IFLR 1000 (2017) 

R&T Sok & Heng - Cambodia

Energy and infrastructure - Tier 2
Financial and Corporate – Tier 1

Leading Lawyer: 
Heng Chhay, Sok Khavan

R&T Sok & Heng, a member firm of Rajah & Tann Asia, is strong in power, oil and gas and mining in the region.

The firm is one of the first few Cambodian outfits authorised by the securities regulator to practice in the country and has been engaged in many high-value matters.

Apart from a number of confidential mandates, the firm advised Holcim Singapore on a $5 million sale of cement factory and concession land to Chipmong Group, a major concrete supplier in Cambodia.

It also advised the only telecommunications company in the country, CamGSM, on the drafting of the telecommunication law.

 

Assegaf Hamzah & Partners - Indonesia

Banking – Tier 2
Capital markets – Tier 1
Energy and infrastructure – Tier 3
Mergers and acquisitions – Tier 1
Project Finance - Tier 2
Restructuring and insolvency – Tier 3

Leading Lawyers: 
Fikri Assegaf, Bono Daru Adji, Ibrahim Sjarief Assegaf, Eri Hertiawan, 

Rising Star:
Yanu Wiriasmoko

Since joining the Southeast Asia regional network of Rajah & Tann in 2013, Assegaf Hamzah & Partners keeps expanding in Indonesia with recent new offices in Surabaya and East Java.

The banking and finance team has close relations with the Indonesian government and regulatory authorities and state-owned financial institutions in addition to many Korean and Japanese banks. Deal highlights include work for Bumi Suksesindo (BSI) in the financing of the Bukittujuh gold mine in Banyuwangi, East Java, by BNP Paribas, Societe Generale Asia and HSBC.

Elsewhere in project finance, the firm acted for the project sponsors and lenders on the financing of the development of new power plants, sea and airports, expressways and rail networks. The firm also advised Penjaminan Infrastruktur Indonesia on the granting of government guarantees for the Palapa Ring Project, which involves the construction of a fibre optic cable network that will connect all of Indonesia.

In the capital markets, one highlight saw the firm act for the arrangers and dealers on the $2 billion sukuk wakala (agency contract) issued by the government of Indonesia. In another deal, the firm assisted the government with its Islamic GMTN program.

The M&A practice is one of the firm’s strongest suits, its experience and expertise can be seen in sectors like banking andfinancial services, energy, resources, aviation, automotive, retail, media and TMT sectors. Some of its regular clients include Saratoga, Pacific Harbour Group, Argyle Street Management, Triputra Investindo Arya and Treasure Capital.

During the research period the firm represented Itochu Japan in relation to the sale of a portion of its shares in SFI to Indomobil Multi Jasa. The firm also advised Anshan Iron and Steel Group on the set up of an Indonesian mining and smelting entity by way of a joint venture.

The restructuring and insolvency practice has been busy in a number of deals, including work for Multinitrotama Kimia as it filed for voluntary bankruptcy.

 

Rajah & Tann (Laos) Co., Ltd. - Lao PDR

Energy and infrastructure - Tier 1

 

Christopher & Lee Ong - Malaysia

Banking and finance – Tier 3
Capital markets – Tier 3
Energy & infrastructure - Tier 1
Mergers and acquisitions – Tier 4
Oil and Gas – Tier 1

Leading Lawyers
Shemane Chan, Christopher Lee

Christopher Lee & Ong is part of  Singapore’s big four law firm Rajah and Tann’s Asia network, which enabled the firm to reach out regionally to offices in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

In corporate work, the firm has been active advising international private equity clients like Ausgroup, Cairns India, Navis Capital, Quilvest, Creador and Maybank Private Equity, as well as a number of publicly listed corporate clients in  corporate transactions. Last year, the firm acted as lead counsel for the purchaser in the acquisition of the business of Star Vegas Casino and the financing related to the matter.

Despite the confidential nature of all of its work in banking and finance, the firm continued to advise domestic and international banks, financial institutions, funds and corporates on a wide range of corporate banking, debt capital markets, Islamic banking, project finance and structured finance matters.

 

Rajah & Tann Myanmar Company Limited - Myanmar

Energy and infrastructure – Tier 3
Financial and corporate – Tier 2

Leading Lawyer:
Chester Toh

The Rajah & Tann Myanmar team has nine lawyers and three paralegals on the ground, together with an additional 15 lawyers working on Myanmar law matters in the Singapore and Bangkok offices. The team has a clear strength in financial and corporate work particularly advising MNCs on investments in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. Key clients include Asahi, Coca-Cola, Colgate, P&G, L’Oreal, Abbott Laboratories, Samsung Electronics, FrieslandCampina and Canon.

Deal highlights include acting for Fullerton Financial Holdings in connection with the $1.2 million investment by International Finance Corporation (IFC) into its subsidiary Fullerton Finance (Myanmar) Company (FFMCL).

In a separate matter, the firm advised Fraser and Neave on its disposal of 55% shareholding in Myanmar Brewery to Kirin Holdings. The $560 million tied-up deal followed a lengthy two-year dispute. The firm also represented CITIC Group Corporation in its successful bid to undertake the development of the Kyauk Phyu Special Economic Zone in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

 

Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio (C&G Law) - Philippines

Banking and finance (Project finance) – Other notable
Energy and Infrastructure – Tier 2
M&A – Tier 3 

Leading Lawyer:
Jaime Renato Gatmaytan – M&A, Project Finance

In energy and infrastructure Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil GuTierrez & Protacio works for Aboitiz Group in the energy sector, OceanaGold Philippines in mining and Ayala Land in social infrastructure.

Although the firm saw the departure of partner Aris Gulapa in 2015, it remained busy handling a number of mandates including a public-private partnership (PPP) project on the Light Rail Transit Line 2. It acted as local counsel to the International Finance Corporation, which together with the Development Bank of the Philippines, is the transaction advisor to the Department of Transportation and Communications and Light Rail Transit Authority (the grantors).

On a separate PPP for to the development of the Sasa port in Davao the firm is also advising the International Financial Corporation.

 

Rajah & Tann Singapore - Singapore

Banking and finance - Tier 1
Capital markets - Tier 2
Energy and infrastructure - Tier 2
M&A - Tier 2
Restructuring and insolvency - Tier 1

Leading Lawyers: 
Patrick Ang, Chia Kim Huat, Lee Eng Beng, SC, Angela Lim, Lim Wee Hann, Ng Kim Beng, Danny Ong, Sim Chee Siong, Sim Kwan Kiat, Soh Lip San, Tan Chuan Thye, SC, Evelyn Wee

Rajah & Tann is a strong regional legal player with offices in China, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar and associate offices in Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia and this puts the firm in competition with international firms in the region.

Clients praise the firm for its “superb knowledge and commercial sense in providing solutions, the partners are easily accessible, they are good value for money, provide high quality work and are responsive to client needs”.

In banking and project finance, most of the firm’s key work is confidential. Public mandates, include work for the mandated lead arrangers in relation to the S$1.76 billion facilities granted to the borrower UT Singapore Service to finance the acquisition of its business and assets of its parent.

In the capital markets, the firm acted for BNP Paribas, DBS Bank and Credit Suisse as the joint lead managers and underwriters, in relation to the renounceable underwritten rights issue of securities by the OUE Hospitality Trust.

In M&A, the firm advised China Merchants Property Development, in its merger with its controlling shareholder, China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings. Elsewhere, the firm acted for Abacus Pacific in the sale of its 66% shares in Jacks International to Creative Elite Holdings.

In restructuring and insolvency, the firm acted for the liquidators of DOT, after DOT's parent company, OW Bunker group went into liquidation. In a separate matter, the firm also assisted the liquidators of MF Global Singapore on the recovery of customers’ proprietary funds.

 

Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers - Vietnam

Banking and finance – Tier 3
Energy and infrastructure – Tier 3
Mergers and acquisitions – Tier 3

Leading Lawyers: 
Quang Huy Chau, Vu Thi Que, Brian Ng

Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers has boosted its capacity in M&A by hiring partners Nguyen Thi Hong Thang and Dr Hoang Thi Thanh Thuy. The past 12 months has seen the firm’s involvement in a number of M&A transactions, totaling over $3 billion. The firm works closely with other member firms of the Rajah & Tann Asia network for multi-jurisdictional ASEAN investments.

Its network and capabilities make them win over a number of real estate and construction companies, such as Kajima Corporation, Bureau Veritas and Mizuho, as well as developers like Keppel Land, Mapletree and CapitaLand.

Highlights include representing Novelis’ action to enter into a $1 billion multi-currency, senior secured revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank.