K&L Gates Straits Law LLC > Singapore, Singapore > Firm Profile

K&L Gates Straits Law LLC > The Legal 500 Rankings

Singapore > Labour and employment: foreign firms Tier 2

K&L Gates Straits Law LLC’s labour, employment and workplace safety team continues to represent a number of major multinational employers and large Singapore-headquartered businesses in a wide variety of matters throughout Southeast Asia. Along with general advisory matters and employment disputes, the team has a background in workplace relations strategies and assistance to clients undertaking M&A and divestments in Asia. Christopher Tan leads the team, is hugely experienced and is especially active in the technology, aviation, manufacturing, hospitality and fintech sectors. Valerie Ang provides further senior expertise in employment disputes.

Singapore > Asset finance Tier 3

Fielding a ‘very knowledgeable team’, K&L Gates Straits Law LLC’s aviation finance practice counts financial institutions, leasing companies,, and airlines among its key roster of clients, assisting them on structuring, documents and negotiating aircraft finance transactions. Co-head Samuel Kolehmainen, who is praised for going ‘above and beyond for clients’, has extensive experience in commercial and Export Credit Agency financings. Fellow co-head Duc Nguyen focuses on corporate and international finance.

Singapore > Dispute resolution Tier 3

Praised for its ‘goal-oriented’ approach, the litigation team at K&L Gates Straits Law LLC is regularly involved in high-profile disputes across the healthcare, financial services, construction, manufacturing and tech sectors. Palaniappan Sundararaj’s practice includes civil and commercial litigation, and Joan Lim-Casanova handles litigation in the trusts, insurance, infrastructure, and renewable energy arenas. Former practice head Sreenivasan Narayanan SC left the firm in August 2024 to establish Sreenivasan Chambers LLC.

Singapore > Investment funds: foreign firms Tier 3

The ‘knowledgeable and approachable’ team at K&L Gates Straits Law LLC was strengthened by the arrival of Jason Nelms from Morrison Foerster (Singapore) in January 2024, who has considerable experience in acting for both managers and investors in the formation and operation of private investment funds, including private equity, venture capital and real estate funds. Nelms jointly leads the practice alongside Edward Bennett, who advises development finance institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds on their investments and sponsor stakeholder interests in Asia-based funds.

Singapore > Shipping: foreign firms Tier 3

Praised for its ‘exceptionally strong experience and knowledge of the shipping industry’, K&L Gates Straits Law LLC handles a range of contentious mandates, from charterparty disputes, cargo claims, and hull and machinery issues to product liability, personal injury and environmental compliance matters, with additional capability in handling ship financing and sale and purchase transactions. Focusing on cross-border shipping disputes, Henry Kim leads the team and is regularly supported by Jonathan Lim, who ‘goes the extra mile’ for clients in offshore oil and gas disputes, and charterparty and cargo claims.

Singapore > Banking and finance: local firms Tier 4

K&L Gates Straits Law LLC remains best known for advising on the financing aspects of Indian companies entering into Singapore and other Southeast Asian markets, along with non-Indian companies moving into India. The banking and finance team represents numerous Singapore branches of Indian banks. It also advises a range of other international banks, as well as domestic and international borrowers. The group has achieved further growth in trade finance and continues to be noted for syndicated loans, enforcement and recovery work. The vastly experienced M Rajaram is chairman of the firm having amassed more than four decades of experience in banking and finance and disputes work; he remains noted for his representation of Indian lenders. Of counsels Lai-Foong Chan and Ahmad Khalis provide further senior level expertise in the banking and finance arena. Samuel Kolehmainen and Duc Nguyen are also experienced aviation finance specialists, having joined from Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP in January 2024.

Singapore > Energy: foreign firms Tier 4

K&L Gates Straits Law LLC’s energy, infrastructure and resources team stands out for its LNG and energy transition work and the team is strengthened with the arrival of Brad Roach and Alexandra Jones who joined the team in November 2024. The firm’s clients include port operators, alternative energy developers, and commercial energy companies. Key contact Marius Toime is experienced in advising on the investment and financing of renewables and clean technology, mining, and LNG. Sarah Park advises clients on a wide range of power, infrastructure, oil and gas, and LNG projects internationally. Henry Kim focuses his practice on energy, infrastructure and resources, and international arbitration.

Singapore > International arbitration Tier 4

‘An excellent team’, K&L Gates Straits Law LLC focuses on investment treaty disputes under bilateral and multilateral investment treaties, with additional experience in international arbitrations relating to M&A and shareholder disputes, and offshore construction cases. Investment treaty arbitrations feature greatly in practice leader Raja Bose’s caseload, while Henry Kim handles disputes arising out of commodities trading, shipping, energy, and power infrastructure projects.

Singapore > Projects: foreign firms Tier 4

K&L Gates Straits Law LLC's team stands out for its LNG and energy transition work, often advising port operators, alternative energy developers, lenders, and commercial energy customers. Key individual Marius Toime co-heads the team with Sarah Park. Toime is experienced in advising on the investment and financing of renewables and clean technology, mining, LNG, and various forms of social and transport infrastructure. Park similarly advises clients on a wide range of renewables, power, infrastructure, oil & gas, and LNG projects internationally.

South Korea > Projects and energy: foreign firms

Indonesia > Foreign firms

The Indonesia practice group at K&L Gates Straits Law LLC is led by Marius Toime. Toime focusses on M&A and corporate transactions, especially relating to the energy and infrastructure sectors; he is also registered as a foreign legal counsel in Indonesia. Sarah Park is another recommended member of the team, who has in-depth experience advising on matters relating to oil and gas, power, and LNG projects. The team frequently assists clients such as companies, sponsors, developers, and commercial lenders. Narayanan Sreenivasan left the firm in July 2024.

Malaysia > Foreign firms

Operating from its offices in Hong Kong and Singapore, K&L Gates Straits Law LLC assists clients on cross-border M&A and corporate transactions, and banking and finance mandates across a variety of sectors, including energy, financial services, aviation and manufacturing. Bolstering the team’s capabilities is Henry Kim, working across the energy, infrastructure, and resources and international arbitration practices, and focusing on cross-border disputes, while Jonathan Lim is also involved in international arbitration and dispute resolution. Narayanan Sreenivasan has since left the firm.