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Few may regard the hulking, fusty Nomura as a vehicle for change in Japan. But Richard Gitlin, chairman and CEO of Gitlin & Company, thinks just that. What's more, he's good at convincing others of the same. A sure sign of a lawyer. Nomura Group employed Richard Gitlin in October as senior strategic advisor, to assist the securities firm in implementing restructuring strategies for its clients. According to Gitlin, Nomura is the natural financial institution to play a significant role in Japan's turnaround – in its capacity as advisor and investor.

At the end of September, Sitthiporn Ratanopas, one of Thailand's most respected energy technocrats, was appointed governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat). But he faces a formidable array of challenges ranging from privatization of the huge state utility to liberalization of the power sector. Has he got what it takes to transform Egat into a freewheeling private enterprise? In his first press interview following his appointment, he spoke to Ben Davies.

StanChart fails to attract public support

Battered by the continuing deterioration in the business environment and spooked anew by the Bali terrorist attacks, corporate treasurers and CFOs in the region are becoming more conscious of risk. Hutchison Whampoa is among the companies looking to mitigate it. Pauline Loong reports.

At the end of September, Sitthiporn Ratanopas, one of Thailand's most respected energy technocrats, was appointed governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat). But he faces a formidable array of challenges ranging from privatization of the huge state utility to liberalization of the power sector. Has he got what it takes to transform Egat into a freewheeling private enterprise? In his first press interview following his appointment, he spoke to Ben Davies.

A dearth of deals is pitting the region's lawyers against one another – especially in Korea and China, where the bulk of new deals are arising. In the tug-of-war for business are standards slipping? Fiona Haddock reports.

Merrill Lynch put its balance sheet on the line for 15 hours to execute a gutsy block trade of TCNZ shares for Verizon. The result? Australasia's largest ever secondary placement. By Mark B Johnson.

The brokerage industry is under seige. Its ethics and independence are being scrutinized, the revenues that support it are plummeting and analysts face pressure from companies to be positive. Where is this leading? Not necessarily to a structure that would benefit anybody, writes Ben Davies.

When Ric Smith, Australia's ambassador to Indonesia, regretfully told Jakarta-based Australians at the end of September that he was leaving his post early to take up a new position at home, the envoy could only find a couple of minor irritants to point to in his farewell speech. Some Indonesians were worried that a plan by Australia to use Christmas Island – an isolated spot close to Java – as a launch pad for commercial satellites could result in rockets or other space junk falling on their country. No chance of that, he said. Other Indonesians had claimed that international lobbying by Australia to reduce unfair agricultural subsidies was aimed at Indonesian rice farmers. Not at all, Smith said. Europe, the US and Japan were the guilty parties.

China's domestic institutions have five years to prepare for the opening of the country's financial markets to foreign competition. It's a daunting task, and a large part of it will be shouldered by Wu Xiaoling – the assistant governor at China's central bank and a leading advocate of financial reform. She spoke to Asiamoney's Pauline Loong.

A dearth of deals is pitting the region's lawyers against one another – especially in Korea and China, where the bulk of new deals are arising. In the tug-of-war for business are standards slipping? Fiona Haddock reports.

Korea Development Bank is preparing to bring a $750m two tranche issue into the market, which will include the first senior 10 year bonds from a Korean state borrower since 1998. The bank's issue could be followed by a spate of subordinated deals from other financial institutions. KDB mandated Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) and JP Morgan as joint lead managers on the 144A Reg S transaction last Friday.