1. Branch Advocate (Kuching, Sarawak)
2. Corporate Litigation & Compliance Associate (Kuala Lumpur)
3. Legal Associate, Family Offices (Johor Bahru)
Reference:
20263069
Date Published:
29 August 2026
Job Type:
Lawyer
Job Location:
AMPANG, WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR
Employer:
Paul Cheah AssociatesD-3-3, Level 3, Megan Avenue 1,
N0 189, Jalan Tun Razak,
50400 Kuala Lumpur
AMPANG WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysia
Tel: 0321814383
Job Description:
POSITION 1 — SARAWAK BRANCH ADVOCATE (Kuching / Sarawak-based │ Priority Position)
The Opportunity
PCALaw is opening a branch office in Sarawak and is seeking a qualified advocate admitted under the Advocates Ordinance (Sarawak, Cap. 110) to anchor the practice. The successful candidate will establish and lead the Sarawak branch under the PCALaw umbrella, working alongside a distinguished consultant. The branch is strategically positioned to serve emerging Sarawak-centred mandates including solar energy development, carbon credit frameworks, and green economy transactions being driven by the Sarawak State Government — sectors where legal advisory demand is growing rapidly and where early positioning carries a material advantage.
POSITION 2 — CORPORATE LITIGATION & COMPLIANCE ASSOCIATE (Kuala Lumpur)
The Role
This position is open to candidates at any level of call — seniority is secondary to capability and attitude. The successful candidate will work directly under the Managing Partner and will interface regularly with the Consultant. You will carry the firm's corporate and commercial litigation portfolio: shareholder and boardroom disputes, contractual and debt recovery claims, tenancy and property disputes, trust and capital markets-related litigation, injunctions, and enforcement proceedings.
In addition, this hire will take on corporate legal advisory and compliance responsibilities across the Group — including corporate governance advisory, regulatory compliance support for the Group's Securities Commission-licensed and corporate services entities, and trust-related legal opinions — alongside the litigation portfolio. This dual scope reflects a current vacancy within the Group and candidates should be comfortable moving between contentious and advisory/compliance work.
You will be expected to draft cause papers and submissions, conduct your own appearances at case management and in chambers from an early stage, and hold a brief in open court as your competence is established. The nature of this practice demands someone who can receive instructions, execute them to completion, brief upward on progress and developments without being asked, and re-engage the cycle without prompting.
This is a principal-driven environment. The expectation is professional autonomy within a structured reporting culture — not hand-holding, and not a training ground in the conventional sense. The volume and variety of work is high. The learning curve is steep and intentional. The rewards are equally compelling.
POSITION 3 — LEGAL ASSOCIATE, FAMILY OFFICES (Johor Bahru / Forest City-based │ New Position)
The Opportunity
PCALaw is building out a Johor Bahru-based practice to serve the growing family office sector at Forest City, under the Forest City Special Financial Zone (FCSFZ) incentive framework. The role sits at the intersection of private wealth, trust structuring, and regulatory advisory, working closely with the Kuala Lumpur principal office and with Pacific Trustees Berhad and the broader PCA Group on family office and trust mandates.
The Opportunity
PCALaw is opening a branch office in Sarawak and is seeking a qualified advocate admitted under the Advocates Ordinance (Sarawak, Cap. 110) to anchor the practice. The successful candidate will establish and lead the Sarawak branch under the PCALaw umbrella, working alongside a distinguished consultant. The branch is strategically positioned to serve emerging Sarawak-centred mandates including solar energy development, carbon credit frameworks, and green economy transactions being driven by the Sarawak State Government — sectors where legal advisory demand is growing rapidly and where early positioning carries a material advantage.
POSITION 2 — CORPORATE LITIGATION & COMPLIANCE ASSOCIATE (Kuala Lumpur)
The Role
This position is open to candidates at any level of call — seniority is secondary to capability and attitude. The successful candidate will work directly under the Managing Partner and will interface regularly with the Consultant. You will carry the firm's corporate and commercial litigation portfolio: shareholder and boardroom disputes, contractual and debt recovery claims, tenancy and property disputes, trust and capital markets-related litigation, injunctions, and enforcement proceedings.
In addition, this hire will take on corporate legal advisory and compliance responsibilities across the Group — including corporate governance advisory, regulatory compliance support for the Group's Securities Commission-licensed and corporate services entities, and trust-related legal opinions — alongside the litigation portfolio. This dual scope reflects a current vacancy within the Group and candidates should be comfortable moving between contentious and advisory/compliance work.
You will be expected to draft cause papers and submissions, conduct your own appearances at case management and in chambers from an early stage, and hold a brief in open court as your competence is established. The nature of this practice demands someone who can receive instructions, execute them to completion, brief upward on progress and developments without being asked, and re-engage the cycle without prompting.
This is a principal-driven environment. The expectation is professional autonomy within a structured reporting culture — not hand-holding, and not a training ground in the conventional sense. The volume and variety of work is high. The learning curve is steep and intentional. The rewards are equally compelling.
POSITION 3 — LEGAL ASSOCIATE, FAMILY OFFICES (Johor Bahru / Forest City-based │ New Position)
The Opportunity
PCALaw is building out a Johor Bahru-based practice to serve the growing family office sector at Forest City, under the Forest City Special Financial Zone (FCSFZ) incentive framework. The role sits at the intersection of private wealth, trust structuring, and regulatory advisory, working closely with the Kuala Lumpur principal office and with Pacific Trustees Berhad and the broader PCA Group on family office and trust mandates.
Qualifications and Requirements:
POSITION 1 — SARAWAK BRANCH ADVOCATE (Kuching / Sarawak-based │ Priority Position)
The Role
● Establish and manage the day-to-day operations of the PCALaw Sarawak branch
● Develop and maintain client relationships in Sarawak, with a focus on corporate, commercial, and green economy mandates
● Work in close coordination with the Kuala Lumpur principal office and report directly to the consultant
● Interface with and support the branch consultant on matters requiring senior advisory input
● Build the branch's practice profile in alignment with PCALaw's standards and commercial orientation
Requirements
● Admitted as an advocate under the Advocates Ordinance (Sarawak, Cap. 110) — this is a firm requirement; Peninsula-admitted advocates not yet admitted to the Sarawak Bar are not eligible
● Physical presence in Sarawak is mandatory — candidates must be based in or willing to relocate permanently to Sarawak
● Prior exposure to corporate, commercial, or energy-related matters is an advantage
● Entrepreneurial disposition — this role requires someone who can build, not just execute
● Professional maturity and the ability to operate with a degree of independence while remaining aligned to the principal office
This is not a remote or hybrid arrangement. Sarawak residency is a condition of the role, not a preference.
POSITION 2 — CORPORATE LITIGATION & COMPLIANCE ASSOCIATE (Kuala Lumpur)
What We Are Looking For
● An advocate and solicitor admitted to the Malaysian Bar — call year is not the deciding factor
● Sound command of civil procedure and the Rules of Court 2012, and the discipline to run files to their deadlines
● Strong drafting of cause papers, affidavits, and written submissions — precision of language matters here
● Competence and composure on your feet: case managements, chambers appearances, and open court work
● Capacity to manage multiple concurrent matters without losing sight of the whole
● An instinct for proactive communication: briefing, flagging, updating, and following through without being reminded
● Commercial awareness — an understanding that litigation strategy does not exist in isolation from the client's business position
● Demonstrable experience in corporate legal advisory and compliance work — e.g. corporate governance, regulatory/compliance matters for licensed entities (Securities Commission-regulated or otherwise), or corporate secretarial/trust-adjacent legal work — is required, not merely preferred
● Familiarity with the compliance obligations of Securities Commission-licensed corporate finance or capital markets entities is a strong advantage
● Intellectual seriousness and a work ethic that does not require external motivation
● Prior exposure to corporate or commercial disputes is preferred — but genuine aptitude and drive will be weighed as heavily as prior experience
This role is not suitable for candidates who require close supervision, prefer a structured training programme, or are primarily seeking exposure rather than responsibility.
POSITION 3 — LEGAL ASSOCIATE, FAMILY OFFICES (Johor Bahru / Forest City-based │ New Position)
The Role
● Advise family office and private wealth clients establishing or operating within the Forest City Special Financial Zone
● Support Single Family Office (SFO) applications and related regulatory submissions, including SC and FCSFZ eligibility and incentive matters
● Draft and review trust deeds, family constitutions, and related private wealth structuring documents
● Coordinate with Pacific Trustees Berhad and other PCA Group entities on trustee, corporate services, and Shariah-compliant structuring matters
● Build and maintain relationships with family office clients, private banks, and intermediaries in the Johor Bahru / Forest City corridor
● Work in close coordination with the Kuala Lumpur principal office and report directly to the Managing Partner
Requirements
● An advocate and solicitor admitted to the Malaysian Bar
● Based in or willing to relocate to Johor Bahru — regular presence in the Forest City corridor is expected
● Exposure to trust law, private wealth, or family office structuring is a strong advantage; genuine aptitude and willingness to build this practice area will be weighed alongside prior experience
● Familiarity with the Forest City Special Financial Zone incentive framework, or the ability to get up to speed on it quickly, is beneficial
● Discretion and professionalism in handling high-net-worth and family clients
● Entrepreneurial disposition — this is a new position in a developing practice area and requires someone comfortable building client relationships from the ground up.
This is a newly created position supporting a developing practice area. Candidates should be based in, or genuinely willing to relocate to, Johor Bahru.
The Role
● Establish and manage the day-to-day operations of the PCALaw Sarawak branch
● Develop and maintain client relationships in Sarawak, with a focus on corporate, commercial, and green economy mandates
● Work in close coordination with the Kuala Lumpur principal office and report directly to the consultant
● Interface with and support the branch consultant on matters requiring senior advisory input
● Build the branch's practice profile in alignment with PCALaw's standards and commercial orientation
Requirements
● Admitted as an advocate under the Advocates Ordinance (Sarawak, Cap. 110) — this is a firm requirement; Peninsula-admitted advocates not yet admitted to the Sarawak Bar are not eligible
● Physical presence in Sarawak is mandatory — candidates must be based in or willing to relocate permanently to Sarawak
● Prior exposure to corporate, commercial, or energy-related matters is an advantage
● Entrepreneurial disposition — this role requires someone who can build, not just execute
● Professional maturity and the ability to operate with a degree of independence while remaining aligned to the principal office
This is not a remote or hybrid arrangement. Sarawak residency is a condition of the role, not a preference.
POSITION 2 — CORPORATE LITIGATION & COMPLIANCE ASSOCIATE (Kuala Lumpur)
What We Are Looking For
● An advocate and solicitor admitted to the Malaysian Bar — call year is not the deciding factor
● Sound command of civil procedure and the Rules of Court 2012, and the discipline to run files to their deadlines
● Strong drafting of cause papers, affidavits, and written submissions — precision of language matters here
● Competence and composure on your feet: case managements, chambers appearances, and open court work
● Capacity to manage multiple concurrent matters without losing sight of the whole
● An instinct for proactive communication: briefing, flagging, updating, and following through without being reminded
● Commercial awareness — an understanding that litigation strategy does not exist in isolation from the client's business position
● Demonstrable experience in corporate legal advisory and compliance work — e.g. corporate governance, regulatory/compliance matters for licensed entities (Securities Commission-regulated or otherwise), or corporate secretarial/trust-adjacent legal work — is required, not merely preferred
● Familiarity with the compliance obligations of Securities Commission-licensed corporate finance or capital markets entities is a strong advantage
● Intellectual seriousness and a work ethic that does not require external motivation
● Prior exposure to corporate or commercial disputes is preferred — but genuine aptitude and drive will be weighed as heavily as prior experience
This role is not suitable for candidates who require close supervision, prefer a structured training programme, or are primarily seeking exposure rather than responsibility.
POSITION 3 — LEGAL ASSOCIATE, FAMILY OFFICES (Johor Bahru / Forest City-based │ New Position)
The Role
● Advise family office and private wealth clients establishing or operating within the Forest City Special Financial Zone
● Support Single Family Office (SFO) applications and related regulatory submissions, including SC and FCSFZ eligibility and incentive matters
● Draft and review trust deeds, family constitutions, and related private wealth structuring documents
● Coordinate with Pacific Trustees Berhad and other PCA Group entities on trustee, corporate services, and Shariah-compliant structuring matters
● Build and maintain relationships with family office clients, private banks, and intermediaries in the Johor Bahru / Forest City corridor
● Work in close coordination with the Kuala Lumpur principal office and report directly to the Managing Partner
Requirements
● An advocate and solicitor admitted to the Malaysian Bar
● Based in or willing to relocate to Johor Bahru — regular presence in the Forest City corridor is expected
● Exposure to trust law, private wealth, or family office structuring is a strong advantage; genuine aptitude and willingness to build this practice area will be weighed alongside prior experience
● Familiarity with the Forest City Special Financial Zone incentive framework, or the ability to get up to speed on it quickly, is beneficial
● Discretion and professionalism in handling high-net-worth and family clients
● Entrepreneurial disposition — this is a new position in a developing practice area and requires someone comfortable building client relationships from the ground up.
This is a newly created position supporting a developing practice area. Candidates should be based in, or genuinely willing to relocate to, Johor Bahru.
Job Start Date:
30 September 2026
Application Closing Date:
15 September 2026
Overview of Organisation:
PCA Law is a boutique legal practice in Kuala Lumpur operating at the intersection of corporate law, capital markets, trust and estate planning, and dispute resolution. Founded by Cheah Boon Hoe, who was called to the Malaysian Bar in 1987, PCALaw operates within a broad group of businesses which includes a Securities Commission-licensed corporate finance advisory arm and a corporate services entity, as well as a licensed trust company. The firm also possesses independent litigation, commercial corporate and conveyancing clients and always strives to meet every client's special needs and demands with unique solutions.
Our work is substantive, multi-disciplinary, and commercially oriented. We advise on Securities Commission-regulated transactions, trust law opinions, corporate restructuring, Sukuk issuances, and complex commercial disputes. Our clients operate across Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the broader ASEAN and capital markets landscape.
PCALaw is expanding on two fronts: establishing a Sarawak branch to anchor a presence in East Malaysia's rapidly evolving green economy sector, and building out a Johor Bahru-based practice to serve the growing family office sector at Forest City.
Our work is substantive, multi-disciplinary, and commercially oriented. We advise on Securities Commission-regulated transactions, trust law opinions, corporate restructuring, Sukuk issuances, and complex commercial disputes. Our clients operate across Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the broader ASEAN and capital markets landscape.
PCALaw is expanding on two fronts: establishing a Sarawak branch to anchor a presence in East Malaysia's rapidly evolving green economy sector, and building out a Johor Bahru-based practice to serve the growing family office sector at Forest City.
How to Apply:
State clearly which position you are applying for.
Submit your curriculum vitae, academic transcript, salary expectations, and a brief cover letter — not a template; tell us specifically why this practice and this working environment appeals to you. Applications without a substantive cover letter will not be considered.
Applications to: Faidhur Rahman bin Abdul Hadi, Managing Partner, PCALaw — [email protected]
Submit your curriculum vitae, academic transcript, salary expectations, and a brief cover letter — not a template; tell us specifically why this practice and this working environment appeals to you. Applications without a substantive cover letter will not be considered.
Applications to: Faidhur Rahman bin Abdul Hadi, Managing Partner, PCALaw — [email protected]