Norton Rose Fulbright > Singapore, Singapore > Firm Profile

Norton Rose Fulbright > The Legal 500 Rankings

Singapore > Asset finance: foreign firms Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright’s team continues to be prominent within the region’s aviation, shipping, and offshore industries. Able to draw on its expansive Asian and global networks, the team consistently advises lessors, lessees, financiers, and manufacturers on a range of high-value transactions including acquisitions of aircraft and aviation equipment and portfolio management, often acting for high-profile financial institutions and major regional airliners. Its shipping team acts act as a regional hub offering a wide range of capabilities. Aviation industry veteran, Keith Sandilands, and Ben Rose, renowned for his shipping and offshore expertise, jointly lead the practice. Sue Ann Gan is recommended for ship financing and litigation. Edward Bentley, a regular advisor to lessors, banks, and export credit agencies, Chloe Goodwin, who focuses on aviation transactions, and Sophie Polisena are also noted.

Singapore > Capital markets: structured finance, derivatives and securitisation: Foreign firms Tier 1

The ‘knowledgeable and responsive’ team at Norton Rose Fulbright acts for leading financial institutions, including Asia Pacific, Middle Eastern and Islamic banking clients, as well as other derivatives users, commodity producers, market infrastructure and trustee entities, on the full spectrum of transactional and regulatory matters. Key areas of growth include advising on mandates concerning Islamic products, in addition to the derivatives aspects of IBOR transition programmes. English law qualified and registered foreign lawyer practising Singapore law, practice leader Colin Rice ‘stands out’ for his expertise in derivative-linked debt securities, Islamic products, margin loans, structured commodity financings, risk-transfer, hedging and funding transactions. Senior associate Francesca North, who focuses on OTC derivatives, structured products and structured finance transactions, is another key contact in the group.

Singapore > Projects: foreign firms Tier 1

The projects team at Norton Rose Fulbright has extensive experience advising on projects from an array of sectors. Alongside power, oil and gas, and infrastructure, the firm has seen an increase in work from the renewable energy sector. Solar, wind, and energy storage projects have been prominent in the group’s recent workload. The client base includes lenders, sponsors, financial institutions, commercial and development banks, sovereign entities, and ECAs. Practice head Nick Merritt has an excellent reputation in advising on the development, financing and acquisition of infrastructure, energy and mining projects. Andrew Digges has over two decades of experience in handling power, resources and infrastructure matters, while Stephen Begley is a key contact on cross-border renewable energy mandates. Counsels Aditya Rebbapragada and Laurie Pearson are also key names to note.

Singapore > White-collar crime - Foreign firms Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright regularly advises on sensitive internal and government investigations, often taking on cross-border work involving bribery, fraud, sanctions violations, modern slavery and cyber mandates. With demonstrable experience across the technology, finance, life sciences and energy sectors, the team excels in financial crime investigations, cybersecurity and data breach incidents, alongside other ESG and crypto-related investigations and compliance work. The team also advises on data privacy, sanctions, whistleblowing, and crisis management issues. Bolstered by the firm’s integrated offering, the team is well-placed to leverage the firm's international arbitration practices and partnering local litigators. With expertise in strategic governance and disputes, Wilson Ang leads the team, while Jeremy Lua and Charis Low advise on data protection and financial crime mandates respectively.

Singapore > Banking and finance: foreign firms Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright has an impressive record in trade and commodity finance, landing it an illustrious client list of regional and international banks, alternative financiers, commodity traders, export credit agencies and others. Acquisition and leveraged finance, asset finance, project finance and securitisation are also fortes for the Singapore team, which has a particularly extensive experience in Indonesia. Moreover, the firm is making a further impression in sustainability-linked loans. Qualified in Singapore, Hong Kong and England, Yu-En Ong heads the Singapore office and the structured lending and markets team. Janelene Chen left in January 2024.

Singapore > Corporate and M&A: foreign firms Tier 2

With demonstrable experience in the technology, insurance, financial services, energy, oil and gas, shipping and infrastructure sectors, Norton Rose Fulbright’s ‘high pragmatic’ team continues to showcase its capability in multi-jurisdictional transactions, involving China and Southeast Asia, as well as the US, UK, EU and Canada. Craig Loveless, who has experience in M&A, disposals, restructurings and joint ventures, jointly leads the team alongside insurance expert Anna Tipping, who handles M&A transactions in the financial institutions sector. Other key contacts in the group include counsel Shahin Foroughian, and senior associates Dexter Tan and Chris Bell.

Singapore > Energy: foreign firms Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright has an impressive mix of conventional and renewable energy engagements. It typically handles a significant volume of matters from around Asia Pacific and beyond and continues to experience rapid growth in its renewable energy practice, especially in regard to solar and energy storage projects. Hydrogen and carbon trading initiatives are also burgeoning areas for the Singapore team, which represents a wealth of energy clients and lenders. Asia stalwart Stephen Begley has a background in offshore oil and gas, and has built a strong reputation in renewable energy projects. Ben Smith is noted for LNG and gas projects, and Nick Merritt is an experienced project and energy finance specialist with an extensive track record in the region. Andrew Digges is another key partner for energy projects in Indonesia and other Asia Pacific jurisdictions.

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

With particular strength in regulatory advice, Norton Rose Fulbright‘s fintech practice blends expertise in P2P platforms, blockchain, data privacy, disputes and technology consultation. The team frequently assists major clients with fintech expansions and has seen an increase in instructions relating to emerging platforms and the use of disruptive technologies, particularly for clients who wish to launch new products in Singapore before rolling them out globally. Practice head Etelka Bogardi has longstanding experience of advising on a wide array of regulatory issues in the fintech area; she is well placed to advise on the regulation of digital assets and innovative payments solutions. Anna Tipping‘s wealth of insurance expertise is frequently brought to bear on contentious and non-contentious matters including alternative risk transfer insurance transactions. Instructions relating to securities often fall to financial markets expert Colin Rice, while Craig Loveless is a key contact for cross-border transactional work in the fintech space. Wilson Ang is a name to note for disputes, while counsel Mabelle Tay further extends the regulatory expertise at the firm.

Singapore > Insurance: foreign firms Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright acts for major banks and financial institutions across the insurance sector. The team offers a broad range of services across corporate and transactional matters, including M&A, joint ventures, and regulatory compliance, with work also encompassing up-and-coming fields like cyberbreach and insuretech. In addition, the practice is experienced in conducting investigations in areas such as anti-money laundering. Anna Tipping  heads the firm’s Asia Pacific insurance practice and has been involved in cross-border insurance M&A transactions across the region, bringing considerable expertise on credit default risks. Craig Loveless is also noteworthy for his work in acquisitions, disposals, and restructurings.

Singapore > Restructuring and insolvency: foreign firms Tier 2

Led by Meiyen Tan, who joined from Oon & Bazul LLP in February 2022, the team at Norton Rose Fulbright is well-placed to advise on domestic and cross-border financial restructurings and insolvency mandates, further boosted by its formal alliance with local firm Ascendant Legal LLC. Sue Ann Gan advises in restructurings arising out of the shipping sector, while managing director at Ascendant Legal LLC, Kei Jin Chew, is commended as ‘an experienced insolvency practitioner’. Banking and finance expert Yu-En Ong, who heads the Singapore office, is another key contact in the group.

Singapore > Shipping: foreign firms Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s shipping practice is well-known for its multi-national ship financing and transactional work in maritime and offshore contexts. Alongside its handling M&As, JOLCOs, sales and leasebacks, regulatory work, and high-value insolvency and restructurings, the team advises on a plethora of LNG and FPSO matters. It has particular capabilities advising on sustainable, and Islamic financing-related work. Its insolvency disputes and commercial contracts capabilities are bolstered by the team’s Formal Law Alliance with Ascendant Legal LLC. Ben Rose leads the offering, which includes such key practitioners as Sue Ann Gan and the 'diligent and hardworking' Sophie Polisena.

Singapore > TMT: foreign firms Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright maintains its strong track record in the digital disruption and fintech arenas, with demonstrable experience advising on commercial technology transactions, in addition to matters concerning data protection and cybersecurity. Notably, the team stands out for its expertise in cyber breach response and compliance mandates. Following the departure of Stella Cramer to Clifford Chance in March 2023, head of the firm’s Asia regulatory compliance and investigations practice Wilson Ang spearheads the team in Singapore and handles data breach incidents, in addition to setting up cyber incidents response policy and procedures.

Singapore > International arbitration Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright has ‘a diverse team with exceptional strengths and capabilities’ that has vast expertise across energy, infrastructure, telecoms, and investor-state disputes, frequently acting on complex multi-jurisdictional matters. Katie Chung is recognised for her ‘strategic acumen’ as well as ‘exceptional client communication and negotiation skills’, and leads the team that is commended for its ‘exceptional expertise, dedication to clients, and innovative problem-solving’. Kent Phillips joined the team from Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee in November 2023.

Myanmar > Foreign desks Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright maintains an active practice in Myanmar, advising on matters concerning telecoms, power, and infrastructure project financings, in addition to banking and capital markets mandates. The firm is able to draw from its global network to assist its domestic client roster and entities looking to invest into Myanmar. Yu-En Ong heads the practice and brings international experience to his banking and finance practice, while Janelene Chan, who handles a range of domestic and international financings, is another key contact in the group.

Indonesia > Foreign firms Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright possesses deep knowledge of a wide range of legal, regulatory, compliance and governance issues arising in the region. The firm is also able to draw from its global network to assist clients in Indonesia with cross-border matters. Kresna Panggabean is the managing partner of the Jakarta office and advises companies in argribusiness, as well as oil and gas and mining. In addition, Tasdikiah Siregar focuses her practice on aviation matters, including finance, M&A and regulation, while Benny Bernarto handles corporate and commercial matters.

Malaysia > Foreign firms Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright’s work in Malaysia derives predominantly from its Singapore office, which is the base of its team leader Stephen Begley, who specialises in energy and natural resources-related mandates. The team is noted for its expertise in this arena, having witnessed an increase in oil and gas, renewables, and solar and energy storage projects-related matters, in addition to large-scale infrastructure projects. The practice’s client roster includes Malaysian corporations. Wilson Ang brings to bear his experience in handling regulatory, compliance and disputes mandate, while Katie Chung is another key contact for cross-border disputes and Ben Rose advises lenders on high-value financings. Ben Smith relocated from the firm's Singapore office to London in July 2023.

Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Leading firms

Norton Rose Fulbright includes lawyers who handle multijurisdictional complex disputes, with offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia. The practice regularly acts for domestic and multinational corporates, professional advisors and financial institutions, and acts on commercial disputes involving joint venture and shareholder agreements. In Hong Kong, Alfred Wu and Camille Jojo lead the team, acting on a wide range of banking, shareholder, and commercial disputes. Based in Singapore, Katie Chung  leads the practice, with Dylan McKimmie operating out of the firm’s offices in Brisbane and Perth.