The ‘highly responsive and flexible’ Carey Olsen Singapore LLP provides a full range of Offshore legal services in Singapore, covering areas such as banking, finance, corporate, dispute resolution, insolvency and private wealth. They provide on the ground legal advice on the laws of Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey. The firm has experienced growth in the past year, with over six new partners joining the team. Anthony McKenzie is the managing partner and has a broad range of experience in corporate, commercial and financial transactions, including syndicated lending and investment funds work. James Noble leads the litigation, insolvency and restructuring practice in Asia, with notable cases including the BVI case of Kathryn Ma Wai Fong v Incredible Power Limited et al, which involved acting for the claimant, the executrix of her late husband’s estate. Tom Katsaros and Rebecca Lee joined the Singapore office this year from Maples Group, alongside Helen Wang and Wei Xun Toh from Clifford Chance LLP, Rachel Yao from Taylor Wessing LLP and Nicholas Lee from Michael Hwang Chambers.
Offshore in Singapore
Carey Olsen Singapore LLP
Practice head(s):
Anthony McKenzie; James Noble
Other key lawyers:
Tom Katsaros; Rachel Yao; Helen Wang; Nicholas Lee; Wei Xun Toh; Rebecca Lee
Testimonials
‘This is the best Offshore team in Singapore. They just get it. They provide a superbly integrated service, highly attuned to their clients’ commercial objectives while at the same time able to deliver on the highly practical and highly technical skills needed by big ticket commercial litigation. Their mastery of technical know-how when it comes to BVI and Cayman commercial litigation, and how the courts in those jurisdictions operate, is second to none in Singapore.’
‘James Noble – an outstanding team leader, able to integrate a high level awareness of his clients’ commercial objectives with an uncanny oversight of what the most junior associate, or busiest London silk, is doing to deliver the results needed for a positive outcome. Always calm in a tough and highly competitive environment.’
‘Team members are very experienced and capable to handle extremely complicated and multi-regions litigations.’
‘Anthony McKenzie: a clear market leader in the offshore space. Top notch service, deep commercial understanding, striking a great balance between legal precision and commercial wisdom. James Noble: A great lawyer, with a very sensible approach to litigation matters. Clients respond really well to James.’
‘Carey Olsen is the largest offshore law firm in Singapore for litigation and restructuring and insolvency. What is unique about them is the fact that the team led by James Noble consists primarily of practitioners with a deep understanding of the Asian market, with many of them being qualified in either Singapore or Hong Kong. They are highly responsive and commercial.’
‘Carey Olsen is the leading offshore law firm in Singapore staffed with enthusiastic, hard-working personnel providing a wide breadth of knowledge and experience, able to call on an extensive network of offices to provide a seamless 24/7 service across Asian, European and Caribbean time zones.’
Key clients
AXA Investment Managers
Caldicott Worldwide Ltd
China Merchant Bank
CN Energy
Fintonia Group
Formation Group
G Medical Corporation Limited
Global Cord Blood Corporation
Landing Point Limited
Philip Street Partners
Red Wolf Resources Limited
Smarter Electronics
The Bank of East Asia, Limited
The Carlyle Group
Walkers
Walkers is a leading offshore firm in Singapore, offering legal services to a range of different offshore territories. The firm has increased its legal capabilities in Bermuda, launching eight Bermuda registered associates in Singapore which has led to a deep bench of lawyers across practice areas such as finance, corporate, investment funds and regulatory practice. John Rogers is the managing partner of the office and advises on areas such as general banking, debt capital markets, structured finance, asset and project finance and acquisition finance. Laura Rogers is a partner in Corporate and Investment Funds Group and specialises in areas such as private equity and hedge funds, and has an active corporate practice which includes providing general corporate advice on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate governance. Shirleen Tan is described as a ‘go to offshore finance lawyer‘, and recently worked on the Fullerton Healthcare’s high profile merger, whereby the firm acted as Cayman Islands counsel to both the company and certain lenders. Richard Siddle is noted for his experience in cross-border debt finance transactions, including acquisition and leveraged finance.
Practice head(s):
John Rogers
Other key lawyers:
Laura Rogers; Richard Siddle; Timothy Stevens; Shirleen Tan; James Twigg
Testimonials
‘The team responds very quickly and provides solutions that work. The fees quoted are also very reasonable.’
‘The Singapore team is reliable and responsive and is able to tap seamlessly on the capabilities of its other offices for specialist knowledge. It has invested in a strong team and this shows.’
‘Richard Siddle is my go-to lawyer for all my banking transactions. We also work with Shirleen and John.’
Bedell Cristin
Bedell Cristin is a long-established offshore firm in Singapore, having been in the city for the past ten years advising on private client, corporate, financial services and dispute resolution matters. Kristian Wilson has been practising offshore for sixteen years, and advises on all aspects of corporate and financial law, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, investment funds and regulatory work. Joanne Verbiesen joined in June 2021, bringing a wealth of offshore knowledge from areas such as Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands. Philip Kendall is noted for his ability to support on a number of deals, ranging from large multi-jurisdictional M&A matters, corporate deals, finance and lending transactions.
Practice head(s):
Kristian Wilson; Joanne Verbiesen
Other key lawyers:
Philip Kendall
Testimonials
‘Beddell Cristin has deep knowledge and expertise in BVI, Cayman and Jersey law in particular on the law of trusts.’
‘Joanne Verbiesen is highly recommended. Not only is she qualified in multiple jurisdictions, which gives her the edge in quickly identifying and solving cross-border issues, her sharp intellect coupled with her vast experience is her biggest asset in helping clients with their contentious and complex trust and probate matters. Joanne is also prompt in her responses and in her responses, she offers detailed and practical insights that are invaluable to clients.’
‘Very responsive and great understanding of business context/issues. Thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the law and consistent added value in terms of advice. Able to cover various aspects of BVI law including deal/M&A related as well as governance, structuring and joint ventures.’
Key clients
Gopher Investments
Blue Ocean Structure Investment Company Limited (Blue Ocean)
Forbes Hare
Forbes Hare has its focus on matters relating to British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands, with a strong offshore contentious practice which the Singapore team works closely with. The firm offers services ranging from complex corporate insolvency, commercial and corporate litigation, distressed fund and investment fund disputes and big ticket trust litigation. Within investment funds, the firm has a strong reputation in the establishment of Cayman Islands and BVI alternative investment and private equity funds and is regularly instructed in respect of fund restructuring and distressed funds matters. Sam Robertson is recognised for his litigation practice, while Patrick Colegrave handles BVI and Cayman corporate and funds work. Catherine Ross is well regarded for her work in advising in relation to fund restructuring and distressed funds matters.
Practice head(s):
Sam Robertson
Other key lawyers:
Patrick Colegrave; Catherine Ross
Testimonials
‘Forbes Hare was not our original counsel at inception. We switched to their firm because of their transparency, thoroughness, and extensive knowledge.’
‘Specialist offshore firm, which great connectivity to offshore centers, where restructuring and insolvency work generates from’
‘Catherine Ross is well regarded in the investment funds space and delivers prompt and timely advice. She is always available and does not delegate to associates to ensure we receive quality advice.’
Key clients
Mitsuji Konoshita
PricewaterhouseCoopers (Peter Greaves and Alexander Lower in capacity as liquidators of Ample Source International Limited)
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Querencia Limited & Quo Vadis Investments
Hector Finance Group Limited
Global Water Associates, Limited
Eleuthera Group Pty Ltd
Indonesian National Police Department of Criminal Investigation of Criminal Investigation Directorate of General Crimes
Work highlights
- Advising a private client in relation to the multi-jurisdictional litigation involving APF Group Co Ltd.
- Advising PricewaterhouseCoopers as liquidators of Ample Source International Limited with recoveries and other liquidation matters.
Harney Westwood & Riegels Singapore LLP
Harney Westwood & Riegels Singapore LLP is a full-service offering, with its lawyers having extensive experience in advising on British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Bermuda and Anguilla law across various sectors and practice areas, such as corporate and fiduciary services. The firm has a specialism in crypto, blockchain and digital assets and blockchain technology projects since 2015. Lishi Fong, managing partner and head of Singapore transactions, is described as a ‘stand out‘ for her work advising both financial institutions and corporations on a wide range of cross border transactions including financings involving multiple levels of creditors, distressed loan acquisitions and disposals. Nicola Roberts leads the firm’s trusts and litigation teams in Asia, and has also had proven success in handling digital asset disputes relating to cryptocurrencies, and blockchain technologies.
Practice head(s):
Lishi Fong; Nicola Roberts
Testimonials
‘Lishi Fong stands out amongst her peers, she is brilliant at structuring and has great commercial acumen.’
‘A seamless team, very easy to deal with.’
‘Nicola is switched on, pragmatic and a great co-counsel when dealing with difficult clients – always a pleasure to be in the trenches together!’
Key clients
JTrust
Keppel FELS Limited
Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited
UBS
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Shinhan Bank
Work highlights
- Securing a $95m judgment for JTrust in BVI litigation.
- Acting as Cayman Islands counsel to a leading global AI company in relation to their joint venture agreement with a Saudi Arabia sovereign wealth fund. The Cayman Islands joint venture company will be involved with, amongst others, providing AI solutions and promoting AI education in the Middle East.
- Advising as Bermuda counsel to Keppel FELS Limited in relation to a loan restructuring for rigs delivery with Borr Drilling Limited in relation to eight Keppel rigs. This matter had a complicated security package over shares and assets and security across multiple jurisdictions including UK, Bermuda, Marshall Islands and the Republic of Liberia.
Maples Group
Maples Group is known for servicing multinational clients on investments in Asia as well as Asia-based clients on overseas investments. The firm has a focus on funds and investment and corporate based practice areas, with both areas seeing a spike in growth among its partners, with Craig Luton and 2021 partner promotion Iain Anderson notable names in the firm's funds team. The team is led by office managing partner and firm global head of BVI law Michael Gagie, who practices in both BVI and Cayman Islands law covering corporate, downstream private equity work, commercial, banking and structured finance. Matt Roberts is head of the corporate practice, specialising in financial institutions, publicly and privately listed companies, asset managers and promoters on M&A, private equity and joint ventures – his recent work has included SPAC deals.
Practice head(s):
Michael Gagie; Matt Roberts
Other key lawyers:
James Kinsley; Iain Anderson; Craig Luton; Jess Bradshaw; Nigel Tan
Testimonials
‘Outstanding legal team led by top of the class Matt Roberts with strong senior associates supporting the practice. Ultimately a very safe pair of hands and my go to for offshore law firms owing to the expertise and quality of advice.’
‘Matt Roberts is the outstanding offshore partner in the region.’
‘The team is large and has consistent quality. Strength in depth over time makes onshore counsel’s and client’s lives easier.’
‘Ann Ng is widely known and respected. There needs to be little introduction. Clients respond well to her timely and commercial advice, which is always grounded in a strong knowledge of the law. She gets on well with international, local and Mainland clients in equal measure.’
Key clients
Amber Group
ARA Asset Management
Bridgetown 2 Holdings Limited
CITIC Capital Acquisition Corp.
Generation Asia I
New Frontier Health Corporation
NIO Inc.
R-Bridge Healthcare Fund
SPIC Preferred Company No. 1 Ltd.
Vertex Technology Acquisition Corporation
Work highlights
- Acted as Cayman Islands counsel on the first-ever special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) listing in Singapore.
- Acted on NIO Inc’s At The Market Offering through NYSE and secondary listing in HK and subsequent listing in Singapore
- Acted as Cayman Islands counsel to NH Investment & Securities Co., Ltd, one of the largest securities firms in South Korea, on its participation in the leveraged financing of the US$5 billion acquisition of the Modulaire Group by Brookfield Business Partners. This was one of the largest and most complex leveraged financings in Europe in 2021/2022.