Prague:Malaysian lawyer Joanne Vengadesan has made history by being elected as the chair of Multilaw, a global network of law firms with a presence in over 100 countries and 300 offices worldwide.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Vengadesan, who is based in the United Kingdom and has 25 years of legal experience, was elected during Multilaw's Global Conference in Prague earlier this month. Her two-year term as chair will commence in September 2027, taking over from Australian lawyer Paul Kirton.

Vengadesan began her legal career after being called to the Malaysian Bar as an Advocate and Solicitor in 1997, initially focusing on intellectual property law in Kuala Lumpur. She is currently a partner at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, an international law firm. Vengadesan is the daughter of retired Malaysian diplomat Datuk R. Vengadesan, who served as an ambassador to several countries, including Italy and Namibia.

In her statement, Vengadesan expressed the honor of being named Chair-Elect and her anticipation of assuming the role of Chair next year. She highlighted the multicultural background of Malaysia and her international upbringing as influential factors in her engagement with the global legal community at Multilaw. Vengadesan's practice in the UK has frequently dealt with cross-border legal matters.

She praised Multilaw for its significant impact on her career and expressed excitement for the challenges and opportunities ahead. She emphasized the importance of the relationships and trust among Multilaw member firms and her pride in her firm's, Penningtons Manches Cooper's, active participation in the network.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP's CEO, Helen Drayton, expressed her pride in Vengadesan's appointment, citing it as evidence of her talent and dedication. Multilaw's CEO, Adam Cooke, who has known Vengadesan for nearly two decades, commended her energy, insight, and understanding of the network's focus on strong relationships and shared ambitions.