The Legal 500 - Asia Pacific (2017)

Assegaf Hamzah & Partners – Indonesia

Aviation - Tier 1
Banking and Finance - Tier 1
Capital Markets - Tier 1
Corporate and M&A - Tier 1
Dispute Resolution - Tier 1
Employment - Tier 2
IT and Telecoms - Tier 1
Intellectual Property - Tier 4
Projects & Energy - Tier 3
Real Estate - Tier 2
Restructuring and Insolvency - Tier 2
Shipping - Tier 2
Tax - Tier 3

Leading Lawyers:
Ahmad Fikri Assegaf - Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate and M&A

Bono Daru Adji - Capital Markets

Aviation

Assegaf Hamzah & Partners’ ‘knowledgeable team’ is well positioned to handle aviation disputes; it is currently acting for Garuda as claimant in a civil dispute with Musita regarding a breach of contract. In addition to handling contentious matters, the firm’s top–tier banking practice advises on aircraft financing, leasing and insurance. ‘An expert in the field’, Eri Hertiawan jointly leads the practice with Chandra Hamzah.

Banking and Finance
Acting for domestic corporates and large international lenders, the team at Assegaf Hamzah & Partners has experience in almost every area of finance including in the drafting of legislation. Yanu Wiriasmoko advised the borrower and guarantor of a $185m loan facility from two global financial institutions. Ahmad Fikri Assegaf and Ibrahim Assegaf are recommended.

Capital Markets
The ‘responsive and timely’ team at Assegaf Hamzah & Partners makes up one of the ‘best Indonesian capital markets’ practices. Headed by Bono Adji, the group is instructed by domestic corporates, such as Garuda Indonesia, and large international institutions including HSBC and Citibank, and has also been involved in some of Indonesia’s largest state enterprise privatisations and sovereign debt issuances. Ahmad Fikri Assegaf is another key partner.

Corporate and M&A
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners is regularly instructed by Japanese, Chinese and South Korean corporates seeking to invest in Indonesia, and has considerable experience acting specifically for private equity investors. In addition, the team has advised a number of regional corporates looking for acquisition opportunities in Indonesia’s mining, technology and finance sectors. Eko Basyuni and Ahmad Fikri Assegaf are key contacts.

Dispute Resolution
At Assegaf Hamzah & Partners, Ahmad Fikri Assegaf, Chandra Hamzah and Eri Hertiawan ‘are highly competent, expert, professional and trustworthy’. The group successfully represented Holcim Indonesia in first instance, appeal and Supreme Court proceedings in a land dispute with the Ministry of Forestry. In addition to the department’s litigation capabilities, several members of the team are also internationally certified arbitrators and mediators.

Employment
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners primarily acts for international corporates and their Indonesian subsidiaries with regards to domestic labour laws and is especially experienced in employee terminations. The group also handles matters for some domestic clients. Practice head Ahmad Maulana is advising Lintec in relation to a dispute with its labour union.

IT and Telecoms
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners acts for high-profile clients such as Indosat, Telekomunikasi Indonesia and XL Axiata – three of the largest telecoms providers in Indonesia – handling commercial transactions and regulatory compliance. The team has also won some significant new clients, including Penjaminan Infrastruktur Indonesia. Zacky Husein heads the practice.

Intellectual Property
Headed by Chandra Hamzah, Assegaf Hamzah & Partners’ IP practice handles trade mark registrations and copyright disputes for clients such as Garuda Indonesia and Visinema Pictures. The department also has close relationships with government ministries and has advised on IP legislation.

Projects & Energy

In addition to handling energy projects, Assegaf Hamzah & Partners has been involved in some high–priority infrastructure matters following the government’s pledge for focused investment in improved infrastructure. Ibrahim Assegaf advised Penjaminan Infrastruktur Indonesia on the government guarantee of the construction of a nationwide fibre optic cable network. Kanya Satwika heads the practice.

Real Estate
Headed by Yogi Marsono, Assegaf Hamzah & Partners’ real estate team has experience in land acquisition and property development, and handles a range of related disputes. The practice is aided by its relationships with key government agencies, and has won several new clients, including China Fortune Land Development and Jakarta Propertindo.

Restructuring and Insolvency
Led by Ahmad Maulana, Assegaf Hamzah & Partners advised Biltube Indonesia during its successful application for voluntary bankruptcy. Recently, the team has handled a variety of disputes arising out of debt recovery.

Shipping
At Assegaf Hamzah & Partners, shipping matters are handled by partners from the firm’s banking, corporate and disputes teams. The group advises on maritime insurance, disputes and financing issues. Eko Basyuni is ‘extremely responsive and knowledgeable in the field’.

Tax
Wibowo Mukti leads the tax and customs department at Assegaf Hamzah & Partners. Mukti has significant experience in tax matters, having previously worked at the Indonesian Revenue Service and PwC Jakarta. The group is representing international and domestic corporates in a number of tax–related appeals. The tax team was recently instructed in a multimillion–dollar tax dispute that made its way up to the Supreme Court.

 

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

Leading Firm - Tier 2

Rajah & Tann (Laos) has a solid international client base, which it acts for in project finance deals, mainly in the energy sector. Recent highlights include advising Hoang Anh Gia Lai, a large stockbroker company, on project finance transactions in Laos. China Railway is another client. Brian Ng leads the team.

 

Christopher & Lee Ong – Malaysia

Banking & Finance - Tier 2
Corporate and M&A - Tier 1
Dispute Resolution - Tier 4
Intellectual Property - Tier 3
Labour and Employment - Tier 3
Projects and Energy - Tier 1
Shipping - Tier 2
TMT - Tier 1
Real Estate and Construction - Other Recommended Firms

Leading Lawyers:
Kuok Yew Chen - TMT

Intan Haryati - TMT
Deepak Pillai - TMT

Banking & Finance
Christopher & Lee Ong advised a number of prominent Malaysian and international financial institutions on high–value lending facilities. Clients have included Maybank and Mizuho Bank. Fiona Sequerah heads the practice.

Corporate and M&A
Key figures in Christopher & Lee Ong’s corporate practice, led by Lee Hock Chye, include Yon See Ting, Kuok Yew Chen, Yau Yee Ming and Kelvin Kho. The team acts for several private equity funds and handles a large number of transactions in the SME space. It advised Donaco International on its $360m acquisition of the Star Vegas Casino in Cambodia and handled Zhiyuan’s takeover of steel company Perwaja Holdings.

Intellectual Property
Highlights for Christopher & Lee Ong included acting for a motorcycle manufacturer, as the defendant, in a copyright infringement action filed by Honda and representing PowerScan in patent infringement proceedings filed by Nuctech Company. Sri Sarguna Raj and Steven Cheok are the key names

Labour and Employment
At Christopher & Lee Ong, commercial litigation lawyer Rubini Murugesan has experience of a broad range of employment disputes.

Projects and Energy
Christopher & Lee Ong advised Zhiyan on the rescue and takeover of steel company Perwaja Holdings, and acted for gas provider SOXAL, (recently renamed Air Liquide Singapore Private) during the RM40m acquisition of a Malaysian gas manufacturer and provider. Christopher Lee and Shemane Chan have significant projects experience.

Shipping
Key figure at Christopher & Lee Ong include shipping specialist Jainil Bhandari, who divides his time between Singapore and Malaysia. Bhandari’s experience includes acting for a petroleum trader in arbitration against a government– linked port operator.

TMT
Christopher & Lee Ong benefited from its November 2015 merger with Haryati Deepak, taking on Deepak Pillai and Intan Haryati and adding considerable IT contracting and data protection expertise to its strong telecoms offering. The team, in which Kuok Yew Chen is a key figure, assisted a major financial services group with changes to its online terms and conditions, and is advising the banking, insurance and telecoms industries on Codes of Practice pertaining to the Personal Data Protection Act.

 

Rajah & Tann Myanmar Company Limited – Myanmar

Corporate and M&A - Tier 2

Corporate and M&A
Rajah & Tann Myanmar Company Limited’s ‘very strong team’ particularly stands out for its M&A expertise in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) space. Chester Toh (who ‘combines an international investor outlook with Myanmar law expertise’) advised Fraser and Neave on the sale of its controlling stake in Myanmar Brewery. Clients also rate senior associate Alroy Chan for his ‘energetic and useful support’.

 

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

Banking and Finance - Tier 3
Corporate and M&A - Tier 3
Dispute Resolution - Tier 2
Employment - Tier 2
Projects and Energy - Tier 2
Real Estate and Construction - Tier 1
Tax - Tier 1

Leading Lawyers:
Jaime Gatmaytan - Projects and Energy, Real Estate and Construction

Cesar Santamaria - Employment
Ben Yap - Dispute Resolution
Anthony Gutierrez - Tax

Banking and Finance
The team at C&G Law (Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio) advised International Finance Corporation and Development Bank of the Philippines on a bid to operate and maintain the LRT Line 2. Jaime Gatmaytan leads the practice, which includes Norma Patacsil.

Corporate and M&A
C&G Law (Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio)’s department advised Pearson on its Affordable Learning Fund’s capital infusion into Affordable Private Education Center, and acted for Ayala Healthcare Holdings on its PHP400m purchase of a 50% stake in a local pharmacy selling generic pharmaceuticals. Jaime Gatmaytan, Norma Patacsil and Mary Mundin are the key partners.

Dispute Resolution
C&G Law (Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio) ’s ‘creative’, ‘highly knowledgeable’ team includes key partners Jesus Protacio, Cesar Santamaria, Jr, the ‘sharp, trustworthy’ Ben Yap and the ‘very quick’ Anthony Gutierrez.

Employment
The ‘prompt, supportive’ department at C&G Law (Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio) is led by Cesar Santamaria, Jr; he and Norma Patacsil have ‘superb knowledge of employment matters’. Philippine AXA Life Insurance Corporation is a key client.

Projects and Energy
C&G Law (Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio) houses a number of ‘experts in their field’, including Jaime Gatmaytan, Ben Yap and Jesus Protacio. Aboitiz Power and First Gen Corporation are clients.

Real Estate and Construction
The ‘outstanding and very responsive’ practice at C&G Law (Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio) provides ‘very good advice’. Jaime Gatmaytan (a ‘star’ with ‘deep market knowledge’) leads the team, which includes Norma Patacsil and Mary Mundin.

Tax
The ‘very quick’ Anthony Gutierrez and the ‘careful, attentive’ Jesus Protacio are the key partners at C&G Law (Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio). The ‘highly knowledgeable, responsive’ team advised Metro Railway Transit Corporation in a claim against the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) regarding a wrongful tax assessment.

 

Rajah & Tann Singapore – Singapore

Antitrust and Competition - Tier 1
Banking and Finance - Tier 2
Capital Markets - Tier 2
Construction - Tier 1
Corporate and M&A - Tier 2
Dispute Resolution - Tier 1
Employment - Tier 1
Financial Services Regulatory - Tier 2
Intellectual Property - Tier 2
International Arbitration - Tier 2
Investment Funds - Tier 2
Private Wealth - Tier 1
Projects and Energy - Tier 1
Real Estate - Tier 2
Regional International Arbitration - Tier 3
Restructuring and Insolvency - Tier 1
Shipping - Tier 1
Tax - Tier 2
TMT - Tier 1

Leading Lawyers:
Kala Anandarajah PBM- Antitrust and Competition
Angela Lim - Banking and Finance
Chia Kim Huat - Capital Markets
Francis Xavier SC - Dispute Resolution, International Arbitration
Andre Yeap SC - Dispute Resolution, International Arbitration
Desmond Wee - Employment
Benjamin Liew - Financial Services Regulatory (Next generation Lawyer)
Lau Kok Keng - Intellectual Property
Vikna Rajah - Private Wealth
Patrick Ang - Restructuring and Insolvency
Lee Eng Beng SC - Restructuring and Insolvency
Toh Kian Sing SC - Shipping
Leong Kah Wah - Shipping
Rajesh Sreenivasan - TMT
Steve Tan - TMT

Antitrust and Competition
Rajah & Tann’s team garners praise for its ‘practical advice, grasping the essence of the matter’. Kala Anandarajah is a ‘strong leader’ and ‘pioneer of international competition law throughout South–East Asia’.

Banking and Finance
Rajah & Tann handles Islamic banking, syndicated lending and real estate finance, as well as contentious and regulatory issues. Angela Lim led the advice to the mandated lead arrangers in the S$1.76bn financing of UT Singapore Services’ acquisition of its parent, Universal Terminal. Regina Liew, Terence Choo and Lee Weilin are also recommended.

Capital Markets
Rajah & Tann’s Evelyn Wee advised the joint lead managers and underwriters on OUE Hospitality Trust’s S$238.6m renounceable underwritten rights issue. Other practice strengths include REITs and business trusts, derivatives, structured finance and securitisations. Chia Kim Huat and Cheng Yoke Ping are also recommended.

Construction
Soh Lip San, who leads the team at Rajah & Tann Singapore, has been acting alongside Shemane Chan in assisting 1MDB with aspects of the Tun Razak Exchange project. The group provides niche expertise in risk analysis and mitigation for numerous projects across the region. Ng Kim Beng and Sim Chee Siong are also recommended. Wei Yaw Lam left the practice.

Corporate and M&A
Rajah & Tann’s Danny Lim and Chia Lee Fong were the lead advisers to China Merchants Property Development Company during the RMB57.3bn merger with its controlling shareholder. Serene Yeo, Cheng Yoke Ping and Koh Choon Yee are assisting Gallant Venture with exiting from its investment in the Lao Xi Men Project in Shanghai. Alison Foo and Hoon Chi Tern made partner.

Dispute Resolution
Rajah & Tann represented White Energy Company in the first case heard at the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC), and acted for the majority shareholders of a joint venture company in a dispute involving issues of minority shareholder oppression and unfair prejudice. Francis Xavier SC’s team includes Lee Eng Beng SC, Andre Yeap SC and Tan Chuan Thye SC. Mohammed Reza and Wei Na Sim left the firm.

Employment
The ‘commercially–savvy’ team at Rajah & Tann includes contentious partners Jonathan Yuen and Murali Pillai and non–contentious specialist Desmond Wee. Clients included Thomson Reuters and AXA Group. Mohammed Reza left to join JWS Asia Law Corporation.

Financial Services Regulatory
Rajah & Tann’s practice is led by Regina Liew and Larry Lim. The team assists banks, fund managers and corporate entities with regulatory and compliance aspects of their restructuring and financial activity, often with a cross–border element.

Intellectual Property
Lau Kok Keng heads Rajah & Tann’s group, which has a particular expertise in highly contentious matters. Nicholas Lauw defended Microsoft in an alleged copyright infringement case. On the non–contentious front, Lau Kok Keng and Wendy Low have been advising Philip Morris Singapore on the impact of the proposed standardised packaging regulation on the IP rights of tobacco companies.

International Arbitration
Rajah & Tann’s client following spans Asia and beyond, with its team handling commercial arbitrations and investor–state work. Practice head Andre Yeap SC is representing The Republic of Philippines in ICC proceedings against Shell and Chevron over the payment of income tax.

Investment Funds
Arnold Tan’s team at Rajah & Tann assists sponsors with every aspect of their businesses and the lifecycle of their funds, including associated regulatory issues. Other clients include institutional investors, trustees and various other service providers. Alternative investment funds are the mainstay of the practice; in 2015, Arnold Tan and Philip Yeo acted for UOB Venture Management in the formation UVM 3 Venture Investments.

Private Wealth
Rajah & Tann’s practice is praised for its ‘excellent response times’. The client base includes a number of financial intermediaries as well as high–net–worth individuals. The ‘very efficient and helpful’ Vikna Rajah has ‘extensive tax knowledge’ and is ‘excellent to work with’.

Projects and Energy
Rajah & Tann deals with contentious and non–contentious issues affecting projects across a range of sectors in South–East Asia, such as oil and gas, power, mining, transport and infrastructure. The broad client base includes sponsors, financiers and contractors. Shemane Chan, Soh Lip San and Edith Ho are acting as the primary legal adviser to TRX City (formerly 1MDB Real Estate) regarding the development of the Tun Razak Exchange financial district in Kuala Lumpur. Andre Yeap SC is also a key contact.

Real Estate
Rajah & Tann’s expertise includes acting in direct and indirect real estate investments, project financing, acquisitions and leaseback transactions as well as securitisation, bloc–transactions, leasing and conveyancing. Margaret Chin and Elsa Chai head the practice. Margaret Chin together with consultant Lee Lay See and Lina Chua assisted a developer with the purchase and financing of a large industrial estate. 

Regional International Arbitration 
Andre Yeap SC leads Rajah & Tann Singapore’s 27–strong Singapore team, which includes ten partners and regularly acts in in big–ticket, bet–the–company commercial and investor–state disputes. The firm can call on a sizeable network of offices and associated firms across Asia; in Bangkok, Surasak Vajasit’s dispute resolution team includes Supawat Srirungruang, who has expertise in Thai Arbitration Institute proceedings, while Chau Huy Quang, senior associate Tran Vi Thoai and foreign counsel Logan Leung are the key figures in Ho Chi Minh City.

Restructuring and Insolvency
Sim Kwan Kiat leads the practice at Rajah & Tann. Danny Ong is ‘excellent for contentious restructuring matters’; together with Patrick Ang and Chua Beng Chye, he has been assisting the liquidators of 45 Lehman Brothers’ entities across nine jurisdictions. Wilson Zhu and Chong Kah Kheng have been promoted to partner.

Shipping
Ian Teo and Winston Kwek are recommended in Rajah & Tann Singapore’s team, which is led by Toh Kian Sing SC. Winston Wong joined Gunvor Singapore as a legal counsel, See Bin Koh left to North of England P&I Association and Joseph Tang departed for Asia Maritime Adjusting.

Tax
Vikna Rajah heads the practice at Rajah & Tann Singapore. It excels in tax litigation, acting in multimillion–dollar disputes with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore; however, it also remains strong in advisory work, both for corporates and private clients.

TMT
Rajah & Tann Singapore’s team is ‘one of the best in terms of industry knowledge’. Its expertise extends from complex multi–jurisdictional transactions in the fintech sector to regulatory aspects of emerging technologies. Lionel Tan and Benjamin Cheong assisted Xiaomi with the implementation of its global data protection policies and its regulatory compliance. Rajesh Sreenivasan and Steve Tan, who is ‘one of the best in the field of personal data protection’, jointly head the practice; Jocelyn Chan was promoted to the partnership.

 

R&T Asia (Thailand) Limited – Thailand

Banking & Finance - Tier 3
Corporate and M&A (including Capital Markets) - Tier 4
Dispute Resolution - Tier 2
TMT - Tier 3

Leading Lawyers:
Surasak Vajasit - Banking & Finance, Corporate and M&A (including Capital Markets), 

Banking & Finance
R&T Asia (Thailand) Limited acts for borrowers in corporate and project finance deals. Surasak Vajasit is the managing partner and Saroj Jongsaritwang is also recommended.

Corporate and M&A (including Capital Markets)
At R&T Asia (Thailand) Limited, Surasak Vajasit is the leading figure and office managing partner. The team acts for clients across the ASEAN region, particularly in the telecoms, tobacco, food and beverage, and energy sectors.

Dispute Resolution
The ‘responsive, detail–oriented and practical’ team at R&T Asia (Thailand) Limited acts for clients such as Philip Morris, Glow Group and DTAC. Surasak Vajasit heads the team. Ittichai Prasongprasit and Melisa Uremovic are also recommended.

TMT
R&T Asia (Thailand) Limited acts for leading companies in the mobile broadband, technology and electrical appliance manufacturing industries. Supawat Srirungruang and Saroj Jongsaritwang jointly lead the department.

 

Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers – Vietnam

Banking and Finance - Tier 2
Corporate and M&A - Tier 3
Dispute Resolution - Tier 1
Insurance - Tier 2
Intellectual Property - Tier 4
Insurance - Tier 2
Labour and Employment - Tier 2
Projects and Energy - Tier 3
Real Estate and Construction - Tier 3
Shipping - Tier 2
TMT - Tier 2
Tax - Tier 3

Leading Lawyers:
Chau Huy Quang - Dispute Resolution
Logan Leung (Next Generation Lawyer) - Labour and Employment

Banking and Finance

Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers acts for international and domestic borrowers, such as the Novelis Group, as well as leading international lenders. Foreign counsel Logan Leung advised Villgro on becoming the first foreign social enterprise incubator to be licensed in Vietnam. Nguyen Dinh Nha and Vu Thi Que are recommended.

Corporate and M&A
Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers has ‘wide–ranging expertise’ and is ‘a reliable adviser in a challenging environment’. The team advises on joint ventures, restructurings, incorporations and M&A, notably with a recent uptick in real estate–related deals such as Nam Long Group’s sale to two Japanese investors. Practice head Vu Thi Que has ‘deep insight into M&A and regulatory matters’.

Dispute Resolution
Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers’ Chau Huy Quang was involved in all of the practice’s key disputes, including criminal proceedings, award enforcements, insurance claims, a VIAC arbitration and general commercial cases. Most clients are international companies drawn from a wide range of sectors, including energy, construction, financial services and manufacturing.

Insurance
A number of Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers’ attorneys are involved in insurance-related work and, notably, Nguyen Dinh Nha advised Fairfax Asia on its purchase of a 35% stake in the Bank of Investment and Development of Vietnam Insurance. Chau Huy Quang is the name to note for contentious matters.

Intellectual Property
Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers draws from its strong commercial and corporate practice to provide an encompassing IP service to an international client base. Chau Huy Quang and Vu Thi Que respectively head the disputes and non–contentious teams.

Labour and Employment
Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers ‘represents good value for money in employment matters’, acting for a broad range of multinationals, public bodies and international organisations such as the Clean Clothes Campaign. Vu Thi Que, who handles both advisory matters and disputes, is recommended along with ‘proactive and commercially minded’ foreign counsel Logan Leung.

Projects and Energy
Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers frequently handles energy–related disputes and, on the non–contentious side, Chau Huy Quang recently led advice to the Thi Vai Terminal port project joint venture regarding restructuring and licensing issues. Vu Thi Que is another key contact.

Real Estate and Construction
Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers has the well–regarded Vu Thi Que at the head of the four–partner team, which is currently assisting Nam Long Group with its sale of a residential apartment project to Hankyu Realty and Nishi Nippon Railroad.

Shipping
Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers is advising China Harbour Engineering Company on securing its first Vietnamese dredging project and is assisting the joint venture company Thi Vai International Port on the establishment of a seaport in Phu My, including advising on the project’s expansion and negotiation of all related documents. Chau Huy Quang is the key name for contentious shipping matters; senior associate Tran Vi Thoai and the ‘proactive and commercial’ foreign counsel Logan Leung are also names to note.

TMT
Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers can call on its Singapore office and Asia–wide IT practice. The team – which includes Hoang Thi Thanh Thuy and Vu Thi Que – has been advising clients in the technology, financial services and online gaming sectors regarding various operational matters, acquisitions and e–commerce.

Tax
Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers are experienced in representing international clients in tax arrears disputes, cross–border tax matters and tax incentive cases. Chau Huy Quang is the contact for tax litigation and Vu Thi Que handles non–contentious work.