The Legal 500

Allen & Gledhill LLP fields an ‘incredibly deep bench of partners’, with a particularly strong reputation for highly structured financings, as well as a market-leading profile in Islamic finance. 2008 saw the finance team act for CIMB-GK Securities and Bank of New York Mellon on a S$1bn Islamic trust certificate programme, the first to be established by a corporate in Singapore. In addition, the capital markets team acted for DBS Group Holdings’ S$4bn rights issue, which was the largest Singapore capital markets transaction at the time. Clients note that Jerry Koh’s REIT experience is ‘hard to match’, and single out ‘senior statesman’ Lucien Wong and Tan Tze Gay, who is ‘probably the best capital markets lawyer in Singapore’.

Drew & Napier LLC has a prominent reputation for its project and acquisition finance work, and recently bolstered its regulatory expertise with the hire of Eric Chan. Consultant David Ang and ‘experienced and skilful’ Valerie Kwok lead the banking team, which acted for Lucite International on a $1bn term loan and revolving credit facility, while the ‘focused and driven’ capital markets team acted for Eng Wah Organisation on its $400m RTO of Transcu. Sin Boon Ann, Petrus Huang and Yeo Wee Kiong, whom clients praise for his ‘technical expertise and ability to prioritise matters’, lead the capital markets practice.

Shook Lin & Bok LLP has been active on leveraged finance transactions in the projects and energy sectors. The team, which clients consider ‘able to provide legal advice tempered with good business knowledge’, acted for HSBC on a HK$12bn facility for the proposed acquisition of a Hong Kong-listed telecoms provider, and advised Malayan Banking Berhad as issuer to the first Singapore dollar-denominated tier one regulatory issue by a non-Singapore issuer. Clients recommend Liew Kai Zee and equity capital markets specialists Janet Tan and Kenneth Oh.

Stamford Law Corporation’s boutique practice has developed a reputation for ‘excellent response times and commercial acumen’. In 2008, the firm acted for Mapletree Investments as the borrower on a S$1bn financing for the acquisition of commercial and industrial properties. The team, led by Susan Kong and ably supported by ‘outstanding industry expert’ Bernard Lui, was joined in 2008 by Valerie Jagger, who brings with her a wealth of experience through her in-house counsel roles at Barclays Wealth and Crédit Agricole.

WongPartnership LLP’s banking and finance work has a distinct project and acquisition 
finance flavour and its Islamic finance capability was further enhanced by the arrival of Azlin Ahmed in 2008. The team, led by Susan Wong and Alvin Chia, acted for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking on financing matters arising out of the restructuring of the Tanjung Jati B power plant expansion. Rachel Eng’s capital markets team acted for Ascendas Funds Management on the establishment of a S$1bn medium term notes programme.

Lee & Lee’s banking and finance practice acts on cross-border structured financings for foreign lenders. The distressed state of the market has brought with it an increase in refinancing work for a largely property developer client base, with highlights including advising DBS on a S$350m facility to CDL Real Estate Investment Trust. Louise Tan leads the team.

Loo & Partners LLP’s boutique practice is often clients’ ‘first port of call for projects of complexity and substantial value’. Its banking practice has strong links with state-owned funds across Taiwan, China and Korea, and has been acting for China Construction Bank on numerous credit facilities. The firm continues to provide IPO and RTO assistance for a largely regional client base. Name partner Loo Choon Chiaw ‘articulates his clients’ position in clear concise terms’.

Rajah & Tann LLP’s banking team sits within its corporate real estate practice, with Soon Choo Hock and Terence Choo particularly recommended for advisory work relating to derivative, compliance and regulatory issues. In 2008, the firm acted on a S$220m syndicated loan facility to a REIT. The capital markets team is headed up by Goh Kian Hwee and has a wholly owned subsidiary R&T Corporate Services, which acts as a qualified SGX Catalist sponsor. The team acted for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking and HSBC Institutional Trust Services on a number of revolving credit facilities to SGX-listed companies.

‘Well-versed in banking regulation and corporate finance’, Rodyk & Davidson LLP has a solid mid-size banking practice that is particularly well regarded for its real estate finance work. Practice head Doreen Sim advised the borrower on a S$1bn loan facility to refinance the acquisition and development of a land parcel at Marina View in Singapore. Clients highlight the team’s responsiveness and legal insight.

Colin Ng & Partners LLP handles revolving credit facilities for its international lender-based clientele. The capital markets practice acted for China Kunda Technology Holdings on its IPO on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading in October 2008. The team is led by Quek Li Fei, with name partner Colin Ng recommended.

KhattarWong acted for China Fibretech in its $28m initial public offering on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Tan Chong Huat heads the practice.

TSMP Law Corporation’s Benjamin Choo acted on an IPO of an education provider based in China with operations in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.

Wong & Leow LLC covers cross-border financing transactions thanks to dual-qualified partners such as Paul Elliott and James Huang.

Wong Tan & Molly Lim LLC fields a three-partner corporate finance and banking team led by Sunny Wong. Recent highlights include acting for a Chinese fabric manufacturer on its listing on SGX.

In addition to Arfat Selvam’s niche Islamic finance expertise, which has seen the firm 
advise on the formation of a sharia-compliant real estate fund, Arfat Selvam Alliance LLC has extensive experience with capital markets transactions. Clients recommend ‘creative and meticulous’ capital markets expert Krishna Ramachandra.

At Donaldson & Burkinshaw, Chia Yee Chern Daniel has property finance expertise. The firm also acts on syndicated loan transactions.

Engelin Teh Practice LLC’s name partner Engelin Teh advises on both transactional and contentious banking matters.

Claudia Teo heads up Harry Elias Partnership’s finance practice, while Latiff Ibrahim brings substantial Islamic finance expertise. Highlights include acting for Kuwait Finance House on cross-border loan facilities to a Singapore healthcare company.

Kelvin Chia Partnership has strong ties to China, with 2008 seeing the firm act for a Chinese corporation on its purchase and subsequent conversion into ordinary shares of convertible bonds issued by a Singapore company. Andrew Lai and Andrew Mak are the principal contacts.

Legis Point LLC acts for a number of foreign banks on documentation matters, and has seen a growing number of financing instructions from the private jet market. Young Chee Fong heads up the practice.

Tan Peng Chin LLC has a prominent list of over 20 international banking clients, including Agricultural Bank of China and BNP Paribas. Lim Jo See was appointed head of the corporate, banking and finance practice in 2009.