Latham & Watkins LLP > Singapore, Singapore > Firm Profile
Latham & Watkins LLP Offices
9 RAFFLES PLACE
#42-02 REPUBLIC PLAZA
SINGAPORE 048619
Singapore
Latham & Watkins LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Singapore > Capital markets: equity and debt: foreign firms Tier 1
Latham & Watkins LLP acts for corporate issuers, underwriters, placement agents, and initial purchasers on the full range of debt and equity offerings, with demonstrable capability advising on cross-border mandates, spanning South and Southeast Asia. Sharon Lau leads the team and is noted for her expertise in IPOs, REIT offerings and high-yield debt offerings, while Rajiv Gupta spearheads the firm’s India practice group and advises on high-profile capital markets transactions in this region. Timothy Hia counts corporate borrows, private equity investors, underwriters, and financial advisers among his key roster of clients, and Jeremy Wang handles the full spectrum of securities offerings. Stacey Wong, who advises on US-registered and cross-border Southeast Asia capital markets deals, was promoted to partner in October 2022.Practice head(s):
Sharon Lau
Other key lawyers:
Rajiv Gupta; Timothy Hia; Jeremy Wang; Stacey Wong; Min Yee Ng
Key clients
Delhivery
Golden Energy and Resources Limited (GEAR)
Sun Energy / Mandiri Securities Pte. Ltd
DBS Bank Ltd
Zapp Electric Vehicles Limited
Clifford Capital Pte Ltd / Bayfront Infrastructure Management Pte. Ltd.
Credit Suisse (Singapore) Limited
Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited
Vingroup Joint Stock Company Limited
PropertyGuru Pte. Ltd.
Singapore > Corporate and M&A: foreign firms Tier 1
Noted for its capabilities in US, English and Singapore law advice, Latham & Watkins LLP handles the full spectrum of mandates, including public M&A, private takeovers, joint ventures, corporate restructuring and disposals. Amy Beckingham, who splits her time between the firm’s offices in Singapore and Hong Kong, advises on public and private M&A and joint ventures, while Sidharth Bhasin acts for private equity, sovereign wealth, and pension funds, as well as Asian and international corporates, on cross-border transactions. James Clayton-Payne focuses on multi-jurisdictional M&A and joint ventures, and Sharon Lau has experience in acquisitions and corporate finance transactions. Other key contacts in the group include Marcus Lee and Farhana Sharmeen.Practice head(s):
Amy Beckingham
Other key lawyers:
Sidharth Bhasin; James Clayton-Payne; Sharon Lau; Marcus Lee; Farhana Sharmeen; Michael Sturrock
Key clients
SATS Ltd
Fullerton Healthcare Corporation Limited
Singapore Technologies Telemedia Pte. Ltd.
Warburg Pincus
Searchlight Capital Partners
Zapp Electric Vehicles Limited
Traveloka Holding Limited
Harps Global Pte Ltd
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd.
Platinum Equity
Golden Energy and Resources
Evolution Data Centers
BW Industrial Development Joint Stock Com
Singapore > Banking and finance: foreign firms Tier 2
Latham & Watkins LLP has maintained a steady pipeline of leveraged finance, acquisition financings and bank/bond deals. It has worked on a series of high-value acquisition financings across the Southeast Asia and South Asia regions. Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia are amongst its primary markets, and the team is a growing force in India, where it has advised on a number of headline acquisition financings. The finance team frequently works alongside colleagues in the capital markets, M&A, and private equity practices. Timothy Hia is an experienced banking and finance partner with an excellent record in headline and high-value financings, particularly in the acquisition finance segment. Chair of the Asia finance group, Andrew Bishop splits his time between Hong Kong and Singapore.Practice head(s):
Timothy Hia
Other key lawyers:
Andrew Bishop
Key clients
The Adani Group
SATS
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board
Fullerton Healthcare Corporation
Warburg Pincus
Ola Netherlands
Adani Green Energy
Traveloka Holding
Searchlight Capital Partners
Credit Suisse (Singapore), DBS Bank and Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore)
United Test and Assembly Center
Work highlights
Singapore > Energy: foreign firms Tier 2
Latham & Watkins LLP has a considerable presence in energy sector M&A and investment, along with bulge-bracket financings. With a background in conventional energy it has made a further impact in energy transition and renewables, covering oil and gas, LNG, traditional power and renewables such as wind, geothermal, and solar. Sidharth Bhasin and James Clayton-Payne are experienced figures in M&A, private equity investments, joint ventures, and other corporate transactions. Don Stokes is a seasoned name in project development and finance in the region and is particularly known for Vietnam LNG-to-power and renewable energy matters.Practice head(s):
Sidharth Bhasin; James Clayton-Payne; Don Stokes
Work highlights
Singapore > Projects: foreign firms Tier 2
Latham & Watkins LLP is especially active in the offshore, infrastructure, and renewable energy spaces, often acting on LNG, oil and gas, and petrochemicals projects. The team acts as counsel to a wide roster of clients, including financial institutions, credit agencies, and investment banks, in relation to complex project financings and refinancings, restructurings, acquisitions, and joint ventures. The group's instructions have strong cross-border elements, with the firm drawing on resources from its practices in Hong Kong and Tokyo, to name a couple of jurisdictions. Practice head Stephen McWilliams operates from the firm's offices in Singapore and Tokyo. Don Stokes is noted for his expertise in infrastructure and energy projects, and is well known for his track record in handling work within Vietnam's energy sector.Practice head(s):
Stephen McWilliams
Other key lawyers:
Singapore > Start-up and venture capital – Foreign firms Tier 2
With an even mix of company and investor side representation, Latham & Watkins LLP has accumulated significant experience at all stages of the start-up life-cycle, from financing needs and M&A to crypto payments, data and technology advice. Ji Liu heads the firm’s corporate offering in Asia and is a leading figure. James Clayton-Payne is also a key presence; having advised a broad range of start-ups, venture capital investors and corporate venture capital vehicles in all rounds of fundraising, beginning with seed and continuing to Series F+ and exit.Practice head(s):
Ji Liu
Other key lawyers:
India > Foreign firms Tier 2
With notable expertise in handling transactions covered by US and English law, the India practice at Latham & Watkins LLP acts for local, regional, and international clients on the full range of high-value capital markets, M&A, private equity, and finance matters. Leveraged financing transactions are a key focus for the team, as are public offerings and foreign investments. Rajiv Gupta heads the team from Singapore and is a seasoned commercial transactions, spin-offs, and joint ventures expert. Another key name on the corporate side is Sidharth Bhasin, also in Singapore, as well as London-based Sam Newhouse, global vice chair of the firm’s M&A practice.Practice head(s):
Rajiv Gupta
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
The Adani Group
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board
Adani Enterprises Limited
WNS Global Services (UK) Limited
Searchlight Capital Partners
Sutherland Global Services UK Ltd
CVC Capital Partners
Delhivery
Citigroup
Merrill Lynch (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
Morgan Stanley
Oravel Stays Limited (dba OYO)
API Holdings
Adani Green
Blackstone
Baring Private Equity Asia
Hyundai Motor India
SparkCognition, Inc.
Rivulis Pte Ltd
TotalEnergies
Acuity Knowledge Partners
Malaysia > Foreign firms Tier 2
The practice at Latham & Watkins LLP acts for its roster of domestic and international clients on an array of corporate and finance transactions in Malaysia, from capital markets, M&A and private equity to venture capital, project developments and Islamic finance structures. Based in the Singapore office, Sharon Lau leads the team and is noted for her expertise in capital markets, M&A and private equity-related matters. Key sectors of expertise include food and beverage, technology, traditional and renewable energy, oil and gas, telecoms and real estate.Practice head(s):
Sharon Lau
Key clients
Pathology Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd.
TPG Capital (S) Pte Ltd
Harps Holdings Sdn. Bhd.
Pengerang Energy Complex Sdn Bhd
Credit Suisse (Singapore) Limited
DBS Bank Ltd
Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited
Vietnam > Foreign desks Tier 2
Latham & Watkins LLP’s Vietnam practice, led by Hong Kong and Singapore-based Amy Beckingham alongside Sharon Lau based in Singapore, continues to assist major Vietnamese companies, financial institutions, private equity firms, and fintech startups. Global corporate vice chair Beckingham specialises in M&A, joint venture, and equity capital markets deals throughout Asia. She has considerable experience advising international investors in relation to their investments into Vietnam. Lau, a member of the firm’s global executive committee, regularly represents issuers and underwriters in connection with IPOs and securities offerings in Vietnam or with Vietnamese elements. She has recently led a team representing electric-vehicle producer VinFast in relation to its US IPO, the first Vietnamese company to publicly file for an IPO in the US.Practice head(s):
Amy Beckingham; Sharon Lau
Key clients
Warburg Pincus Asia
Vingroup Joint Stock Company Limited
Japan > Projects and energy: International firms and joint ventures
Philippines > Foreign firms
Latham & Watkins LLP has an excellent reputation in the market for its work on some of the country’s biggest deals. It is skilled at handling inbound and outbound transactions, and has a strong capital markets practice, while the group is also often called upon to advise on major project financing matters, as well as on arbitrations and disputes. Practice head Benjamin Carale , is qualified in New York, the Philippines, and in Hong Kong, and leads on many of the firm’s most significant transactions, which often have substantial cross-border elements. Diana Dizon plays a pivotal role in various Philippine debt and equity capital markets transactions.Practice head(s):
Benjamin Carale
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC)
Cebu Air, Inc.
Partners Group Holding AG
San Miguel Corporation (SMC)
Warburg Pincus Asia LLC
Robinsons Land Corporation
Megaworld Corporation
BPI Capital Corporation – Filinvest Land, Inc.
Synergy Grid & Development Phils Inc.
Credit Suisse
China > Fintech: foreign firms
Emerging fintech companies, traditional financial institutions, venture capitalists and web3 ecosystem participants trust Latham & Watkins LLP to handle mandates ranging from NFT platform launches, to payments service agreements, to global cybersecurity compliance programmes. Simon Hawkins, who leads both the firm’s Asia and global fintech industry groups, frequently advises on regulatory implications of blockchain and distributed ledger technology. Farhana Sharmeen, who operates from the firm’s Singapore office, is another key contact. Kieran Donovan has since left the practice.Practice head(s):
Simon Hawkins
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Binance
Temasek
Ribbit Capital
South China Morning Post
Madison Dearborn Partners
Huobi
Blockchain.com
South Korea > Projects and energy: foreign firms
With considerable experience in major project development and energy infrastructure-related advisory work, Stephen McWilliams works out of both the Singapore and Tokyo offices, leading the project development and finance team at Latham & Watkins LLP. The group represents Korean and international sponsors, lenders and investors, in a number of high-profile renewable energy, mining and petrochemicals, and LNG deals. Richard Chul Kim operates from the Tokyo office, while associate David Shin advises on various project finance transactions, particularly involving Korean clients.Practice head(s):
Stephen McWilliams
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
The Export-Import Bank of Korea
Korea Trade Insurance Corporation
Korea National Oil Corporation
Carlyle Asia Investment Advisors
Latham & Watkins LLP > Firm Profile
The firm: Latham & Watkins is a leading international law firm serving multinational companies, start-ups, investment banks, private equity funds, venture capital firms, sovereign wealth funds, governments and other organisations. The firm’s globally integrated platform spans Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the US, and consists of internationally recognised practices across a wide spectrum of transactional, litigation, corporate and regulatory areas. Latham attorneys offer unrivalled legal resources and strategic commercial thinking to provide clients with innovative solutions to complex commercial matters.
Asia practice: Businesses and investors seeking innovative solutions to their most complex corporate, financial, regulatory and litigation challenges turn to Latham in Asia for strategic thinking and experienced counsel. Latham has extensive experience advising on the international aspects of a broad range of corporate and finance transactions for clients across the region, notably Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. With more than 150 lawyers operating from six offices in Asia, Latham provides clients in the region and clients looking to do business in Asia with expert advice under US, English, Hong Kong, Japanese and Singapore law. Latham’s deep roots in the financial and economic markets in the region are further strengthened by the firm’s local language capabilities.
Latham continues to receive awards and acclaim from a number of leading financial and legal publications for landmark and precedent-setting deals.
Areas of practice: The firm’s Asia practice has received considerable market recognition for its involvement in many of the most important single-country and in-region, inbound and outbound cross-border transactions. The team has extensive expertise across numerous practices, including: project development and finance (particularly in the areas of infrastructure, energy and natural resources); banking and acquisition finance; M&A; private equity; restructurings; privatisations; debt and equity capital markets; general company representation; foreign direct investment; commercial litigation and arbitration (with a particular focus on contentious insolvencies, securities and shareholder disputes); white-collar and government investigations; antitrust and competition; and technology, media and commercial transactions.
Latham is one of few international law firms able to provide clients with integrated US, English and local law advice in Singapore. The Singapore team specialises in a range of practice areas, including: capital markets, M&A, joint ventures, private equity, banking and acquisition finance, restructuring, project development and finance (with a particular focus on power and oil and gas projects) and technology, media and commercial transactions.
The Singapore office acts as the hub for the firm’s market-leading Indonesia practice, which has been involved in many of the most important project development and finance, M&A, restructurings, privatisations, and corporate finance transactions in Indonesia in recent years. Singapore is also home to the firm’s renowned India practice, which comprises more than 50 attorneys globally and advises on the country’s most significant capital markets and M&A transactions, as well as bank finance, project finance, restructuring and outsourcing.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Banking, leveraged and structured finance | |||
Capital markets | |||
Corporate and M&A | |||
Data privacy and cyber security | |||
Energy | |||
Financial regulatory | |||
Fintech | |||
Foreign investment | |||
International dispute resolution | |||
Outsourcing | |||
Technology transactions | |||
TMT | |||
M&A | |||
Private equity | |||
Project development and finance | |||
Public company representation | |||
Restructuring, insolvency and workouts |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Amy Beckingham | Amy Beckingham, Vice Chair of the firm’s Global Corporate Department, advises clients… | View Profile | |
Sidharth Bhasin | Sidharth Bhasin advises on private equity investments and exits, public and private… | View Profile | |
Andrew Bishop | Andrew Bishop, as Local Chair of the firm’s Finance Department in Asia,… | View Profile | |
Richard Chul Kim | Richard Chul Kim is counsel in the Finance Department of Latham &… | View Profile | |
James Clayton-Payne | James Clayton-Payne, a mergers and acquisitions lawyer, advises on complex cross-border M&A… | View Profile | |
Simon Cooke | Simon Cooke, a leading private equity lawyer in Asia, specializes in public… | View Profile | |
Penelope Davey | Penelope Davey advises clients on a range of cross-border corporate transactions. Ms.… | View Profile | |
Owain Davies | Owain Davies advises on the development and financing of energy and infrastructure… | View Profile | |
Louise Deng | Louise Deng advises private equity and corporate clients in Asia and globally… | View Profile | |
Diana Dizon | Diana Dizon is an associate in the Hong Kong office of Latham… | View Profile | |
Ruonan Duan | Ruonan Duan advises clients doing business in Asia on corporate and finance… | View Profile | |
Lynsey Edgar | Lynsey Edgar advises top-tier sponsors on complex, cross-border financing transactions, particularly investments… | View Profile | |
Tingfei Fan | Tingfei Fan is a counsel in the Hong Kong office of Latham &… | View Profile | |
Richard Fleming | Richard Fleming is counsel in the Finance Department of Latham & Watkins… | View Profile | |
Esther Franks | Esther Franks leads the Data and Technology Transactions Practice in the firm’s… | View Profile | |
Dominic Geiser | Dominic Geiser is a partner in the Hong Kong office of Latham… | View Profile | |
Rajiv Gupta | Rajiv Gupta heads Latham’s India Practice and advises Indian companies and global… | View Profile | |
Benjamin Han | Benjamin Han is an associate in the Hong Kong office of Latham… | View Profile | |
Michael Hardy | Michael Hardy is a partner in the Hong Kong office of Latham &… | View Profile | |
Simon Hawkins | Simon Hawkins, an experienced and trusted advisor to financial institutions and fintech… | View Profile | |
Timothy Hia | Timothy Hia advises clients on their most complex financing transactions across Asia,… | View Profile | |
Wonsuk (Steve) Kang | Wonsuk Kang, Chair of Latham’s Korea Practice, helps Korean clients successfully navigate… | View Profile | |
Regina Kim | Regina Jinseo Kim advises Korean and global clients on outbound and inbound… | View Profile | |
Hiroki Kobayashi | Hiroki Kobayashi advises high-profile international and Japanese companies on all aspects of… | View Profile | |
Chuan Wei Kong | Chuan Wei Kong advises borrowers and lenders on banking transactions across Southeast… | View Profile | |
Posit Laohaphan | Posit Laohaphan is the Managing Partner of Latham’s Asia offices and the… | View Profile | |
Sharon Lau | Sharon Lau is a partner in the Singapore office and a member… | View Profile | |
Marcus Lee | Marcus Lee represents clients doing business in Asia in public and private… | View Profile | |
Ning Li | Ms. Li focuses on capital markets transactions such as initial public offerings and… | View Profile | |
Ji Liu | Ji Liu, Regional Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Corporate Department in Asia,… | View Profile | |
Stephen McWilliams | Stephen McWilliams advises sponsors and lenders on the most complex and innovative… | View Profile | |
Min Yee Ng | Min Yee Ng has extensive experience representing both issuers and underwriters in… | View Profile | |
Michael Ning | Michael Ning counsels private equity sponsors, investors, and corporations on a variety… | View Profile | |
Diona Park | Diona Park is a counsel in the Seoul office of Latham &… | View Profile | |
Michael Rackham | Michael Rackham is a counsel in the Singapore office of Latham &… | View Profile | |
Farhana Sharmeen | Farhana Sharmeen, Co-Deputy Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins’ Asia offices and… | View Profile | |
David Shin | David Shin is an associate in the Singapore office of Latham &… | View Profile | |
Ivan Smallwood | Ivan Smallwood regularly advises leading Japanese and multinational companies on high-stakes cross-border… | View Profile | |
Don Stokes | Don Stokes advises on complex energy and infrastructure project development, investment, and… | View Profile | |
Frank Sun | Frank Sun, Co-Deputy Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins’ Asia offices, advises… | View Profile | |
Hiroaki Takagi | Hiroaki Takagi advises Japanese and international companies and private equity firms on… | View Profile | |
Edward Tang | Edward Tang is a member of the Corporate Department and the Private… | View Profile | |
Allen Wang | Allen Wang is a partner in the Hong Kong office of Latham &… | View Profile | |
Jeremy Wang | Jeremy Wang advises issuers and underwriters on securities, debt, and equity offerings,… | View Profile | |
Howe Min Wee | Howe Min Wee advises export credit agencies, multilaterals, commercial lenders, and sponsors… | View Profile | |
Wei Wei | Wei Wei is a counsel in the Beijing office of Latham &… | View Profile | |
Stacey Wong | Stacey Wong advises clients on a broad spectrum of complex equity and… | View Profile | |
Mandy Wong | Mandy Wong advises clients on equity and debt capital markets, with a… | View Profile | |
Carolyn Wong | Carolyn Wong advises Asian and international clients on corporate transactions, with a… | View Profile | |
Hui Xu | Hui Xu, Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Litigation & Trial Department in… | View Profile | |
Eric Yiu | Eric Yiu advises investment banks as well as public and private companies… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
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