Across the Pacific: Fireside Chats With PRAC Members

As one of PRAC’s founding member firms, what inspired your firm to help establish this network in 1984, and how has PRAC evolved to fulfill its mission of fostering global legal collaboration?

My former senior partner and mentor, Mr. P. Selvadurai, played a key role in founding PRAC alongside other senior partners from the original member firms. The vision was to create a multi-jurisdictional collaboration that could better serve clients operating across the Pacific Rim. By partnering with reputable firms in the region, we offered seamless cross-border legal advice on favorable terms.

PRAC was a pioneering network, starting with 13 firms at its first conference in Singapore (1987) and expanding to 22 by the Hong Kong conference in 1994, eventually reaching around 32 members prior to the pandemic. The success of PRAC stemmed not only from frequent cross-referrals and joint matters, but also from the strong personal relationships among partners. These ties fostered trust, deeper understanding of regional laws and practices, and made referrals as simple as a phone call or fax—well before the internet era.

Regular conferences in member countries enriched our appreciation of diverse cultures and traditions, strengthening both professional and personal bonds. PRAC became more than a network; it was a dynamic alliance of leading law firms with deep expertise across jurisdictions and practice areas.

PRAC is known for its ability to connect top-tier law firms across the globe. From your perspective, what makes PRAC unique, and how has it enhanced your firm’s ability to deliver exceptional client service on an international level?

By inviting leaders in their respective markets—after thorough and careful due diligence—PRAC was able to bring in top-tier members committed to a shared vision. More crucially, these firms genuinely wanted to be part of PRAC and were dedicated to serving broader client needs. No single firm dominated or claimed superiority; PRAC’s strength lay in its collective reputation, expertise, and reliability, not in size. This meant that firms ranging from 15 to 300 lawyers could contribute meaningfully and consistently.

What truly set PRAC apart was the close personal relationships among the partners. These bonds fostered trust and mutual respect, making it easier to identify and appoint the most suitable lawyers for referral tasks and transaction management. The familiarity and confidence between firms ensured that cross-border matters were handled seamlessly, with the right expertise and cultural understanding. With this collaborative foundation, PRAC offered clients specialized cross-border services backed by a broader footprint and deeper capabilities across multiple practice areas.

Collaboration is at the heart of PRAC. Could you share a success story where PRAC’s global network played a pivotal role in achieving a positive outcome for your firm or a client?

There have been several success stories – small, medium, and large deals. I recall a shipping arbitration dispute matter involving India and Singapore, which involved a huge claim for damages. We worked with Mulla and Mulla to serve its Indian client, and the arbitration was held in Singapore. The outcome was positive, and the client was very happy with the PRAC connection.

Another success story was an M&A corporate deal that involved Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan. Australia led the deal, but the client was thankful for the speed at which the member firms worked, coordinated the due diligence, and provided specific industry practice (covering corporate, IP, real estate, environmental, and tax) and jurisdictional advice, leading to a shorter due diligence time frame, better negotiations, and a successful conclusion.