Asialaw Profiles
The Guide to the legal markets of the Asia-Pacific

While Baker & McKenzie Wong & Leow is not particularly known for its capital markets practice, the firm has made efforts to increase its market share in this division. Clients speak highly of the firm’s commitment to clients and its English law capabilities in Singapore.

“The firm is a solution finder,” says one. “I have a requirement, and it will translate it into something workable – not just for us but the industry as a whole, in terms of regulatory requirements for example, so that we can get our job done.”

The firm’s finance and projects associate principal, Henry Cort, is respected for his extensive experience in the Indonesian market. In the corporate and securities space, group head Ai Ai Wong and associate principal Stephanie Magnus were described as “superb” by one client.

Headed up by “superb” private equity partner Ai Ai Wong, Bakers’ 23 lawyer team handles work across the Middle East, India and Indonesia.

Significant transactions this year include advising Bank Permata on its acquisition of GE Capital’s multi-finance and credit card business in Indonesia. The transaction involved obtaining a number of key regulatory consents, including those of Bank Indonesia and Indonesian capital markets regulator Bapepam. The firm also advised advised Kirin Holdings on the acquisition of 14.7% of shares in Fraser and Neave from Seletar Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings. The total acquisition value amounted to S$1.34 billion, making it one of the largest acquisitions in Singapore in 2010.

Bakers’ four partner Singapore team is known for offering “practical and sound advice”. The group has established a particularly strong track record in the petrochemicals, power, oil and gas, water and wastewater projects space. Its clients include commercial banks and investment banks, financial institutions and corporate borrowers, as well as credit providers, sponsors and operators on infrastructure projects in the energy, utilities, transportation, water and telecoms sectors.

Boosted this year with the addition of two new associates, Allison Hancock and Ashley Phelps, the team picked up a number of high profile mandates, advising developers and borrowers on the development and financing of power projects development and acquisition in Indonesia, Thailand, Laos and the Philippines. The firm also assisted with the financing, construction and chartering of oil rigs, floating platforms, dry bulk carriers and LNG tankers, and the short term and long term charter of such vessels and facilities.

Clients value the firm’s international reach. “The firm is global and we have used it for work outside of Singapore,” says one.

Chew Chin is a well regarded contributor in the space.