Asialaw Profiles (2023)
Aviation and shipping - Outstanding
Banking and finance - Outstanding
Banking and financial services - Outstanding
Capital markets - Outstanding
Competition/antitrust - Outstanding
Construction - Outstanding
Consumer goods and services - Outstanding
Corporate and M&A - Highly Recommended
Dispute resolution - Outstanding
Energy - Recommended
Infrastructure - Outstanding
Insurance - Highly Recommended
Intellectual property - Highly Recommended
Investment funds - Outstanding
Labour and employment - Outstanding
Private equity - Highly Recommended
Real estate - Outstanding
Regulatory - Highly Recommended
Restructuring and insolvency - Outstanding
Tax - Highly Recommended
Technology and telecommunications - Outstanding
Leading Lawyers:
Andre Yeap - Dispute resolution (Distinguished practitioner)
Anne Yeo – Investment Funds (Distinguished practitioner)
Angela Lim - Banking and finance (Distinguished practitioner)
Arnold Tan - Investment funds (Elite practitioner)
Benjamin Tay - Real estate (Rising star)
Chia Kim Huat - Capital markets, Corporate and M&A (Elite practitioner)
Chua Choon King - Shipping (Distinguished practitioner)
Danny Ong - Dispute resolution, Restructuring and insolvency (Distinguished practitioner)
Desmond Wee - Labour and employment (Distinguished practitioner)
Elaine Tay - Insurance (Notable practitioner)
Evelyn Wee - Capital markets (Distinguished practitioner)
Francis Xavier - Dispute resolution (Elite practitioner)
Gregory Vijayendran - Dispute resolution (Distinguished practitioner)
Hamidul Haq - Dispute resolution, Regulatory (Distinguished practitioner)
Jonathan Yuen - Labour and employment (Distinguished practitioner)
K Muralidharan Pillai - Labour and employment (Distinguished practitioner)
Kala Anandarajah - Competition/antitrust (Elite practitioner)
Kendall Tan - Shipping (Distinguished practitioner)
Lau Kok Keng - Intellectual property (Distinguished practitioner)
Lee Eng Beng - Restructuring and insolvency (Elite practitioner)
Lee Weilin – Banking and finance (Notable practitioner)
Leong Kah Wah - Shipping (Distinguished practitioner)
Lim Wee Hann – Corporate and M&A (Notable practitioner)
Loh Chun Kiat - Corporate and M&A (Notable practitioner)
Ng Kim Beng - Construction (Notable practitioner)
Norman Ho - Real estate (Elite practitioner)
Patrick Ang - Restructuring and insolvency (Elite practitioner)
Philip Yeo – Investment Funds (Notable practitioner)
Rajesh Sreenivasan - Technology and telecommunications (Elite practitioner)
Regina Liew - Regulatory (Distinguished practitioner)
Sandy Foo - Corporate and M&A (Distinguished practitioner)
Shemane Chan - Energy, Infrastructure (Distinguished practitioner)
Sim Kwan Kiat - Restructuring and insolvency (Distinguished practitioner)
Simon Goh - Insurance (Distinguished practitioner)
Soh Lip San - Construction (Distinguished practitioner)
Steve Tan - Technology and telecommunications (Distinguished practitioner)
Tan Chuan Thye - Dispute resolution (Notable practitioner)
Terence Choo - Banking and finance (Distinguished practitioner)
Toh Kian Sing - Shipping (Elite practitioner)
V Bala – Shipping (Notable practitioner)
Vikna Rajah - Tax (Distinguished practitioner)
Analysis:
Aviation and Shipping
Advising multiple banks on the suspected massive fraud by Agritrade International.
Acting for the owners of MV Alnic MC in its dispute arising from a collision with USS John S McCain in the westbound land of the Singapore Traffic Separation Scheme.
Banking and finance
Acted for arrangers Citigroup Global Markets Singapore, BofA Securities and DBS Bank in relation to a $1.05 billion credit financing involving Singapore and the US.
Advised BPH Propco on its $633 million green loan financing for the acquisition of OUE Bayfront.
Capital markets
Acted for Bridgetown 2 Holdings on its $1.78 billion merger with PropertyGuru and listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
Advised Nanyang Technological University on the establishment of an MTN programme and issuance of sustainability-linked notes due 2036.
Competition/antitrust
Acted for SK Hynix in the notification to the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore of its proposed acquisition of the NAND flash memory and SSD business of Intel in Singapore.
Construction
Advised Sanofi Manufacturing on its $638 million investment in a leading-edge production site in Singapore to supply the Asian region and complement existing manufacturing capacities in Europe and North America.
Engaged by Vim Engineering for its appeal against a high court decision in a significant dispute involving contractual conditions when making variation claims.
Corporate and M&A
Acted for Cuscaden Peak on its competing takeover acquisition offer for all the issued ordinary shares in the capital of SGX-listed Singapore Press Holdings by way of a scheme of arrangement.
Represented DBS Trustee in its capacity as a trustee of Mapletree North Asia Commercial Trust (MNACT) on the proposed merger of Mapletree Commercial Trust (MCT) and MNACT by way of an acquisition by MCT of all issued and paid-up units of MNACT held by unit-holders by way of a trust scheme of arrangement.
Dispute resolution
Successfully represented OUE Lippo Healthcare in a landmark decision by the Court of Appeal on how the restitutionary rule should apply in a case where multiple defendants are held jointly and severally liable at trial, but only a few succeed on appeal.
Defending four directors in the first civil claim brought in Singapore by an investor against directors for breach of statutory duties, involving Eagle Hospitality Trust.
Insurance
Acted for a multilateral organisation in the first of its kind in Asia – the Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility.
Representing the National Parks Board in claims for injuries sustained by members of the public in Singapore due to widely reported wild boar attacks.
Intellectual property
Advised Kony and Kony Services in a case involving an alleged breach of software licensing agreement and a services agreement.
Labour and employment
Successfully acted for Prudential Assurance Company Singapore in a High Court suit against its former senior agency leader in relation to his breach of contract and fiduciary duties.
Represented the Singaporean and Malaysian headquarters of a top 50 Fortune 500 company against a former country director who had wrongfully exfiltrated nearly 1,400 pages of highly confidential documents, financial information and business plans.
Private equity
Acted for Pluto Rising in the disposal of a majority interest in Viz Branz Holdings to Asia Food Growth Fund. The transaction was complicated by various sources of funds and pay-offs required at closing, including cross-border transfers in four jurisdictions and security discharges in multiple jurisdictions.
Restructuring and insolvency
Advising on the high-profile $4.6 billion debt restructuring exercise of Hin Leong Group, one of Asia’s biggest oil traders, involving more than 23 creditors from multiple jurisdictions.
Acting for Shanghai Huaxin Group in its claims against various entities for the recovery of receivables, which form a substantial component of the company’s assets.
Technology and telecommunications
Advised ByteDance and its subsidiaries in their expansion into Southeast Asia.
Defending Capgemini against a claim involving the disabling of a security feature in the IT system.
Assisting DBS Bank on its joint venture with JP Morgan and Temasek to develop a digital multi-currency blockchain platform.
Client Feedback:
“After many years of working on our cases, Rajah & Tann is able to tighten our contractual terms, advise us on loan structure and has a high level of success in our litigation cases.” – Banking and finance
“Professional, pragmatic and reasonable fees.”– Banking and finance
“Professional, in-depth knowledge and responsive” – Capital markets
“Provided deep insights of the local regulation and helped us communicate with regulators. The responses to requests from us or our client have been always prompt and professional.” – Capital markets
“Rajah & Tann understood the worldwide legal situation about big cartel investigation cases very well to move very swiftly for our client. Thanks to this reaction our client escaped from the burden of huge fines.” – Competition/antitrust
“In-depth grasp and meaningful guidance on country-specific regulatory issues.” – Corporate and M&A
“Rajah & Tann provides very practical advice and is always available for us to ask questions, no matter what time. They show their experience when they can provide us with workarounds whenever parties reach a deadlock.” – Corporate and M&A
“They provide practical and business-friendly solutions. They are tremendous value for money. We have access to top-tier legal talent. They are focused on building long-term relationships with their clients.” – Corporate and M&A
“An impressive law firm with an extensive network across ASEAN.” – Corporate and M&A
“They have an impressive network across ASEAN and are great sector leaders.” – Corporate and M&A
“They are very organised, efficient and keep their eye on the ball at all times. Proverbial wisdom is not to fight a war on two fronts, but this dispute had three fronts and Adrian [Wong], Leong Hao [Ang] and Wayne [Yeo] were excellent generals ensuring not just brilliant strategic hits, but also boring basics like evidence gathering was done early.” – Dispute resolution
“We appreciate that they work closely with the client, provide clear insights of the problem and have a solution-oriented approach.” – Dispute resolution
“Attentive to detail, reliable advice and trustworthy.” – Dispute resolution
“They think in the best interests of the client. They are swift yet calculated in their responses.” – Dispute resolution
“Clarity of logic and execution.” – Dispute resolution
“There is a team of highly skilled and competent partners in dispute resolution such as Murali Pillai, Luo Qinghui, Andrea Tan, Elaine Tay and Regina Liew They are able to understand commercial concerns and take them into account when providing advice or when drafting and reviewing contracts. They are also practical, focused, clear and articulate.” – Insurance
“Very approachable, and open to ideas and feedback. Contactable 24/7.” – Insurance
“They are very knowledgeable about insurance regulations in Singapore, and provide very commercial and practical advice. The team is also very responsive with excellent client management skills.” – Insurance
“They have good sector knowledge, are commercial and responsive.” – Investment funds
“Very instructive and practical advice, we managed to achieve our aims with clarity and promptness.” – Labour and employment
“Our two partners at Rajah & Tann, Murali Pillai and Qinghui Luo, were experienced in their field, professional in their dealings with all parties involved, systematic in their approach, and responsive and approachable at all times. Particularly helpful were their guidance and ultimately our alignment on the best approach to protect the firm. An absolute pleasure to work with.” – Labour and employment
“Very professional and prompt advice given, can always rely on them regardless of the time of the day.” – Oil and gas
“Knowledgeable with an extensive network to tap.” – Oil and gas
“They are value for money, have the right balance of commerciality and legal input. They understand our requirements and flex points well and can give pertinent, useful input on both the minutiae as well as the big picture.” – Private equity
“They give fast responses, have a dedicated team and produce high-quality work.” – Private equity
“Strong legal expertise, combined with organic cross-border capabilities and resources.” – Private equity
“Reliable, prompt and accommodating on fee budgets.” – Regulatory
“Always contactable and willing to find solutions in a timely and comprehensive manner.” – Restructuring and insolvency
“We value their understanding of key insurance issues, practical experience of dealing with complex casualties, and accessibility to the partner dealing with the work.” – Shipping
“Value for money and impressive skill sets of the lawyers.” – Shipping
“They have enough strengths in all aspects. They have had full of knowledge of any case from a legal and shipping perspective. In addition, they also pay attention to commercial awareness between our client and the opponent.” – Shipping
Adrian Wong
“Sharp, concise, clear-minded and creative in his argument of case.”
“Clarity of logic and execution.”
Adrian Wong, Ang Leong Hao and Wayne Yeo
“Excellent teamwork with sensible layering that enables them to be very agile and efficient.”
Arnold Tan
“Acknowledged market leader in Singapore, he is friendly, helpful, and has good commercial understanding.”
“He is pragmatic and to the point.”
Bala Vellayappan
“Amazing lawyer to work with. He is practical and very knowledgeable. He is also humble at the same time. He is reliable and provides valuable insights all the time.”
Benjamin Liew
“He is extremely responsive, succinct and precise in rendering advice. He provides value-add services in dealing with ad hoc queries without charge.”
Brian Ng
“He knows the issues and what to focus on, particularly for a financial sponsor or private equity fund-related work.”
Chua Beng Chye
“Good knowledge and the leading expert in his field for HP law and collections.”
Chua Choon King
“Provides legally sound practical advice. He has good connections within the industry. He has been able to provide ’out-of-the-box‘ solutions to overcome challenges due to industry connections.”
Danny Lim
“A go-to guy, he provides very careful and measured advice. He is very responsive and able to pay attention whenever required.”
Elizabeth Teo
“Contactable at any time, she is a comprehensive and practical solution provider.”
Favian Tan
“He is very responsive and quick to resolve issues by providing innovative solutions that are win-win. He has the ability to distil complex legal issues in a clear and concise manner, while at all times focusing on the ultimate commercial objective of the parties.”
Gregory Vijayendran
“Attentive to detail, great knowledge of the law, able to strategise approaches to the case and has a calming assurance.”
Jainil Bhandari
“Jainil is extremely easy to deal with and has a quiet confidence in the way that he works.”
Jonathan Yuen
“Articulate, knowledgeable and offers practical solutions.”
Kala Anandarajah
“She is a very smart business lawyer who represents the firm's attitude which I described here before.”
Kelvin Poon
“In-depth knowledge of the law, a positive approach to problems, and solution-oriented.”
Lee Xin Mei
“We value her knowledge, she is professional and responsive.”
Leong Kah Wah
“He is clear and concise in his advice. He will tell you what matters and what does not, cut out the emotions in disputes and has been able to get the best outcomes in all my cases handled by him. I do not go to anyone else.”
“He has a lot of experiences about main shipping matters for Korean shipping clients. So he can always lead to the most efficient way to solve the problem when there is an unfortunate accident and legal disputes.”
Mark Cheng
“Good problem-solver and engaging.”
Murali Pillai
“He is very experienced in his field, professional in dealings with all parties involved and systematic in his approach. He is responsive and approachable.”
“He is highly skilled and competent. He is very responsive despite a very busy schedule. Murali always makes time for clients, which is very appreciated. He remains calm and unfazed no matter the situation. He is also able to connect well with all levels of stakeholders from his corporate client.”
Nathanael Lin
“Very dependable, and offers good and sound advice.”
“Easy to talk to and can relate clearly to what the client wants.”
Patrick Ang
“He is a leading practitioner in insolvency and restructuring and dispute resolution.”
Philip Yeo
“Philip is highly dedicated to his work and always responds in a timely manner. He possesses strong legal knowledge in the field of investment management and private equity.”
“Responsive, professional, detailed, good technical skills, and pragmatic.”
Sandy Foo
“Very responsive, commercially minded and helpful. A leader in her field.”
Simon Goh
“He is responsive and has deep expertise.”
Sun Zixiang
“Client-centric, focused and driven to achieve good outcomes for the client while not being over-zealous. He has a deep knowledge and understanding of private equity funds work and the various legal and regulatory considerations surrounding the sector.”
Toh Kian Sing
“He is the undisputed king of maritime law.”
Tracy-Anne Ang
“Highly experienced and always willing to spend time to explain rationales and concepts.”
Wang Ying Shuang
“Very approachable. Open to new ideas. Contactable 24/7.”
“Ying Shuang is very knowledgeable about the insurance sector in Singapore and has been a joy to work with. She provides advice that is legally sound and commercially practical, and is one of our organisation's trusted advisers.”
Wee Hann Lim
“He is customer-centric and solution-oriented. He’s also super-experienced and collaborative.”
“Wee Hann is an exceptional lawyer who is always putting the needs of the clients first.”
“Wee Hann is fantastic lawyer who has a broad skillset, which he tailors to the needs of his clients.”