Allen Gledhill LLP

01 October 2007

Allen Gledhill LLP in Who's Who Legal: Singapore

With 38 nominees on the following pages Allen & Gledhill boasts a greater presence than any other firm; that these are distributed between 17 of the 22 featured practice areas highlights the strength and depth of expertise on offer to clients. The establishment of a joint law venture with Linklaters LLP (Linklaters Allen & Gledhill LLP) in 2000 added another dimension to Allen & Gledhill’s practice, combining first-rate regional expertise with one of the profession’s most respected global firms.

The accompanying pie chart highlights the firm’s pre-eminence in capital markets. With eight individuals listed, Allen & Gledhill boasts more than any other firm in that chapter. Sources noted the firm’s excellence for debt and equity work. The group is led in the voting by Tan Tze Gay, who is recommended as “first choice for high-end complex work” and is said to be “responsive, smart and experienced”. Managing partner Lucien Wong also appears in the chapter; he is one of only four individuals to feature in four chapters. Jerry Koh is a “rising star” and Christina Ong, head of financial services at the firm, was praised for her “first-class all-round practice”. Margaret Chin’s debt capital markets practice was noted, as was Andrew Lim’s “thorough, precise” work. Lim Teong Sit joined the firm from the Malaysian offices of Shearn Delamore & Co in May 2007 and heightens Allen & Gledhill’s already lofty reputation for capital markets work. Lim was recommended to researchers as a “known and published authority” and is joined in publication by Leonard Ching, whose equity work was particularly noted.

Banking is another strong point at Allen & Gledhill. Sources noted its “extremely healthy market position” in domestic, regional and international banking. Lucien Wong appears again in this chapter and is deemed “at the top of his game” by survey respondents. Eugene Ooi co-heads the banking practice group and his proficiency in Islamic finance was noted. Mark Hudspeth completes the strong trio and his highlights include acting for Standard Chartered Bank in the S$548 million secured acquisition finance for Alkas Realty to purchase Tower One and Tower Two of the DBS Building.

Wong also features in the mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance chapters. Christina Ong (also in the capital markets chapter) was consistently recommended to us for her governance expertise, and is “very highly regarded”, according to our sources. In the M&A arena the firm is rated by one source as “head and shoulders above the rest of the Singapore local market”, a statement given weight by the five lawyers in the chapter. Andrew Lim’s work on domestic and cross-border matters was noted and Lee Kim Shin, head of corporate and commercial at the firm, is also well regarded. Lee’s M&A practice in venture capital and private equity was brought to our attention. The “outstanding” Lim Mei also loomed large in our findings. Lim Teong Sit features once again and completes the firm’s pre-eminent showing for mergers and acquisitions. Allen & Gledhill contributes one highly-rated individual for the corporate tax chapter: Nand Singh Gandhi is rated as a “big name” and “well known”, particularly for tax litigation.

After capital markets and M&A, the insolvency & restructuring chapter represents Allen & Gledhill’s best showing in the publication – with four nominees it boasts more than any other firm. Sources noted that it was a “strong firm in this area” and Ronnie Quek was frequently complimented. Andrew Chan was also consistently recommended and among other matters he helped structure the scheme of arrangement in relation to the national airline of Indonesia, PT Garuda Indonesia. Ashok Kumar serves as deputy head of the corporate restructuring and insolvency group and his practice was consistently endorsed to researchers.

The firm’s dispute resolution credentials are also clear for all to see on the accompanying pie chart.In total three Allen & Gledhill partners are in the litigation chapter: Mathu Arusu, Edwin Tong and Ang Cheng Hock. Ho Chien Mien has “formidable” litigation, arbitration and mediation experience in construction matters and appears in the corresponding chapter.

The insurance and shipping industries are closely linked in Singapore; Vivian Ang’s nomination to both chapters illustrates this. Ang co-heads the firm’s maritime and aviation practice and was described by one international respondent to our survey as “my number one” for insurance-related work. Sources in our shipping research rate her as “first class” and “one of the top local practitioners”. Ang’s partners Gina Lee-Wan and Harold Or also feature in the chapter.

There is a similar overlap between the competition and regulatory communications chapters – a number of practitioners featuring in both. Daren Shiau heads the firm’s competition and antitrust practice and was recommended as “a real expert”. Shiau is one of four practitioners appointed to the Competition Commission of Singapore’s competition roundtable. Tan Wee Meng boasts antitrust expertise in the regulated industries and frequently deals with agencies. Sources noted that he is “young and talented” and Tan appears in the regulatory communications chapter on the back of a strong showing in our research.

Allen & Gledhill also enjoys a sterling reputation for corporate real estate work and both Penny Goh and Margaret Soh performed exceptionally well in our research. Sources noted that the firm possesses a team of “highly respected, thinking lawyers who can, from a combination of first principles, experience and legal learning, creatively work out structures or resolve problems for their clients”. With a prominent nominee in trademarks (Elaine Tan) and management, labour and employment (Chan Hian Young) it is unsurprising that Allen & Gledhill emerges as the leading player in the Singapore market.

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