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Japan’s lawyers have never had it so good. The market for their services is booming as overseas investors pump money into the country and Japanese companies look to the international markets for funds. But there aren’t enough lawyers to do the job. And foreign practitioners say they can’t offer the service their clients want. Things need to change. Ralph Cunningham reports from Tokyo

Ben Maiden reports from Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen where entrepreneurs, technology clients and regional cooperation are driving Nordic economies and changing the way lawyers are doing business

What’s wrong with Mesdaq? Adeline Wong of Wong & Partners, Kuala Lumpur

As companies receive the new Purple Book from the FSA, Andrew Rosling of Theodore Goddard, London looks at the new regime for securities listing in the UK and assesses its likely implications

South Africa introduces capital gains tax Just when several countries are considering dismantling or reducing the impact of their capital gains tax legislation, South Africa's minister of finance has given notice in his annual budget speech of the intention to introduce the tax in South Africa. Capital gains tax will take effect from April 1 2001, and it is understood that the amending legislation will be available early in 2001. In the interim, the tax authorities have issued a guide relating to the tax and its application.

Tax modifications in the pipeline Colombia's minister of finance has presented a draft bill to congress "by which new taxes are established, the Tax Code is amended and other regulations are issued". The bill proposes an important new tax reform and includes, among other things: (i) the extension of the 2/1000 tax on financial transactions; (ii) a progressive reduction of the corporate income tax rate down to 32%, as well as a reduction of the income tax rate applicable to individuals; (iii) some restrictions on the income tax deductibility of gifts; (iv) a modification of the withholding tax rate on consulting services, commissions, independent services and services in general; (v) anti-avoidance measures; (vi) measures relating to improving the collection of taxes; and (vii) the introduction of a new substitutive tax (impuesto sustitutivo) that would apply to certain small taxpayers developing commercial, industrial or services activities.

After-hours trading now permitted on the Italian Stock Exchange Trading on the Italian Stock Exchange is now permitted after regular trading hours. Changes have been made to the existing regulations and as of May 15 2000, two new markets were introduced: TAH and TAHnm. After-hours trade may be made 5.50 pm - 6.00 pm for cross-order book modalities, and between 6.00 pm - 10.00 pm for continuous dealing.

Japanese lawyers are opposed to the outcome of a government-commissioned legal report, which recommends partnerships with foreign firms for the sake of the economy. The Corporate Legal System Study Group, set up under the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry, has identified areas for legal services reform. Highlighting the globalization of the economy, the report said: "The current judicial system is incapable of adequately supporting the activities of enterprises."

US financial institutions fear they will be exposed to more lawsuits following the adoption of new disclosure rules by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Although the privatization process began in Turkey in the early 1980s, it has accelerated recently as a result of the IMF and World Bank-sponsored economic reform program. Within the framework of this program, a decree (the decree) was enacted in July to start the privatization of Türkiye Vakiflar Bankasi (Vakif Bank). This privatization is the first step in what is expected to be a radical restructuring of the public banks in Turkey.