KorumLegal Consultant: Kit Lui reflects on working for ALSPs.

Kit Lui is an experienced legal counsel with over 12 years of experience advising on legal matters related to the corporate service industry, intellectual property, data privacy and information security issues. He has served as a Data Privacy Officer for a global corporate service provider and has extensive knowledge of major privacy and data protection laws and regulations including GDPR, PIPL, and data privacy laws in Hong Kong and elsewhere in APAC. Kit is skilled in coordinating cross-border and cross-functional teams to structure service agreements. Prior to his in-house roles in Hong Kong, Kit was a private practice corporate, commercial and securities lawyer in Canada for over 10 years.

1. Hi Kit! Can you tell us a little about the work you are currently doing and have been doing?  

I recently concluded my role as Senior Legal Counsel at TMF Group in Hong Kong, where I was responsible for commercial contract drafting and negotiation of Master Services Agreements, Statements of Work and Schedules for TMF's Global Client Contracting Team in APAC. I managed a small team of lawyers supporting TMF's corporate services across HR payroll, accounting, tax, entity management and fund administration.

Prior to that, I spent nearly 10 years as Legal Counsel at Vistra Group advising on a wide range of in-house legal matters for their global corporate services, fund administration, fiduciary trustee and international expansion services. I have extensive experience in company secretarial work, trust and estate planning, and business integration.

2. What made you take the leap into working in NewLaw for ALSP's? And why is it a good fit for you?

The opportunity to leverage my in-house experience across a variety of clients and industries was very appealing. I enjoy the intellectual challenge of diving into new businesses and sectors. Working with ALSPs allows me to expand my knowledge and impact.

I believe my background across corporate law, data privacy, IP and securities uniquely positions me to support the complex, cross-border needs of ALSP clients. My comfort with legal technology and process improvement is also an asset in the NewLaw environment. The flexibility and diversity of projects makes ALSP work an exciting fit at this stage of my career.

3. What's the most rewarding assignment you've ever had and why? 

Leading a comprehensive GDPR Gap Analysis project stands out as a highlight. It was immensely gratifying to help the organisation navigate a complex new regulatory regime and strengthen their data protection posture on a global scale.

The project touched every part of the business and required collaborating with stakeholders in IT, HR, product and beyond. I enjoyed the challenge of balancing legal risk management with operational realities. Seeing the policies, contract updates and process changes implemented and making a tangible difference was extremely rewarding.

4. As an experienced NewLaw/ ALSP consultant, where do you see NewLaw/ ALSP fitting into the matrix of the legal sector and how have you seen it evolve?

ALSPs have moved from the fringes to the mainstream over the past decade. In-house legal teams increasingly see the value of having flexible, specialised resources to supplement their core capabilities. The pandemic has only accelerated the openness to remote, agile resourcing models.

I believe ALSPs will continue to expand their share of the legal services market, particularly for high-volume, repeatable work streams and niche areas of expertise. The ability to leverage technology and alternative staffing models positions ALSPs to deliver efficient, cost-effective solutions.

I expect to see ALSPs become an integral part of the legal ecosystem, partnering closely with law firms and in-house teams to optimise the delivery of legal services. Seamless collaboration across different types of legal providers will be the norm.

5. What trends do you expect to see in the legal services industry in the next 5 years? 

The rapid advancement of AI and machine learning in the legal sector is a trend that cannot be ignored. From automating routine tasks to providing predictive analytics, AI will play an increasingly central role in the delivery of legal services.

I believe we'll see AI move beyond narrow applications like e-discovery and contract analysis to providing holistic support across the legal workflow. The most successful legal providers will be those who can effectively combine human expertise with AI augmentation.

Data analytics and visualisation will also become core capabilities for forward-thinking legal teams. The ability to extract insights from the mountain of data generated through contracts, cases and other legal activities will be a key differentiator.

Finally, the legal industry's shift to cloud-based platforms and agile working practices will continue to accelerate. Successful organisations will be designed around flexibility, collaboration and continuous improvement.

6. Your favourite tune? And why? 

"Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey never fails to lift my spirits. The soaring vocals and anthemic instrumentals are instantly energising.

But beyond the feel-good melody, I'm drawn to the message of chasing your dreams and overcoming adversity. The song reminds me that life is a journey full of possibilities if you hold onto hope and keep pushing forward. In my legal career and personal life, I strive to bring that same spirit of optimism and determination.