Trust and Corporate Governance in Digitalisation explores how traditional principles of equity, fiduciary duty and trust law are being transformed by emerging digital technologies such as blockchain, distributed ledgers and decentralised autonomous organisations (DAO). It traces the evolution of trust law from its equitable origins to its new role in digital ecosystems where transparency, automation and decentralisation have redefined the meaning of trust and accountability.

The book is divided into 10 chapters, covering key areas including the nature of digital property, blockchain governance, fiduciary obligations in distributed networks, remedies for digital breaches of trust, and the challenges of estate planning and tax compliance in the management of digital assets and cryptocurrencies. Case studies such as the collapse of FTX underscore the urgent need for sound corporate governance in the digital era.

Drawing on comparative perspectives from Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore and Europe, this book surveys local developments within global debates on regulatory reform, compliance and ethical digital practice. It serves as a timely resource for lawyers, in-house counsel, corporate directors, regulators and policymakers seeking to navigate the complex relationship between technology and trust.

Beyond its academic accuracy, the book equips professionals with practical guidance on establishing governance frameworks, drafting digital wills and trusts, and establishing new forms of property such as cryptocurrencies and digital assets. It bridges the gap between law and technology, equipping readers with the understanding needed to ensure integrity, accountability, and resilience in the rapidly evolving digital economy. It is an essential reference for those seeking to align innovation with sound legal and ethical governance.

Key features:

• Malaysia's first comprehensive integration of trust law, corporate governance and digitalisation that sets a new benchmark for legal scholarship in the country.
• Explores how blockchain and distributed ledger technologies are transforming the legal foundations of trust, altering fiduciary duties, and reshaping relations between individuals, institutions and property in digital settings.
• Offers practical guidance for academics, lawyers, in-house counsels, as well as advisors dealing with wills, trusts, and charitable structures in the era of blockchain and cryptoassets. It includes drafting insights and blockchain-based governance frameworks that are essential for modern legal practice.
• Examines how blockchain enhances corporate governance by providing greater transparency, real-time access to data, and increased accountability through decentralised governance models.
• Provides a detailed discussion of testamentary planning, wealth transfer, succession, and asset protection in the context of cryptocurrencies and digital property, making it a valuable resource for practitioners and wealth managers.
• Practical illustrations and case studies from Malaysia and abroad demonstrating how blockchain-based systems are applied in corporate governance, fiduciary oversight, and estate planning scenarios.
• Presents comparative insights from jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Europe, Singapore and Malaysia, highlighting global developments and contextualising them within Malaysian law and practice.
• Anticipates next-generation governance structures founded on consensus, transparency and automation, providing forward-looking analysis on smart legal infrastructures and the future of trust in an information-driven world.

Shaping the Law offers a compelling exploration of the judicial legacy of a respected Malaysian jurist, Justice Tan Sri Datuk Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal. Featuring 22 illuminating commentaries by leading legal minds, this volume analyses his landmark judgments across multiple fields, revealing a jurisprudence defined by intellect, fairness and an enduring commitment to justice.

Each chapter offers an in-depth exploration of legal reasoning, contextual background, and the impact of each decision on Malaysian jurisprudence. The contributors engage with issues across constitutional, administrative, criminal, commercial, tort, employment, and statutory interpretation domains. The collaborative scholarship ensures a balanced blend of academic depth and professional relevance.

The commentaries highlight how Justice Harmindar’s decisions embody integrity, independence, and fidelity to justice – qualities that define modern judicial excellence. The discussions offer practical lessons on judicial writing, reasoning, and interpretation that transcend specific case law.

Published in conjunction with Justice Harmindar’s retirement in 2025, this volume stands as a lasting record of his contributions to the Malaysian legal system, capturing the hallmarks of Justice Harmindar’s jurisprudence: clarity, fairness, empathy, and intellectual rigour. The specially curated content of this publication serves both as a professional tribute and as a scholarly examination of the decisions of an outstanding Malaysian judge.

Key features:

• Comprehensive commentaries: Contains 22 analytical chapters examining Justice Harmindar's most significant judgments, ranging from commercial law to criminal law.
• Multi-disciplinary perspectives: The commentaries draw on doctrinal, comparative, and philosophical analyses, offering a holistic understanding of the law in theory and in practice.
• Quality authorship: Features contributions from leading and upcoming lawyers, each bringing unique expertise and insight.
• A tribute and a study: Recognises the wisdom and judicial skill of a top judge.
• Focus on values that shape the law: Highlights the clarity, fairness, and empathy that mark Justice Harmindar's decisions.