Sushil Nair

Sushil has handled a number of significant cross border restructuring exercises. Here are just a few:

1. Asia Pulp & Paper Co Ltd - Sushil was the firm’s lead partner in the US$16 billion restructuring exercise of this multi jurisdictional conglomerate, one of the largest exercises of its kind in the world. The exercise involved some 150 subsidiaries worldwide, including in Indonesia, China, Europe and the USA.

2. PT Berlian Laju Tanker Tbk - Sushil is the firm’s lead partner acting in the US$2.6 billion restructuring exercise of this leading worldwide seaborne liquid cargo transportation specialist, which is the only company listed on both the Singapore and Jakarta Stock Exchanges. It is the largest restructuring exercise in Indonesia for some years. The exercise has involved Court applications in Indonesia, Singapore and the USA. In Indonesia, the company’s debt composition proposal has been approved by the Indonesian Courts with the approval of the vast majority of its creditors, both international and domestic. This deal has been awarded Asian-MENA Counsel: Deal of the Year – Honourable Mention and IFLR Asia Awards 2016: Restructuring Deal of the Year.

3. Ezra Group - Sushil led the team representing Ezra Holdings Limited on its US$1.49 billion cross-border debt restructuring involving a restructuring under the Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code, which is to be followed by judicial management under Section 227 of the Singapore Companies Act. On 18 October 2018, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York entered an order confirming the restructuring plan under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code which subsequently went effective on 31 December 2018. In 2018, the Singapore High Court approved Ezra Holdings’ application for a cross-border protocol between Singapore court and the US Bankruptcy Court in relation to its bankruptcy proceedings—the first restructuring which applies the cross-border protocol adopted by the Singapore Supreme Court under the Judicial Insolvency Network initiative introduced in October 2016.

4. Nam Cheong Group - Sushil led the team representing Nam Cheong Group on its US$1.35 billion debt restructuring, including US$240 million bonds issued and listed on the Singapore Exchange. Nam Cheong’s core business is the construction and supply of offshore support vessels used in the offshore oil and gas exploration and production and oilfield services industries. Nam Cheong owns shipbuilding facilities in Malaysia and also outsourced the constructions of vessels to yards in the People’s Republic of China. Nam Cheong Group also has a vessel chartering business with a fleet of 15 vessels. Nam Cheong Limited is listed on the Singapore Exchange and various subsidiaries incorporated in Malaysia.

Restructuring/Insolvency 2024 – Band 1 for 17 consecutive years

Noted for his extensive experience working on high-profile insolvencies and restructurings, acting on behalf of creditors and companies in distress.

"He is extremely hard-working, smart and creative."

"He has consistently delivered excellent results to his clients in complicated matters."

"He is able to align parties to a common goal."

“Highly capable in cross-border matters.”

"He consistently comes up with solutions to sticky situations." 

Recognised as a top practitioner that is “intelligent, creative, responsive and tireless in leading the Drew & Napier team in providing consistently excellent representation of their clients.”

“He has a good grasp of the law and all the issues and complexities involved in a restructuring. He also knows many of the main players in this area.”

“hard-working, smart, creative and responsive in tight time constraints.”

Sushil Nair is "highly regarded, top of the game." He is praised as being a "practical, outside-the-box lawyer," as well as "sensible, responsive and approachable." He has experience on a plethora of high-stakes insolvencies. 

"He has very good negotiation skills and is able to work through issues and provide solutions." 

A client describes Sushil as "an excellent lawyer: strategic, thoughtful and a problem solver." Impressed sources note that Sushil  offers "sound advice that addresses and resolves various difficult issues."

"Very responsive and extremely commercial."

Asia-Pacific Legal 500
Restructuring & Insolvency 2024 – Hall of Fame, for 3 consecutive years

Previously a Leading Individual for 8 consecutive years

Noted by Legal 500 for having “an illustrious reputation in this field and is frequently mandated to advise on headline matters, including those involving China and Indonesia.”

"Sushil Nair leads with insights on what the banks are thinking and is able to also communicate effectively to the banks what the investors want and rationale."

Sushil “stands out as an astute insolvency practitioner who is not only well versed in insolvency laws but a highly intelligent and commercial lawyer. He has an ability to see through the complexities very early and delve into the core issues. However, he is also practical and seeks to find resolution amongst the various stakeholders to ensure a successful restructuring.”

“Very experienced and commercial.”

"Sushil Nair is very good with grasping the key issues and has the ability to communicate clearly to the different stakeholders."

Sushil Nair is "outstanding in developing and implementing effective and creative strategies that have produced successful debt restructurings in circumstances that seemed hopeless at the start".

“Extremely hard-working, intelligent and creative” and an “excellent” leader of a strong restructuring team.

Who’s Who Legal
Restructuring & Insolvency 2023 – Leading lawyer for 15 years

Identified as a Global Elite Thought Leader for Restructuring & Insolvency

Global Leader
Asset Recovery 2023 – Recommended lawyer

National Leader
Southeast Asia: Restructuring & Insolvency 2023 – Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years
Southeast Asia: Asset Recovery 2023 – Recommended lawyer for 2 consecutive years

Sushil was noted for standing out as “a big name in the field” who is “involved in many restructurings and insolvencies” and impressing peers with his sweeping knowledge of the law.

Sources describe Sushil as “a strong choice of lawyer”, “an expert in this field”, and "brilliant and hardworking and really cares for the client".

“Clearly an outstanding practitioner”.

According to clients, Sushil has “consistently produced excellent results on complex restructurings.”

“Sushil acts for corporates but he is willing to engage lenders directly to find solutions to enable a compromise to be achieved.”

“I find what makes Sushil's advice are his practicality and able to empathise with the positions of both sides so that a resolution can be found. He is also a good sounding board to explore out-of-the-box solutions."

A client regarded Sushil as “extremely intelligent”, “hard-working” and “creative”.

An “excellent” lawyer in all respects.

“Responsive to client needs.”

Sushil was praised for being “intelligent, creative and hard-working”. He “expertly [leads his] clients through complex cross-border debt restructuring matters.”

IFLR Asia Best Lawyers 
Recognised as a top practitioner in the 2021 edition of IFLR Asia Best Lawyers for two consecutive years

Best Lawyers International: Singapore
Insolvency and Reorganisation Law 2025 – Endorsed lawyer for 18 consecutive years
Insolvency and Reorganisation Law Singapore Lawyer of the Year 2010 and 2019

Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
Insolvency 2025 – Identified as a LItigation Star for 7 consecutive years

Asia Business Law Journal
Identified as one of Singapore’s Top 100 lawyers 2023

“Accessible, practical, creative and friendly. He establishes trust and respect quickly and listens to client's concerns carefully and offer commercial and sound advice.” 

“Intelligent, hardworking and creative lawyers who consistently lead the Drew & Napier team and counsel in other countries in complex cross-border restructuring matters.”

Asialaw Client Service Excellence
In the 2020 edition, Sushil is recognised as one of the highest rated lawyers to work with in the field of Restructuring & Insolvency based on client feedback

Practical Law Company Which Lawyer? 
Restructuring & Insolvency 2012 – Endorsed Individual for 5 consecutive years

• Member, Insolvency Law Review Committee set up by the Minister of Law
• Chairman, Insolvency Committee of the Law Society of Singapore
• Member, Advocacy Committee of the Law Society of Singapore
• Member, Law Society of Singapore
• Member, Singapore Academy of Law
• Member, Board of Directors of the Insolvency Practitioners Association of Singapore
• Member, Board of Directors of SingHealth Fund (SHF)