Duane Morris & Selvam LLP > Singapore, Singapore > Firm Profile

Duane Morris & Selvam LLP
16 COLLYER QUAY #17-00
SINGAPORE 049318
Singapore

Email firm Visit website 65 6311 0030 65 6311 0058

Singapore > Projects and energy: local firms Tier 3

The projects, energy and infrastructure team at Duane Morris & Selvam LLP is led by Leon Yee , Ramiro Rodriguez , and Priyank Srivastava . Upstream and downstream oil and gas projects are prominent in the team’s workload, and the group also handles other matters such as regulatory and compliance issues, joint ventures, and licensing. Although the department is active in work across the region, the Singapore practice maintains a visible presence in Myanmar.

Practice head(s):

Leon Yee; Ramiro Rodriguez; Priyank Srivastava

Testimonials

‘Duane Morris & Selvam is our go-to firm for all our work. They have a team of very capable and efficient people. The partners and associates have in-depth knowledge of the laws and a great understanding of the client’s requirements. Their fee is commensurate with the work output and clients trust them with their strategy and suggestions.’

‘Priyank Srivastava is a leading lawyer in the industry for projects and energy. He is extremely capable and a very smart lawyer. His knowledge in this field is unparalleled.’

Key clients

Sembcorp Utilities Pte Ltd

Young Investment Group

Mercantile & Maritime, Singapore

ONGC Videsh Limited

CESI

State Bank of India

Ashro Singapore Pte. Ltd

Shwe Min Gan Finance Company Limited

Beijing Deheng, Sichuan Petroleum and Natural Gas Construction Engineering Co

Indraprashta Gas Limited

Iceberg Holding

Work highlights

Advising Sembcorp Utilities on a US$250 million financing of a gas-fired power plant project in Myanmar.
Advising the Young Investment Group on potential investments in solar power projects in the region, as well as oil and gas upstream projects in Myanmar.
Advising a Singaporean oil and gas holding company on its expansion plans in Southeast Asia.

Singapore > TMT: local firms Tier 3

Duane Morris & Selvam LLP counts technology transactions and telecommunications acquisitions in its workload, with demonstrable experience advising on licensing mandates, media regulation, and digital currencies. Gerard Hekker leads the team and advises on a broad range of technology matters, from infrastructure deployment and sharing agreements, to licensing and service agreements, online payment solutions, and distribution agreements.

Practice head(s):

Gerard Hekker

Key clients

Globe Telecom

PT XL Axiata Tbk

Axiata Investments (Indonesia) Sdn Bhd

PT Global Digital Niaga Tbk

Dentsu Inc.

Work highlights

Represented Globe Telecom, Inc, a mobile telecommunications operator in The Philippines, in its transferred sites master lease agreements, as well as its build-to-suit and colocation master lease agreements.
Represented Axiata Investments (Indonesia) Sdn Bhd and PT XL Axiata Tbk, mobile telecommunications operators in Malaysia and Indonesia, on their acquisition of 66.03% of the issued share capital of PT Link Net Tbk, an Indonesian cable television and broadband services provider, for approximately US$595m.
Represented Blibli.com on its IPO of US$518m of shares listed on the IDX including a Rule 144A / Regulation S international offering.

Singapore > Banking and finance: local firms Tier 4

Duane Morris & Selvam LLP has a broad-based banking and finance practice that has seen growth in venture debt transactions over the last two years. Its core practice continues to centre on leveraged and acquisition finance, project finance, asset finance, trade finance and real estate finance, along with regulatory and compliance work. It remains close to a wealth of Korean, Chinese and Indian banks, and a number of alternative lenders, notably Genesis Alternative Investments. Leon Yee is chairman of the Singapore office, head of the banking and finance team, and the blockchain and fintech group.

Practice head(s):

Leon Yee

Testimonials

‘Duane Morris & Selvam is our go-to firm for most of our cross-border assignments. Their service and work output are commendable. The key differentiator is their partner time in any assignment. The partner has in-depth assessment and involvement in the assignments and is an expert in the relevant field of law. Their fee is commensurate with the work product and they are extremely practical in their approach. ’

‘The team is fabulous. It has deep expertise across a wide breadth of industry.’

Key clients

CJ International Asia

Genesis Alternative Investments

Federal International (2000)

State Bank of India

Iceberg Holdings

Goldman Investment International Holding

Shwe Minn Gan Finance Company

Work highlights

Advised an Indian state-owned bank with review and finalisation of a corporate guarantee from a Singapore company.
Advised a Singapore Oil & Gas retail holding company with its expansion plans in Southeast Asia, involving financing and joint-venture documents with an investor.
Advised a PRC company on its housing/commercial development project and joint-venture matters with a Myanmar conglomerate, involving arrangements for shareholders debt and security coverage as well as specific governance mechanics.

Singapore > Corporate and M&A: foreign firms Tier 4

With demonstrable experience across the technology and telecommunications, energy, consumer goods and pharmaceuticals sectors, Duane Morris & Selvam LLP handles M&A and lease agreements, in addition to advising clients on forming business entities in Singapore, Vietnam and Myanmar. Leon Yee leads the team and advises on cross-border M&A, joint ventures and corporate governance matters, with a particular focus on deals arising out of Korea, Indonesia and China.

Practice head(s):

Leon Yee

Key clients

Globe Telecom

Axiata Investments (Indonesia) Sdn Bhd

PT XL Axiata Tbk

Work highlights

Represented Globe Telecom, Inc on its transferred sites master lease agreements, as well as its build-to-suit and colocation master lease agreements, in relation to the leaseback portion of a US$ 1.64 billion sale and leaseback of telecommunication towers in the Philippines.
Represented Axiata Investments (Indonesia) Sdn Bhd and PT XL Axiata Tbk on their acquisition of 66.03% of the issued share capital of PT Link Net Tbk for approximately US$595 million.

Singapore > Corporate and M&A: local firms Tier 5

India > Foreign firms Tier 4

Singapore-based law firm Duane Morris & Selvam LLP excels in high-end capital markets transactions in Singapore and has an in-depth understanding of equity capital markets work in India and Indonesia, including issues involving financial services, investment banking, and insurance companies. Jamie Benson leads the practice and has significant expertise in advising on securities offerings by Indian issuers, including public and private equity placements and high-yield, convertible, and investment-grade bond offerings.

Practice head(s):

Jamie Benson

Key clients

President of India

Life Insurance Corporation of India

Axis Capital

ICICI Securities

Phillip Securities

Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India) Private Limited

JM Financial Limited

SBI Capital Markets

Kotak Mahindra Capital Company

Ambit Capital

Elara Capital (India) Private Limited

Anand Rathi Advisors Limited

IIFL Securities Limited

DAM Capital Advisors

Equirus Capital Private Limited

Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors Limited

UBS Securities

Credit Suisse Securities

Citigroup Global Markets

Work highlights

Acted as international legal counsel to the President of India and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) on the sale of 3.5% of the outstanding shares in LIC by the president of India for approximately US$2.7 billion in an initial public offering in India and concurrent private placements outside India, including a Rule 144A offering in the United States.
Acted as the special international legal counsel to the book running lead managers, Equirus Capital Private Limited and Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors Limited, on DreamFolks Limited’s IPO.
Acted as international legal counsel to Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India) Private Limited in its role as the sole broker on the sale of approximately US$497 million of shares in Sona BLW Precision Forgings Limited by Singapore VII Topco III Pte. Ltd. by way of one or more share sales on the screen-based trading platform of BSE Limited and/or National Stock Exchange of India Limited.

Myanmar > Projects

Leading individuals

Priyank Srivastava – Duane Morris & Selvam (Myanmar) Limited

Myanmar > Corporate and M&A

Duane Morris & Selvam (Myanmar) Limited advises on all aspects of corporate and M&A matters in Myanmar, and enhances this practice with its network of offices across the world, assisting on multi-jurisdictional matters involving US, Singaporean, Chinese and English law. Leon Yee and Priyank Srivastava jointly lead the practice. Yee regularly advises on corporate governance mandates, restructurings and joint ventures, while Srivastava focuses on oil and gas, LNG and power matters. In April 2023, Lan Yu left the firm.

Practice head(s):

Leon Yee; Priyank Srivastava

Testimonials

‘Duane Morris & Selvam have expert partners and are a highly competent team. They are very open to hearing the client’s needs and suggestions and have a very collaborative approach.’

‘Priyank Srivastava is a hands-on partner and gives a lot of time to an assignment. He understands the nuances of the assignment and the client’s expectations and has the great ability to manage them too.’

‘The team is fabulous. It has deep expertise across a wide breadth of industries.’

‘Priyank Srivastava is able to balance commercial and legal considerations in all his advice and engagement with us.’

‘The firm’s responsiveness is vital to the type of advice that we sought. They are sensitive to the urgency of the matters and that what we appreciate the most. Their advice is always solid, practical and solution-oriented.’

‘We are impressed with their attention to details and willingness to go beyond.’

Key clients

Khaing Lon Gems (YIG Group)

Goldman Investment Int Holdings

Iceberg Holding

KDB Bank

State Bank of India

Beijing Deheng, Sichuan Petroleum and Natural Gas Construction Engineering Co.

Crown Agent Bank

Shwe Min Gan Finance Company

Indraprashta Gas Limited

iGenesis

YellowStone

SK Energy

The Nature Conservancy

GreatWall Food Stuff Industry Company Limited

Work highlights

Advising a PRC company on its approx. USD 100 million housing/commercial development project and joint-venture matters with a Myanmar conglomerate.
Advising a Singapore oil & sas retail holding company with its expansion plans in Southeast Asia.
Advised an Indian state-owned bank with review and finalization of a corporate guarantee from a Singapore company.

Name	Position	Profile
Ms Zabrina Abdul Hamid	Director, Selvam LLC Areas of Practice: Corporate Real Estate Banking Wills &…	View Profile
Mr Jamie Benson	Director Areas of Practice: Securities Law International Capital Markets Cross-Border Mergers and…	View Profile
Mr Sarbjit Singh Chopra	Managing Director	View Profile
Mr Gerard Hekker	Director/Partner Areas of Practice: Mergers and Acquisitions Venture Capital Equity and Debt…	View Profile
Mr Eduardo Ramos-Gómez	Partner	View Profile
Mr Ramiro Rodriguez	Director	View Profile
Mrs Arfat Selvam	Managing Director	View Profile
Mr Daniel Soo	Director/Head of the Selvam LLC’s Insolvency and Restructuring Practice	View Profile
Mr Leon Yee	Chairman	View Profile

Diversity & Inclusion

Duane Morris & Selvam is committed to being a law firm that includes people of diverse backgrounds and fully utilizes their talents to provide legal services of the highest quality. The firm will employ effective methods of recruitment of diverse persons, and we will support the success and advancement of members of diverse groups within the firm.

We are committed to fostering understanding, communication and respect among all people in the firm, including people of different races, religions, ages, genders, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, national origins, sexual preferences or orientations, medical conditions or disabilities, and marital, veteran or family statuses. The firm believes it should capitalize on the strength emanating from these differences. Drawing on the talents of all of the firm’s personnel helps to create an optimum workplace, one which can attract and retain diverse personnel and clients, allowing it to enter and serve varying markets and approach services to its clients more creatively. Duane Morris & Selvam has the ability to meet these challenges and recognizes the beneficial impact a successful diversity program will have on firm morale, productivity, strategies and success.

Pro Bono

Duane Morris & Selvam believes in equal justice for all. Through our pro bono program, our firm attorneys and non-attorney personnel make use of their knowledge and expertise to assist individuals, non-profit legal service providers, community economic development organizations and all other charitable organizations that work to address unmet legal, civil, economic, health, shelter and societal needs. We aim to bring about positive change for people who are disadvantaged.

One such initiative is for the All Saints Home, a group of elderly care centers across Singapore, which provide support to underprivileged senior citizens. Our attorneys assisted elderly residents to execute a lasting power of attorney so that those close to them may make crucial decisions on their behalf in the event that they are incapacitated. The firm is also involved in a program committed to support underprivileged families by making a real difference to the babies start in life by providing infant formula and diapers to ensure they get the nutrition and hygiene needed for them to thrive.

CLIENT: –
COMPANY/FIRM: Exponential Hub Co., Ltd.
TESTIMONIAL: For Priyank Srivastava and Duane Morris & Selvam LLP, Corporate and Regulatory

On behalf of Exponential Hub Co., Ltd, I’ve had the pleasure of having Priyank Srivastava, represent and advise us on various commercial issues with active participation in the discussions about contractual documentation in connection with our venture with an international technology company. We can recommend Duane Morris & Selvam without reservation. Duane Morris & Selvam provided us with an amazing, valuable resource and experience. I have nothing but good things to say about our experience with the firm.

CLIENT: Bernard Tan
COMPANY/FIRM: AG Myanmar Water Company Limited (A JV involving stakeholders from Malaysia/Hong Kong and Myanmar)
TESTIMONIAL: For Priyank Srivastava and Duane Morris & Selvam LLP, Projects

We engaged Priyank since the beginning of this year. His level of professionalism, agility, all rounding commercial wisdom guided us to be able to simplify and focus on the core issues in each phase of development in our projects amidst the complexity of today’s business environment. With Priyank / Duane Morris & Selvam’s backing, we have strong confidence to outperform in our trade.

CLIENT: –
COMPANY/FIRM: ONGC Videsh Ltd Delhi
TESTIMONIAL: For Priyank Srivastava and Duane Morris & Selvam LLP

We have known Priyank for almost a decade now. We have seen him handle Energy, Oil & Gas matters and a large variety of corporate matters with the highest degree of professionalism. Priyank is an excellent lawyer and carries a wide scope of commercial sense, wisdom and experience. Lawyers working in the oil & gas sector require both legal regulatory as well as industry experience, and Priyank is one of the rare professional lawyers, having the combination of both. Duane Morris & Selvam has great resources and we highly recommend them.

CLIENT: Sim Eng Tong, Chief Executive Officer
COMPANY/FIRM: Biomax Holdings Pte Ltd
TESTIMONIAL: For Mr Sarbjit Singh Chopra

I was recommended to Mr Sarbjit Singh of Selvam LLC after using two other law firms. I am very satisfied with his and his team’s services. He is understanding and caring and I am very thankful for the emotional support he showed me when I was under tremendous stress. He took care of my worries as if they were his own. I am very grateful for his assistance.

The Metaverse: The Rise Of The Digital Universe

19th January 2022

The metaverse has been on the minds of several practitioners, advisers, corporate strategists and central bankers. But, the Generation Z participants – or zoomers as they are affectionately known as – are not thinking it – they are well into being it, living it and expanding the ever evolving Metaverse. So, if you have not heard about the Metaverse, it’s time for you to elegantly crawl out of your intellectual rock and start to understand the nuances and idiosyncrasies around this metamorphosis surrounding the digital universe. All corporates and businesses need to start re-calibrating their business strategies to cater for the zoomers – who by the way form the largest consumer base presently. And the zoomers will continue to dictate their terms of engagement with all consumer ecosystems, including with the big techs. We are in the zoomer’s realm and the development of their Metaverse epoch is inevitable. In my mind, Ready Player One (and Two) in some form is already here.

Intellectual Property Protection

19th January 2022

What does IP mean?

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce. IP represents property rights and is protected in law by, for example, patents, copyright, industrial design and trademarks, which enable people to earn recognition or financial benefit from what they invent or create.