Chambers Global (2016)

Banking & Finance: Domestic - Band 2
Ranked Lawyers: Angela Lim - Band 2, Terence Choo - Band 3, Ng Sey Ming - Band 4, Regina Liew (Banking & Finance: Regulatory) - Band 1 

Banking and finance head Angela Lim led the team as they acted for Genting Singapore in a SGD2.27 billion financing of Resorts World Sentosa. Market sources declare that "she really is very, very good" and "very thorough and able to achieve the objectives we want."

Terence Choo is highly active in the banking and finance sphere, where clients value his work on acquisition and project financing. His cross-border work involves transactions with companies based in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Ng Sey Ming wins praise from sources for being "very accommodating" on matters related to project finance and securities regulations. He speaks Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese, Malay and English and is a valued adviser on cross-border matters throughout the region.

Financial institutions group head Regina Liew has more than 22 years of experience on financial regulatory and transactional matters. Various interviewees note that "she brings enthusiasm to the work" and has a "common-sense approach."

Capital Markets - Band 2
Ranked Lawyers: Kim Huat Chia - Eminent Practitioner, Evelyn Wee - Band 3, Danny Lim - Band 4

Head of the regional corporate team Chia Kim Huat handles a range of capital markets, often advising foreign issuers regarding their listings in Singapore. His varied practice also covers REITs and business trust work. He is especially noted for his work for PRC clients.

Evelyn Wee offers experience on REITs, business trusts and complex listings. She has acted for a number of major Indian clients and also lately assisted Japfa in its Singaporean IPO, which had a market capitalisation of USD1.38 billion.

Danny Lim is well versed in advising on cross-border transactions, including listings involving PRC issuers. Recently, he advised the joint placement agents on the SGD158 million placement of ordinary shares in the capital of SIIC Environment.

Corporate/M&A - Band 2

Foreign Desks Cheng Yoke Ping heads the Indonesian practice and is fluent in Bahasa Indonesia. The firm's Indonesian offering is also enhanced by its association with domestic firm Assegaf Hamzah & Partners. Recently the firm advised Gallant Venture, part of the Salim Group, regarding its SGD1.8 billion takeover of Indomobil Sukses.

This firm also offers notable experience in the India market, having handled a variety of investment work between India and South-East Asia. Evelyn Wee is a key contact.

Dispute Resolution: Arbitration - Band 2
Ranked Lawyers: Chuan Thye Tan SC - Band 2, Andre Yeap SC - Band 4

Tan Chuan Thye SC maintains a strong focus on banking and construction arbitrations, with considerable experience across Asia in general and in Indonesia in particular. Sources describe him as "a good lawyer" who is "building a good arbitration practice."

Senior partner Andre Yeap SC is acknowledged to be a "very experienced practitioner" and notably "active in arbitration," managing complex, high-value matters in the telecommunications, oil and hospitality sectors. His recent caseload includes major mandates originating in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Dispute Resolution: Litigation - Band 2

Ranked Lawyers: Eng Beng Lee SC - Band 1, Francis Xavier SC - Band 2, Andre Yeap SC - Band 3, Danny Ong - Up and Coming

Lee Eng Beng SC acted for members of the Monitoring Committee of TT International in their successful appeal against a High Court decision to allow Michael Jacob Beloff QC to be admitted on an ad hoc basis to argue substantive matters. He is acknowledged for his strong strategic mind, especially in insolvency and shareholder disputes, and one peer notes: "He's very intelligent and well liked by the Bench."

Francis Xavier SC has substantial experience working with Indonesian clients, especially in property, banking and corporate disputes. He is representing White Energy Company in a USD750 million dispute over a joint venture agreement for a coal upgrading plant in Indonesia.

Andre Yeap SC comes highly rated for his cross-border disputes work with experience on matters involving the Indonesian, Philippine, Indian, Hong Kong and Japanese markets. He is acting for the liquidators of MF Global Singapore in a dispute over customers' claims for profits from foreign exchange and bullion transactions.

Clients laud Danny Ong for his high-quality work in financial disputes, insolvency and multi-jurisdictional fraud, with one client declaring that "he's an excellent litigator, he's pretty much our go-to guy," and highlighting that he is "very responsive." He acted for Suntech Power Investment in its defence against a USD264 million claim by Power Solar System arising from alleged loan and acquisition transactions.

Projects & Energy - Band 1
Ranked Lawyers: Shemane Chan - Band 2

Shemane Chan garners praise from clients for her strong negotiation skills, commercial awareness and "client-focused" approach. Of late she has been active advising on matters in Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar, concentrating on project development and construction. Panca Amara engaged Chan to assist with the financing, delivery and construction of an USD800 million greenfield ammonia plant in Indonesia.

Shipping - Band 1
Ranked Lawyers: Winston Kwek - Band 1, Kah Wah Leong - Band 1, Kian Sing Toh SC - Band 1, Jainil Bhandari - Band 3, Kendall Tan - Band 3, Ian Teo - Band 3

Toh Kian Sing SC co-heads the practice and is highly regarded for his litigation and arbitration prowess, having recently represented China Shipping Container Lines in a vessel arrest claim. Clients appreciate that "he's extremely organised and calm, he thinks a lot and he has a great instinct for personal relationships."

Winston Kwek is recommended by commentators as "a good, aggressive litigator" who is frequently instructed on marine insurance claims, charter party disputes and restructuring issues. Of late, he assisted the syndicated lenders in the restructuring of the Danish shipping company Torm.

Leong Kah Wah is a popular practitioner who recently acted for the owners of the 'Temptation' in a challenge to the arrest of the vessel in Tunisian waters. His practice encompasses a range of shipping and trading disputes and he is described as a "solid, careful and comprehensive" lawyer.

Kendall Tan is widely praised for his performance, and highlighted by clients as being "always dependable and you can sleep easy once he's on a case." In a highlight, he assisted SMIT Singapore and Nippon Salvage with their claim against the owners and hull underwriters of 'Sunleaf Grace', which was grounded off the coast of Mozambique with a significant cargo on board.

Ian Teo's broad contentious practice covers a range of litigation and arbitration in the maritime space and he lately assisted with matters arising from the multi-jurisdictional collapse of OW Bunker. An impressed source notes: "We appreciate his willingness to go the extra mile to assist us."

Jainil Bhandari is a Singapore and Malaysia-qualified lawyer who has a thriving practice in both jurisdictions. One commentator confirms: "He's particularly active on collision cases with a Malaysian connection." His highlight work includes representing a Malaysian energy corporation in a dispute over a burst undersea oil pipeline.

South-East Asia: International Trade/WTO - Band 1

What the team is known for
Offers in-depth expertise on trade matters concerning South-East Asian countries. Excels in handling customs regulatory compliance for international companies operating in the high-technology sector.

Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
"The firm's responsiveness and communications have been top-notch. They combine deep knowledge of the law with an awareness of commercial realities and the market. Their general operations are very smooth and seamless." 

Notable practitioners 
Kala Anandarajah leads the team from Singapore.

Asia Pacific Region: Arbitration (International) (Band 3)

What the team is known for
Leading Singapore firm, acclaimed for its specialist arbitration practice and impressive regional range, with especially notable offerings in covering Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Further noted for handling investor-state, construction and energy cases and regularly instructed in matters involving the operations of Chinese companies in South-East Asian jurisdictions.

Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
"Very big in international arbitration and certainly amongst the leaders in Singapore. In many firms, the litigators will do arbitration, but Rajah & Tann have a dedicated international arbitration team."

"They do a good range of international arbitration work."

What's new?
Senior counsel Tan Chuan Thye recently joined the Singapore practice in a lateral hire from Morgan Lewis Stamford.

Notable practitioners 
Andre Yeap SC is the firm's head of international arbitration.

Significant clients
Courts Madagascar, Dynamic Oil Trading Middle East, Republic of Indonesia, Sinopec, Thiess.

India: Corporate/M&A (Desk based Abroad) - Band 5 

What the team is known for
This Singaporean firm ably acts as transactional counsel for South-East Asian investment into India though Singapore. In the other direction, the team advises on M&A and private equity transactions on the behalf of Indian financial institutions and multinationals. Evelyn Wee is head of the department and the principal contact at the firm.

Indonesia: Corporate & Finance (International Firms) (Band 4) (Desk based Abroad) 

What the team is known for
A popular choice for Indonesia-related work due to its extensive cross-border experience and association with local firm Assegaf Hamzah & Partners.

Dispute resolution is a core strength of the firm, which is also mandated on M&A and capital markets deals. Cheng Yoke Ping is a key contact for the Indonesia practice.