TechLaw.Fest Marks 10th Edition with Groundbreaking Keynotes and Launch of e-Apostille to Advance Cross-Border Legalisation

Singapore, Tuesday, 27 August 2025 – Asia’s leading law and technology conference, Tech.Law Fest returns on 10 and 11 September 2025 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre with the theme “Redefining Legal in the Digital Age”.

Co-organised by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) and the Ministry of Law, this milestone edition will explore how technology is reshaping and disrupting the legal profession — demanding greater adaptability, innovation, and resilience in an increasingly digital era. More than 150 global thought leaders will convene to chart the next frontier of legal innovation, with over 2,000 attendees expected from more than 40 countries.

Two Groundbreaking Keynotes: Reimagining the Rule of Law and Rethinking the Role of Data Protection Regulation

Across the two days, the conference will spotlight headline keynotes that anchor its central themes:

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon from the Supreme Court of Singapore will deliver a keynote titled “Reimagining Law and Technology”, outlining a new framework for the rule of law in the digital age. He will explore how courts can leverage technology to improve access to justice, how legal tech is reshaping the profession, and how the law must adapt to emerging technologies like AI — while upholding fairness, accountability, and the rule of law.

The UK Information Commissioner John Edwards will present “Trust as Infrastructure: Can Regulation Be the Foundation for Responsible Innovation?”, exploring how regulation can support a digital future built on trust. Drawing from global experience, he will share insights on data protection trends — including AI, biometrics, children’s privacy, and cybersecurity — and propose a “third way” that positions trust as a driver of responsible innovation.

Highlights of the Programme

TechLaw.Fest 2025 will address often-discussed topics that demand deeper reflection and forward-looking dialogues, including:

• Online Safety – balancing privacy, freedom of expression, and regulatory safeguards in a digital-first world
• Quantum Computing – its implications for legal systems, security, and governance
• Data Centres and Digital Infrastructure – legal frameworks needed to sustain Asia’s digital economy
• The End of the Billable Hour? – rethinking how legal services are priced and delivered in an era of AI-driven efficiency
• Managing the Machine: Shaping the Future Legal Workforce – how AI is transforming governance, compliance, and firm structures, and the rise of new roles like legal engineers and data scientists

Mr. Yeong Zee Kin, Chief Executive of the Singapore Academy of Law said, “TechLaw.Fest was conceptualised on the belief that law must evolve alongside technology – over the past decade, we’ve seen that this belief has increasingly taken root across the global legal profession.

He added, “Shaping the future of law in the digital age requires thoughtful governance, strong cross-sector collaboration, and sustained innovation. As we harness the transformative potential of emerging technologies, TechLaw.Fest 2025 continues to serve as a vital platform for legal professionals, technologists, and policymakers to co-create a trusted, agile, and inclusive legal ecosystem — one that drives practice-ready innovation and positions Singapore law at the forefront of global legal discourse.”

Tech.Law Fest will also have an exhibition hall, showcasing cutting-edge legal technology, including a UK Pavilion of leading innovators. The TechTalk Stage and Tech Byte sessions will provide interactive exchanges on emerging tools, trends, and practical applications.

For more information on TechLaw Fest, please visit https://www.techlawfest.com/2025-overview-conference

Launch of the e-Apostille

SAL has taken a step further with the e-Apostille, which leverages the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Verifiable Credentials standards in partnership with IMDA. Since June 2025, SAL has issued e-Apostilles for key documents from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), such as Business Profiles and Certificates of Incorporation.

By year-end, the e-Apostille service will expand to cover all notarised documents, simplifying and securing cross-border legal documentation with faster turnaround and reduced administrative burden. The public can request e-Apostilles digitally, and recipients can verify authenticity via the SAL Legalisation Portal at their convenience.

“We’re excited to take this next step in transforming legalisation of documents to support cross-border transactions. We saw good take-up of our pilot efforts. The ramp up of the e-Apostille reflects our commitment to harnessing trusted digital standards to make legal processes faster, more secure, and more user-friendly. This is just the beginning—we look forward to setting new benchmarks for digital legal innovation.” Mr Yeong said.