Dentons Rodyk > Singapore, Singapore > Firm Profile

Dentons Rodyk > The Legal 500 Rankings

Singapore > Projects and energy: local firms Tier 1

Dentons Rodyk handles the full range of energy and projects matters. The team is often engaged in complex cross-border work, with a particular focus on the energy sector, and demonstrates strong capabilities in advising on conventional and renewable energy work. The practice is led by Jonathan Guwe, a key name for cross-border energy mandates. Joo Thye Tan regularly handles energy, mining, and infrastructure matters, and Ron Oong is noted for his expertise in energy transactions.

Singapore > Real estate: local firms Tier 1

At Dentons Rodyk, the corporate real estate team 'is able to render a full service across the full range of real estate work'. The group fields expertise in advising on commercial, retail, residential, shipping, industrial and logistics work in the space, and is strong in handling both contentious and non-contentious mandates. Key areas of instruction for the group include large-scale acquisitions, cross-border bids, financings, and development matters. The practice is led by the triumvirate of Pat Lynn Leong, Liat Yeang Lee, and Melanie Lim; Lim specialises in land rights and leasing issues. Collective sales matters are prominent in Woon Ee Tang's workload, and Lynette Khoo is a key name for cross-border real estate transactions.

Singapore > Start-up and venture capital – Foreign firms Tier 1

A pre-eminent firm in the Singapore start-up and venture capital market, Dentons Rodyk is vastly experienced when assisting tech and fintech start-ups across the spectrum of financing transactions, from seed-stage to advanced stages including series E and F, trade sales, MBOs, IPOs and SPACs. One of those leading the practice is corporate specialist S Sivanesan, who acts for a broad range of clients including founders, start-ups, fund managers and venture capital funds. Co-head Sunil Rai is well regarded for outbound and inbound India-related transactions, having been involved in a number of significant deals involving high-growth emerging companies and unicorns in the region. Ray Chiang, promoted to partner in January 2023, is also a key contact for venture-backed deals with an Indian nexus, while fintech and blockchain expert Li Chuan Hsu is active at all stages of fund-raising, from start-up to pre- and post-IPO.

Singapore > Start-up and venture capital – Local firms Tier 1

Dentons Rodyk is a leading presence in Singapore and the wider Southeast Asia region when advising prominent venture-backed entities across the spectrum of the investment life-cycle, from seed and advanced stages to trade sales, IPOs and SPACs. Particularly noteworthy for its cross-border transactional expertise, joint practice head S Sivanesan is highly sought after by founders, entrepreneurs, start-ups, capital and private equity funds. India-related transaction expert Sunil Rai is a go-to lawyer for high-growth emerging entities and unicorns in the region, while Li Chuan Hsu is particularly well-regarded for his experience in handling transactions with a Chinese nexus.

Singapore > Antitrust and competition: local firms Tier 2

Dentons Rodyk utilises a strong network of expertise throughout Singapore and the Asia Pacific, with practice head Gerald Singham overseeing a practice which assists clients with a diverse range of competition and antitrust issues, from M&A and JVs to anti-competitive agreements before the CCCS. Co-head Mohamad Rizuan Bin Pathie's expertise covers a number of key industries including the likes of energy, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, technology and transportation, while Ajinderpal Singh specialises in representing clients in cartel and price-fixing investigations.

Singapore > Banking and finance: local firms Tier 2

Dentons Rodyk has a long history in real estate finance, in particular, and has a broader emphasis on leveraged finance, general lending, syndicated lending, asset finance and structured finance. Key sectors include real estate, energy, private equity and natural resources. The team represents an impressive range of local, regional and international banks, along with real estate developers, investors and other corporate borrowers. It has continued to advise on significant real estate financings and acquisition financings over the research period, and is also making a further impression in Islamic finance. Finance practice head Doreen Sim has a prolific record in big-ticket real estate financings, along with acquisition finance, and is an established name in cross-border transactions. Joo Thye Tan is another experienced figure, especially in energy sector project financings, as is Jonathan Guwe. Janice Ngeow leads the asset finance team and is the co-head of the Islamic finance group, which is also led by Islamic finance specialist Zhulkarnain Rahim.

Singapore > Construction: Local firms Tier 2

Dentons Rodyk has a rich history in construction disputes, while the large team also has experience in front-end engagements. The practice is centred on Singapore and the ASEAN region, notably involving large-scale real estate developments. Energy and infrastructure projects are also core elements of the practice. The firm has an impressive client base of employers and developers, contractors, architects and other parties involved in construction projects. Kia Jeng Koh and Kirindeep Singh co-head the construction practice and are highly rated for domestic and regional disputes. Paul Wong is another key partner in the contentious field.

Singapore > Data protection and cyber security Tier 2

Commended for its ‘in-depth knowledge and expertise’, Dentons Rodyk advises on regulatory investigations and data protection compliance matters, in addition to cross-border data transfers, enforcement actions, data breaches and cyber security incidents. Gilbert Leong has demonstrable experience advising on matters concerning IT law, data protection and computer misuse, and jointly leads the team alongside Maw Jiun Foo, who handles data breaches, data protection impact assessments, and developing data protection and compliance programmes. Catherine Lee handles personal data compliance mandates, and Desmond Chew, who is praised as ‘experienced and knowledgeable beyond his years’, is another key contact in the group.

Singapore > Dispute resolution: local firms Tier 2

Dentons Rodyk has a large team of dispute resolution specialists covering a broad spectrum of cases, from clinical negligence defence to construction disputes; shipping, trade and commodities cases; and commercial litigation and arbitration. The Singapore team has an impressive array of local, regional and multinational clients. Clients recognise the breadth of team and its ability to handle cross-border and multi-jurisdictional cases. Siang Pheng Lek heads the litigation and dispute resolution practice and is a leading medical defence advocate. Kia Jeng Koh is deputy head of the team with an established record in building and construction disputes. Lawrence Teh is a senior name in commodities and trade cases, and Mark Seah and Paul Wong are experienced commercial litigation specialists. Ajinderpal Singh is noted for partnership and shareholder disputes, and banking and insolvency cases. Joint deputy managing partner Edric Pan takes on international disputes as well as insurance and aviation-related claims, while Huai Yuan Chia oversees proceedings involving fraud allegations and Jen Wei Loh focuses on the shipping sector, including insolvency and damages matters.

Singapore > Fintech and financial services regulatory: foreign firms Tier 2

Dentons Rodyk is described as being ‘very strong in the blockchain space’, with the team possessing expertise in areas such as capital raisings, privacy and data protection, regulatory compliance and tax. Kenneth Oh and Li Chuan Hsu co-lead the practice with the latter winning plaudits for his work alongside senior partner Jacqueline Loke in Ripple’s successful application for a major payment institution licence. S Sivanesan is highly skilled at handling cross-border and regional transactional work.

Singapore > Insurance: local firms Tier 2

While Dentons Rodyk has vast experience operating on non-contentious, corporate and transactional matters, including M&As, IPOs, and regulatory cases, the practice’s contentious and disputes capabilities are where the team notably stands out. Regularly acting on behalf of high-profile insurers and their intermediaries, the team assists clients in coverage disputes, policy interpretation, and professional negligence claims. Key areas of expertise include property and casualty work, medical malpractice, and personal injury, among others. Edric Pan is highly experienced in litigation, dispute resolution and arbitration, with strengths in defence work including D&Os, business interruption, aviation disasters, and personal injuries. Christopher Chong is noted for his representation of insurance companies in personal injury insurance disputes, notably in the medical sector. Jacqueline Loke is prominent on the firm’s regulatory side, often advising on crypto and fintech matters. All named practitioners collectively lead the team.

Singapore > Intellectual property: Local firms Tier 2

Dentons Rodyk's well-established team is noted for its expertise in IP disputes and patent litigation, acting for clients across the technology, AI, robotics, utilities, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical sectors. Boasting a robust contentious practice, the firm also assists on acquisitions, commercialisation and the exploitation of IP assets. The 'super responsive' team is jointly led by experienced IP litigator Gilbert Leong and Catherine Lee, who is noted for her advisory work on trade marks and portfolio management and exploitation. Other key contacts in the group include senior consultant Ai Ming Lee, has experience in handling patent infringement cases, Maw Jiun Foo and Desmond Chew.

Singapore > Investment funds: local firms Tier 2

Dentons Rodyk reinforced its practice with the hire of highly-rated private funds specialist Emily Low from Atlas Asia Law Corporation in July 2022. She joins a team that has an impressive legacy practice that includes private equity, venture capital and fund launches under the VCC structure. Along with assisting asset managers with fund launches the firm also represents institutional investors. I-An Lim is an immensely experienced funds specialist with extensive experience in VCC structures and new fields such as cryptocurrency-related products. S Sivanesan is another key partner, rated for venture capital funds.

Singapore > Labour and employment: local firms Tier 2

Dentons Rodyk has a large senior bench of professionals that have a significant focus on the employment sphere. The firm continues to act for clients in major employment disputes, including those involving non-compete clauses and restrictive covenants, along with alleged breaches of director’s and fiduciary duties. Edric Pan is joint deputy managing partner, co-head of the employment group, and is an experienced figure in contentious matters, including disputes over non-compete clauses and other restrictive covenants. I-An Lim is co-head of the employment group and has extensive experience in advising education institutions on human resource, employment, contractual, and commercial matters. Ray Chiang is also co-head of the team, specialising in non-contentious matters, including drafting of senior executive employment contracts, drafting and reviewing employment handbooks, and assisting with negotiations with trade unions. Mark Seah is another senior litigator with a background in employment cases.

Singapore > Private wealth and family law – local firms Tier 2

Dentons Rodyk has broad regional coverage, advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families across Southeast Asia and beyond, including China and Taiwan. It is also connected to trust companies and private banks. The team continues to advise clients on the creation of family offices and the launch of VCCs, and it is further noted for estate administration and disputes, succession planning and family wealth preservation, and philanthropic programmes. The immensely experienced Edmund Leow SC heads the tax group and is a prominent name in succession and estate planning, trust launches, and the creation of family offices. Kia Meng Loh specialises in both contentious and non-contentious matters, including wealth and estate planning and the establishment of family offices.

Singapore > Restructuring and insolvency: local firms Tier 2

Dentons Rodyk assists a broad range of creditors, debtors, receivers and liquidators on contentious and non-contentious matters, including debt restructurings, bankruptcies, insolvencies and surrounding disputes. Ajinderpal Singh, who regularly acts for liquidators, receivers, judicial managers and trustees, jointly leads the team alongside Kia Jeng Koh, who advises on restructurings, recovery and enforcement mandates, with additional expertise in construction-related mandates. Debby Lim is ‘exceptionally knowledgeable’ in the field of insolvency-related litigation and is another key contact in the group.

Singapore > Shipping: local firms Tier 2

The Dentons Rodyk shipping practice advises a mix of leading financial institutions, major banks, and shipowners in restructurings and insolvencies, acquisitions, construction matters, and in dispute resolution contexts. The team has also seen an uptick in ESG and environmental-related work as a ‘green’ focus becomes increasingly apparent across the sector. Lawrence Teh who is renowned for his work in commercial and maritime international arbitration matters, co-leads the team alongside asset finance specialist Janice Ngeow and Loh Jen Wei, who handles a range of contentious shipping and admiralty cases.

Singapore > Tax: local firms Tier 2

Commended for its ‘breadth and depth of knowledge to advise on complex tax matters’, Dentons Rodyk specialises in handling tax planning, advisory and controversy mandates, and counts multinational corporations across the technology, manufacturing, real estate, shipping and financial services sectors among its key roster of clients. ‘Seasoned tax and trusts practitioner’ Edmund Leow SC leads the practice and handles a range of matters, from goods and services tax and stamp duty issues related to IRAS to cross-border tax planning, transfer pricing and tax disputes. Chun Ying Ng is an ‘excellent adviser’ to clients seeking advice on tax issues arising from the blockchain, distributed finance and technology arenas.

Singapore > TMT: local firms Tier 2

Counting healthcare institutions, financial services, and retail organisations, as well as multinational IT service providers, among its key roster of clients, Dentons Rodyk advises on procurement and services contracts, in addition to M&A, data privacy matters, and investigations into cyber breaches. Gilbert Leong has demonstrable experience advising on IT-related matters, data protection, and computer misuse, and jointly leads the team alongside Elaine Lew, who focuses on IP protection, prosecution, and enforcement. Maw Jiun Foo assists clients on data breaches, data protection impact assessments, and developing data protection and compliance programmes, while Desmond Chew advises companies on IT-related transactions.

Singapore > Capital markets: equity and debt: local firms Tier 3

Dentons Rodyk handles domestic and cross-border public offerings of equity securities, including IPOs, secondary offerings such as placements, rights issues and bonus issues, in addition to spin-off transactions and REITs. The team, which ‘delivers excellent client services’, also has demonstrable experience assisting arrangers, dealers and issuers on convertible, exchangeable and asset-backed debt securities, standalone debt issues and medium-term note programmes. Nicholas Chong, who focuses on REITs, debt capital markets and structured products, jointly leads the team alongside Valerie Ong, who has considerable experience in cross-border capital markets transactions. Li Chuan Hsu’s ‘prompt availability, responsiveness, and sound advice are commendable’.

Singapore > Corporate and M&A: local firms Tier 3

Commended for its ‘great depth of talent and breadth of experience’, Dentons Rodyk is well-placed to collaborate with offices in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines and Vietnam, advising on domestic and cross-border M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions. The team acts for vendors, acquirers and financiers across the healthcare, technology, consumer goods, financial services, real estate and telecommunications sectors. Noted for his expertise in venture capital, start-ups and corporate governance mandates, S Sivanesan leads the team alongside Marian Ho, who is praised as a ‘leading authority on both M&A and corporate compliance matters’, and ‘dedicated, prompt and professional’ Eng Leng Ng.

Singapore > International arbitration Tier 3

The international arbitration practice at Dentons Rodyk is ‘professional, effective, and extremely competent’, consisting of ‘reputable and high-quality partners’. Chinese state-owned corporates and large Indonesian clients spanning a wide range of sectors entrust the team with complex, cross-jurisdictional mandates across construction and engineering, energy, shipping, and international trade. Lawrence Teh leads the team with particular experience handling commercial disputes, including those linked to international trade and commodities. He is joined at leadership level by Herman Jeremiah, who has extensive shareholder and joint venture dispute knowledge. Rodney Keong is ‘commercially savvy as well as a very good lawyer’ and is recommended.

Singapore > Projects: foreign firms Tier 3

The projects team at Dentons Rodyk advises on a broad range of project development matters, including M&A deals, commercial contracts and project acquisitions. Key sector strengths for the group include energy, infrastructure, power, oil and gas, and LNG, and the department regularly acts for lenders, investors and commodities clients in this space. Contentious matters are also prominent in the group’s caseload. The firm reports an uptick in instructions concerning sustainability-linked financings and ESG-related matters. Joo Thye Tan, who leads the team, advises on projects within the energy, mining, and infrastructure sectors. Jonathan Guwe is noted for his experience in cross-border energy transactions, while Ipshita Chaturvedi has notable strength in ESG work. Kunal Kapoor left the firm in January 2023.

Singapore > Corporate and M&A: foreign firms Tier 4

Counting vendors, acquirers and financiers across the technology, healthcare, corporate real estate, consumer products and financial services sectors among its key roster of clients, Dentons Rodyk leverages its comprehensive international network to advise on cross-border M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions. Praised as ‘a leading authority in M&A’, Marian Ho jointly leads the team alongside Eng Leng Ng and S Sivanesan, while other key contacts in the group include Valerie Ong, Evelyn Ang, Sunil Rai and Mark Wong.

Myanmar > Foreign desks

Dentons Myanmar Limited’s expertise spans the logistics, technology, financial services, healthcare, real estate and manufacturing sectors. The team advises on matters concerning banking and finance, M&A, dispute resolution, employment, IP and data privacy, with demonstrable experience in handling ESG projects and advisory mandates. Its association with Dentons Rodyk further bolsters the practice's capability in handling cross-border work. Praised for her 'strong knowledge of the ASEAN markets and commercial awareness', Ling Yi Quek, who advises on corporate governance matters, jointly leads the practice alongside Josephine Koh, who is well-versed in cross-border transactions, due diligence and structuring work.

Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Leading firms

Dentons Hong Kong has impressive strength across the region, with the practice in Singapore led by Herman Jeremiah yielding expertise in SIAC, LCC, and LCIA arbitrations, as well as shareholder and joint venture disputes. Lawrence Teh is the second head of the Singapore-based team, acting as an arbitrator in international disputes. In Hong Kong, Keith Brandt leads the disputes team, that has experience advising Chinese and international parties engaged in arbitration. Robert Rhoda and Richard Keady are key names in the practice, both based in Hong Kong.