Latham & Watkins LLP > Singapore, Singapore > Firm Profile

Latham & Watkins LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Singapore > Capital markets: equity and debt: foreign firms Tier 1

With one of the leading capital markets teams based in Singapore, Latham & Watkins LLP acts for clients in jurisdictions across South and Southeast Asia, most notably India, Vietnam and Singapore. The group, which provides advice on the full gamut of debt and equity offerings, is the first choice for a number of corporate issuers, underwriters, placement agents and initial purchasers seeking advice on transformative capital markets transactions, including IPOs across South Asia, debt securities, and inaugural SPAC listings and de-SPAC transactions. The team has recently taken on a key role on several market-shaping IPOs in India, which emerged as one of the top equity capital markets destinations in 2021. Leading the practice, Sharon Lau has advised on significant first-of-their-kind capital markets offerings in Singapore and emerging economies like Vietnam. SPACS-related mandates, including business combinations involving Asian targets searching for US listings, are among her recent areas of focus. Rajiv Gupta, who oversees India-related work, stands out for his track record in the region’s most innovative capital markets transactions, including US IPOs out of India and high-yield bonds. Timothy Hia is the local chair of the firm’s finance department in Asia; debt capital markets work involving Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are key areas of expertise.

Singapore > Banking and finance: foreign firms Tier 2

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

American firm Latham & Watkins LLP has operated in Singapore for over 20 years, developing a practice with US, English and domestic law capabilities. The team significantly bolstered its offering in August 2021 through the high-profile arrivals of Sidharth Bhasin and James Clayton-Payne, both formerly of Shearman & Sterling LLP; the former is a public and private M&A, workouts, restructurings and private equity investment specialist, with a caseload that spans both South and Southeast Asia, while the latter arrives with a prominent market reputation for divestments, venture capital financings and joint ventures. Elsewhere, Sharon Lau  counts pre-IPO, growth capital and venture capital financings among her key strengths while Marcus Lee hones his focus on all-manner of deals within the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Singapore > Energy: foreign firms Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP's practice is well-versed in upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas work, as well as mining, exploration, and LNG issues. Beyond their capabilities in conventional energy work, the team is active in energy transition matters - especially in relation to advanced batteries and hydrogen work. Co-head Sidharth Bhasin notably represents private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds and state-owned entities, while fellow co-heads James Clayton-Payne and Don Stokes serve clients in cross-border energy transactions. Rajiv Gupta works on high-profile capital markets matters.

Singapore > Projects: foreign firms Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP‘s project development and finance lawyers act as lead counsel for lenders, borrowers, project companies, developers and state-related entities. The team has expertise in structuring and executing project financings across the energy, infrastructure, mining, transport and telecommunications sectors. Practice head Stephen McWilliams is active on lender and sponsor mandates spanning the LNG and petrochemicals sectors. Don Stokes has particular experience in the Vietnam market, with experience on the ground in Ho Chi Minh City, while Charles Anderson works with the M&A team on portfolio acquisitions.

Singapore > Start-up and venture capital – Foreign firms Tier 3

Representing start-ups, emerging companies and investors, Latham & Watkins LLP’s experience runs the gamut from smaller Series A financings to large transactions for lenders and companies. Specialisms include cross-border M&A, crypto payments, data and technology advice. Corporate head Ji Liu leads the team which was boosted by the 2021 arrival from Shearman & Sterling LLP of James Clayton-Payne, who brings strength in tech, crypto and e-commerce start-up work.

India > Foreign firms Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP is well known in the market for advising on high-profile and high-value M&A deals, drawing on strength from its global network and in particular the key jurisdictions of Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK and the US. In addition to its corporate work, the firm acts for clients in private equity mandates, capital markets matters and restructurings. Rajiv Gupta heads the India practice and is well versed in commercial transactions, banking transactions, spin-offs and joint ventures. Sam Newhouse counts multinational companies, financial investors, financial institutions and sovereign wealth funds among his clients, which turn to him for advice on public and private M&A and reorganisations. Michael Sturrock handles M&A and capital raisings. Sidharth Bhasin, who also handles corporate work, joined in August 2021 from Shearman & Sterling LLP.

Malaysia > Foreign firms Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP’s Malaysia practice is primarily driven by corporate and financing partners in Singapore. Malaysian project development and project financing is another forte for the firm, having advised on a series of major developments over the years. The team has also advised a number of private equity funds on their investments and interests in Malaysia and continues to assist clients in headline capital markets offerings in the jurisdiction; Singapore-based partner Sharon Lau led the team that advised CTOS Digital on its IPO on Bursa Malaysia; Lau has a prolific record in Malaysia IPOs, M&A and private equity deals.

Vietnam > Foreign desks Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP’s strong connections with local law firms bolsters its corporate offering in Vietnam and has demonstrable experience advising on M&A transactions. Hong Kong-based Amy Beckingham and Sharon Lau, who operates from the firm’s Singapore office, jointly lead the Vietnam-focused practice. Beckingham is the firm’s global vice chair of the corporate department and specialises in M&A, joint ventures, and equity capital markets, handling transactions and investments into Vietnam. Lau’s practice focuses on M&A and corporate finance transactions, advising issuers and underwriters.

Japan > Projects and energy: International firms and joint ventures

Renown for its expertise in cross-border projects and multi-sourced financing, Latham & Watkins Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise advises leading lenders, borrowers, project companies, developers and state-owned entities. The group is prominent across the energy, infrastructure, mining, transport and telecom sectors and enjoys the ability to leverage the firm’s global network to handle some of the most high-profile projects in the Asia Pacific region. Splitting his time between Tokyo and Singapore, Stephen McWilliams heads up the team and frequently acts for sponsors and lenders on mega LNG and renewable energy projects. Michael Yoshii focuses on cross-border M&A, joint ventures and strategic investments. Also recommended is Richard Chul Kim, who is especially sought after by Japanese and Korean sponsors, lenders and government agencies.

Hong Kong > Banking and finance

Latham & Watkins LLP advises a borrower-focused client base, including a number of high-profile private equity sponsors (TPG and Carlyle Group among them), on debt financings throughout the capital structure. The ‘fantastic’ Andrew Bishop  is pivotal to much of this work, including in the context of bank/bond structures and margin loans and other back leverage facilities. Mandarin and Cantonese speaking partner Howard Lam  is also an integral member of the team, particularly on China-related financings. Singapore-based Timothy Hia  heads up the overarching Asia finance department.

South Korea > Projects and energy: foreign firms

Singapore based Stephen McWilliams chairs Latham & Watkins LLP’s project development and finance group across Asia and demonstrates significant expertise advising Korean sponsors, lenders and investors on many of the largest, high-profile power, renewables, LNG, oil and gas and infrastructure deals. Based in the Tokyo office, counsel Richard Chul Kim often works on transactions involving Korean, Japanese, and other international sponsors, lenders, and government agencies.

China > Banking and finance: foreign firms

Latham & Watkins LLP features a dedicated sponsor-side practice, offering a full service in relation to recapitalisation transactions, mezzanine facilities, syndicated lending and acquistion financing. Timothy Hia leads the Hong Kong-based practice which includes Andrew Bishop  who has experience advising private equity funds, venture funds, credit funds and other institutional investors in complex financing across the Asia-Pacific region. Howard Lam expands the firm’s field of expertise to leveraged buy-outs, acquisition financings, margin loans and bridge financing, while counsel Lynsey Edgar focuses on take-private financings and syndicated lending.