CMS > Singapore, Singapore > Firm Profile
CMS Offices

7 Straits View
Marina One East Tower #19-01
Singapore 018936
Singapore
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CMS > The Legal 500 Rankings
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.
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