Managing partner Deepak Sadasivan and Adrian Chee Meng Yang, who have demonstrable experience in Shariah-compliance matters, lead the offering at Adnan Sundra & Low alongside Putri Norlisa Najib, Edward Ng Foo Yuen, Wong Chin Chin, Tracy Ng Tsu Ynn, Jennifer Lee Tze-Hui and Chua Ee Ghee. In addition to working on the conventional corporate structures for local and international clients, there is a niche focus in the team on Islamic finance and capital markets. The practice is equipped to advise on IPOs, primary and secondary placement transactions, M&A, and ESG standards. Key clients include large Malaysian investment banks and equity capital markets specialist Justin Chua has the ‘knowledge to ensure that all issues are resolved’ in his cases.

Lily Tan Chea Li and Chung Swee Loong co-lead the capital markets team at Albar & Partners. Its workload is comprised of advisory work, including debt, equity and equity-linked products. In addition, the practice is equipped to advise clients on such post-issue elements as restructuring and refinancing. Its debt work includes advising on perpetual instruments, asset backed securities and subordinated debt, whilst its equity work includes handling all aspects of domestic and cross-border transactions, which Cassandra Hogg has notable expertise in. Sharifah Dalilah Albar, who has demonstrable experience in Islamic banking and finance work, often advising investment banks on compliance with the Shariah principle, is another key member of the group.

The offering at Zaid Ibrahim & Co (in association with KPMG Law) is co-headed by Chin Sook Kwan and Lilian Liew, who is praised for her ‘unparalleled negotiating skills’. The team is noted for its capability in debt capital markets work and is well-equipped to deal with high-value and often international transactions involving high-yield, convertible and exchangeable bonds, commercial papers and medium tone notes, under conventional, as well as Islamic principles of law, an area with its own dedicated sub-team. Furthermore, the practice is at the forefront of developing securitisation and structured finance law.

Zul Rafique & Partners has demonstrable experience in handling high-value capital markets matters and counts established banks, such as HSBC Malaysia, among its key roster of clients, where the team advised on the implementation of the first sustainability-linked Sukuk issuance in the region. The ‘dedicated and resourceful’ Loh Mei Mei leads on banking and finance mandates, with expertise across corporate banking, debt capital markets, Sukuk issuance, securitisation, as well as domestic, Islamic and cross-border financing. Other key members of the practice include Kung Suan Im, Ashela Ramaya and Chan Kwan Hoe, and Celine Rangithan, who has experience in capital markets, structured and Islamic financing. All named partners collectively lead the team.

The team at Chooi & Company and Cheang & Ariff focuses on equity capital markets, acting for domestic and international clients across multiple industries, including technology, renewable energy, manufacturing and distribution. The practice regularly handles equity fundraising exercises, as well as the listing of high-value IPOs, a key area of speciality for Tan Ming-li, who led on the team’s advice to several financial institutions across Malaysia, the US and the UK on one of the largest IPOs on Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad in 2021.

Weng Hwee Tay leads the corporate offering at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill. The team’s workload includes a broad range of transactional work across various industry sectors, for both domestic and international clients. A key area of expertise includes advising on financial services and Islamic finance, the latter being Megat Hizaini Hassan’s area of specialty owing to his work on Shariah-compliance. Mandates often involve complex elements such as the issuance of equity, equity-linked instruments, structured products, private debt instruments and asset-backed securities.

The ‘knowledgeable’ financial services offering at Rahmat Lim & Partners is led by Wan Kai Chee. The equity markets sub-team counts IPOs across Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong in its workload. Elsewhere, the debt capital markets practice acts on bond and notice issuances and medium term notes programmes. Most notable is the team’s activity in renewable energy debt capital, as demonstrated by its advice on the issuance of sukuk by the project owner of a solar photovoltaic plant. Kelvin Loh, who is noted for his expertise in bond and Sukuk transaction work, is another key contact in the group.

Praised as ‘one of the most established and experienced law firms in handling IPO cases and capital fund raising exercises in northern Malaysia’, Wong Beh & Toh’s capital markets practice advises clients across a range of industries on high-value mandates involving equity and IPOs. In addition to its regional work, the offering is also equipped to handle cases that are cross-jurisdictional in nature. IPO specialist Yeap Lin Lin frequently leads on the team’s capital markets work and Chin Lit Fwu is another key contact.

Christopher & Lee Ong is a member firm of Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP, and its Malaysia-based capital markets team is co-headed by Yon See Ting, Anette Soh and Fiona Sequerah. The offering is well-equipped to advise on mandates concerning the listing of companies, IPOs and debt fundraising exercises across Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. The team has demonstrable experience across the IT, telecoms, shipping, banking, infrastructure and energy sectors. Daphne Lam joined the firm from Halim Hong & Quek in October 2021 and soon-after, Anette Soh joined from Azman Davidson & Co in January 2022.

The corporate offering at boutique firm David Lai & Tan, is led by Tan Yee Boon, who is noted for his ‘dedication and commitment towards his firm and his clients’. The team regularly advises companies on listing rules, regulations and compliance. In addition, it advises Malaysian companies across various industry sectors on IPOs and equity capital. Joaana Keng Li Xin is another key member of the team.

Praised for its ‘historical experience in equity markets’, Jeff Leong, Poon & Wong’s team is co-led by Jeff Leong  and Kenny Poon. The team acts for clients listing on the Malaysian stock exchange, as well as advising on IPOs. Noteworthy team changes include the joining of Seow Wee Loong from Shahrizat Rashid & Lee in September 2021, and Eileen Tan from Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill in June 2022, while Anne Wong departed to Karen Kaur & Anne Wong Partnership in July 2021 and Richard Lee left to Mathews Hun Lachimanan in September 2021.

Tan Kong Yam, who has experience in handling capital markets and corporate matters, leads the team at Kadir Andri & Partners. A recent highlight includes advising on a cross-jurisdictional IPO, which raised RHN1bn for the client and its shareholders. Norinne Dewal retired in October 2021, following the departure of Ahlan Nasri Nasi in September 2021. ‘Attentive’ Andy Teoh Tuck, who focuses on capital markets, was promoted to partner in April 2022.

Mah-Kamariyah & Philip Koh’s team is co-headed by Philip Koh and Adrian Koh, who is praised as an ‘excellent lawyer in capital markets in Malaysia’. Recent work highlights include advising on the IPO and listing of one of the largest consumer electrical and electronics retailers on the main market of Bursa Malaysia. The team is also well-equipped to handle the private placement and issuance of shares in the regional market. According to one client, ‘all matters, big or small, are addressed with dedication and professionalism’.

Praised for his ‘in-depth knowledge’, the capital markets team at Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership is led by Eu Jin Ong, who advises on due diligence relating to listings, as well as IPOs, rights issues and bond issuances, both locally and occasionally on cross-border matters. The team also has the capability to advise on Sukuk issuances and Islamic law principles, a key area of expertise for senior associate Lily Lee Zai Lii.

Shearn Delamore & Co’s team is co-headed by debt specialist Pamela Kung, who is equipped to handle Islamic and conventional matters, and equity specialist Nicholas Tan Choi Chuan. The practice has experience advising on mandates involving the listing of companies, the issuance of shares, proposed acquisitions of equity interests, corporate debt restructurings, as well as regulatory issues. Its client roster includes key Malaysian investment banks.