Mr Nicholas Wong > Clifford Chance > Singapore, Singapore > Lawyer Profile

Managing partner Valerie Kong solely leads the team at Clifford Chance’s Singapore office following the relocation of former co-lead Johannes Juette to the firm’s London office; Juette remains an active member of the group. Kong frequently advises on cross-border M&A, with a focus on Southeast Asia, while Thomas England acts for banks and borrowers on new money and restructuring transactions. Nicholas Wong advises sponsors, investors, banks and export credit agencies on the structuring, development and financing of energy, oil and gas, infrastructure and mining development projects, and Gareth Deiner specialises in debt capital markets products. Daryl Liu is a member of the firm’s funds and investment management group. Key clients span the food and beverage, energy and resources, consumer goods, private equity and healthcare sectors, among others.

With over four decades of experience in the Singaporean market, the worldwide projects group at Clifford Chance is very well known for acting for sponsors and borrowers, especially the former, in large-scale energy and natural resources, transportation, and infrastructure projects across the region. The team is active in the financing and acquisition of oil and gas, renewable energy, and transport infrastructure projects. The practice is led by the triumvirate of Nicholas Wong, Matthew Buchanan and Ross Howard, who fields expertise in project development and finance matters.

Clifford Chance‘s substantial Singapore office has a major focus on energy projects and transactions. The firm is widely rated for its expertise in M&A and fund investments in the energy sector. Singapore partner Nicholas Wong was previously co-head of the firm’s global energy and infrastructure group, and leads the team jointly with corporate partner Melissa Ng, who has made a particular impression energy M&A across Asia Pacific, historically with an especially strong record in Indonesia. The firm has an impressive client list of project sponsors and developers, funds and investors, and lenders. It is further distinguished by having a dedicated construction team led by Matthew Buchanan, that has played a pivotal role in large-scale offshore wind projects, amongst many other engagements. The Singapore team frequently works alongside colleagues across Asia Pacific, including those in Perth and Sydney. Ross Howard is another key project finance partner with particular experience in Vietnam and Japan.