Mayer Brown > Singapore, Singapore > Firm Profile

Mayer Brown > The Legal 500 Rankings

Singapore > Energy: foreign firms Tier 2

Mayer Brown‘s Singapore office has a longstanding emphasis on energy transactions and projects. Its experience covers a wide geographic region, including key frontier markets such as Myanmar, Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. Noted for its background in LNG and oil and gas, it has built a strong presence in renewables and energy transition projects, including large-scale wind power projects in Vietnam, solar projects in Bangladesh, and hydropower projects in Laos and Myanmar. The practice also continues to be a major player in LNG-to-power projects. ‘World class partner‘ Ben Thompson is a recognised name in project finance in Southeast Asia, including renewables and conventional power projects in Vietnam and Myanmar. ‘Client driven‘ Nick Kouvaritakis is global head of the LNG practice and operates in projects across the value chain. Sean Prior is another key partner.

Singapore > Projects: foreign firms Tier 2

Mayer Brown ‘s projects team stands out for its expertise in LNG matters, and regularly acts for lender-side clients across Asia and the Middle East in the space. The group also has considerable experience in oil and gas projects, and is regularly instructed in matters involving sale and purchase agreements, power purchase agreements, build-operate-transfer projects and offshore FRSU work. The client base includes financial institutions and multinational energy companies. The practice is headed by Ben Thompson, who focuses on project finance work. Nick Kouvaritakis is a key name for LNG mandates, and Sean Prior is active in the oil and gas space.

Singapore > International arbitration Tier 3

The international arbitration practice at Mayer Brown is reputed for its expertise in the energy sector, with LNG disputes, oil and gas, energy-related commodities, and power all key strengths of the area. The team offers full-service capabilities for its clients, acting across TMT, sports, media, hospitality, and defence industry disputes. Yu-Jin Tay is the head of the practice that notably includes Kay-Jannes Wegner and Paul Teo. The team continues to expand, with Kate Apotolova joining the practice from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in October 2022, and Matthew Shaw from DLA Piper in December 2022.

Singapore > Banking and finance: foreign firms Tier 4

Mayer Brown‘s banking and finance team has experienced some changes in recent years with lateral hires, departures and retirements. It remains prominent in Singapore, not least because of its sheer size in Asia, and the leading partners that are pushing its standing in fund finance, leveraged and acquisition finance, and general corporate lending. It continues to represent numerous regional and international banks and financial institutions. Doos Choi is an experienced banking and finance specialist with a focus on the Southeast Asia markets, along with Greater China, having recently relocated to Singapore from Hong Kong. Soumitro Mukerji has impressed in fund finance and subscription-line financings. Angelia Chia left in April 2023, while Janelene Chen joined from Norton Rose Fulbright in January 2024.

Singapore > Restructuring and insolvency: foreign firms

Myanmar > Foreign desks Tier 1

India > Foreign firms Tier 5

Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Leading firms

Mayer Brown has international arbitration practices spanning the region, notably with extensive experience in Hong Kong, Singapore and Seoul. Energy sector knowledge is a particular strength of the team, with LNG sector disputes, oil & gas, energy-related commodities, and renewable power all falling under the remit of practitioners within the team. Also of note is the work the team undertakes related to the Asian infrastructure sector, along with financial disputes and insurance disputes practices. In the Hong Kong office, Menachem Hasofer and Geoffrey Chan lead the team, with Terence Tung acting as head of the China arbitration practice. Based in Singapore, Yu-Jin Tay is the head of the practice, with Kay-Jannes Wegner, Paul Teo, and Kate Apostolova all key names.

China > Restructuring and insolvency: foreign firms

Mayer Brown is a ‘commercially-minded and exceptionally supportive‘ full-service restructuring practice with extensive experience in both contentious and non-contentious matters. The team’s expertise covers bond restructurings, trust asset claim adjudication and cross-border enforcement. The practitioners act for creditors, issuers, insolvency practitioners and corporate trustees, with notably clients such as CDB, ICBC and Maybank. The head of practice, John Marsden, represents clients in a wide range of matters and is highly knowledgeable in financing transactions, non-performing loan disposals and corporate restructurings. The team also includes Terence Tung , who has extensive experience in cross-border disputes; the highly experienced Pierre Dzakpasu, and Benjamin McCosker, whose expertise covers complex, multi-jurisdictional restructuring transactions.

South Korea > International arbitration

After expanding its international arbitration practice in 2022, Mayer Brown‘s team continues to be active in the energy and power sectors, with two of the recent arrivals still involved with longstanding defence procurement and construction-related arbitrations. The practice is jointly led by managing partner Yu-Jin Tay, Menachem Hasofer, and Geoffrey Chan, and the team handles the full-range of renewable power and natural resources related disputes. With two decades of international arbitration experience, Kay-Jannes Wegner joined from Kim & Chang in May 2022, and focuses on cross-border disputes in telecommunications and joint ventures. Senior associate Edern Coent also joined from the same firm in April 2022.

Vietnam > Projects and energy

With LNG work remaining the cornerstone of the practice at Mayer Brown, the firm stays abreast of market trends through strong engagement with renewable energy projects, including landmark financing of wind power developments, refinancing solar builds, and also notable work in the waste-to-energy space. David Harrison leads the group from Ho Chi Minh City and is well-versed in transactional, financing and development matters. Counsel Hai Thao Nguyen supports a significant proportion of the team’s mandates, primarily focusing on M&A, corporate and commercial matters. Benjamin Thompson and Nick Kouvaritakis are two experienced key names who provide advice from the Singapore office.