Firm Profile > Zul Rafique & Partners > Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Banking and finance Tier 1

The team at Zul Rafique & Partners offers regulatory and transactional advice to domestic and international financial institutions, acting on both the lending and borrowing side in project financing and syndicated lending matters. The practice is led by the 'excellent' Loh Mei Mei, advising clients such as Standard Chartered, HSBC, and Bank of China Malaysia. Mei and Celine Rangithan advised Maybank and CIMB on a complex project financing deal involving four different companies, with a total of around RM1.17bn in funds provided. Kung Suan Im, Ashela Ramaya, and Chan Kwan Hoe are all active in the practice.

Capital markets Tier 1

Zul Rafique & Partners' banking and finance practice has been particularly active of late in debt capital markets space and has been frequently instructed by domestic and international financial institutions to advise on regulatory and transactional elements of transactions. The group also has experience advising corporates on equity and debt capital market offerings. Loh Mei Mei is well regarded for her debt capital markets and project finance experience; she advised Genting Malaysia and its subsidiary, GENM Capital, on Genting Malaysia's medium-term notes programme. Ashela Ramaya and Chan Kwan Hoe are other names to note for debt capital markets transactions, while Jerry Ong is highlighted for his expertise in equity mandates.

Islamic finance Tier 1

With experience handling a range of domestic and cross-border transactions, Zul Rafique & Partners' banking and finance practice group advises on a wide range of structures involving various Shariah principles. Practice head Loh Mei Mei – who has recently been particularly active in advising Islamic banks on project finance transactions – Kung Suan Im, Ashela Ramaya, Chan Kwan Hoe and Celine Rangithan, all have broad practices and experience in transactions in the bank lending space and debt capital markets.

Labour and employment Tier 1

The 'dynamic' employment and industrial relations practice at Zul Rafique & Partners handles a range of contentious and non-contentious matters and attracts praise for being 'thorough when rendering an opinion and provides sound legal advice'. The group is jointly led by industrial court litigator P Jayasingam, Wong Keat Ching, who splits her time between contentious and corporate advisory work, and Thavaselvi Pararajasingam, who counts banks and insurers among her clients.

Real estate and construction Tier 2

Zul Rafique & Partners' corporate real estate practice group handles a full range of real estate matters including property acquisitions and divestments, property developments and joint ventures, commercial leasing, property management and property-related financing. The team is jointly led by Tang Ai Leen, Leong May Ling and Ainal Marlinda Md Said who all have experience across a range of real estate transactions.

Corporate and M&A Tier 3

The 'responsive' corporate and M&A team at Zul Rafique & Partners has experience assisting local and international clients on a range of transactional, restructuring, commercial and regulatory aspects of deals. The group is praised for having 'good lawyers who really understand the local environment', such as the 'very knowledgeable' Jerry Ong, who 'gives practical advice', and heads up the team alongside corporate finance expert David Lee Lai Huat.

Dispute resolution Tier 3

Zul Rafique & Partners' disputes team has a breadth of experience in contentious matters, including a range of civil, corporate and commercial, and land and tenancy disputes. It is particularly strong in construction-related matters, with experience in alternative dispute resolution methods. The team is jointly led by construction disputes expert T Kuhendran and P Jayasingam, who specialises in civil and industrial relations.

Projects and energy Tier 4

Highlighted for its project finance experience, Zul Rafique & Partners has been instructed, often by lenders, in development and construction projects. As head of the banking and finance team Loh Mei Mei is a name to note.

Client Testimonials

CLIENT: Muhd Afif
COMPANY/FIRM: Telecommunications Industry
TESTIMONIAL: I have had the pleasure of working with Wong Keat Ching and her team, Teh Jovaynne & Teoh Alvare. Throughout the years, the team has always been a good business partner as we work through great collaboration in overcoming our challenges in the Human Resources aspect by providing a sound and practical advice on applying best practices in the industry. The ability to appreciate and understand the considerations & challenges from an employer’s perspective and to ‘fill the shoes of the employers’ in the industry are amongst her greatest strengths which make her a valuable partner to us.

CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: I am fortunate to have the pleasure of having longstanding relationship with Mr Darren Kor on various legal matters over the years. He provides prompt and sound legal advices whenever required. He is a dedicated, experienced and well-rounded corporate lawyer with extensive technical knowledge, especially in the area of telecommunication services. This has profoundly helped my company during negotiation sessions as his technical knowledge combined with his commercial negotiation skills have helped us to secure our rights in major contracts.

CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: Anonymous
TESTIMONIAL: Professional, highly talented and innovative legal team with an acute commercial awareness which you can be assured of satisfying experience.

CLIENT: Team Head Debt Capital Markets
COMPANY/FIRM: Maybank Investment Bank Berhad
TESTIMONIAL: We had the opportunity to work with Ms Loh Mei Mei on a debt restructuring exercise. Ms Loh is able to provide us with quality legal advice, guidance and is adept at providing practical and workable solutions which led us through our negotiations during the entire transaction. She understands our requirement and work with our interest in mind to ultimately achieve our objectives. Her patience, attentiveness, swift response, sound advice and quick turnaround time during documentation process had contributed much to the success of the transaction. She is very knowledgeable and an excellent solicitor.

CLIENT: Director, Debt Capital Markets
COMPANY/FIRM: United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd
TESTIMONIAL: Ms Loh Mei Mei is a very experienced and well respected legal counsel in the industry having worked on numerous fund raising activities. She is totally committed, driven and provides excellent legal advice to ensure that the transactions are completed on a timely basis. Her team members are equally dedicated and we value her commitment and her professionalism in managing our deals.

CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: One of a leading investment bank
TESTIMONIAL: We manage financing facilities after their disbursements. Based on the quality of legal documents which Ms. Ashela and her team had prepared for our deals, we can testify that she and her team possess commendable knowledge that contributed positively to our financing facilities management and risks mitigation. In addition, she and her team always respond to our queries almost in no time and provide us with clear legal views and guidance pertaining operational matters. We highly recommend Ms. Ashela for her vast knowledge in both conventional and Islamic banking and for her dedication in her duties.

CLIENT: Vice President, Debt Capital Markets
COMPANY/FIRM: Hong Leong Investment Bank Berhad
TESTIMONIAL: The partners of Zul Rafique & partners (Ms. Loh Mei Mei and Mr. Chan Kwan Hoe; both solicitors who deserve mention here) are very experienced and articulate in rendering legal advice pertaining to debt capital markets/loans related mandates. They provide quality advice and are able to make quick/firm decision. Being one of the top tier legal firms in Malaysia, they are very professional and yet approachable should you need to reach out to any of them for urgent legal advice. They have good business acumen too.

CLIENT: Associate Director, Regional Debt Capital Markets, Capital Markets, Treasury & Markets
COMPANY/FIRM: CIMB Investment Bank Berhad
TESTIMONIAL: We have had the pleasure of working with Zul Rafique & partners for many years. The partners and associates are true professionals, with a great understanding of business, corporate and debt capital market law subjects. The team practices with knowledge, integrity and thoroughness. Ms Loh Mei Mei, Mr. Chan Kwan Hoe and Ms. Renee Fong Siew Ern are talented, honest and experienced lawyers and were available on an ongoing basis, responding directly to our queries promptly and professionally.

CLIENT: Director, Debt Capital Markets
COMPANY/FIRM: RHB Investment Bank Berhad
TESTIMONIAL: The team at ZRp has consistently upheld its excellent professionalism in all the corporate bond transactions that we have worked with them over the years. In particular, Ms Loh Mei Mei is highly commendable for her technical expertise and her ability in providing good and practical advice, which plays an important part in ensuring the successful execution of a transaction. Ms Loh and her team have also responded to our queries with a quick turnaround time and they have proven their capabilities in managing large deals with various working parties. We value their high-quality services and would recommend them for any future debt-funding exercises.

CLIENT: Anonymous
COMPANY/FIRM: Mapletree Logistics Trust Management Ltd.
TESTIMONIAL: We had the opportunity to work with Mr Chan Kwan Hoe on an Asset-Backed Securitization (“ABS”) transaction. Mr Chan is knowledgeable and well-versed with the ABS guidelines and provided us with practical solutions to cater to our requirements. We value Mr Chan and his team members’ commitment and guidance which enabled us to complete the transaction despite the tight turnaround time.

CLIENT: NANI SURYANI BINTI AHMAD TAJUDIN
COMPANY/FIRM: RADIMAX GROUP SDN BHD, LABUAN & SHIPPING ENGINEERING SDN BHD & RADICARE (M) SDN BHD
TESTIMONIAL: Our Company has been working with Messrs Zul Rafique & Partners for more than 10 years. The solicitors are all reliable and efficient especially Ms Wong Keat Ching whom has quick thinking ability in providing practical solution to issues and problems. She certainly has the exceptional quality of thinking-outside-the-box and delivers cost effective and practical advice despite the tight deadline given to her.

CLIENT: Goh Lee Sian, Senior Vice President, Legal
COMPANY/FIRM: Genting Berhad
TESTIMONIAL: We have worked with Mei Mei and her team on all our major debt financing transactions over the years. The quality of service is consistent, professional and responsive. Although Mei Mei has a strong second in command for every transaction, she is always on top of the issues and is able to offer practical counsel, solutions and advice, with market benchmark from her vast experience to give perspective in negotiations and decision making. She listens and makes the effort to understand our business and this goes a long way to ensuring that our specific business issues are addressed in the financing documents.