KPMG significantly expands legal services footprint in Asia Pacific with addition of lawyers from ZICO Law firms

EN | TH

7 December 2022: Global organization, KPMG International, has announced that a number of law firms and teams from the ZICO Law network have joined its network of firms.

The deal will see more than 275 lawyers join over 2,900 legal professionals in the KPMG global organization, creating a significant legal footprint across Asia Pacific. It will offer legal services and solutions, a globally connected legal services platform, and specialists who work with leading technology providers to modernize legal functions across organizations.

Stuart Fuller, Global Head of Legal Services, KPMG International commented: “This expansion reflects KPMG professionals’ commitment to support clients as they seek to drive their businesses in times of exponential change. The need for deep, local experience coupled with global insights and technology solutions has never been greater. For the KPMG global organization, the overall agreement with the firms in the ZICO Law network increases the total number of legal professionals to close to 3,200 across 84 jurisdictions, all working to help support clients as they navigate the increasing strategic and economic importance of the Asia Pacific region.”

Adding her comments, Hanim Hamzah, Regional Managing Partner of the ZICO Law network said, “We are delighted to have our lawyers join the KPMG firms across the Asia Pacific region, which will expand our legal offerings and build our market leadership to create more value for clients. This move, which takes place on our 35^th anniversary, demonstrates we are listening and responding astutely to our people’s desire for a more robust professional journey in their careers.”

Charoen Phosamritlert, Chief Executive Officer, KPMG in Thailand, Myanmar and Laos says “This agreement will greatly strengthen KPMG’s service capabilities. The team of Zico lawyers will join more than 50 legal professionals currently at KPMG Law in Thailand. This, combined with our strong background in various business sectors and industries, will allow us to better provide our clients with a holistic legal service backed by a global legal network of professionals.”

The agreement will be implemented in such a way that is consistent with meeting local legal and regulatory requirements.

The announcement builds on KPMG firms’ ongoing commitment to offer global coverage and capability to organizations as they seek to deal with changing business models, geopolitical factors, government and regulatory oversight, and increasing digitization.

Consistent with local regulatory requirements, teams from the ZICO Law network firms in Thailand and Vietnam join the KPMG firms in those jurisdictions; and the former ZICO Law network firms in Indonesia and Malaysia become members of the KPMG network of firms. Subject to satisfaction of all terms, teams from the ZICO Law network firms in Laos will also join the KPMG firm in Laos, and the former ZICO Law network firm in the Philippines will become a member of the KPMG network. The remaining ZICO Law network firms in other jurisdictions in ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) will continue to collaborate with KPMG member firms.

KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited (“KPMG International”) operate and provide professional services. “KPMG” is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organization or to one or more member firms collectively.

KPMG firms operate in 144 countries and territories with more than 236,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. The legal firms of the KPMG network currently operate in 77 jurisdictions with over 2,900 lawyers, increasing to 84 jurisdictions with close to 3,200 lawyers, with the agreement with the ZICO Law network.

Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International Limited, any of its related entities or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International Limited or any of its related entities have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm.

KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients. Professional services to clients are exclusively provided by member firms.

ZICO Law is the first network of leading independent local law firms with a full presence in all 10 ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries. With a presence in 18 cities in 10 out of 10 ASEAN countries, ZICO Law’s 300 lawyers enable clients to enjoy value-added legal services by leveraging a combination of local expertise and regional insights.

Sebastian Lee (primary Asia Pacific contact)
Redhill Communications
+65 9649 2624 / sebastian.lee@redhill.asia

Christopher See
Corporate Affairs & Marketing, KPMG Asia Pacific
+65 8444 0428 / christophersee@kpmg.com.sg\

Daniel Caines (primary global contact)
External Communications, KPMG International
+447762400262 / daniel.caines@kpmg.co.uk 

Ploi Phayakvichien
Markets, KPMG in Thailand
+66 814871281 / ploi@kpmg.co.th