Women Business Lawyers Success Stories in Cross-Cultural Legal Practice - Building bridges for the profession and businesses

Diep is the founding Partner of Dilinh Legal, a business law firm based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Before Dilinh Legal, Diep worked as a banking and finance associate at the Ho Chi Minh City office of a top international law firm. In addition to her banking and finance expertise, Diep has extensive experience in competition, corporate and M&A. Diep is individually ranked in the field of Corporate and M&A by Chambers, listed as the A-List of Top 100 Vietnam Lawyers by Asia Law Business Law Journal. Diep serves as Jurisdictional Council Member of Vietnam in IPBA.

Beginning her legal career in 1985, Angeline has developed extensive expertise in advising clients on a myriad of cross-border transactions. Her breadth of knowledge is particularly notable in the areas of investments and business operations in Indonesia, legal due diligence exercises, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and shareholders' dispute resolution. Although Angeline is based in Singapore, she works collaboratively with the firm's associated office in Jakarta, frequently travelling to both Jakarta and Hong Kong as required for client matters. As an Indonesian citizen born in Hong Kong, Angeline displays impressive linguistic prowess, being fluent in English, Bahasa Indonesia, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Her rich multicultural background and language skills enable her to navigate diverse business environments and legal landscapes seamlessly.

Sandra is an experienced Partner at Dentons, a global law firm, well-versed in employment law across different jurisdictions. Coordinating worldwide legal matters for US clients and serving as a point of contact between Dentons' international offices and their US legal needs forms her primary responsibilities. She has adeptly embraced the role of a 'madoguchi,' a Japanese term signifying a 'window person' or 'point person,' catering to a myriad of global clients. Sandra's extensive practice has seen her regularly take cultural differences into account, adjusting her strategies to better cater to her diverse clientele. She cites the example of Japanese clients’ detail-oriented approach compared to their American counterparts as a testament to these cultural distinctions. Having represented a large US entity handling significant employment-related challenges in Hong Kong and the UK, Sandra navigated the intricacies and constraints of different legal landscapes. It was a valuable experience that highlighted both the discrepancies and parallels across the board. As a proactive and longstanding contributor to the WBL Committee, Sandra looks forward to extending her expertise for the benefit of the panel.

Sherlin is a specialist in cross-border disputes, international commercial arbitration, and multi-jurisdiction litigations. With over a decade of experience, Sherlin has advised clients in Asia, the Americas, and Europe on all phases and aspects of cross-border disputes (both litigation and arbitration). Sherlin also advises clients on the enforcement of international arbitral awards and/or court judgments. Sherlin has a rare set of skills given her unique background. Her career has given her the ability to be involved in all roles of a dispute. Given this experience, she is able to understand the overlaying objectives of not only of her clients but also the strategies implemented by counterparties, how arbitral tribunal members/judges think, and how arbitral institutions/courts operate.

Chris is a senior and managing partner of Beijing Jincheng Tongda &Neal Law Firm, a member of the 11th and 12th All-China Youth Federation, a member of the Standing Committee of the Anhui Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and is currently a consulting expert for civil and administrative cases of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, an arbitrator of ten arbitration institutions including the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center, and the deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Shanghai Bar Association. Chris has extensive experience in the three fields of commercial dispute resolution, investment and M&A, and capital markets, as well as solid theoretical and practical experience in the hotly discussed fields of digital assets and Web 3.0 investment and compliance.

Claudia specialises in advising foreign investors, particularly Chinese state and privately-owned companies, bringing her comprehensive expertise to create bespoke legal frameworks that facilitate their business operations in Peru. As a professional, she is known for her exceptional interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, proving to be an effective team player and problem solver. Fluent in English and possessing advanced-intermediate proficiency in Mandarin Chinese, Claudia was conferred the title of Young Sinologist by the Ministry of Culture and the Academy of Social Sciences of the People's Republic of China. Her talents were also recognized through the Young Excellence Scholarship granted by the PRC. Claudia's international experience includes working at Deheng Law Offices in Beijing, seamlessly conducting legal operations within the PRC's dynamic business environment. Her diverse experiences complement her solid legal expertise, positioning her as a competent professional for clients seeking navigation through complex multinational legal issues.