The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Albar & Partners is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Capital markets, Albar & Partners is a second tier firm,

The team at Albar & Partners is ‘proactive and responsive to clients’ needs’, and ‘adopts a prudent yet practical approach to resolving issues’. Lily Tan Chea Li has deep experience of capital markets instruments and acted as local counsel to Petronas on the biggest IPO in Southeast Asia during 2010. Chung Swee Loong was instructed on notable conventional and Islamic issuances, representing the issuers on Telekom Malaysia’s RM2bn sukuk and KrisAssets Holdings’ RM300m convertible bonds issuance. The practice also advised Maybank as arranger of Senai-Desaru Expressway’s RM5bn-plus sukuk al-ijarah.

Within Corporate and M&A, Albar & Partners is a third tier firm,

Albar & Partners’ strong capital markets and finance credentials have brought it some significant corporate mandates: for example, the Petronas IPO on which it acted also involved a restructuring of its businesses, with the merger of 23 petrochemicals companies and the $400m acquisition of BP Chemicals’ stakes in two domestic companies. It also advised on several disposals, including that of Sapura Auto car dealership business to Sime Darby for RM49m. Lily Tan Chea Li heads the practice.

Within Dispute resolution, Albar & Partners is a third tier firm,

Albar & Partners applies its ‘in-depth knowledge on commercial law’ to banking and commercial disputes. The lead lawyers are V Vijakumar, who provides ‘sound opinion and resolution to disputes’, and N Chandran. Koh Yew Chong is ‘a good advocate, with impressive interpersonal and negotiation skills’, particularly for banking litigation. He acted for the defendant in The Ayer Molek Company v Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional.

Within Islamic finance, Albar & Partners is a first tier firm,

Albar & Partners is a leading player that is a prominent presence representing issuers and arrangers on headline deals, thanks to its strong connections and highly regarded team of specialists, which includes Syed Zaid Albar, Lily Tan Chea Li and Chung Swee Loong. The group acted on Petronas’ RM14.8bn IPO – the biggest sharia-compliant equity listing to date. It also advised Maybank on the RM5.6bn debt restructuring of Senai-Desaru Expressway Berhad and on a cross-border refinancing for PT TH Indo Plantations. Other clients include Telekom Malaysia, CIMB and OCBC.

Within Projects and energy, Albar & Partners is a second tier firm,

Well known for its expertise on major infrastructure project financing, Albar & Partners recently has been busy in the 
energy sector. Lily Tan Chea Li and Angeline 
Lee Sze Yeen both worked on multimillion-
dollar financings involving offshore entities, including advising a syndicate of banks on facilities to TL Offshore, a subsidiary of SapuraCrest Petroleum; and acting for banks on a RM102m facility to Lekir Bulk Terminal. The team also represented Petronas in acquiring BP’s chemicals businesses as well as other disposals and acquisitions prior to its Bursa Malaysia listing. Syed Zaid Albar and Chung Swee Loong, an expert in sharia-compliant project finance, are highly regarded.

Within Real estate and construction, Albar & Partners is a second tier firm,

Albar & Partners advises banks on high-value real estate transactions and has strong experience representing REITs. It was recently instructed on a part financing for a RM1bn-plus property portfolio acquisition; and to act for an offshore bank on a S$100m loan issue to Starhill Global REIT.

Within Shipping, Albar & Partners is a second tier firm,

Led by Chung Swee Loong, Albar & Partners’ ship finance practice has a strong track record with complex structures, particularly on cross-border and offshore transactions. It recently advised one of the lead arrangers of a $238m multi-currency loan to Singapore-based Armada Marine Contractors.