True & Fair Across Asia Pacific: What Does the Law Mean for Sustainability and Corporate Reporting?

New legal research across Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore

What does it mean for financial statements to give a “true and fair” view – and what could this longstanding legal requirement mean for sustainability, corporate accountability and impact?

Join the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL) and Social Value International (SVI) for a cross-jurisdictional session exploring new research into the true and fair requirement across five Asia Pacific jurisdictions.

The research examines how the requirement operates in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, and what it means for directors, auditors, investors and others seeking to understand the relationship between financial reporting and real-world impact.

Why does this matter?

The research finds that, in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, the true and fair requirement operates as a substantive legal obligation alongside accounting standards. Where sustainability-related risks and impacts are financially material, these may therefore be relevant to whether financial statements provide a true and fair view.

Japan takes a different legal approach, offering an important comparative perspective.

Together, the findings contribute to a growing body of research exploring how existing law may already provide pathways for companies to better account for their impacts on people and the planet.

What will we explore?

Hear directly from the GAIL members who conducted the research across the five jurisdictions. The session will explore:

  • How the true and fair requirement operates in each jurisdiction;
  • What it means for directors, auditors and investors in practice;
  • The relationship between financial reporting, sustainability and impact; and
  • What the findings could mean for the future of corporate accountability and impact law across the region.

The session will also provide an opportunity for discussion and cross-jurisdictional learning.

Speakers

Ben Carpenter – CEO, Social Value International – UK
Vivien Teu – Founding Principal, Vivien Teu Law Practice – Hong Kong
Sotaro Hotta – Associate, Nishimura & Asahi – Japan
Michael Ryland – Director, Centre for Social Finance Law – Australia
Jon Cheung – Partner, Prolegis Lawyers – Australia
Joseph Chun – Partner, Shook Lin & Bok – Singapore
Farez Jinnah – Principal at Farez Jinnah – Malaysia

Moderator:
Amal Farooq Malik – Associate, AwaisLaw DRT – Pakistan

The speakers include the GAIL members who led the research, supported by additional lawyers across the five jurisdictions.

Who should attend?

The session will be particularly relevant to lawyers, in-house legal and sustainability teams, directors, investors, accountants, auditors, impact practitioners, academics and civil society organisations interested in the links between corporate reporting, sustainability and impact.

No prior knowledge of the True & Fair Project is required.

Event details

Tuesday 22 September 2026

09:00 – 10:00 London | 16:00 – 17:00 Hong Kong / Singapore / Malaysia | 17:00 – 18:00 Japan | 18:00 – 19:00 Sydney

Format: Online

Join us to explore what “true and fair” means across Asia Pacific – and what it could mean for the future of corporate reporting and impact.

REGISTER FOR THE EVENT

Not a member? Join GAIL today!