Media Releases · 2 July 2026
Australian lawyers in Southeast Asia
A new Law Council report maps where Australian lawyers can practise across six Southeast Asian jurisdictions — and what is stopping them from doing more. Timely reading as the Government's FTA review process moves forward.
Profession Press
The Law Council released a report on 26 June analysing market access conditions and barriers for Australian lawyers and firms in Southeast Asia, prepared by Norton Rose Fulbright with support from DFAT's Southeast Asia FTA Modernisation Grant Program. The report identifies Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines as priority jurisdictions and maps what Australian lawyers can currently do in each — remotely, fly-in fly-out, or through a commercial presence. The barriers documented include foreign lawyer caps, residency requirements, and administrative gatekeeping that varies considerably by market. Useful background for any firm with existing regional work or expansion plans, and timely given the Government's active FTA review process across the region.