The Legal 500

The combined corporate and real estate and construction team at Allen & Gledhill LLP is highlighted for its ‘strong business acumen’, ‘industry knowledge’ and ‘premium service’. The group acted for investment manager Pramerica in the acquisition of 11 retail malls across Singapore and Malaysia with an initial value of S$3bn, and represented CapitaCommercial Trust in the divestment and redevelopment of Market Street Car Park. Penny Goh, Eudora Tan and Ho Kin San are recommended.

Valued for its turnaround times and ‘quality advice’, WongPartnership LLP combines Dorothy Marie Ng’s corporate real estate practice with Christopher Chuah’s construction team. A cross-departmental team advised Temasek Holdings and Khazanah Nasional Berhad on a S$5bn development in downtown Singapore, and Ng’s team acted for Jurong Town Corporation in the sale of two tranches of properties for a total of S$688.6m. UOL Group, Mapletree and CapitaLand are active clients.

Major instructions for Drew & Napier LLC include the $890m project financing for Singapore’s second desalination plant for Hyflux. The firm is also involved in the $200m dispute over the termination of a construction contract for a coal-fired power plant in Indonesia. Tan Liam Beng, Geraldine Ong and Eugene Tan are key team members.

Rajah & Tann LLP’s strong practice is led by Yee Leong Chong, and was boosted by the hire of Wei Yaw Lam from Pinsent Masons MPillay. It specialises in international construction arbitration, and is involved in large-scale local developments, including a data centre park and a chilled water plant.

Rodyk & Davidson LLP acts for clients including CapitaMalls and HSBC Institutional Trusts Services, and offers the full gamut of real estate services. Nicholas Chong handles corporate real estate, while Norman Ho manages collective sales and Leong Pat Lynn specialises in planning and land use matters.

Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow’s Lynette Low acted for Homax Development Corporation in the S$294m acquisition of Robson (owners of the Robinson Centre), and advises Lend Lease Investment Management on a host of sale and commercial leasing matters.

Subramanian Pillai at Colin Ng & Partners LLP acted for DCA Architects in relation to a villa development of 164 villas, clubhouse and service buildings in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam, and represented a sub-contractor in disputes arising from sewage treatment projects in Doha, Qatar and the UAE. Ho Soo Lih and Michele Poczka are key names.

Pauline Lee heads Harry Elias Partnership LLP’s real estate and banking group, which acts for major and mid-size developers including Capital and, City Developments Limited and Tiong Aik Group.

KhattarWong handles transactional and contentious mandates for real estate and corporate clients as well as construction and engineering contractors. The vastly experienced Carla Barker has acted for major landowners, and Chia Ho Choon has expertise in energy-related real estate disputes.

Lee & Lee’s head of real estate Thian Soo Ow Yong has acted for joint venture Morganite in a S$1.34bn development, and has been involved in various collective and en bloc sale and purchase transactions.

Pinsent Masons MPillay focuses on major construction projects and associated real estate issues across the region. Mohan Pillay and Jon Howes provide an ‘outstanding’ level of service, acting for clients including Sembawang Engineers and Constructors and Punj Lloyd.

Ramdas & Wong handles planning approvals, and the financing, construction and sale of development projects. Ang Keng Lee advises on developments and tenancies, and Sham Chee Keat focuses on disputes arising from sales and purchases.

At Shook Lin & Bok LLP, Joseph Chun and Ghram Gazalle Mok’s team advises on the full range of corporate real estate transactions relating to commercial, industrial and residential property. KPMG Corporate Finance and Market Street Office Trustee are among its clients.

Stamford Law Corporation has experience in REITs, asset acquisitions and advisory matters relating to developments. Highly rated department head Susan Kong advised Lucrum Capital on its S$200m investment in TT International’s major warehouse retail project.

At TSMP Law Corporation, corporate department head Stefanie Yuen Thio continues to assist Digital Realty Trust with its data centre operations, and Jennifer Chia advised Kwan Hwee Investment on the 680-unit Parkland Residences development.

Sandra Seah at ATMD Bird & Bird has advised on large-scale infrastructure projects, drawing on her experience in energy-related and environmental matters.

Angela Teo-Yap heads the real estate and conveyancing group at Donaldson & Burkinshaw, and recently acted for two statutory boards in relation to the integrated resort developments at Marina Bay and on Sentosa.

Engelin Teh Practice LLC’s Michael Seow provides advice on conveyancing, mortgages and lease agreements.

Formerly an architect, John Chung at Kelvin Chia Partnership has transactional and arbitration experience in construction and engineering disputes.

Benjamin Yeo joined the team at Keystone Law Corporation, having previously served as the deputy registrar of land titles and the deputy controller of residential property.

At Legis Point LLC, Young Chee Foong has experience acting for developers and banks in hospitality-sector sale and purchase transactions.

Tan Peng Chin LLC has three conveyancing lawyers active in property development, sale and purchase and commercial leasing transactions.

Tan Rajah & Cheah’s Khoo Ghee Saik advises on residential and commercial property matters as well as landlord and tenant law.