Skrine > Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > Firm Profile
Skrine Offices
Level 8, Wisma UOA Damansara
50 JALAN DUNGUN, DAMANSARA HEIGHTS
50490 KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysia
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Skrine > The Legal 500 Rankings
Malaysia > Antitrust and competition Tier 1
To’ Puan Janet Looi and Tan Shi Wen co-head the competition collective at Skrine. The team’s workload focuses in large part on advising and acting for various companies from a wide array of industry sectors, including such areas as insurance, aviation and shipping, on complex matters brought by the Malaysian Competition Commission. Such cases regularly include issues including cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, complaints and leniency applications, as well as block exemption applications. In addition, competition audits, dawn raids, the provision, training and assistance in the implementation of Malaysian competition law, all fall in the remit of the team’s regular work. Sharon Chong has a particular specialism in cross-border and competition disputes.Practice head(s):
To’ Puan Janet Looi; Tan Shi Wen
Other key lawyers:
Sharon Chong; Manshan Singh
Key clients
AIA Bhd., AIG Malaysia Insurance Berhad, AXA Affin General
Insurance Berhad, Zurich Insurance Malaysia Berhad
Shipping Association of Malaysia and Malaysia Shipowners’ Association
All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.
Ben Line Agencies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Cosco Shipping Lines (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Harbour-Link Lines Sdn Bhd
Hyundai Merchant Marine (M) Sdn Bhd
Interasia Lines (M) Sdn Bhd
KMTC Line (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Maersk Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Mediterranean Shipping Company (M) Sdn Bhd
MTT Shipping Sdn Bhd
Ocean Network Express (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Orient Overseas Container Line (M) Sdn Bhd
S5 Asia Sdn Bhd (Roc. 629450-A)
Wan Hai Lines (M) Sdn Bhd
Work highlights
- Represented and assisted clients in the investigation by the Malaysian Competition Committee on an agreement to fix the parts trade discount at 25% for six vehicle makers.
- Represented and assisted clients in their renewal application of a block exemption order.
- Represented and assisted clients in its renewal application of the individual exemption granted by the Malaysia Aviation Commission in relation to their joint venture agreement with United Airlines, Inc.
Malaysia > Corporate and M&A Tier 1
Praised as ‘experts in M&A’, Skrine has demonstrable experience across the healthcare, financial institutions, insurance, energy, private equity and oil and gas sectors. The practice is led by To’ Puan Janet Looi, who advises on M&A, corporate governance, regulatory work, foreign direct investments and compliance matters, while Fariz Abdul Aziz leverages expertise in private equity transactions and counts HSBC, Ekuiti Nasional Berhad and BP among his key list of clients. Sheba Gumis focuses on foreign direct investment and associate Tan Wei Xian is another key member of the group.Practice head(s):
To’ Puan Janet Looi
Other key lawyers:
Fariz Abdul Aziz; Sheba Gumis; Tan Wei Xian; Theresa Chong
Testimonials
‘Their advice was precise and due diligence was detailed and comprehensive. It seems that they have knowledge as M&A lawyers.’
‘We have been very impressed with the Skrine team. They are experts in M&A, providing seamless support during difficult processes.’
‘Fariz Abdul Aziz is an expert in his field, knowing how to mitigate legal issues not only from a purely legalistic manner but taking commercial aspects into consideration.’
Key clients
International Business Machines (IBM)
Tecan Group AG
Foot Locker, Inc.
Repsol Exploración, S.A.
Siam Commercial Bank
CVC Capital Partners
Omya Management AG
Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd.
Ekuiti Nasional Berhad
GIC (Ventures) Pte Ltd
AIA Berhad
SR Technics Switzerland AG
Setia HC Ventures Sdn Bhd
CGE Partners LLP
Kwasa Logistics Sdn Bhd and Goodman SEA Investments No. 1 Limited
Health Digital Technologies Sdn Bhd
Malaysian Technology Development Corporation
Bridgestone Corporation
Likewize Corp.
Industrialization & Energy Services Company
Malaysia > Dispute resolution Tier 1
Skrine has demonstrable experience in cross-border commercial and civil disputes, in addition to IP litigation, construction cases and insolvency. Key areas of expertise include commercial fraud, aviation and oil and gas, with arbitration remaining a core strength of the practice. Ivan Loo, who advises on construction disputes, jointly leads the team alongside banking and finance expert Koon Huan Lim. Other key members of the practice include seasoned litigator Khoo Guan Huat, Preetha Pillai, who handles contentious fraud, stock broking and tax matters, and Sharon Chong, who ‘provides timely and practical advice’ in aviation disputes.Practice head(s):
Ivan Loo; Koon Huan Lim
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Skrine is one of Malaysia’s top firms in this field.’
‘I have worked with Sharon Chong, who is particularly impressive in terms of her enthusiasm and being available to clients.’
‘The Skrine team are extremely good at handling multiparty, multi-jurisdictional litigation. The team are always on hand, night and day if necessary, owing to the UK/Malaysian time differences and are willing to go the extra mile.’
‘Between them all they are a great and effective team.’
‘Sharon Chong provides timely and practical advice.’
Key clients
1Malaysia Development Berhad and its subsidiaries
The Customs and Tax Administration of The Kingdom of Denmark
Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad
Pentadbir Tanah Daerah Johor Bahru (PTD)
Memang Perkasa Sdn Bhd
PT Pertamina Hukum Energi
ING Bank NV
O.W. Bunker Far East (Singapore) Pte Ltd
See Song & Sons Sdn Bhd.
Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
PT Sandipala Arthaputra
Port Klang Authority
Work highlights
- Represented 1Malaysia Development Berhad and 4 of its subsidiaries in an action against the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, former Board members and former senior employees.
- Represented the Customs and Tax Administration of the Kingdom of Denmark, the plaintiff in a civil suit against Malaysian entities and officers to recover approximately MYR1bn.
- Acted for Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad in four separate actions involving challenges to decisions made by Bursa pursuant to their statutory role and duties.
Malaysia > Intellectual property Tier 1
Charmayne Ong Poh YinPractice head(s):
Charmayne Ong Poh Yin; Khoo Guan Huat
Other key lawyers:
Kuek Pei Yee; Teh Hong Koon; Hemalatha Parasa Ramulu; Leela Baskaran; Joshua Teoh; Melissa Long
Testimonials
‘Charmayne Ong Poh Yin is super organized and an excellent communicator. She also sees the bigger picture, cutting through complex IP matters to get to a positive, commercial outcome.’
‘We have instructed them on the full-range of trademark work and the team is accessible responsive, and is able to work with us seamlessly to craft creative legal solutions for our clients. We also find Skrine’s fees to be reasonable and competitive, despite it being a large firm.’
‘Charmayne Ong provides clear and practical legal advice and is always prompt in her responses. She is assisted by a team of capable associates, alongside ten colleagues with similar expertise.’
‘Charmayne Ong Poh Yin and her team are very easy to work with, responsive and client-focused. Charmayne has the ability to effortlessly manage several matters across several countries and time-zones.’
Key clients
Nokia Technology Oy
Pirelli & C. S.p.A
Genting Malaysia Berhad
Dart Industries Inc
Work highlights
- Acting for Nokia in the Malaysian part of a global patent infringement dispute against Vivo and subsidiaries involving Standard Essential Patents.
- Acting for the plaintiffs in a copyright infringement and breach of confidential information litigation involving former directors.
- Represented a footwear brand owner to successfully resist the attempted setting aside of a Trade Description Order all the way up to Federal Court-level, which affirmed that over 76,000 counterfeit items had been rightfully confiscated in a 2019 raid.
Malaysia > Labour and employment Tier 1
Skrine’s team is led by employment and human resources specialist Selvamalar Alagaratnam. A large portion of its focus is on advisory work; it is well-equipped to advise its domestic client base, which spans a range of industry sectors, when they are faced with complex issues including investigations into breach of trust, breach of confidentiality, unethical conduct and mass reduction in workforce. In addition, the practice is able to handle contentious matters, Siva Kumar Kanagasabai’s area of expertise, and is praised for its ‘unique’ capabilities. The team has demonstrable experience before the High Court and Court of Appeal, acting on cases pertaining to retrenchment and termination of fixed-term contracts. Partner Foo Siew Li, who focuses on human resource advisory work, is another key member of the groupPractice head(s):
Selvamalar Alagaratnam
Other key lawyers:
Siva Kumar Kanagasabai; Foo Siew Li; Sara Lau Der Yin
Testimonials
‘The Skrine team is unique because they offer employment legal support both on an advisory front and for employment litigation. They are also equipped to advise on ongoing investigations and conduct investigations for their clients.’
‘Skrine’s partners in the employment team are accommodating to all of our requests for legal support. They deliver high quality work within stipulated deadlines.’
Key clients
Hess Exploration and Production Malaysia B.V.
Aerodome Sdn Bhd (subsidiary of Sapura Resources Berhad)
Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja
Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad
Petroleum Geo-Services Exploration (M) Sdn Bhd (PGS)
MISC Bhd
Nexperia BV
Saipem (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Saipem Asia Sdn Bhd
NGC Energy Sdn Bhd
Cycle & Carriage Sdn. Bhd.
Germanischer Lloyd Industrial Services Asia Sdn. Bhd, DNV GL International Sdn. Bhd., DNV GL Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
Great Eastern Life Assurance
British American Tobacco GSD (Kuala Lumpur) Sdn. Bhd.
Malaysia > TMT (including Fintech) Tier 1
Skrine offers both advisory and contentious services to clients across numerous sectors, including energy, healthcare, banking and financial services, as well as media and entertainment. The team advises on telecoms issues, including 5G, OTT service offerings, establishment of data centres and leasing of subsea and terrestrial fibres, in addition to negotiating and drafting contracts, such as licensing agreements. Charmayne Ong leads the practice and has demonstrable experience working with regulators, public institutions and clients who provide technology and telecoms services. Other key members of the team include Jillian Chia, who focuses on privacy and data protection work, with the support of Natalie Lim Yen Kuan.Practice head(s):
Charmayne Ong
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Charmayne Ong and her team know their stuff across a range of TMT and TMT-related issues. Very responsive to needs and timelines.’
‘Skrine’s team is very responsive and always keep up to date with new developments. They send regular client alerts on new developments. The firm as a whole is outstanding.’
‘Charmayne Ong is our key contact. She is great on collaboration and always available. Quickly acknowledges instructions and places strong emphasis on quality of work. Very strong in communications.’
Malaysia > Banking and finance Tier 2
Skrine has close links to local and international lenders, and benefits from a steady pipeline of financings, refinancings and debt restructuring engagements. It also has a well-developed banking and finance disputes team. Claudia Cheah and Lim Koon Huan are experienced banking disputes specialists, while Lee Ai Hsian, who is highly rated by clients, is noted for her expertise in syndicated loans and term loan facilities. Wong Chee Lin is a leader in restructuring and insolvency. Former banking and finance department head Theresa Chong is now a consultant at the firm.Practice head(s):
Wong Chee Lin; Claudia Cheah
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Claudia Cheah and her team are well versed in banking and finance litigation. They had also helped to review the hire purchase agreement (HPA) and provide constructive feedbacks to improvise the HPA.’
‘I have been very impressed with the speed of response of the Skrine team and their general user-friendliness. Malaysia is not the easiest of regulatory environments in which to do business on the banking side, and Skrine’s concise and timely advice helped us to set things out clearly for the clients.’
‘Lee Ai Hsian – impressive speed of response and clear “to the point” advice delivered in a way that is easy to relay to the client.’
‘Best firm in Malaysia. Responsive, fast, technically and commercially knowledgeable and experienced.’
‘Ms Claudia Cheah and her team are very hands on and attentive to the cases being passed to them. Work can be completed within the required timeline and the lawyers are always reachable for legal advice.’
‘Lee Ai Hsian is the best finance lawyer in Malaysia.’
Key clients
BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV
HSBC Amanah (Malaysia) Berhad
Federal Land Development Authority
Malayan Banking Berhad
Bank of China (Malaysia) Berhad and The Bank of Nova Scotia Berhad
Union des Banques Arabes et Francaises, Singapore branch
Agrobank
Agrobank
Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad
Agrobank
Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad
Malayan Banking Berhad
Bank Simpanan Nasional
Banque Cantonale Vaudoise
Lembaga Tabung Haji
EnQuest Petroleum Developments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Work highlights
- Acted as Malaysian counsel to BNP Paribas Fortis in a €200m syndicated multi-currency revolving facility agreement granted to X-Fab Silicon Foundries and its subsidiaries.
- Defended HSBC Amanah in a claim involving allegations of fraud and forgery relating to the creation of charges over 30 pieces of land.
- Assisted Felda in the review of the transaction documents for the issuance of a Sukuk Murabahah and the disbursement of a RC-i facility.
Malaysia > Projects and energy Tier 2
Skrine has an established energy practice, with demonstrable expertise in renewable energy projects, such as solar, waste to energy and geothermal, in addition to upstream and downstream oil and gas, petrochemicals and gas transmission matters. The team provides full-service capabilities, from concession, financing and land acquisition to project management and advisory services. Fariz Abdul Aziz, who focuses on transactional and corporate mandates in the oil and gas sectors, co-heads the practice alongside Richard Khoo Boo Hin, who specialises in construction and engineering matters.Practice head(s):
Fariz Abdul Aziz; Richard Khoo Boo Hin
Testimonials
‘Excellent engagement.’
‘In-depth knowledge of the offshore oil and gas industry in Malaysia.’
‘Experience in construction projects, with a practical approach on addressing issues.’
‘Richard Khoo Boo Hin is very experienced in construction projects and contracts.’
Key clients
Repsol Exploración, S.A.
OMV
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd
Uptrend Technology Sdn. Bhd.
Jadestone Energy
BP
International Petroleum Company
Simmtech Co., Ltd.
Maersk Drilling
PTT Exploration and Production Company
POSCO International
Reach Energy Berhad
Work highlights
- Acted as Malaysian counsel for Repsol in connection with its $212.5msale of E&P assets in Malaysia and in Block 46 CN in Vietnam.
- Acted as Malaysian counsel for SapuraOMV in connection with its disposal of its entire interests in several producing assets offshore Peninsular Malaysia to London listed Jadestone Energy plc for $9m, subject to closing adjustments.
- Acted for KOSDAQ-listed Simmtech Holdings Co. Ltd. in respect of the development of its first large-scale factory in Southeast Asia valued at RM508m.
Malaysia > Real estate and construction Tier 2
Ivan Loo and Ashok Kumar Mahadev Ranai, who specialise in construction-related disputes, lead the practice at Skrine alongside corporate construction expert Richard Khoo and consultant Theresa Chong. The team is well-versed in large-scale property development projects, whilst also advising on multi-claimant disputes involving novel issues, such as a building’s safety for occupancy. Key work highlights include representing Malaysia Airports (Sepang) in a construction case concerning allegations of negligence and breach of contract. Senior associate Tatvaruban Subramaniam is another key member of the team.Practice head(s):
Ivan Loo; Ashok Kumar Mahadev Rana; Richard Khoo; Theresa Chong
Other key lawyers:
Jesy Ooi; Lee Ai Hsian; Laarnia Rajandran; Khoo Guan Huat; Shannon Rajan; Loshini Ramarmuty; Tatvaruban Subramaniam
Testimonials
‘A brilliant team, which is very responsive to urgent requests. The training clearly provided to junior lawyers throughout matters provides comfort for continued engagement.’
‘Laarnia Rajandran and Khoo Guan Huat are very responsive and cool under pressure, especially in managing high-level, fast-paced decision making situations.’
‘Skrine has been our go-to legal firm for construction and real estate disputes for over ten years. We are particularly impressed with their team of experienced lawyers, with diverse expertise. The team expediently takes charge of legal documentation. They are truly professional and dedicated and we were swept off our feet when they flew across country to ensure that urgent court papers were filed the very next morning for us.’
‘Ashok Kumar Mahadev Ranai handles very high-profile and large corporate clients yet never fails to respond in a very timely manner to any of our concerns, which sets him apart from others. He always has his clients’ best interests at heart. We, as clients, are always comforted to know that he is responsive as this is key for urgent matters.’
‘An experienced and dedicated team with fast turnaround and responses to clients’ needs.’
‘Shannon Rajan provides practical solutions and advice, is knowledgeable, responsive to the client needs and processes, makes himself available when needed, and is attentive and contactable.
‘Skrine has a very experienced and capable team to handle, advise and prepare documents for our contractual and legal process. They also have seamless collaboration with other legal firms.’
‘Mr Ashok has guided the team brilliantly to achieve our targets. Ms Loshini has given accurate drafts of our legal documents for our perusal and review – the drafts have been prepared and finalized based on our input and instructions. Mr Tatvaruban and Ms Laarnia have given valuable support and ideas on matters relating to our cases.’
Key clients
Simmtech Holdings Co. Ltd
Hunza Properties (Gurney) Sdn BhdHunza Properties (Penang) Sdn BhdBeachfront Services Sdn Bhd
Mudajaya Corporation Berhad
Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd
Petronas Gas Berhad
MCC Overseas (M) Sdn. Bhd.
Astana Modal Sdn Bhd
Malaysia Airport Sepang
RKR Bina Sdn Bhd
Work highlights
- Acting as Malaysian counsel to Simmtech Holdings Co. Ltd in relation to the development of Simmtech’s first large-scale factory in Southeast Asia Simmtech’s investment, valued at RMYR508m.
- Acting for Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, in relation to the approximately $177.46m development of the new Aerotrain system at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Malaysia > Shipping Tier 2
Skrine’s maritime and shipping team is co-led by head of the contentious team Siva Kumar Kanagasabai, who has experience in ship arrests, charter party disputes, detentions and oil pollution claims, and head of the non-contentious group Fariz Abdul Aziz. Noted for its full-service capability, the practice’s maritime workload involves high-value matters, advising on such areas as the creation, validity and enforcement of securities against cargo and vessels, possessory liens, as well as the insolvency of shipping and oil entities. Trishelea Sandosam stand outs for her expertise in international arbitration, as highlighted by her work on the team’s case advising ICON on a shipbuilding dispute at the High Court.Practice head(s):
Siva Kumar Kanagasabai; Fariz Abdul Aziz
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
ICON Ship Management Sdn Bhd
YS GM MF VIII LLC
Owners of Strovolos
Propel Shipping Pte Ltd
Malaysia > Tax Tier 2
Skrine’s tax team is led by Preetha Pillai and is well-equipped to handle litigious cases relating to the full spectrum of tax matters, including corporate, real property, employment and anti-dumping. In addition, the team supports its roster of clients in navigating complex tax audits and investigations. A work highlight includes the cross-jurisdictional civil matter brought against multiple Malaysian entities by the Danish government in respect of a significant tax fraud. Vijay Raj has demonstrable experience acting for oil and gas company clients, and has done so in cases involving the imposition of rates by local governments on pipelines and refineries.Practice head(s):
Preetha Pillai
Other key lawyers:
Lim Koon Huan; Vijay Raj; Tan Hui Wen; Manshan Singh; Desmond Liew
Key clients
The Customs and Tax Administration of The Kingdom of Denmark
Malayan Banking Berhad
Natsteel Holdings Pte Ltd
Unistar Industries Sdn Bhd
Work highlights
- Representing the Customs and Tax Administration of the Kingdom of Denmark in a civil suit against multiple Malaysian entities and its officers.
- Defending a negligent suit in relation to whether a disposal of an auctioned land is subject to GST.
Malaysia > Islamic finance Tier 3
Skrine has built its presence in Islamic finance in recent years, now acting on a range of engagements such as Sukuk issuances under medium-term note programmes, reviewing template documents and assessing the enforceability of documents under Islamic principles. Sharifah Shafika Alsagoff and Hafidah Aman Hashim have experience in Islamic finance, while Claudia Cheah provides further expertise in Islamic finance disputes.Practice head(s):
Sharifah Shafika Alsagoff; Claudia Cheah
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Strong know-how.’
‘Able to structure to client’s needs.’
Key clients
Bank Simpanan Nasional
Bursa Malaysia
MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Berhad
Penjana Kapital Sdn Bhd
Employees Provident Fund Board
Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA)
Banque Cantonale Vaudoise
Sapura Resources Berhad
Lembaga Tabung Haji
EnQuest Petroleum Developments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Work highlights
- Assisted in preparation/drafting of the template documents for the URUS scheme.
- Reviewed Bursa Malaysia’s existing templates of standby letter of credit for central counterparty to ascertain its enforceability and certainty and to advise on the guiding principles of Islamic SBLC.
- Reviewed the terms and conditions of MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Berhad’s client account for the Islamic share trading account and Islamic stockbroking.
Skrine > Firm Profile
Skrine is one of the largest legal firms in the country with a sterling global reputation, and a wide range of highly-regarded practice groups. The firm is currently led by 44 partners with over 110 lawyers across the corporate, dispute resolution and intellectual property divisions.
Skrine is the exclusive Malaysian member of Lex Mundi, a network of leading independent law firms in over 160 jurisdictions around the world and the Pacific Rim Advisory Council, an international network of 30 top tier independent member law firms.
Skrine has won multiple awards and accolades over the years, including Law Firm of the Year 2021 – Malaysia by Legal 500, Malaysia Law Firm of the Year in 2021 by asialaw, Malaysia Law Firm of the Year in 2020 by Chambers Asia Pacific Awards, Malaysia Firm of the Year 2013 – 2020 by Who’s Who Legal, ranked as leading firm by Chambers Asia Pacific 2011 – 2021, ranked as top tier firm by Legal 500 Asia Pacific from 2014 – 2021, recognised as leading international arbitration firm since 2012 by Global Arbitration Review (GAR) 100, and Malaysian Firm of the Year for 2014 – 2016 by Managing Intellectual Property (Managing IP).
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Head of Litigation and Arbitration | Ivan Loo | il@skrine.com | +603 2081 3823 |
Head of Corporate | To' Puan Janet Looi | llh@skrine.com | +603 2081 3812 |
Head of Intellectual Property and TMT | Charmayne Ong Poh Yin | co@skrine.com | +603 2081 3736 |
Co-head of Construction and Engineering | Ivan Loo | il@skrine.com | +603 2081 3823 |
Co-head of Construction and Engineering | Ashok Kumar Mahadev Ranai | amr@skrine.com | +603 2081 3744 |
Head of Shipping | Siva Kumar Kanagasabai | skk@skrine.com | +603 2081 3734 |
Head of Employment | Selvamalar Alagaratnam | sa@skrine.com | +603 2081 3747 |
Head of Tax and Revenue | Preetha Pillai | psp@skrine.com | +603 2081 3748 |