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SCCA Concludes APAC Legal Congress 2026 with Regional MOU Signings and Record Participation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

The End of the Legal Comfort Zone: Survival, Relevance, and Reinvention in an Algorithmic Asia-Pacific
 

Singapore, 17 April 2026 — With over 2,500 registrants spanning 30 countries and 115 industries, the Singapore Corporate Counsel Association (SCCA) successfully concluded the fourth Asia-Pacific (APAC) Legal Congress, held on 8–9 April 2026.
 

As one of the region’s most anticipated gatherings for in-house counsel, the APAC Legal Congress serves as a leading platform for thought leadership, knowledge exchange, and high-impact networking, reflected in this year’s record number of registrations. Each edition offers a distinct experience, and the 2026 Congress featured a dedicated Marquee and an exclusive afterparty, creating unparalleled opportunities for meaningful engagement and connection among participants.
 

This year’s Congress was especially notable as it formed part of Singapore’s SGLaw200 commemorations, celebrating 200 years of the nation’s modern legal and judicial system. As one of the first flagship programmes in this year-long national celebration, the APAC Legal Congress featured a special walkthrough exhibition tracing the evolution of Singapore’s legal landscape; from the Second Charter of Justice in 1826 to today’s robust and globally respected legal framework.
 

SCCA was honoured to welcome a distinguished line-up of guests, including:

  • Guest-of-Honour: Mr Edwin Tong SC, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs

  • Distinguished Guest: Hon. Sundaresh Menon, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Singapore

  • Distinguished Guest: Hon. Philip Jeyaretnam, President, Singapore International Commercial Court

  • Distinguished Guest and SCCA Patron: Mr Lucien Wong SC, Attorney-General, Attorney-General’s Chambers
     

Held under the overarching theme “The End of the Legal Comfort Zone: Survival, Relevance, and Reinvention in an Algorithmic Asia-Pacific”, the Congress featured over 180 speakers across more than 50 plenary sessions. Building on this theme, discussions focused on the evolving role of in-house counsel as they navigate a complex and rapidly changing landscape shaped by geopolitical tensions, AI-driven disruptions, the rise of fractional roles, heightened ESG considerations, and increasing expectations for them to serve as strategic business partners.
 

Beyond the main discussions, the Congress offered parallel breakout sessions led by its sponsors and strategic partners, including the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), and the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC).
 

Across this two-day conference, the programme brought together an exceptional roster of global and regional thought leaders, including Ajay Dua, General Counsel, IBM Asia Pacific; Johanna Leung, Head of Legal, ASEAN at Microsoft; John Ho, Head of Legal, Financial Markets at Standard Chartered; Louis Ng, Senior State Counsel at the Attorney-General’s Chambers; Natasha Sulaiman, Vice President, Legal & Compliance at Singapore Airlines; and Yoon Sun Cho, Former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea and Senior Advisor/Attorney at Kim & Chang.
 

Among the highlights of the Congress was the panel discussion, “Shaping the Future of Law: The Role of In-House Counsel in an Increasingly Fragmented World”, which brought together leaders from in-house counsel associations across India, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines. As the heads of delegations shared their regional perspectives, the discussion highlighted the growing complexity of cross-border in-house legal practice and the need for stronger regional collaboration.
 

A key milestone of this year’s Congress was the formalisation of SCCA’s regional partnerships through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the In-House Counsel Forum (IHCF) and the Legal Management Council of the Philippines (LMCP). These partnerships reflect SCCA’s strategic commitment to deepening regional engagement and strengthening the in-house legal ecosystem across Asia-Pacific through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and professional development.
 

Reflecting its strong regional focus, the Congress also welcomed participation from other leading in-house counsel associations including the Federation of Indian Corporate Lawyers (India), Indonesian Corporate Counsel Association (Indonesia), Japan In-House Lawyers Association (Japan), Malaysian Corporate Counsel Association (Malaysia), In-house Lawyers Association of New Zealand (New Zealand) and Thai Corporate Counsel Association (Thailand). Their presence further reinforced the Congress as a vital platform for cross-border exchange, partnership, and community-building.
 

Reflecting on the APAC Legal Congress, Daniel Choo, President of the Singapore Corporate Counsel Association, shared:
 

“The APAC Legal Congress is not just a gathering, but a catalyst for regional collaboration. This year’s MOUs with IHCF and LMCP mark an important milestone in strengthening our network across Asia-Pacific, and we are encouraged by the strong support from our regional counterparts. As in-house counsel navigate increasingly complex legal and business environments, these partnerships will be critical in enabling knowledge-sharing, fostering innovation, and shaping a more connected future for the profession.”


Building on the success of this year’s Congress, SCCA remains committed to advancing the in-house legal profession and strengthening connections across the Asia-Pacific region. As the national voice for in-house counsel in Singapore, SCCA will be unveiling a series of initiatives and partnerships in due course to further its commitment and vision of building better counsel, better corporations, and better communities.
 

For more information about the APAC Legal Congress, including the full list of speakers and session topics, please visit the event website at: legalcongress.com

About SCCA

The Singapore Corporate Counsel Association Limited (SCCA) is the pioneering national association representing the interests of in-house lawyers based in Singapore.
 

At SCCA, we are committed to supporting and advancing the needs of in-house counsel both locally and globally through our close-knit international alliances. With a growing membership and expanding network, SCCA takes pride in delivering reputable regional training programmes, networking opportunities, and flagship events dedicated to elevating the knowledge and strengthening the connections of in-house counsel.
 

At its core, SCCA is dedicated to enabling better counsel, better corporations, and a better community in Singapore.

For media enquiries, please contact: 
Sheryl Ng 
Head of Corporate Affairs, 
Singapore Corporate Counsel Association 
marketing@scca.org.sg