31 August 2009 – Drew & Napier LLC (“D&N”) has emerged as the counsel of choice in Asian Counsel’s Representing Corporate Asia 2009 survey. The leading regional publication named the firm as Asian-Counsel Firm of the Year in four practice areas – Anti-Trust/Competition, Tax, Restructuring and Insolvency, and Private Equity.

D&N was the standalone Singapore law firm in all four categories. This is the third consecutive year in-house counsels have voted the firm top in Anti-Trust and Tax, and the firm is now also counsel of choice for Restructuring and Insolvency as well as Private Equity. The survey, sent to thousands of in-house counsels across Asia and the Middle East, was designed to address issues relating to the working relationship between corporate and private practitioners across a wide range of practice groups, industries and jurisdictions.

On receiving the award, Blossom Hing, Director of Drew’s Corporate Insolvency & Restructuring practice says, “We are very appreciative of the trust and confidence clients have reposed in us by consistently involving us in some of the largest and most complex restructurings and insolvencies in Singapore and around the region.”

D&N's Competition Law Practice Group co-headed by Senior Counsel Cavinder Bull and Lim Chong Kin, attribute the award to the group's extensive experience and wide repertoire of capabilities. Mr Lim says, “Our strength lies in our team of experienced competition practitioners and this gives us the ability to advise clients on a full spectrum of competition law issues. Importantly, we also have inhouse competition economic capabilities led by a former Director of the Competition Commission, Ng Ee Kia."

Mr Bull agrees, “Clients come to us for advice on contentious issues, from the regulators’ demands for information to full fledged investigations. We have also successfully defended MNCs and conglomerates and have also represented sectorial competition regulators.”

Ong Sim Ho, D&N’s Head of Tax and Private Client Services agrees, “We are heartened by the repeated recognition accorded us. At Drew, our multi-disciplinary service platform offers clients a full spectrum of tax services, customised to their needs. We believe in prevention over cure – that problems should be avoided before they need to be solved.”

Yeo Wee Kiong, Director of D&N’s Private Equity Practice Group says, “Our group's diverse backgrounds in investment banking, government, engineering and fund management adds depth and breadth to our private equity practice. We approach problems not merely with legal analysis but also from our clients’ perspectives with a view to achieving practicable workable solutions expeditiously and within budget expectations.”

Notes to the Editor

Some of the other recent accolades Drew & Napier received include:

• Winner of International Law Office Client Choice Award (Singapore) 2008

• Named as the stand-alone, leading Tax practice from 2007 to 2008 by Practical Law Company’s Which Lawyer Yearbook
• Ranked as tier 1 for Tax practice from 2006 to 2009 by Asia Pacific Legal 500: The Guide to Asia’s Commercial Law Firms
• Ranked No. 1 in Singapore for Tax and Trusts & Estates by Best Lawyers International (Inaugural)

• Tier 1 ranked in 2008 and 2009 in Chambers Asia: Asia’s Leading Lawyers for Business
• Ranked in tier 1 by IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firm 2008
• Winner of Insolvency & Restructuring Deal of the Year from 2005 to 2008 - Asian Legal Business SE Asia Law Awards
• Ranked No. 1 from 2008 and 2009 in Singapore for Insolvency & Reorganisation by Best Lawyers International
• Named as leading Restructuring & Insolvency practice from 2007 to 2008 by Practical Law Company’s Which Lawyer Yearbook

• Antitrust Firm of the Year from 2007 to 2008 - Asian Counsel Representing Corporate Asia survey
• Leading practice in Practical Law Company’s Which Lawyer Yearbook 2009 Private Equity
• Recommended practice from 2007 to 2009 in Practical Law Company’s Which Lawyer Yearbook

About Drew & Napier LLC

Established in 1889, Drew & Napier LLC is one of Singapore's leading and largest law firms, with over 250 lawyers and fee-earners. Consistently rated top tier in dispute resolution over the years by international ranking organisations such as Asia Pacific Legal 500, Chambers Global, Practical Law Company, Best Lawyers and Asia Law, the firm has 7 Senior Counsel. The firm is headed by chief executive officer, Davinder Singh, Senior Counsel. Drew & Napier LLC is also rated top tier in Corporate Insolvency & Restructuring, Intellectual Property (Patents and Trademarks), Competition & Antitrust, Telecommunications, Media & Technology and Tax, with market leading practices in Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Finance, and Admiralty & Shipping. For more information, please visit www.drewnapier.com.