The Legal 500

Within Foreign firms Leading individuals

Within Local firms, Rajah & Tann LLP is a third tier firm,

At Rajah & Tann LLP, Soon Choo Hock, Terence Choo and Rebecca Chew advise local and international banks and corporates, recently advising OCBC banking on S$532m secured credit facilities for a residential, retail and hotel project. Clients appreciate Angela Lim’s ‘strong technical skills and practical approach to negotiation’.

Within Foreign firms Leading individuals

Within Local firms, Rajah & Tann LLP is a third tier firm,

Rajah & Tann LLP’s Chia Kim Huat and his ‘excellent, responsive’ team advised on rights issues, dual listings and privatisations, assisting Sateri with its HK$430m IPO, and advising SGX-ST-listed China Animal Healthcare on preparations for its dual primary listing on the SEHK. Goh Kian Hwee advised GuocoLand on its rights issue.

Within Foreign firms Leading individuals

Within Local firms, Rajah & Tann LLP is a second tier firm,

Clients recommend Rajah & Tann LLP’s ‘sound business acumen, quick turnaround time and excellent client service’. Goh Kian Hwee acted for RHC Healthcare and Fortis Global Healthcare in the competing general offer for Parkway Holdings, and Chia Kim Huat advised Hyflux on the formation of joint venture company Galaxy NewSpring, its acquisition of four water treatment plants from Hyflux and the delisting and subsequent acquisition of Hyflux Water Trust.

Within Local firms, Rajah & Tann LLP is a second tier firm,

Clients recommend Rajah & Tann LLP’s ‘robust, responsive’ team. Andre Yeap and Danny Ong are representing the liquidators of Lehman Brothers entities across Asia in several prominent cases. Practice head Francis Xavier acted for Holcim in an appeal against the High Court decision relating to the 2007 Indonesian Sand Ban.

Within Local firms, Rajah & Tann LLP is a second tier firm,

Rajah & Tann LLP advises local and international clients on trade mark registration and patent infringements with particular expertise in sports work, advising on issues arising out of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Lionel Tan obtained damages for the rights holders of on-line Japanese anime series. Practice head Lau Kok Keng successfully represented MFM Restaurants against Fish & Co. Clients include the Singapore Sports Council, Sony Computer Entertainment and Philips Electronics.

Within International arbitration, Rajah & Tann LLP is a first tier firm,

Clients rate Rajah & Tann LLP as ‘best in class’. Chong Yee Leong and his ‘prompt, thorough’ team acted for an Indian satellite company against a Bermudan company in a $311m ICC arbitration. Chong Boon Leong represented a German company against a Cayman Island company in an SIAC arbitration.

Within Legal market overview,

The local market is dominated by four preeminent law firms: Allen & Gledhill LLP, WongPartnership LLP, Drew & Napier LLC and Rajah & Tann LLP. While the latter two are particularly strong in litigation, strong transactional firms, notably Shook Lin & Bok LLP, Stamford Law Corporation and Rodyk & Davidson LLP lead the chasing pack. Specialist boutiques are increasingly involved in some of the biggest deals. Loo & Partners LLP is one such example. Asia Practice LLP and RHT Law LLP, the latter recently established an alliance with Taylor Wessing LLP, are breakway boutiques launched by high-profile partners from large local firms.

Within Local firms, Rajah & Tann LLP is a second tier firm,

Chong Yee Leong and his team at Rajah & Tann LLP focus on construction and heavy engineering, advising Jurong Aromatics on its $2.4bn Jurong Island project. Soh Lip San represented an international mining and construction company in disputes with an Indonesian coal producer.

Within Local firms, Rajah & Tann LLP is a second tier firm,

Clients recommend Chong Yee Leong’s team at Rajah & Tann LLP, which handles regional and international construction disputes and complex, high-value domestic mandates, notably advising Jurong Aromatics on disputes relating to its $2.4bn integrated petrochemical complex.

Within Foreign firms Leading individuals

Within Local firms, Rajah & Tann LLP is a first tier firm,

Rajah & Tann LLP’s Lee Eng Beng SC, Sim Kwan Kiat and Ryan Loh act for a syndicate of banks regarding the insolvency and restructuring of Korea Line Corporation. Lee Eng Beng SC and Lynette Koh acted for creditors in the $100m restructuring of companies in the Drydocks World group. Lee Eng Beng SC’s team successfully represented the liquidators of Progen Engineering Pte and TT International in two significant Court of Appeal decisions.

Within Foreign firms Leading individuals

Within Local firms, Rajah & Tann LLP is a first tier firm,

Rajah & Tann LLP’s 27-lawyer team, led by Toh Kian Sing SC, was strengthened by the launch of the firm’s Vietnam office and the hire of two Malaysian-qualified lawyers. The firm advises on all areas of shipping and ship finance. Highlights included acting as external counsel on shipping issues when BHP Billiton declared force majeure at Haypoint Terminal, Queensland in December 2010. Winston Kwek and Leong Kah Wah are leading names. Clients value Ian Teo’s ‘timely, practical advice’.

Within Local firms, Rajah & Tann LLP is a first tier firm,

Rajah & Tann LLP’s Rajesh Sreenivasan and his team advised CIMB Bank Berhad on an agreement for the $364m development and implementation of a unified regional core banking platform, acted for Encompass Digital Media on its $113m acquisition of Ascent Media Corporation’s global content distribution business, and advised on the world’s first national electric vehicle charging infrastructure. High-profile clients include Amazon Web Services and Salon Films. Steve Tan focuses on IT-related matters.