White & Case Pte. Ltd. > Singapore, Singapore > Firm Profile

White & Case Pte. Ltd. > The Legal 500 Rankings

Singapore > Energy: foreign firms Tier 1

White & Case Pte. Ltd. is at the forefront of the renewable energy transition, with particular experience in the offshore wind sector and the emerging hydrogen sector. Noteworthy recent highlights for the team include the high-value US$1.6 billion financing of the 298 MW Zhongneng offshore wind project in Taiwan, as well as various international oil and gas projects for some of the world’s leading producers. Fergus Smith and Matthew Osborne focus on renewable energy and infrastructure projects, while Saul Daniel specialises in oil and gas – particularly joint ventures. Tim Fourteau is noted for his work with equity and debt investors, helping them to navigate investments in power and infrastructure. At counsel level, Ee Lynn Tan is recommended for her expertise in development and financing matters.

Singapore > Projects: foreign firms Tier 1

White & Case Pte. Ltd. is at the forefront of the project financing market in both the traditional sectors of oil and gas and petrochemicals. The team is increasingly acting on offshore wind projects in addition to working in the emerging hydrogen sector. Recent highlights are the US$1.6 billion financing of the 298 MW Zhongneng offshore wind project in Taiwan. Co-heads Brendan Quinn and Andrew Clark oversee the project development and finance practice from Melbourne. Fergus Smith and Matthew Osborne specialise in the development, financing and acquisition of energy and infrastructure projects, while Saul Daniel focuses on oil and gas matters.

Singapore > Banking and finance: foreign firms Tier 2

A ‘leading finance practice in the SEA region‘, White & Case Pte. Ltd. is singled out for its strength ‘in the sponsored and leverage finance space‘ and ‘deep experience‘ across APAC. With the ability to advise both on English and Singapore law, the team is a solid performer in both lender and sponsor-side mandates, and a top choice for assistance in cross-border structures involving mezzanine finance, fund lending, private credit and structured commodity finance. Also noted for its ‘particular specialism in advising lenders on leveraged buyouts in India, Indonesia and the broader SE Asia region‘, the practice is led by Alexander McMyn, who is ‘well-known to both PE and lender communities‘. Charles McConnell, who was promoted to partner in January 2022, has strong working relationships with banks, credit funds, sponsors and corporates across Southeast Asia, and focuses on acquisition financings, as well as fund-level and structured finance transactions.

Singapore > Capital markets: equity and debt: foreign firms Tier 2

White & Case Pte. Ltd.‘s strong position in the global capital markets space ensured that it was involved in some of the largest debt and equity transactions to recently hit the South and Southeast Asian market. Testament to this are the team’s latest engagements, including the biggest IPO on Indonesia’s stock exchange history; one of the first listings of a SPAC in Singapore; and the largest green sukuk tranche ever printed globally, among other impressive highlights. Covering both underwriting and issuer instructions on equity IPOs, secondary deals and debt offerings (including high yield and sovereign debt), the team has recently expanded into other areas, including SPAC IPOs and ongoing de-SPAC business combination transactions. Practice head Kaya Proudian is highly regarded for her wealth of experience in assisting corporate, investment banking, private equity and sovereign issuer clients in Asia. Rahul Guptan, who joined from Clifford Chance in May 2021, has more than 20 years’ experience advising underwriters and issuers on equity and debt capital markets offerings pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S, and is particularly noted for his capabilities in India-related work. Associate Stephanie Zhao is proficient in equity and debt offerings, as well as equity-linked securities, including Hong Kong and Singapore IPOs. Hendy Handoko is no longer at the firm.

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

White & Case Pte. Ltd. is highly acclaimed for its endeavours within the data centre, technology, financial institution and sponsor, private equity and real estate industries. The practice transacts throughout the Southeast Asia region and is led by Jonathan Olier, a lawyer increasingly active within the FinTech sector. Elsewhere, Jon Bowden serves as head of the firm’s Vietnam country practice group. The practice recently added Sayak Maity from India-based AZB & Partners to its ranks and is also home to well-regarded associate, Lisa Yeo, while Tabitha Saw left the firm in February 2023.

Singapore > Restructuring and insolvency: foreign firms Tier 2

White & Case Pte. Ltd. has cemented its position in the restructuring and insolvency field with a series of significant engagements, particularly from creditors and white knights. The Singapore group is especially active in Indonesia restructurings and being a US-based firm, it is well positioned for Chapter 11-type matters; it was part of a team that represented a group of investors in connection with the Chapter 11 filing of Riverbed Technology. Banking and finance partners Alexander McMyn and Charles McConnell have been based in Singapore for many years and have extensive experience in the restructuring segment.

Singapore > International arbitration Tier 3

The 'deeply knowledgeable’ White & Case Pte. Ltd. practice can ‘effectively draw on relevant experience’ to handle a range of cross-border matters disputes. The firm has particular strength advising on LNG price reviews, as well as oil and gas sector disputes. Other key areas of expertise are construction and transaction related disputes. Matthew Secomb leads the team and focuses on international arbitration, with a notable forte in energy-related and construction disputes.

Indonesia > Foreign firms Tier 1

White & Case Pte. Ltd.’s well-established practice acts for domestic and international clients on the full range of corporate and M&A transactions, capital markets mandates, restructurings, project finance matters, international trade issues and disputes. On account of its association with Witara Cakra Advocates (WCA), the team is well-placed to advise on the international aspects of Indonesia-related transactions and maintains an impressive client roster. Key work highlights include representing the Ooredoo Group on the $6bn merger of Indosat Ooredoo with H3I. Head of the firm’s capital markets team Kaya Proudian advises on Indonesian debt and equity capital markets transactions, while Jonathan Olier spearheads the M&A and private equity practice, which includes key contact Jon Bowden, who acts for private equity firms and other financial sponsors on M&A transactions, joint ventures and corporate financings. Alexander McMyn leads the finance and debt restructuring team.

Philippines > Foreign firms Tier 2

White & Case Pte. Ltd. fields a ‘very active’ team that enjoys a steady flow of work on major energy, infrastructure and natural resources matters. It continues to advise on a whole host of inbound investments from international corporates as well as increasingly working on the outbound investments of Philippine-based conglomerates. Recent work highlights have included advising multinational companies and private equity houses on their investments in the country and on cross-border activities that involve the Philippines. The ‘excellent’ Matthew Osborne, who is ‘very easy to work with’, leads the team; he specialises in large-scale power and infrastructure projects in the energy, resources, utilities, oil and gas and transport sectors. Senior associate Audrey Lim is another notable member of the team.

Vietnam > Foreign desks Tier 2

White & Case Pte. Ltd. has a well-established presence in Vietnam and is involved in cross-border M&A, banking and financing, and trade mandates across a variety sectors, including consumer goods, renewables, real estate and education. Based in Singapore, Jon Bowden heads the firm’s Vietnam practice group and advises private equity and financial sponsors on their acquisitions and divestments. The Singapore office is also home to Charles McConnell, who is noted for his expertise in credit transactions across Southeast Asia, especially leveraged and acquisition finance matters.

India > Foreign firms

White & Case LLP is noted for its ‘ability to think out of the box’; it handles cross-border India-focused matters from various offices in its large global network. Regularly advising on inbound and outbound investment matters for multinational corporations and banks, key practice areas for the firm include banking and finance, corporate M&A, private equity and disputes. Practice head Dipen Sabharwal is based in London and is a key name for international arbitration; he is qualified to practice in India, New York and England and Wales. New York’s Nandan Nelivigi is well versed in cross-border M&A, and also deals with financing in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Aloke Ray and Aditya Singh are also key arbitration practitioners. The team was bolstered in 2021 with the arrival of Rahul Guptan, a name to note for capital markets transactions, in May from Clifford Chance LLP and Sayak Maity, who joined from AZB & Partners in September.

Japan > Real estate and construction: International firms and joint ventures

The real estate group at White & Case LLP - White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) advises developers, institutional investors, investment funds, banks and corporates on both outbound and inbound real estate matters. Led by Mizuho Yamada, Matthew Secomb and David Robertson, the team is geared to handle all stages of the real estate investment cycle, including acquisitions, dispositions, financings, project development and construction disputes. From Singapore, Secomb represents leading Japanese clients in arbitration cases under the ICC and UNCITRAL rules. Yamada is especially sought after to advise on data centre projects and Robertson is a key contact for international arbitration matters involving energy and infrastructure projects across EMEA and Asia. Another name to note is Ayako Kawano, who has extensive experience handling real estate fund formation, acquisitions and dispositions.

South Korea > International arbitration

Construction arbitration is a mainstay of White & Case LLP (Foreign Legal Consultant Office) international disputes practice, and counts the majority of the South Korean contractors including SK ecoplant Co, Hyundai Engineering, POSCO and Daewoo among its active clients. Supported by its international network of offices and its highly regarded construction, infrastructure and projects practice, the Asia-wide practice is led by Matthew Secomb out of Singapore.