.

"Our team's ability to collaborate, anticipate each other's needs, and communicate efficiently has been instrumental in delivering good service to our clients. Moreover, the experience and knowledge accumulated over the years enable us to navigate complex legal challenges confidently."

This is paired with the availability of legal resources and the adoption of technology — both of which are pivotal factors that enhance the effectiveness of a law firm.

Access to comprehensive legal resources, including up-to-date legal databases, extensive libraries, and specialised research tools, enables the team to provide well-informed legal advice.

On 1st January 2023, Mayer Brown officially launched its joint law venture (JLV) with PK Wong & Nair to become the first JLV established in Singapore since November 2016. It is a move that also allowed PK Wong & Nair to venture deeper into the digital frontier.

"With Mayer Brown's support, we have been able to really explore and look into artificial intelligence (AI) as a viable legal technology — one that not only is viable but also protects client confidentiality," Bryan says.

"Its comprehensive and up-to-date legal content, intuitive user interface, and advanced search capabilities are several aspects that stood out to us," says Bryan. Image source: Canva

‘A vast database’ with comprehensive research and analysis capabilities

LexisNexis has significantly contributed to the firm by enhancing its research capability, improve its decision-making processes, and optimise their workflow, according to Bryan.

"Its comprehensive and up-to-date legal content, intuitive user interface, and advanced search capabilities are several aspects that stood out to us," he says.

"The vast repository of case law and legal commentary, including Commonwealth, US, and Canada authorities are essential for good legal research — especially on novel issues under Singapore law."

With Lexis+ Singapore, lawyers at the firm gain access to various research tools, including cases, precedents, and secondary sources on a single platform. The Practical Guidance feature incorporates insights from experienced legal professionals, providing step-by-step instructions and insights for understanding fundamental issues, which may arise when considering case strategies.

"In fact, there was one matter I did where it was a difficult point of law, and the scope of a piece of legislation was unclear," he recalls.

"Thankfully, there was some Australian case law that answered the issue directly. While it took me hours of research using other [legal research] platforms, it was only when I used Lexis+ that [the case] came up within the first 10 to 15 minutes of searching."

Bryan adds that reducing the time spent on legal research also enhances the accuracy and depth of their legal work, ultimately leading to more time to consider the best approach for their clients.

In late September 2024, the Supreme Court of Singapore issued Registrar's Circular No.9 of 2024 titled, "Guide on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools by Court Users". Image by The Strait Times.

The process of continuous improvement

In late September 2024, the Supreme Court of Singapore issued Registrar's Circular No.9 of 2024 titled, "Guide on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools by Court Users".

This move should not come as a surprise, given the rapid pace of technological development over the years within the legal profession or the fact that Singapore is aspiring to become a leading global legal tech hub.

For Bryan, he has also started to spend time understanding the trajectory of this new development.

"Personally, I have been toying with various AI products. I have also been reading up on it and understanding how the prompts work, how certain AI models work, and how useful or chaotic generative AI can be," he says.

"I do think that in the future, lawyers will have to understand how to use AI as a tool rather than a complete substitute for thinking."

On that note, the Director at PK Wong & Nair and Partner at Mayer Brown eagerly anticipates the growth of new solutions and services in the market. Take AI products, for example.

"While a lot of people have been turning to AI to conduct legal research, we can still see inaccuracies and hallucinations with those results. Sometimes, we see cases that don't even exist. If a legal tech solution provider can solve that, they would win the day."

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