The Legal 500

Adnan Sundra & Low’s highly regarded team acts for clients such as AmBank Group, CIMB and Maybank on both conventional and Islamic structures. The highly rated Deepak Sadasivan advised on a number of asset-backed securities and, along with Gon Kok Ling, acted for CIMB and HSBC as joint lead arrangers to a RM20bn Islamic bond issued by asset management company Pengurusan Aset Air. Adrian Chee Meng Yang was busy advising on acquisition finance and IPOs, including representing the arranger of the bancassurance partnership set up between RHB Bank and Tokio Marine Life Insurance.

Albar & Partners focuses on financing for acquisitions, real estate and projects as well as acting on both conventional and sharia-compliant capital markets mandates such as bond issuances. Chung Swee Loong recently advised Sunway REIT on various real estate finance transactions, including one of over RM1bn, and Syed Zaid Albar and Lily Tan Chea Li advised on a multimillion-dollar loan facility to Singapore-based Starhill Global REIT. Clients among local and international banks include HSBC, RHB and DBS Bank.

Utilising its strong business and political connections, Kadir, Andri & Partners continues to act on some of the biggest deals in the Islamic and conventional finance spaces. The highly regarded Andri Aidham Badri led on several large ringgit denominated sukuk issuances and on Khazanah’s Singapore dollar denominated sukuk, which was Singapore’s largest such transaction. Adrian Chair Yong Huang recently advised the lender on a $360m loan facility for the development at Male International Airport.

Zaid Ibrahim & Co’s debt finance experts handle domestic and cross-border transactions. The team recently advised several domestic and international banking groups on landmark Islamic finance deals, including the largest sukuk issuance in Singapore as well as the biggest global sovereign Islamic bond issuance to date. The group also advised CIMB Bank on the first Callable Bull/Bear Certificate (CBBC) issuance in South East Asia. Lilian Liew leads the five-partner team.

Zul Rafique & Partners has a strong 
reputation for cross-border and offshore mandates, including international debt issuances, and for advising on Islamic structures. Loh Mei Mei led advice to Celcom Axiata on its RM4.2bn sukuk issuance and to the manager of Starhill Global REIT on a cross-border real estate finance transaction worth over RM1bn. Jerry Ong advised RBS as arranger of Gulf Investment Corporation’s RM3.5bn sukuk issuance. Ashela Ramaya made partner in 2011.

Cheong Kee Fong & Co’s name partner Cheong Kee Fong is highly regarded, with particular expertise in debt and equity capital markets. The two-partner team frequently represents foreign banks and often works alongside international law firms on cross-border transactions.

Shearn Delamore & Co handles debt financing and derivatives transactions, including Islamic structures, and provides regulatory advice to financial institutions. Christina Kow leads the financial services group, which recruited Pamela Kung from Zaid Ibrahim & Co in 2011. Kung advised the arrangers for Maybank’s $2bn medium-term notes programme. The practice advises domestic lenders and borrowers, and Tee Joe Lei recently advised CIMB Bank on providing a RM680m loan facility for the MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Shook Lin & Bok continues to act for major banks on conventional and Islamic financing. It has been busy with debt restructuring 
and real estate finance transactions. It also recently advised local and international banks on cross-border loan facilities and advised the lender on a RM1bn project financing. The eight-partner team includes Kelvin Loh Hsien Han, Jal Othman and Patricia David Saini.

Skrine has a comprehensive track record in financing and is particularly well recognised for its corporate banking work. Clients include multinationals and leading local players. 
Philip Chan and Theresa Chong are the names to note.

Wong & Partners advises local and international clients on a broad range of matters including project finance, securities, regulatory advice and derivatives. Capital markets expert Mark Lim advised domestic lenders on a £270m syndicated loan to Lotus Group, owned by Proton Holdings. He also acted for Maybank on a $700m syndicated loan underwritten by a group of international banks. Azizul Adnan advises on Islamic finance.

Project finance is a core competency at Azmi & Associates, where Ahmad Lutfi Abdull Mutalip advised GMR Male International Airport as borrower of a £358m credit facility. Serina Abdul Samad leads on debt financing transactions, and recently acted for Malaysia Airports Holdings and Malaysia Debt Ventures. It also provides advisory services and drafts facility agreements for major banks such as Maybank and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.

Cheang & Ariff’s Yeat Soo Ching leads on corporate banking and finance work, and recently advised CIMB on financing a project under Brunei Economic Development Board’s national housing scheme. The practice also advises private equity and venture capital clients such as Kuwait Finance House and Mayban Ventures.

Chooi & Company has experience advising on regulatory issues and local and cross-border deals, including acting for clients such as JPMorgan and CIMB on corporate and project financing. It has also represented clients 
such as AEON Credit Service, Ambank and Goldman Sachs. Azman Othman Luk and Lim 
Cze Mien focus on securities and structured finance.

Christopher Lee & Co is well reputed for its knowledge and expertise in project financing, with the ‘very astute’ Christopher Lee considered a leading figure in the market. In aircraft financing, the practice acted for AirAsia X as borrower on a syndicated loan with conventional and sharia-compliant tranches. It also advises on debt restructuring, private equity investments and debt securities, and recently advised a Maybank subsidiary as bond trustee on Petronas’ takeover of Optimal.

Jeff Leong, Poon & Wong particularly acts for foreign lenders on shipping and aircraft finance transactions. Kenny Poon, who leads on such work, is ‘an experienced and practical commercial practitioner who is well aware of the requirements of international clients’. The practice also has been busy in capital raisings and Islamic debt financings in the telecoms sector. Banking law expert Jilleen Tia is ‘able to provide common-sense solutions to issues that arise’.

Khaw & Partners is recommended for its mix of litigation, corporate and finance support to banks. Recent mandates include advising banks on local and cross-border loan facilities for acquisitions and refinancings.

Heavily focused on contentious work, Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill utilises its strong links in the finance world to defend banking groups against claims. Andrew Chiew Ean Vooi made several successful representations, including at appeal. The practice also acted for Maybank on a $26m loan facility to an Indonesian energy corporation. Tay Weng Hwee leads on debt financing matters.

Raja, Darryl & Loh’s Christopher Foo specialises in unit trusts and investment-related matters, often advising fund managers and international banks on regulatory issues, but the group also handles banking litigation and insolvency. Tai Chu Wei and Joyce Teh recently handled several IPOs and debt security mandates, some of which had cross-border elements.

Shahrizat Rashid & Lee advises local and international banking groups on both conventional and Islamic finance, including real estate and project finance. Practice head Loo May Pearl has ‘commercial sense and business acumen’.

Zain & Co represents various domestic banks, including recently advising on real estate and infrastructure development financing and steps adeptly between conventional and Islamic structures. It also advises local and foreign issuers on capital raisings and recently acted for a German banking group in winding down a portfolio of assets.