Asia-Pacific Legal 500
The Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards
Litigation Team of the Year 20/21
Antitrust and Competition Team of the Year 20/21: Highly Commended
2023 edition
Antitrust & Competition
Antitrust & Competition – Tier 1 for 7 consecutive years
Lim Chong Kin - Leading Individual for 7 consecutive years
Corinne Chew - Leading Individual for 7 consecutive years
Cavinder Bull SC - Recommended lawyer for 7 consecutive years
Chia Voon Jiet - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Drew & Napier LLC has a complete antitrust and competition practice, with a solid flow of competition disputes, regulatory matters and merger filings. The firm has worked intensively in regulatory and sectoral matters, notably helping ASEAN governments to liberalise certain markets and establish new regulatory frameworks, with Lim Chong Kin having an outstanding reputation in the field. It is also well placed to handle disputes and investigations with high-profile partner Cavinder Bull SC having a long track record in this area. Corinne Chew is a dedicated competition specialist with a major focus on merger filings; she led the team that advised Refinitiv on its Singapore merging filing connected to its acquisition by the London Stock Exchange.
Banking & Finance
Banking & Finance – Tier 2 for 5 years
Benedict Teo - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Pauline Chong - Recommended lawyer for 5 consecutive years
Renu Menon - Recommended lawyer for 6 consecutive years
Lau Sok Hiang - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Eleanor Pang - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Rated for its ‘technical knowledge‘, Drew & Napier LLC is especially prolific in project, acquisition, real estate and construction financing. Its broad service coverage also includes banking advisory and regulatory matters, as well as debt restructuring and assistance with LIBOR transition. Several local banks, offshore financial institutions, and multinational corporations turn to the team for advice on the gamut of loan and credit transactions. Practice leader Pauline Chong, ‘provides sound advice in the context of complex situations‘, including bilateral and syndicated loan facilities to borrowers from the Asia Pacific region. Benedict Teo who focuses on contentious matters, is widely recommended by clients. Renu Menon and Lau Sok Hiang the latter of whom specialises in real estate matters, are other names to note.
Capital Markets
Capital Markets – Tier 2 for 11 consecutive years
Steven Lo - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Gary Wan - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Renu Menon - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Ng Pei Tong - Recommended lawyer
Dedicated to debt and equity capital markets, as well as REITs-related transactions, the team at Drew & Napier LLC‘s provides well-rounded advice to clients, which range from issuers, underwriters and selling shareholders, in a variety of domestic and international deals. Benefitting from solid working relationships with regulators, the firm attracts instructions from foreign companies looking to list in Singapore, and is also a popular destination for domestic corporates listing abroad given its cross-border capabilities. IPOs, reverse takeovers, rights issues and other equity-linked deals feature heavily in the team’s workload, which is also populated by an array of DCM mandates. The practice is under the joint leadership of Steven Lo and Gary Wan, both of whom undertake capital markets and M&A work. Debt capital markets specialist Renu Menon advises on transactional and regulatory matters. Ng Pei Tong is another name to note for debt and equity offerings.
Construction
Construction - Tier 3 for 2 consecutive years
Jimmy Yim, SC - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Cavinder Bull SC - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Christopher Chong - Recommended lawyer for 3 consecutive years
Mahesh Rai - Recommended lawyer for 3 consecutive years
Kelvin Teo - Next Generation Partners for 3 consecutive years
The ‘efficient and effective‘ team at Drew & Napier LLC combines litigation and disputes expertise with specialist construction knowledge to resolve contentious issues on behalf of local developers and contractors, government-linked organisations, and multi-national companies. The group is particularly well regarded for work relating to regional energy and infrastructure projects. Practice head Christopher Chong, is supported by ‘brilliant‘ deputy Mahesh Rai. Experienced arbitration practitioner Kelvin Teo is is another key contact.
Corporate/M&A
Corporate/M&A – Tier 3 for 6 consecutive years
Steven Lo - Recommended lawyer for 6 consecutive years
Jon Nair - Recommended lawyer for 4 consecutive years
Tan Teng Sen - Leading Individual for 2 consecutive years
Seraphina Ho - Next Generation Partners for 2 consecutive years
Priscilla Wang - Recommended lawyer
Drew & Napier LLC is active across Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, leverages the Drew Network Asia network to support on a broad spectrum of domestic and cross-border transactions. Steven Lo heads the practice and is well-versed in both private and public M&A, as is director Tan Teng Sen who also counts privitisations, joint ventures and strategic alliances among his core strengths. The team is likewise home to Seraphina Ho, an expert in respect of private equity and venture capital investments, joint ventures and restructurings, and is proficient in the healthcare, info-comm, F&B, real estate, telco, media and energy sectors, among others.
Dispute Resolution
Dispute Resolution – Tier 1 for 24 consecutive years
Cavinder Bull, SC - Hall of Fame for 3 consecutive year, previously Leading Individual for 12 consecutive years
Jimmy Yim, SC - Leading Individual for 22 consecutive years
Siraj Omar, SC - Leading individual for 4 years
Randolph Khoo - Recommended lawyer for 6 consecutive years
Blossom Hing - Recommended lawyer for 6 consecutive years
Meryl Koh - Recommended lawyer for 3 years
Woo Shu Yan - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Mahesh Rai - Next Generation Partners for 4 consecutive years
Wendell Wong - Recommended lawyer for 5 years
Gary Low - Recommended lawyer for 4 years
Chia Voon Jiet - Recommended lawyer for 2 years
Kelvin Tan - Recommended lawyer
Andrew Chua - Recommended lawyer
Jimmy Yim SC, Cavinder Bull SC and Randolph Khoo continue to lead the team at Drew & Napier LLC, which is renowned for its ‘exceptional litigation ability’ in disputes and arbitration matters, both regionally and on the international stage. The breadth and variety of the firm’s caseload is market-leading, with clients ranging from government agencies and officials, law firms and transnational corporations, to high net worth individuals. Recently, the team represented the former Prime Minister of Georgia in the Singapore Court of Appeal in respect of a momentous claim involving a trust. There are several notable lawyers in the group; Siraj Omar SC and Kelvin Tan have used their ‘excellent service and prompt advice’ to handle a number of fraud-related matters, as well as one of the first few cases in Singapore relating to the liability of insurers to indemnify insureds for business losses arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Blossom Hing, Wendell Wong and Gary Low represent a number of other key individuals at the firm ‘that are very driven to achieve their clients’ objectives.’
Labour and Employment
Labour and Employment – Tier 1 for 8 consecutive years
Kelvin Tan - Recommended lawyer for 8 consecutive years
Benjamin Gaw - Recommended lawyer for 8 consecutive years
Lim Chong Kin - Recommended lawyer for 3 consecutive years, previously Leading Individual for 4 consecutive years
Rakesh Kirpalani - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Drew & Napier LLC has devoted considerable levels of expertise and resources to its flourishing labour and employment practice. The firm is able to draw on its long history of handling domestic and regional work, often working alongside premier firms in other ASEAN jurisdictions. The firm’s reputation as a dispute resolution powerhouse makes it a logical choice for big-ticket cases, including wrongful dismissal claims. Contentious specialist Kelvin Tan co-heads the team alongside non-contentious and transactional expert Benjamin Gaw, who is also a leader in healthcare and life sciences employment matters. Lim Chong Kin is another senior name with a blossoming reputation in data protection issues, and Rakesh Kirpalani has an extensive record in tech-sector employment issues.
Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property – Tier 1 for 24 consecutive years
Tony Yeo - Hall of Fame for 4 consecutive years, previously a Leading individual for 10 consecutive years
Yvonne Tang - Recommended lawyer for 7 years
Siau Wen Lim - Recommended lawyer for 7 years
Meryl Koh - Next Generation Partners for 7 consecutive years
Javier Yeo - Rising star for 2 consecutive years
Drew & Napier LLC has one of the most established IP practices in Singapore and is widely known for its contentious cases expertise. It has developed fine record in trade mark, patent and design filings in Singapore and across Southeast Asia in addition to an outstanding reputation for IP litigation. It represents a large number of big-name multinationals and leading regional businesses. Department head Tony Yeo has over 30 years’ experience in patent, trade mark and copyright infringement cases. Yvonne Tang is also noted for trade mark and copyright infringement, along with passing off. Siau Wen Lim manages global trade mark, patent and design portfolios for a wide range of regional and international clients. Meryl Koh is a senior name in IP litigation and Javier Yeo has been promoted to associate director.
International Arbitration
International Arbitration – Tier 2 for 8 consecutive years
Cavinder Bull, SC - Hall of Fame for 3 consecutive years, previously a Leading individual for 8 consecutive years
Jimmy Yim, SC - Leading Individual for 3 consecutive years, previously a Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Randolph Khoo - Recommended lawyer for 8 years
Christopher Chong - Recommended lawyer for 3 consecutive years
Blossom Hing - Leading Individual
Mahesh Rai - Next Generation Partners for 4 consecutive years
Kelvin Teo - Next Generation Partners for 3 consecutive years
Adam Maniam - Recommended lawyer
Tan Yuan Kheng - Recommended lawyer
Nicole Toh - Recommended lawyer
Chen Zhi Hui - Recommended lawyer
Josh Samuel Tan - Recommended lawyer
Acting for governments, multinational corporations, international human rights organisations and individuals, Drew & Napier LLC is experienced at all stages of the arbitral process, including multilingual and multijurisdictional proceedings. The firm handles complex international commercial arbitrations and landmark investor-state disputes and investment-treaty arbitrations, as well as representing clients in a range of sectors, including construction and infrastructure, energy, insurance, finance and healthcare. Jimmy Yim,SC, provides broad disputes and international commercial arbitration experience. He co-leads the team with international arbitration expert Cavinder Bull SC and Randolph Khoo, who heads a number of the firm’s dispute resolution practices. Also active in the area are Mahesh Rai, Kelvin Teo and Blossom Hing, whose forte is disputes related to debt restructuring and insolvency.
Investment Funds
Investment Funds – Tier 2 for 3 consecutive years
Ron Cheng - Leading individual for 3 consecutive years
Drew & Napier LLC has a rich background in open-ended fund structures, becoming a major player in the VCC segment. The firm has expanded its offering in connection with new VCC structures, including novel and first-of-their-kind vehicles, and works with a range of Singapore fund managers and international fund managers with a presence in the jurisdiction. Ron Cheng co-head the fund and fund management practice.
Private Wealth and Family Law
Private Wealth – Tier 1 for 7 consecutive years
Ong Sim Ho - Recommended lawyer for 3 consecutive years
Randolph Khoo - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Ong Ken Loon - Recommended lawyer for 5 years
Seah Ching Ling - Next Generation Partners for 3 consecutive years
Hoon Shu Mei - Recommended lawyer
Drew & Napier LLC has continued to develop its presence in advising foreign clients on family trust and family office structures in Singapore. The firm has a number of experienced tax specialists and makes use of its strong connections to China and Indonesia. The team has advised on a series of new trust products and the migration of trusts to Singapore. Ong Sim Ho is an experienced tax specialist with a major emphasis on private wealth planning and private client work, while Seah Ching Ling is an emerging talent in this field. Randolph Khoo is a leading name in private client disputes and family wealth cases.
Projects & Energy
Projects & Energy – Tier 2 for 12 consecutive years
Jimmy Yim, SC - Recommended lawyer for 7 consecutive years
Ong Sim Ho - Recommended lawyer for 4 consecutive years
Mahesh Rai - Recommended lawyer for 5 consecutive years
Renu Menon - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
The projects, energy and infrastructure group at Drew & Napier LLC is headed by Jimmy Yim, SC and leverages on the strengths of multi-disciplinary resources within the firm such as dispute resolution, M&A and project finance. The team’s contentious and non-contentious specialists work on projects involving power and energy, telecommunications, transportation, waste disposal and construction. Ong Sim Ho is an expert in oil and gas matters, with a focus on work surrounding national oil companies. Mahesh Rai represents clients in energy and infrastructure work while Renu Menon is experienced in syndicated and bilateral lending.
Real Estate
Real Estate – Tier 2 for 7 consecutive years
Ho Soo Lih - Recommended lawyer for 4 consecutive years
Lau Sok Hiang - Recommended lawyer for 4 consecutive years
Wai Cheong Yeong - Recommended lawyer for 7 consecutive years
April Mak - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Drew & Napier LLC has a substantial team with a strong presence in developments, acquisitions and disposals, and projects and infrastructure-related land matters. The group is active in the collective sales market too. It represents a range of multinationals, listed and non-listed developers, construction companies and collective sales entities. Among a number of headline engagements, it advised an insurance conglomerate on the S$1.28bn sale of its 50% stake in the Grade A office, One George Street. Ho Soo Lih and the highly rated Lau Sok Hiang co-head the real estate team, with Wai Cheong Yeong active in the Singapore leasing segment and April Mak also noted for collective sales transactions.
Restructuring & Insolvency
Restructuring & Insolvency – Tier 1 for 12 consecutive years
Sushil Nair - Hall of Fame for 2 consecutive years, previously Leading individual for 8 consecutive years
Julian Kwek - Recommended lawyer for 10 consecutive years
Blossom Hing - Leading Individual, Previously a Recommended lawyer for 6 consecutive years
Chan Wei Meng - Recommended lawyer for 6 years
Mohan Golapan - Next Generation Partners for 7 consecutive years
Drew & Napier LLC has a prestigious record in the restructuring and insolvency segment. This includes key recent roles in connection with the restructurings of Pacific International Lines, Hin Leong Trading and Hyflux. The firm also brings extensive disputes expertise to contentious matters. Sushil Nair is an outstanding practitioner in the field, with he and Julian Kwek continuing to be noted for Indonesia and wider Southeast Asia restructurings; they are also recognised for China-related matters. Chan Wei Meng is another key member of the team and Blossom Hing is a prominent figure in contentious insolvency proceedings. Mohan Golapan is an emerging talent.
Tax
Tax – Tier 1 for 12 years
Ong Ken Loon - Hall of Fame for 3 consecutive years, previously Leading individual for 9 consecutive years
Ong Sim Ho - Leading individual for 14 years
Yang Shi Yong - Recommended lawyer for 8 consecutive years
Drew & Napier LLC covers the spectrum of tax law advisory work in Singapore, including corporate tax, enterprise tax risk management and private wealth planning. The firm’s particular strength is tax litigation and it represents clients before tax tribunals and the Supreme Court, in matters related to goods and services tax, property tax and stamp duties. Ong Ken Loon's fortes area cross-border issues, handling tax disputes with the IRAS and representing clients in appeals to the tax tribunals and Singapore courts. She leads the team that includes Ong Sim Ho, who is dual-qualified as a lawyer and chartered accountant, as well as a barrister of England and Wales, and an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore.
Telecommunications, Media & Technology
Telecommunications, Media & Technology – Tier 2 for 4 consecutive years
Lim Chong Kin - Hall of Fame for 3 consecutive years, previously a Leading individual for 9 consecutive years
David Alfred - Recommended lawyer for 3 consecutive years
Drew & Napier LLC has transactional, licensing and regulatory experience in the telecommunications, technology, media and postal sectors. The team has a diverse range of clients, from globe carriers and regional telecommunication service providers to international broadcasters and start-ups. Practice head Lim Chong Kin covers the entire spectrum of TMT work, advising clients on technology, telecommunications and broadcasting. David Alfred has extensive experience in data protection and cyber security in addition to work relating to public policy.
White-Collar Crime
White-Collar Crime – Tier 2 for 3 consecutive years
Wendell Wong - Recommended lawyer for 3 consecutive years
Gary Low - Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Mahesh Rai - Recommended lawyer for 3 consecutive years
Chia Voon Jiet - Recommended lawyer
Praised for being ‘responsive and always available to respond to clients’ needs and requirements‘, Drew & Napier LLC‘s provides comprehensive advice in the context of cross-border and domestic investigations involving issues of fraud, bribery, anti-money laundering and financial services offences. Multinationals and listed companies regularly turn to the team, which is well versed in high profile internal and regulatory investigations by enforcement agencies, and also demonstrates further strength in cross-border FCPA mandates involving US reporting obligations. The practice, which features former prosecutors and regulators, has also played a key role in the shaping and development of investigations-related legislation in Singapore. Jointly leading the group, well-regarded civil and criminal lawyer Wendell Wong undertakes corporate crime and investigations work, while Chia Voon Jiet is best-known for his wealth of experience representing corporations, financial institutions, statutory boards and individuals in the Singapore High Court and Court of Appeal. Other key individuals include Gary Low, who specialises in corruption and securities offences, including insider trading and market manipulation, and Mahesh Rai who regularly conducts internal investigations.