CMS > Singapore, Singapore > Firm Profile

CMS
7 Straits View
Marina One East Tower #19-01
Singapore 018936
Singapore

Singapore > TMT: foreign firms Tier 2

Singapore > Investment funds: foreign firms Tier 3

CMS has landed a significant share of the real estate and venture capital funds market. The Singapore team has extensive experience with the VCC regime and is noted for its experience in the technology field; it has built a reputation in the pioneering segments of blockchain, cryptoasset and fintech-focused funds, and is recognised for its focus on tokenisation. The group represents an impressive range of global institutional investor and asset manager clients and has achieved further growth in regulatory engagements from Singapore funds. Matthew Nortcliff specialises in the real asset, venture capital and technology sectors.

Practice head(s):

Matthew Nortcliff

Testimonials

‘Nimble and versatile – Great communication – Client focus and yet commercial in their advice.’

‘Matthew Nortcliff has been very professional in the engagement. He goes beyond the call and I certainly appreciate his working style. He is quick, sharp and to the point.’

‘Matt Nortcliff from CMS is very helpful. He is very efficient and can meet the deal’s tight timeline. If we have an urgent project, we will think of CMS as we know that it will be in their good hands.’

‘Extremely diligent legal partners who also understand business and commercial dimensions of deals and engagements. Very accessible and available via multiple channels when needed. Superb understanding of private equity / venture fund legal dynamics and practices.’

‘Matthew Nortcliff has been a key partner for us from the get-go, ever since the inception of our first venture capital fund up to all our subsequent fund vehicles. Matthew is always available, offers great legal advice with an understanding for commercial dynamics and is an extremely trustworthy partner, adviser and resource for our fund business.’

‘CMS has an excellent grasp of client needs and through its global network is able to offer quality advice out of jurisdiction if needed.’

‘Matt Nortcliff and his team strike a strong balance between law and commercial requirements. Matt is sharp in identifying nuances of statutes and explains complex legal writings in a clear and concise way. Matt’s team’s greatest strength is their willingness to go the extra mile. You can count on them to get back to you on time and on point all day long.’

‘Matt Nortcliff engages with us as a long term partner. Matt remains a reliable source for information and solutions.’

Key clients

Makers Fund

Play Ventures

UBS Asset Management AG

LaSalle Global Partner Solutions

SBI Ven Capital

Aquila Capital

ABRDN

InvestaX

Eharo

LuneX Ventures

SC Capital Partners

Eqonex Group

Willis Towers Watson

Novalfa Capital

Ship Street Advisors

Fairway Capital

Work highlights

  • Advised Makers Fund on the launch and closing of its $500m Fund III, established as a Singapore VCC and with a focus on investing in interactive entertainment startups.
  • Advised Play Ventures on the establishment and closing of its $75m Play Future Fund, focused on early stage investments in blockchain-based gaming ventures.
  • Advised LaSalle GPS on strategic co-investments alongside Logos and AEW to acquire and develop real estate assets in Australia and Korea respectively.

Singapore > Corporate and M&A: foreign firms Tier 4

CMS is present in over 43 countries and fields a Singaporean offering with reputed know-how in M&A, fundraising, venture capital, private equity, reorganisations and exits. Toby Grainger, a TMT and energy sector expert, co-leads the team alongside Babita Ambekar, a lawyer active in the renewable energy, consumer, life sciences and technology fields. In addition to its local work, the firm has recently noted an uptick in its activities across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Practice head(s):

Other key lawyers:

Sam Ng

Testimonials

‘I find the team very attuned to the clients’ needs and a willingness to adjust to meet client demands more than other firms. The willingness to adjust could be in terms of fees, timelines for delivery or any other aspect required by client. I regard this as a stand out feature of the team and the practice.’

‘Babita Ambekar epitomises the quality of putting client interest first and foremost. She is always willing to listen to the client’s expectations and tailor her services accordingly. Clients value this aspect of her a lot.’

‘Great team, very commercial.’

‘CMS is well-resourced and has easy access to other areas of legal practice, should advice be required. The counsel working on our deal is experienced and competent.’

‘Sam Ng (Senior Associate) was highly responsive and proactive in managing the deal. He knew the issues well and was able to lead the negotiations effectively, offering bespoke solutions that are commercial and practical and contributing greatly to the successful closing of the deal.’

Key clients

Cleartrip

Bar Raiser Private Limited

Shopback

Ecommerce Enablers Pte Ltd

Damogo Holdings Pte. Ltd.

Entoria Energy

Gupshup Inc.

Nomu Pay Limited

Ametek, Inc

Otsuka Pharmaceuticals

Zomato

Singtel

Alesca Life

Good Startup

Coinswitch Kuber

NCS

Work highlights

  • Advised as lead counsel to Ecommerce Enablers Pte Ltd (Shopback), a Singapore-based e-commerce cashback rewards company, on its Series E fundraising round led by Singapore state investment firm Temasek. The total deal value amounts to approximately SGD 55.2 million, and existing investors including EDBI, January Capital and Appworks Ventures also participated in this fundraising round.
  • Advised as lead counsel to Ecommerce Enablers (ShopBack) on its acquisition of the Hoolah group – which is involved in the burgeoning Buy-Now-Pay-Later sector – with a deal value of approximately SGD 44,000,000  
  • Advised online food delivery giant Zomato (the investor) on its US$100 million investment in online grocery retailer, Grofers. Zomato is an Indian multinational restaurant aggregator and food delivery business that provides information, menus and user-reviews of restaurants as well as food delivery options from partner restaurants in select cities.

Singapore > Energy: foreign firms Tier 4

CMS advises a number of top energy companies from around the world, including BP, Total, Shell, Petronas, Sinopec and Vestas. The team is notably experienced in work relating to carbon reduction, with a focus on green hydrogen, ammonia and LNG value chain projects. Marc Rathbone, who regularly acts for lenders, sponsors, minnows and super-majors, co-heads the practice alongside construction experts Lynette Chew and Kelvin Aw.

Practice head(s):

Marc Rathbone; Lynette Chew; Kelvin Aw

Key clients

Blue Leaf Energy Asia Pte. Ltd.

Bridge Mining

Cleantech Solar Asia

Energy Market Authority of Singapore

Entoria Energy

Equinix Asia

Matahio

NPG

Petronas

Quantum Power

Samsung C&T Corporation

Sarawak Energy Berhad

Yondr Singapore

Singapore > Construction: Local firms

CMS remains a go-to advisor for a breadth of funders, owners, developers, contractors and consultants from across the construction industry; the firm’s full service, global nature ensures that clients receive expert advice on issues ranging from inception and procurement, through funding and building, to commissioning, no matter which jurisdiction they are operating in. Kelvin Aw and Lynette Chew – both of whom have extensive litigation, arbitration, adjudication and mediation experience – jointly lead the team.

Practice head(s):

Kelvin Aw; Lynette Chew

Other key lawyers:

Asya Jamaludin; Grace Lu; Leonard Chew

Key clients

AECOM Singapore Pte Ltd

Cluny Development Pte Ltd

Equinix Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

EverYondr Group

Samsung C&T Corporation

Shenzhen CIMC-Tianda Airport Support Ltd

SMM Pte Ltd (a subsidiary of Surbana Jurong Group)

WSP Consulting Pte Ltd

Work highlights

  • Representing Samsung C&T Corporation, a top Korean construction and engineering conglomerate, in a Singapore seated ICC arbitration against its subcontractor for disputes arising out of a mechanical and piping works subcontract at a combined-cycle power plant project in Jurong Island, Singapore (“Project”) involving Korean main contractor and Singaporean sub-contractor.
  • Advising and assisting the EverYondr Group on all aspects of the development and construction of a 30MW hyperscale data centre in Mumbai, India.
  • Advising and assisting Equinix on the development and construction of retail data centre in Jakarta.

Singapore > Start-up and venture capital – Foreign firms

CMS advises emerging companies, start-ups and venture capital in a range of fundraising and M&A work, as well as exits and disposals. The firm provides sector specialisms in TMT, healthcare, life sciences, food and beverage, AgriFoodTech, financial services and digital assets. Energy and TMT transactions expert Toby Grainger co-leads the practice with Babita Ambekar, who focuses on cross-border M&A, capital raising, new market entry, joint ventures and restructurings.

Practice head(s):

Key clients

Ecommerce Enablers Pte Ltd (Shopback)

Gupshup Inc.

Zomato

Cleartrip

NCS Pte Ltd

Bar Raiser Private Limited

Good Startup

Coinswitch Kuber

Hiro Capital

Oxalis

Mighty Bear Games

DamoGO

Ampotech

SBI Ventures

Armada Brands

Better Urban Farms

AgFunder

Barilla

Moby’s Petshop

Gradiant

Courtside Ventures

Alesca Life Technologies

Work highlights

  • Advised as lead counsel to Ecommerce Enablers Pte Ltd (Shopback) on its Series E fundraising round led by Singapore state investment firm Temasek.
  • Advised Gupshup Inc, a global leader in conversational engagement, on its acquisitions of Active.Ai and AskSid.
  • Advised AgFunder Asia, AgFunder’s VC fund that is focused on AgriFoodTech investments across the Asia Pacific region, on various investment-related matters.