Financial and Corporate 2023/24
Restructuring & Insolvency – Tier 1 for 17 consecutive years
Mergers & Acquisitions – Tier 2 for 19 consecutive years
Capital Markets – Tier 3 for 19 consecutive years
Banking & Finance – Tier 3 for 12 consecutive years
Project Development  – Tier 3 for 3 consecutive years
Investment Funds – Tier 3 for 2 consecutive years

Restructuring & Insolvency
Tier 1 for 17 consecutive years
Sushil Nair (Market leader for 5 consecutive years, previously Highly regarded for 2 consecutive years from 2018 to 2019)
Julian Kwek (Highly regarded for 7 consecutive years, previously Leading lawyer from 2012 to 2017)
Chan Wei Meng (Highly regarded for 6 consecutive years, previously Notable practitioner in 2017)
Blossom Hing (Highly regarded for 5 consecutive years, previously Rising star for 6 consecutive years from 2014 to 2019)
Mohan Gopalan (Rising Star Partner for 3 consecutive years, previously Rising Star for 3 consecutive years, and Notable practitioner in 2018)

Mergers & Acquisitions
Tier 2 for 19 consecutive years
Gary Pryke (Expert Consultant, previously highly regarded for 7 consecutive years and Leading lawyer from 2006 to 2017)
Steven Lo (Highly regarded for 7 consecutive years, previously Notable practitioner in 2018)
Tan Teng Sen (Highly regarded for 4 consecutive years)
Chua Tju Liang (Highly regarded, previously Rising star in 2020)

Capital Markets
Tier 3 for 19 consecutive years
Boon Ann Sin (Expert Consultant for 2 consecutive years, previously Highly regarded for 5 consecutive years, previously Leading lawyer from 2011 to 2017)
Wu Geng (Notable practitioner for 6 consecutive years)
Gary Wan (Notable practitioner) 

Banking & Finance
Tier 3 for 12 consecutive years
Lau Sok Hiang (Highly regarded for 2 consecutive years)
Renu Menon (Rising star)
Pauline Chong (Highly regarded)
Eleanor Pang (Rising star)

Project Development
Tier 3 for 3 consecutive years 
Jimmy Yim, SC (Highly regarded)

Investment Funds
Tier 3 for 2 consecutive years
Ron Cheng (Highly regarded)

IFLR 1000 Review: Financial and Corporate
Drew & Napier has a well-diversified offering across the financial and corporate space, with its key strength being its market-leading restructuring team. The firm advises on matters across a diverse range of sectors including real estate, shipping, oil and gas, technology, and renewable energy.

During the research period the banking team was active for borrowers, guarantors and lenders on several mandates such as syndicated financing, refinancing, and acquisition financing.

The capital markets team was primarily active for issuers on domestic and international IPOs and listings and debt issuances. A noteworthy capital markets deal saw the firm advising the issuer on the first listing of a Russian business on the SGX.

On the corporate side an eye-catching deal saw the firm advising the financial advisers of CapitaLand on its acquisition of Ascendas – Singbridge.

The firm’s flagship restructuring practice continued to impress with roles for government bodies on the high profile debt restructuring of Hyflux group. An impressive mandate on the debtor’s side saw the firm advising Ezion Holdings on its debt restructuring.

The firm strengthened its projects team with the hires of partners Ong Sim Ho from Ong Sim Ho and Chua Tju Liang from Chris Chua & Associates.

Client Feedback

“A group of very talented lawyers. They gave valuable and insightful advice to our clients, especially for the current business environment. Provided very detail guidance and solutions for our clients. Really excellent work from him and his team, who were able to work under tremendous pressure.” – Capital Markets: Equity

“Knowledge of the Singapore regulatory environment and liaison with exchange authorities.” – Capital Markets: Equity

“Was willing to do significant work at a fee cap basis, while maintaining sufficient contact time.” – Financial Services Regulatory

“Thorough approach, but at the same time easy going and pleasant to deal with.” – Investment Funds

“The law firm offers a full spectrum of specialties and an extremely professional and proficient legal team. It allows us to be creative and innovative towards the fund's structuring.  The law firm takes the initiatives to consistently provide valuable honest opinions. In my opinion, this is attributable to the firm's commitment and care for their clients.  In addition, the law firm has an unmatched speed when responding to and executing our queries and instructions respectively. The firm also consistently sends out reminders on matters we have discussed and are required to follow up on our part. With such good standards of services, I feel that the firm's charges are adequately priced and value for money.” – Investment Funds

“Deep knowledge in M&A and responsive to requests.” – M&A

“The firm consistently delivers excellent results for its clients in extremely complicated matters where significant amounts are at stake.” – Restructuring & Insolvency

“They are well-versed in the law and have a commercial point of view as well.” – Restructuring & Insolvency

Julian Kwek
“I have worked closely with Sushil Nair and Julian Kwek, the leaders of the firm's insolvency and restructuring group and also its Indonesia practice group. Both are intelligent, creative and hard-working lawyers who expertly lead their clients through complex cross-border debt restructuring matters.”

“He knows the law very well and also has a commercial point of view which helps the structuring.”


Ron Cheng
“Ron was able to understand our business model well, identify potential issues or concerns, and give advice in a manner that was easy to be understood by other stakeholders.”

“Very knowledgeable and responsive.”

“Mr Ron Cheng is quick, resourceful, extremely proficient and professional. Mr Ron is extremely responsive to our queries and instructions, allowing us to move fast and deliver results. Mr Ron is an active participant in the financial legislative community. For example, he was on the Money Authority of Singapore (MAS)'s committee as a member to assist with the set up of the VCC framework. Such participation allows us, as a client, to have more confidence in engaging him for advice. Mr Ron also consistently improves his industrial skillset and knowledge. A recent conversation during this Covid-19 circuit breaker period revealed that he is currently studying to deepen his knowledge on the VCC framework. Mr Ron is meticulous and approaches complex matters with clear thoughts and visions. Finally, Mr Ron maintains consistent and transparent communications with us. These attributes allow fund managers to be creative and innovative and focus on how an investment fund can be improved.”

Sushil Nair
“I have worked closely with Sushil Nair and Julian Kwek, the leaders of the firm's insolvency and restructuring group and also its Indonesia practice group. Both are intelligent, creative and hard-working lawyers who expertly lead their clients through complex cross-border debt restructuring matters.”