Legal Awards 2018

14 APAC / 2018 Legal Awards , Kerry Logistics is Asia’s leading logistics service provider, offering end-to-end supply chain solutions for multinational corporations and international brands. From sourcing and manufacturing, to selling across the globe, clients know they can trust Kerry Logistics with all their requirements. With head offices in Hong Kong, the firm employ a far-reaching global network that stretches across six continents and includes the largest distribution network and hub operations in the Greater China and ASEAN region. Constantly growing and expanding, the firm needs a strong internal legal team, and as such Belinda talks us through how she and her staff work tirelessly to support the group and provide it with the assistance it needs. “As the head of a lean in-house legal team with two Hong Kong qualified lawyers and two PRC- qualified lawyers, I take care of the legal aspects of the group’s entire businesses around the world. Our team is involved in every area of legal work, from commercial contracts with customers and suppliers, real properties and LG180015 Best Logistics & Supply Chain Solutions Company 2018 Kerry Logistics is an Asia-based, global third-party logistics services provider with a strong network in Asia. As part of our round-up of a selection of our APAC Legal Awards winners for 2018, we spoke to Belinda Ng, Senior Legal Counsel, to learn more about her role in the success of this innovative and dynamic group. tenancy, compliance, litigation to merger and acquisitions projects and so forth. “Personally, I practice general commercial law with a focus on merger and acquisition projects around the world. This is particularly vital for Kerry Logistics because, alongside organic growth, our group has been expanding our logistics network geographically also through M&A transactions, and as such my expertise is vital to its ongoing success.” Operating as an in-house legal team, Belinda and her team are able to understand the staff they support better than an outsourced team, as she highlights. “Supporting staff throughout Kerry Logistics, as myself and my team are closer to them and have worked with them for some time when comparing with external lawyers, we can better understand their concerns and needs. On many occasions, business teams may not even know what are the issues or what questions to ask, and therefore as in-house counsel we organize their thoughts, identify the issues with a correct focus and find practicable solutions for them.” Prior to her role at Kerry Logistics, Belinda has worked in private legal practice, and both this work and her experience in her current role has taught her a great deal about the legal industry, which she is eager to share with us. “Having worked in the legal sector for over twenty years, Company: Kerry Logistics Network Limited Contact: Belinda Ng Address: 16/F, Kerry Cargo Centre, 55 Wing Kei Road, Kwai Chung, New Territories, Hong Kong Phone: 00852 2410 3600 Web Address: www.kerrylogistics.com both in private practice and working in-house, I have had the opportunity to come across people and issues of all sorts. For example, forming a joint venture in China and forming a joint venture in India are quite different in terms of legal requirements, processes and cultural integration. Every project is a new experience and I feel like learning new things every day I go to work. “Within the Legal Market currently, the Big Four audit firms are expanding their legal services around the world. To the traditional international law firms, this has posed a challenge, because combining legal services with other services like auditing, tax and/or financial services as a package to the clients, Big Four firms can offer rates that are competitive in most cases. Plus, they have an extensive network across the globe. These two factors made the Big Four attractive options as legal services providers to MNC clients, which is causing problems for traditional legal firms, making the industry far more competitive over the coming years.” With regards to her own future, Belinda remains committed to supporting Kerry Logistics and driving them to even greater success through M&A activity. Longer term, she is also keen to support the next generation of lawyers by sharing her insight and teaching. These developments will offer both Belinda and Kerry Logistics many exciting opportunities which they look forward to taking advantage of.