The Legal 500 > Asia Pacific > Singapore > Corporate and M&A: foreign firms

Clifford Chance has maintained impressive levels of big-ticket engagements from multinational corporates and financial investors, including private equity, pension and sovereign wealth funds. It remains a recognised leader in the financial institutions, consumer, energy and tech sectors. It has landed a number of Singapore real estate deals, has seen growth in Thailand and Vietnam, and continues to be prominent in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The established team features three partners and two senior counsels. Senior names Valerie Kong and Melissa Ng are both English and Singapore qualified, while emerging name Satbir Walia is noted for financial institutions, technology and consumer goods deals deals. Counsel Tom Lin is a key figure on the private equity side.

Milbank is widely recognised for its prominence in private equity deals and for its transactional record in Indonesia. The Philippines and Vietnam are also key jurisdictions. Energy and renewables deals are core to the practice. David Zemans is a leader in Indonesia deals, especially those in the energy segment. Jacqueline Chan is outstanding in private equity and big-ticket M&A.

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow has a substantial Singapore team that is tightly integrated with other regional offices. It has achieved a greater presence in real estate and tech deals, including corporate venture capital investments, and remains a notable player in financial institutions, healthcare, consumer goods and industrials transactions. The team has a substantial number of Japanese multinational clients and has a China desk in Singapore led by native PRC lawyers. Andrew Martin has a fine record in cross-border deals, while Sze Shing Tan impresses in the tech, life sciences, and oil and gas sectors. Min-tze Lean  is another key name.

Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee has played a pivotal role in a number of multi-jurisdictional deals that were structured through Singapore. It continues to be heavily involved in tech and e-commerce deals, and transactions involving private equity and corporate venture investments. Moreover, the Singapore team is impressing in education, infrastructure, consumer, retail and healthcare deals, and is gaining recognition for transactions in frontier markets such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Singapore managing partner Stephanie Keen and Mark Cooper comprise an outstanding senior bench in both strategic M&A and private equity transactions.

Jones Day has an impressive mix of corporate and private equity transactional experience. Real estate private equity is a particular forte of the Singapore office, which also boasts a formidable funds structuring practice. The Singapore team routinely works on major inbound and outbound transactions, and has played an anchor role on numerous global deals, including New York law governed transactions. Dennis Barsky has a fine record in big-ticket strategic M&A and leveraged buyouts. Elizabeth Cole is noted for China-related deals in the region and Alex Cull is a leader in upstream oil and gas M&A, while Ben Witherall is making an impact at of counsel level.

Latham & Watkins LLP has made a greater impression in private equity space, in part thanks to its ability to work collaboratively with its esteemed colleagues in Hong Kong. Singapore managing partner Michael Sturrock is a seasoned name with tremendous private equity and public M&A experience. The firm bolstered its Singapore law standing with the hire of Farhana Sharmeen from Withers KhattarWong LLP. The up-and-coming Marcus Lee is noted for private equity and M&A transactions.

Morrison & Foerster (Singapore) LLP has achieved a significant presence in high-value and big-ticket M&A, despite having a smaller presence in Singapore than many of its notable rivals. The Singapore office has landed a number of repeat clients that are making regular investments and acquisitions. It is making waves in financial services, fintech, consumer, real estate, logistics, corporate venture capital, and more broadly, deals that are connected in some way to e-commerce.  Shirin Tang is a recognised leader in bulge-bracket M&A, while Maria Steeples has carved a niche in warranty and indemnity policies. Nick Davies and Lip Kian Ang impress at the associate level. Jake Robson has moved to King & Spalding LLP.

Norton Rose Fulbright has been recognised for its geographically diverse practice, especially South East Asia and South Asia. Financial institutions, transport and logistics, and energy are among the key sectors for the team. Clients range from multinationals corporates to state-linked organisations and institutional investors. Sheela Moorthy heads the Singapore corporate and M&A team, which includes the highly rated Craig Loveless and insurance sector specialist Anna Tipping. Chris Bell impresses at the associate level.

White & Case Pte. Ltd. has an established, stable and growing team that is well-integrated with other offices in the region, especially Indonesia through  Witara Cakra Advocates (WCA) in association with White & Case. The team is especially active in commodities, oil and gas, and private equity; private equity real estate is a particular forte. Distressed M&A and restructuring have also become important elements of the practice. Jonathan Olier is a genuine market leader and Jon Bowden is gaining further market recognition. Newly minted local partner Tabitha Saw is recommended for private equity real estate.

King & Spalding LLP has further established its position in the market following the hire of Lee Taylor in 2018. With a newly acquired finance practice led by Andrew Brereton (a former Clifford Chance partner), the corporate team is even more credible in the private equity space and is increasingly active in energy and upstream oil and gas work. Taylor is recognised as a market leader in regional private equity and corporate transactions, while Richard Nelson and Simon Cowled provide additional oil and gas M&A and power M&A expertise.

Shearman & Sterling LLP continues to impress in private equity, insurance and energy transactions. The team 'is punching above its weight' and has built a sizeable roster of private equity clients and the M&A team works well with energy-sector colleagues, including oil and gas specialists such as Anthony Patten. Sidharth Bhasin and counsel James Clayton-Payne are highly rated for private equity deals, and India and Southeast Asia-related transactions.

Stephenson Harwood LLP has excellent regional mid-market credentials, however, it is moving up the value chain to achieve a presence in bigger-ticket transactions. Across Southeast Asia, it has built an extensive record in headline strategic acquisitions, private equity transactions and venture capital investments. Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam are key jurisdictions for the Singapore team. It has a strong presence in healthcare, TMT and consumer goods. Tom Platts is an established Singapore figure with exceptional regional credentials, particularly in Myanmar. George Cyriac is playing an anchor role in developing the firm's private equity and venture capital practice, most notably in Indonesia. Of counsel Helen Rhind-Hufnagel is also a key name.

DLA Piper has successfully landed a number of engagements from firmwide clients and has achieved further traction with local and regional corporates. The Singapore office has a fine record in mid-market transactions especially in Indonesia, followed by Thailand and Vietnam. Venture capital is another burgeoning area for the team. Singapore managing partner Joe Bauerschmidt is hugely experienced in Southeast Asia and has wide-ranging contacts. Of counsel Katherine Chew provides further senior-level experience.

Duane Morris & Selvam LLP has a strong presence in Southeast Asia and has a sizeable corporate team in Singapore. The firm has a solid record in technology, telecoms, energy, oil and gas, among other key sectors. It is also making a further impression in private equity transactions. Krishna Ramachandra heads the corporate, fintech and TMT practice groups. Leon Yee, Ramiro Rodriguez, Mark Wong and Gerard Hekker are also key names.