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Philadelphia-based Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is set to face legal action in Indonesia related to its office there and the hiring of a new partner for the firm. A leading Jakarta firm, Makarim & Taira S, is preparing to sue the US firm because it claims the firm's Jakarta office, PT ML&B Indonesia, operates outside the regime for foreign legal firms. Makarim & Taira is also preparing to sue the laterally hired partner. The moves put at risk Morgan Lewis's estimated US$5 million in billings for Indonesian matters. In January 1998 Morgan Lewis offered a partnership in its international section to Michael Hooton, a New York-qualified Canadian national who was working as a foreign legal consultant at Makarim & Taira. Hooton is due to join the firm shortly.

The Netherlands has produced plans for a special court to rule on disputes over corporate control. This marks the first step to dismantling anti-takeover devices. By Christian Huiskes of Derks.Star Busmann.Hanotiau, Utrecht

After an initial slow take-up, National Policy 53, easing international equity offerings into Canada, has become standard for large issues. New standards have been set by five issues in 1997. By Robert T Stuart of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, London

US securities authorities are issuing guidance for broker-dealers on the use of new technology in their business. This article summarizes that guidance in five key areas. By Morris Simkin of Winston & Strawn, New York

A common belief is that privatization is nearing an end in Poland as the market matures. Stephen Mulrenan discovers that opportunities still exist in this sector, as well as now in many others

Changes to financial regulation in the UK bring into focus the challange of boundaries in the legal framework. By Andrew Marsh of Sidley & Austin, London

The eastern European offices of Philadelphia-based Pepper, Hamilton & Scheetz are to join New York's Coudert Brothers. Coudert thereby increases its east European practice with the addition of an office in Almaty, Kazakstan and bolsters its position in Moscow and St Petersburg, enlarging its offices in both cities to incorporate Pepper Hamilton's personnel. It remains unclear whether Pepper Hamilton will retain its sole remaining office outside the US in London. The London office had been headed by partner Sally March, who shared her time between London and St Petersburg.

US firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has poached structured finance specialist Christopher Lewis from the Hong Kong office of UK firm Simmons & Simmons.The appointment confirms the IFLRev report in the December 1997 issue, where the firm also stated its intention to build an English capability in London. Lewis will be based in Tokyo where Orrick opened an office in 1997. Lewis' loss will be a blow to Simmons & Simmons in a field where specialists are few and the pool of firms with the experience to document new investment banking products is limited. The techniques of structured finance and asset repackaging may be one of the few funding options open in the region. "Although the current financial problems in Japan and Asia are well documented, likely solutions include acceleration of the deregulation process and the development of new financing techniques," says Lewis.

As predicted in the December 1997 issue of IFLRev, New York's Debevoise & Plimpton is opening an office in Moscow. For further information see the country survey.

Recent delegation of powers from the CFTC to the NFA should lead to faster approval of non-US entities to engage in futures trades with US customers. By Michael S Sackheim of Brown & Wood LLP, New York