About

Nomura is a Tokyo-headquartered global investment bank with an integrated network spanning over 30 countries. Jonathan Wise, who has over 20 years of legal experience covering both developed and emerging markets, is managing director and head of legal for Nomura’s Singapore and Southeast Asia operations. He is supported by a legal team of 21 members across Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok and Mumbai. Structured generally along business and jurisdictional lines, the team boasts a diverse group of members who are legally qualified in nine jurisdictions with almost two-thirds of the team being female. Whilst its business-focused lawyers cover the Investment Banking Division (IBD), Global Markets Division (GMD), Wealth Management Division (WMD) and Derivatives Regulations and Documentation, the team’s generalist lawyers in Indonesia, Thailand and India provide advice to the local businesses and legal entities and also help to support the business-focused lawyers on various cross-border projects and transactions touching those jurisdictions. There is also a Corporate Legal team based in Singapore which supports the strategy and control functions of the Firm, including providing support to multiple legal entities incorporated in Singapore and elsewhere. Key individuals on the team supporting Wise include Kew Yong Koh, co-head of IBD Legal, Asia ex-Japan; Paul Schrecongost, head of Structured Lending and Special Situations Legal, Asia ex-Japan (within GMD Legal); and Tze Hua Meah, head of WMD Legal, Asia ex-Japan. According to Wise, team members have been with the Firm on average for over seven years and also have an average PQE of over 14 years. Thus, Wise can confidently say, ‘given our seniority and tenure with the Firm, we collaborate well together and have earned the respect of both our business colleagues and senior management – this allows us to effectively counsel them on a wide range of challenging legal, regulatory and reputational issues across the region’.