The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Shearn Delamore & Co is a second tier firm,

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.

Within Capital markets, tier 4

Shearn Delamore & Co acts for a mix of arrangers and borrowers on conventional and Islamic debt issuances. Pamela Kung acted for the joint arrangers on a multi-currency medium-term note programme worth $2bn, while Tee Joe Lei advised on a Tier 2 subordinate note programme worth $23m.

Within Corporate and M&A, Shearn Delamore & Co is a first tier firm,

Shearn Delamore & Co’s reputation lies in its experience of cross-border mandates and a varied client base of international and domestic entities such as Texas Instruments, Khazanah Nasional, Malaysian Resources Corporation, and GS Paper and Packaging. Its M&A activities include recently acting for Japanese companies Oji Asia and Taisho Pharmaceuticals on inbound investments. Practice head Grace Yeoh handled Bonia Corporation’s acquisition of shares in Singaporean retailer Jeco. Ng Swee Kee acted as local counsel to multinationals on acquisitions and disposals.

Within Dispute resolution, Shearn Delamore & Co is a first tier firm,

Shearn Delamore & Co’s comprehensive litigation and arbitration practice encompasses insolvency, defamation, contract breaches, shipping cases, and land disputes, and is frequently involved in benchmark cases. Shanti Mogan acted on a first-of-its-kind case in Malaysia regarding an arbitrator’s duty of disclosure. Rajasingam Gothandapani successfully represented a landowner in a RM29m compensation claim and at appeal. Practice head Robert Lazar, Jeyanthini Kannaperan, Rodney Gomez and Jimmy Liew are also recommended.

Within IT and telecoms, Shearn Delamore & Co is a second tier firm,

Shearn Delamore & Co’s expertise includes 
e-commerce, data protection, software integration, outsourcing and telecoms regulatory issues as well as major disputes. Clients include a mix of IT and telecoms service providers, major banks and GLCs. Practice head Gary Lim continues to advise Malaysia’s largest satellite TV provider on an upgrade to its customer care and billing platform.

Within Intellectual property, Shearn Delamore & Co is a first tier firm,

The ‘very efficient and proactive’ Shearn 
Delamore & Co is led by Wong Sai Fong and Karen Abraham, who ‘displays strong leadership and teamwork’. The practice was recently appointed to handle the global portfolio of Oleochemicals, a Malaysian company; it also successfully represented a multiparty applicant in a cross-border trade mark dispute regarding the Ponni rice variety. Janet Toh was promoted to the partnership in 2011.

Within Islamic finance, Shearn Delamore & Co is a first tier firm,

Shearn Delamore & Co’s Tee Joe Lei is well known for her Islamic and conventional financing expertise. Recently she acted for Standard Chartered on various sharia-compliant loans and also advised the borrower of a RM190m credit facility to redeem its sukuk issuance. The loss of Fiona Sequerah to Christopher Lee & Co was balanced by the recruitment of Pamela Kung from Zaid Ibrahim & Co in 2011.

Within Legal market overview,

Shearn Delamore & Co, Skrine and Shook Lin & Bok retain their position as the traditional elite, but well-connected firms such as Zul Rafique & Partners, Zaid Ibrahim & Co and Kadir, Andri & Partners continue to encroach on market share.

Within Projects and energy Other recommended firms

Within Real estate and construction, Shearn Delamore & Co is a first tier firm,

Shearn Delamore & Co’s team includes ‘very smart individuals who understand realities in the commercial world and provide accurate advice’ regarding real estate and construction-related matters. Real estate head Sar Sau Yee and Ding Mee Kiong are recommended, as is Rodney Gomez who leads on construction work. The firm’s highly regarded dispute resolution team continues to handle significant construction, land and planning cases.

Within Shipping, Shearn Delamore & Co is a second tier firm,

‘Well versed in shipping law and commercial litigation’, Shearn Delamore & Co’s capabilities extend across the spectrum of contentious matters as well as regulatory and transactional work. Highly experienced practice head Rajasingam Gothandapani recently acted on domestic and cross-border ship arrests, insurance and fraud claims.

Within Tax, Shearn Delamore & Co is a first tier firm,

Shearn Delamore & Co has a longstanding reputation and leading position in the tax field, and acts on disputes, investigations and other advisory matters. The team has extensive dispute resolution experience and works closely with the corporate and commercial group to advise companies. Practice head Goh Ka Im and Irene Yong have recently provided cross-border advice and won High Court judicial reviews. The highly experienced Anand Raj ‘has sound knowledge of income tax law and can effectively present a case in court’. He recently represented commercial clients in high-value, complex cases before the Special Commissioners of Income Tax.