Shearn Delamore & Co > Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > Firm Profile

Shearn Delamore & Co > The Legal 500 Rankings

Malaysia > Antitrust and competition Tier 1

Shearn Delamore & Co’s competition team pre-dates the introduction of a domestic legal framework, with significant experience advising government-linked and multinational companies, and particular strength in investigations and compliance reviews. The department boasts strong offerings across a notably broad range of industries, including consumer goods, telecoms, shipping, logistics and luxury goods, including sporting products and premium alcohol and spirits. K Shanti Mogan has extensive commercial litigation experience, and regularly handles compliance audits and competition investigations and disputes. She jointly heads the practice with Anand Raj, who advises a range of MNCs, GLCs and Malaysian enterprises, and is a name to note in the financial services, manufacturing and automotive sectors.

Malaysia > Banking and finance Tier 1

Shearn Delamore & Co handles a broad range of financing transactions including Islamic finance, structured and project finance and debt capital markets transactions. The practice is, however, best known for its regulatory advisory practice, with considerable experience in laws governing securities, financial services, foreign exchange administration and the regulation of derivatives. Christina Kow is recognised for her notable knowledge of financial institution regulation and her transaction experience. She also has a growing practice in the fintech and regtech space, advising on structures involving cryptocurrencies, electronic payments and electronic platforms.  Pamela Kung  is a go-to name for acquisition financing and structured lending, frequently handling bilateral and syndicated lending transactions.

Malaysia > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

The corporate and M&A group at Shearn Delamore & Co handles a broad range of M&A, takeovers, private equity transactions, restructurings and joint ventures, as well as regulatory advisory; inbound investment from China is a recent area of growth. Practice head Grace Yeoh is highly recommended for corporate governance and family business matters as well as transactions in the energy, natural resources and green technology sectors. Technology, telecoms, semiconductors, retail and e-commerce/money services are other key industry strengths. Early career partner Lai Zhen Pik is a key member of the firm’s China desk, regularly advising Chinese clients on both inbound and outbound transactions.

Malaysia > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Jeyanthini Kannaperan leads the litigation practice at Shearn Delamore & Co, which is highly recommended for banking and finance, restructuring, insolvency and corporate disputes. It represents corporations, financial institutions and government practitioners in white-collar crime prosecutions as well as civil cases. The professional negligence group is a particular stand-out within the department, and Rodney Gomez is a key name for construction and engineering arbitration proceedings, adjudications and litigation. In addition to corporate and commercial litigation, Yee Mei Ken regularly defends media clients and news publishers in defamation and libel cases, while newly promoted partner Lilien Wong focuses on disputes involving e-commerce, telecoms and social media issues.

Malaysia > Intellectual property Tier 1

Karen Abraham  leads the 'proactive' IP practice at Shearn Delamore & Co. While the team has shared experience across all IP matters, the practice regularly draws upon the noted litigation skills of partner Indran Shanmuganathan . Partner Timothy Siaw  specialises in patents and life sciences but his expertise extends to IT contracts, technology licensing, cybersecurity and data protection. A major part of partner Zaraihan Shaari ’s practice is in patents cases for the pharmaceutical, life sciences and allied industries. Partner Michelle C Y Loi   represents clients in all areas of IP litigation and advisory matters which extend to the Control of Drugs and Cosmetic Regulations while Janet Toh  has an equally broad practice. The team is also prized for its cross-jurisdictional capabilities.

Malaysia > Labour and employment Tier 1

Shearn Delamore & Co’s six-partner team advises multinational companies and government-linked companies on the full range of employment and industrial relations matters. Noted lawyers include department head Sivabalah Nadarajah, who is experienced in trade union disputes at all levels; Vijayan Venugopal who has conducted hearings on a range of matters up to the federal level; Raymond Low who excels in health and safety litigation and personal data protection in the employment context; Suganthi Singam who handles both contentious and non-contentious matters; and Reena Enbasegaram whose expertise includes disciplinary actions and performance issues.

Malaysia > Real estate and construction Tier 1

Shearn Delamore & Co‘s real estate practice group handles a full range of corporate real estate work, assisting domestic and international clients including property developers, public and private companies, local and offshore property funds, investors and financial institutions. Key areas of work include property acquisitions and divestments, sale-and-leaseback, property-related joint ventures, real estate M&A, and leasing and tenancies. The group also houses an engineering and construction team, which handles both contentious and non-contentious matters relating to complex building and development projects both domestically and outside of Malaysia. Sar Sau Yee heads the department jointly with Rodney Gomez , who has extensive experience in planning and development and as an arbitrator in construction and engineering disputes.

Malaysia > Shipping Tier 1

Shearn Delamore & Co's shipping practice, led by Rajasingam Gothandapani, handles contentious and transactional matters for a wide range of Malaysian and international clients including banks, cargo owners, charterers, freight forwarders, logistics companies, P&I clubs, port and terminal operators, ship owners, and shipyards. Gothandapani is also experienced in compliance, environmental audits, and liability issues.

Malaysia > Tax Tier 1

The three-partner tax team at Shearn Delamore & Co, led by Anand Raj is a popular choice for tax litigation, audit and investigation matters. Raj handles tax and transfer pricing disputes and litigation which the firm had seen particular growth in recent years, and is supported by Irene Yong and Foong Pui Chi who are also instructed on advisory work, tax structuring, planning and audit. The firm has grown outside of its traditional client base in the oil and gas industry to include clients in the electronics, telecoms, consumer products and transport sectors. Associate Abhilaash Subramaniam is also recommended. Goh Ka Im has retired.

Malaysia > Islamic finance Tier 2

Led by Christina Kow and Pamela Kung, the Islamic finance group at Shearn Delamore & Co advises on Syariah-compliant acquisition finance, real estate finance, Sukuk and other DCM products, as well as providing regulatory advice for Islamic financial institutions.

Malaysia > Projects and energy Tier 2

Shearn Delamore & Co handles a broad range of mandates across the infrastructure and energy sectors, with core areas of focuses including renewable energy, manufacturing and refinery projects. The team is also recommended for project financing transactions. Datin Grace Yeoh focuses on transactions in the energy, natural resources and green technology sectors, also assisting clients with related regulatory and compliance work. Rodney Gomez has considerable experience in planning and development as well as private finance initiatives and is singled out for his expertise in arbitration and adjudication handling disputes arising out of PPP projects. Yeoh and Gomez jointly lead the team.

Malaysia > TMT (including Fintech) Tier 3

Shearn Delamore & Co’s TMT group has broad expertise across the sector, with key areas of work including software development and licensing agreements, cloud-based agreements, fintech, AI, technology transactions and regulatory compliance. The practice also advises on e-commerce and online marketing, data privacy issues, digital signatures and encryption, electronic patent systems, digital content and new media. Team lead Timothy Siaw has considerable experience in IP and technology. Other notable practitioners include Karen Abraham who handles IP litigation, regulatory and compliance matters; Janet Toh who advises on IP, technology and data protection matters; and Christina Kow who has notable expertise in the fintech and regtech space.

Malaysia > Legal Market Overview