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Clifford Chance

ONE GEORGE STREET, 19TH FLOOR, SINGAPORE 049145
Washington DC, Warsaw, Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, Sao Paulo , and 24 more

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Singapore

Foreign firms

Within Asset finance - Foreign firms, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

The arrival of Simon Briscoe from Norton Rose (Asia) LLP has energised Clifford Chance’s ‘excellent’ aviation finance practice. His ‘deep knowledge of financing techniques’ means the team acts as preferred lender counsel to a number of regional airlines such as Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. Highlights include acting for DVB Group Merchant Bank on the refinancing of four used Boeing aircraft for Philippine Airlines.

Within Banking and finance - Foreign firms, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance fields a team of ‘solid lawyers who consistently deliver the best outcome’. Project finance continues to provide a steady stream of heavyweight deals, with Ting Ting Tan acting for Bank of China (Hong Kong) as arranger for the financing of the S$4.2bn acquisition of Tuas Power from Temasek Holdings. The practice also bolstered its India offering, with Andrew Brereton advising Ballarpur Holdings on a $500m leveraged facility for the acquisition of three Indian businesses. Andrew Gambarini is also recommended.

Within Capital markets - Foreign firms, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance fields a team of ‘solid lawyers that consistently deliver the best outcome’ and strengthened their focus on India with the hire of Rahul Guptan, ‘one of the leading capital markets lawyers in India’, from a major Indian law firm. The practice’s experience in Islamic securities saw it act on a $550m sukuk issuance for a Malaysian client in 2008. Other highlights include advising Macquarie Capital and Citibank on the private placement of Singapore-listed Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust. Joan Janssen and Crawford Brickley are recommended.

Within Corporate and M&A - Foreign firms, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Managing partner Philip Rapp and ‘strategic thinker’ Lee Taylor head up the ‘responsive, commercial and smart’ corporate team at Clifford Chance, which has been involved in a number of strategic M&A transactions for Philip Morris International, Time Warner and Shell. The team acted for Barclays on its acquisition of Bank Akita in Indonesia, and supplemented this cross-border expertise with its acquisition of a QFLP license in 2008.

Within Projects and energy - Foreign firms, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

‘Fast, responsive and willing to do what is required to meet difficult deadlines’, Clifford Chance has increased its team at associate level and has developed a reputation for ‘very good industry knowledge and business acumen’. In 2008, the team advised Barclays and China Development Bank on a fast track $261m power financing in Indonesia. Head of group Ting Ting Tan ‘consistently delivers on deals’ and is ably assisted by consultant Merrick White, who ‘has a very good grasp of the concepts that are key to gas sale, processing and transportation’.

Within Restructuring and insolvency - Foreign firms, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance draws on its considerable finance, capital markets and corporate resources to provide the full range of ‘disciplined, thorough and responsive’ restructuring advice. Head of finance Andrew Gambarini added further local capability with the arrival of Nish Shetty from WongPartnership LLP. The team acted for the commercial lenders on the debt restructuring of Thai company Shin Satellite, as well as acting on the $1bn restructuring of the Musi pulp and paper mill.

Local firms

Within Dispute resolution - Local firms,

WongPartnership LLP’s strength in the international sector means it is often called on to advise on cross-border disputes in China and the Middle East, in the banking, corporate and infrastructure sectors. In addition to advising an international financial institution on its rights of action against losses caused by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, ‘experienced’ Alvin Yeo also acted for the Land Transport Authority on a dispute arising from the construction of the Circle Line rail project. Nish Shetty left the firm to join Clifford Chance.

Offshore market

Within Offshore market,

Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP, Norton Rose (Asia) LLP and White & Case LLP International Lawyers were the six recipients of QFLP licenses awarded by the Singaporean government. Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance split from their joint law ventures with Shook Lin & Bok LLP and WongPartnership LLP as a result. Allen & Overy also acquired local law firm Venture Law LLC in order to boost its Singapore law offering.

Singapore overview

What we say worldwide

Please choose another Clifford Chance office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

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Algeria

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France

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Ghana

Hong Kong

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India

Italy

Offices in Rome and Milan

Japan

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Jordan

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Lebanon

London

Offices in London and London

Luxembourg

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Morocco

Netherlands

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Oman

UK Overview

Philippines

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Romania

Offices in Bucharest

Russia

Offices in Moscow

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Tunisia

US

Offices in Washington DC, New York, and Menlo Park

Search News and Articles

Legal Developments by:
Clifford Chance

Legal Developments in Singapore

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • Getting The Deal Through - eCommerce

    The Singapore government has been proactive and inclusive in its encouragement and development of internet communications and e-commerce, by its establishment of a supportive legal and technical infrastructure, investments in technology and awareness- building. Policy-wise, it adopts a balanced and light-touch approach to ensure that minimum standards are set for responsible use of the internet while giving maximum flexibility to industry players to operate, and favours industry self-regulation.
    - Joyce A. Tan & Partners

  • RESTRAINT OF TRADE CLAUSES IN THE CONTEXT OF A SALE OF BUSINESS

    The Singapore Court of Appeal has affirmed that Singapore courts will take a more liberal approach when considering restrictive covenants in the context of a sale of business, compared to a situation where such covenants are contained in a contract of employment.
    - Drew & Napier LLC

  • PROPOSED LISTING MANUAL AMENDMENTS TO STRENGTHEN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICE

    The Singapore Exchange Ltd (the “SGX”) has issued a public consultation paper which sets out proposed amendments to the Listing Manual of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Ltd (the “Listing Manual”). The proposals are the result of the SGX’s latest rule review. Such reviews are carried out annually to keep abreast of industry developments and to enhance the standards of the listed companies.
    - Drew & Napier LLC

  • SINGAPORE HIGH COURT CLARIFIES SCOPE OF FORCE MAJEURE AND TERMINATION CLAUSES

    The Singapore High Court has ruled that a rise in prices of sand, caused by a ban on sand exports (the “sand ban”) by the Indonesian government in January 2007, did not constitute a force majeure event which would relieve a concrete supplier of its obligations to supply concrete to a construction company. The court also highlighted the importance of being clear and unequivocal when communicating one’s intention to terminate a contract.
    - Drew & Napier LLC

  • GUIDELINES ON FAIR DEALING FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

    Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) advocates that Islamic finance products shall receive similar regulatory treatments as the conventional finance products. However, MAS has not opted to have a separate Islamic finance regulatory regime that exists in parallel with the conventional framework. MAS accordingly serves as the driving force behind the change in the laws and regulations pertaining to the governance, validation and enhancement of Islamic finance transactions.
    - Loo & Partners

  • EROSION OF REMITTANCE BASIS OF TAXATION AND REVIVAL OF THE SOURCE ISSUE

    The charging section in the Income Tax Act brings within Singapore’s taxing jurisdiction not only income that is sourced in Singapore, but also income which is received in Singapore from outside of Singapore. In the light of criticism against remittance of income as a basis for taxation and the persistent lobbying of businesses in Singapore, recent amendments to the Income Tax Act have been steadily chipping away at the remittance basis of taxation in Singapore.
    - Drew & Napier LLC

  • INCOME TAX (AMENDMENT) (EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION) BILL 2009

    The Income Tax (Amendment) (Exchange of Information) Bill (the “Bill”) has been introduced in Parliament. The Bill proposes to amend the Income Tax Act to bring the level of assistance Singapore can provide to foreign jurisdictions under Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements (“DTAs”) in line with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Standard on the exchange of information for tax purposes (the “Standard”)
    - Drew & Napier LLC

  • Merger Control 2009

    The international regulation of mergers and joint ventures in 64 jurisdictions worldwide
    - Drew & Napier LLC

  • BANKS FACE CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNAL PRACTICES AND ACCEPTED BANKING PROCEDURES

    The Singapore High Court has criticised the conduct of the Singapore branches of two foreign banks in failing to adhere to internal control mechanisms and accepted banking procedures in the verification of signatures on certified extracts of board resolutions. The court also provided valuable guidance on the steps banks could take to ensure the bona fides of such certified extracts.
    - Drew & Napier LLC

  • QUARTERLY UPDATE: Competition Law

    (1) Singapore Competition Law Watch (2) Regional Focus - China  (3) Regulatory Update  (4) Industry News - Aviation - Petrochemical - Cement - Financial - IT - Others  (5) Do you know?
    - Drew & Napier LLC
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