Firm Profile > Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill > Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Dispute resolution Tier 1

Led by 'experienced and capable partners', Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill's dispute resolution team handles a full range of contentious matters including commercial disputes, banking and insolvency litigation, and construction and real estate disputes with clients benefiting from it being 'part of a seamless, multi disciplinary firm'. With a breadth of experience across civil and commercial litigation and arbitration proceedings, Lambert Rasa-Ratnam heads up the practice which includes:  Nitin Nadkarni, who heads the international arbitration team, and Kumar Kanagasingam who is highlighted for banking and insolvency disputes. Other names to note include 'persuasive and quick thinking' capital market and securities litigator SM Shanmugam — who is 'a formidable figure both in and out of the courtroom' — and Darshendev Singh who handles a range of litigation and alternative dispute resolution with a particular focus on those relating to construction, engineering, oil & gas, and infrastructure projects. corporate litigation expert Rosli Dahlan has left the firm to form Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership.

Intellectual property Tier 1

The intellectual property team at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill benefits from 'subject matter experts' who provide 'fast responses, customized service and flexible arrangements'. The group handles a full range of IP matters and counts telecoms, tobacco and automotive among its sector specialisms. The 'outstanding' practice head Bahari Yeow's expertise spans non-contentious matters and IP disputes, while Zhi Jian Lim focuses on litigation, and Eunice Wei Lynn Chan combines IP protection and portfolio management experience with commercial, competition, and regulatory expertise – particularly in the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food sectors – in advising on non-contentious matters.

Islamic finance Tier 1

Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill's Islamic finance team is a popular choice for domestic and international financial institutions and counts United Overseas Bank, RHB Islamic Bank and Mapletree Investments among its clients. Weng Hwee Tay – who has been particularly active in advising foreign funds and banks on mezzanine financings – heads up the practice which includes Megat Hizaini Hassan, who has a breadth of experience in advising lenders on project finance transactions, restructuring projects and debt issuance, as well as capital markets expert Eu Jin Ong.

Labour and employment Tier 1

The 'very professional and efficient' employment and industrial relations team at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill provides 'sound technical legal advice' on a range of compliance, contractual, contentious matters. Its impressive client roster includes major Malaysian companies and multinationals, such as CIMB Bank and Samsung Electronics. Practice head and 'good strategist' Heng Seng Lim is highlighted particularly for corporate advisory work while Thavalingam Thavarajah focuses on employment disputes. Other names to note include Shariffullah Abdul Majeed who has particular industrial relations experience and senior associate Amardeep Singh attracts praise for being 'a good communicator'.

Real estate and construction Tier 1

The real estate and construction team at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill offers a full-service to its real estate sector clients and combines real estate development and transactions expertise with corporate and disputes capabilities. The team is jointly led by corporate and commercial partner Weng Hwee Tay and Nitin Nadkarni who specialises in international arbitration. Other names to note include Bella Chai Yee Chu and Darshendev Singh for transactional and contentious matters respectively.

Tax Tier 1

The tax team at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill is known for handling high-value tax disputes relating to transfer pricing, sales and services tax, capital allowance, withholding tax, tax incentives and customs valuation, and is particularly active in bringing tax appeals before the Special Commissioners of Income Tax. The group is also instructed in non-contentious and advisory matters. Two noted names in the practice include Aznam Mansor, who focuses on advising private clients,  and anti-money laundering and criminal tax investigation expert and civil tax recovery-focused partner Bahari Yeow. Rosli Dahlan, D.P. Naban and Saravana Kumar left the firm in February 2020 to form the Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership.

TMT Tier 1

The TMT group at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill expertise spans the IT and telecoms sector, with capabilities to handle regulatory, compliance and licensing advice, transactional matters as well as project finance and dispute resolution. Practice head Adlin Abdul Majid is a key name for transactional and regulatory matters, while G. Vijay Kumar handles a range of telecoms and IT disputes; Bahari Yeow also focuses on IT disputes. The team's fintech expertise has been further strengthened by the arrival of Raphael Tay Choon Tien from Chooi & Company and Cheang & Ariff.

Antitrust and competition Tier 2

The competition practice at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill focuses on advising international clients investing in Malaysia on compliance matters and attracts praise for being 'willing to go the extra mile'. Adlin Abdul Majid assists clients with a range of compliance issues, while Ooi Bee Hong frequently advises on competition elements of corporate transactions and Eunice Chan Wei Lynn's broad expertise extends to advising clients on competition considerations relating to licensing of intellectual property.

Banking and finance Tier 2

The 'very experienced' Weng Hwee Tay leads the team at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill, which acts across the range of banking and finance matters, including syndicated loans, project and asset finance, bankruptcy and restructuring and bank branch establishment. The practice has a particular strength in transactions, primarily acting for lenders, which include international institutions such as HSBC and Standard Charted alongside domestic banks such as Maybank, CIMB and AmBank. Eu Jin Ong advised the government of Malaysia on a ¥200bn Series A samurai bond issue to qualified institutional investors.

Capital markets Tier 2

The capital markets practice at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill has experience of assisting clients with the full range equity and debt issuances; the group has been advising on an increasing volume of IPOs in Malaysia and continues to be particularly active in Sukuk issuances. Head of the corporate team, Tay Hwee, is a name to note in the equity space, while Eu Jin Ong handles a range of conventional and Islamic equity and debt transactions, and Megat Hassan focuses on Islamic finance.

Corporate and M&A Tier 2

Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill's 'solution-oriented' corporate and M&A team counts large Malaysian corporates, including Sapura Energy and UEM Sunrise, as well as international companies with activities, or establishing interests, in Malaysia. It has experience across a breadth of sectors and has recently seen an uptick of work in the infrastructure and insurance sectors. Practice head Tay Hwee handles a full range of corporate and commercial transactions, while Ooi Bee Hong focuses on foreign direct investment into Malaysia. Raphael Tay, who joined the team from Chooi & Company and Cheang & Ariff, brings a breadth of corporate experience and has recently been particularly active in the fintech sector.

Projects and energy Tier 3

The 'excellent and approachable' projects and construction practice at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill is frequently instructed to advise on the development and financing of energy, infrastructure, utility and construction projects and attracts praise for its 'knowledge of the market and strong problem-solving skills'. Steven Shin Yau Tee and Nitin Nadkarni jointly head the practice and are names to note for non-contentious matters and international arbitration respectively.

Client Testimonials

CLIENT: Ms Teo Kea Syn (Director)

COMPANY/FIRM: MST Marketing

TESTIMONIAL: (Written for Partner SM Shanmugam)

“To date, I have had the pleasure of working with Shan for 7 years. Shan is counsel to our company on a corporate litigation matter involving former directors. Being party to litigation is often a stressful, tiresome and unhappy business; fortunately, having Shan on our side has been a huge mitigating factor.  In the courtroom, Shan impresses with his ability to maintain cool-headed clarity and logic, even whilst presenting the most impassioned, persuasive arguments. When confronted by the unexpected, Shan’s quick thinking and sound legal/technical knowledge can always be relied upon to overcome any situation. Outside of the courtroom, with his energetic, positive and professional demeanor, Shan is a delight to work with. Shan not only works hard, he also works flexibly and tirelessly. No amount of effort is too great for his clients. In dispensing legal advice, Shan is outstanding in his ability to cut through any unnecessary complexities, and to present his clients with salient facts and relevant, dynamic solutions.  Overall, Shan is a smart, talented and formidable litigator you would want to have.”