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

Headed up by respected real estate lawyer Penny Goh, Allen & Gledhill LLP’s corporate real estate practice continues to impress with its involvement on high profile real estate transactions including private equity property funds, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and commercial leasing.

Noted among clients for providing services that go “above and beyond the traditional scope of real estate law”, the 12 partner team played to its strengths this year.

In one highlight transaction, partners Margaret Soh, Ho Kin San, Hoo Sheau Farn and Ernest Teo led a team advising Mapletree Industrial Trust on its IPO. Meanwhile, Goh led a team advising on the launch of the Sabana Shari’ah Compliant REIT.

Corporate adviser Lee Kim Shin, REIT specialist Eudora tan, and real estate lawyer Tan Boon Wah, are other names to note in this sector.

In the construction and infrastructure space, the firm has been described by peers as the “go to firm for high value building and infrastructure work”. With litigation and dispute resolution specialist Ho Chien Mien at the helm, the team focuses on both contentious and non contentious construction and engineering work.

Heralded by clients as “hugely proficient” and “knowledgeable from a legal and commercial standpoint”, Ho has commandeered many of the firm’s most significant deals this year.

On the non contentious side, Ho and partner Kelvin Wong are assisting electricity supplier Tuas Power on a proposed project to design, procure, commission, start up, test and deliver a BioMass Clean Coal Power and Multi-Utilities Plant.

The firm’s head of litigation and dispute resolution, Andrew Yeo, is another key contact in the space.

With its string of talented individuals and its consistently active role on significant transactions, WongPartnership takes a well deserved top tier ranking in the construction and real estate space this year.

Clients value the breadth and depth of expertise and experience on offer in the nine partner corporate real estate practice, and eight partner infrastructure, construction and engineering group.

One described corporate real estate head Dorothy Marie Ng as “a very knowledgeable transactional lawyer”, while another praised infrastructure, construction and engineering head Christopher Chuah for his disputes expertise, describing him as a “good person to have on your side”.

The firm’s varied clientele, spanning REITS and developers to international banks and government entities, has certainly given both teams plenty of opportunities to demonstrate their expertise over the past 12 months. Among a string of notable mandates, one transaction saw Ng and partner Teck Howe Tan, together with construction specialists Peng Cheng Tay and Joyce Ng, and banking and finance partners Susan Wong and Ai Leen Choo, advise HSBC as senior facility agent, and a syndicate of lenders, on a S$1.33 billion financing to Sportshub. This was for the development of the Singapore Sports Hub managed under a PPP model. The complex transaction was the world’s largest PPP sports facilities infrastructure project.

Joyce Ang, Monica Yip and Carol Anne Tan are other notable contacts in this sector.

Colin Ng & Partners remains a respected player in the construction and real estate sector, with the firm catering to a broad spectrum of clients ranging from construction companies and REITs to corporate investors.

In November 2010, construction partner, and litigation and arbitration specialist, Subramanian Pillai headed up a team, together with managing partner Min-Li Tan, advising on contract enforcement for the construction and delivery of 50-foot catamarans from Vietnam. The case involved obtaining a worldwide mareva injunction and freezing assets in multiple jurisdictions.

In September, Pillai also assisted architects on the design and consultancy agreement for the development of 164 villas with club house and facilities again in Vietnam.

The addition of five new hires at associate and senior associate level – two in real estate and three in construction – demonstrates the firm’s commitment to building on its reputation in this space over the coming year.

Consisting of both lawyers and industry professionals, Drew & Napier’s building and construction business group offers clients legal expertise and an understanding of the technical and practical issues involved in building and construction related matters.

Under the leadership of “hands on and highly skilled” practice head Liam Beng Tan, who is also a qualified civil engineer, the firm has built up a strong focus on construction related litigation and arbitration.

In one notable deal this year, Tan is leading a team advising Merak Energi Indonesia in an international arbitration in respect of disputes involving termination of an engineering, procurement and construction contract for a power plant in Indonesia.

In December 2010, he also advised Yahoo! Southeast Asia in the preparation and drafting of tender documentation and conditions of contract for the development and construction of a data centre.

Corporate and finance director David Chin is a prominent adviser in this space, with his expertise in business transactions relating to real estate. Dispute resolution managing director Jimmy Yim further adds to the practice with his international arbitration expertise, which includes handling issues arising from building construction.

International and domestic contractors and consultants value Harry Elias’ experience in onshore and offshore developments as well as dispute resolution work. Past achievements saw the construction, engineering and infrastructure group advise the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) and one of its main contractors in the tribunal hearing of a ground settlement claim brought before the LTA Compensation Board in Singapore under the Land Transport Authority of Singapore Act. The transaction marked the first time such a claim was heard before a fully convened LTA Compensation Board in Singapore.

The firm is also advising the owner of one of the largest and most prominent projects in Singapore, the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort. The participants in this project include leading real estate developers, world renowned consultants and international contractors, involving a myriad of procurement methods.

Practice head Tan Chau Yee is a key contact in the sector, continuing to impress with his engagement on construction disputes.

With partners Chong Yee Leong and Soh Lip San at the helm, Rajah & Tann has built up a strong construction and projects practice with a particularly respectable reputation for resolving complex, high end disputes.

The 16 member team advises on all aspect of the construction industry, including pre-construction phases, and engages in a broad range of projects from roads and airports to thermal power stations and marine engineering.

In a highlight transaction this year, a firm team led by San advised Jurong Aromatics on its development and construction of an integrated petrochemical complex on Jurong Island, Singapore with estimated total development costs of US$2.4 billion.

In the real estate space, the firm focuses on lease agreements, joint ventures, securitisations, project financing and conveyancing. Lay See Lee, Choo Hock Soon and Hiang Chye Gan are notable contributors in this department.

Clients laud the responsiveness and sound business acumen of Rodyk & Davidson’s lawyers, and the firm’s real estate practice is no exception.

With expertise in a comprehensive offering of real property related services, including legal, planning and regulatory issues relating to mixed development, and residential and industrial projects, the practice maintains a respectable profile in the space.

Acting on a diverse range of property transactions, the team has distinguished itself in high value, complex collective sale projects. In one recent highlight, the firm advised the owners of Farrer Court in the sale of the 618 unit residential development for a record S$1.3 billion. The sale to Morganite, which is a consortium comprising CapitaLand, Hotel Properties and Wachovia Development, remains the largest sale of its kind.

Maureen Ann, Lee Liat Yeang and Norman Ho are key contacts in the department.

TSMP’s construction and real estate lawyers are well regarded for their ability to add value. One client describes the team as “very competent and committed to clients’ interests”. Another praises the construction, engineering and projects’ practice for its efficiency and focus, saying “the lawyers there offer clients more than they are paid for”.

The construction team is active in both transactional and dispute resolution work, especially in relation to oil and gas projects. A recent highlight in the transactional space saw executive director, Derek Loh advising an oil and gas contractor in their tender for an oilfield project in Egypt.

On the real estate side, the firm counts a number of Singapore’s influential developers among its clients. Recent transactions include the en bloc purchase of Dragon Mansion and the en bloc purchase of 6 Jalan Ampas. The firm is also representing the developers in the Pinnacle Collection condominium sale on Singapore’s Sentosa Island.

Clients speak highly of executive director and real estate specialist Bee Lain Tan, describing her as someone who “will go beyond the call of duty to serve your best interests”.

Bee Lian’s approach is highly professional and yet very personal, adds another. “As her client, you will always have that peace of mind.”

ATMD Bird & Bird’s real estate and construction practice specialises in advising mulitnationals and foreign investors in specialist leases and commercial space and state land, with a particular emphasis on the cleantech, petrochemical, desalination and pharmaceutical sectors.

Consultant Naresh Mahtani and partner Sandra Seah have a good reputation in green developments.

In one notable deal this year, Seah advised Public Utilities Board on the leasing of land and foreshore from the state for the construction of the second and largest desalination plant in Singapore. When completed in 2013, the plant will add 318,500 cubic metres of desalinated seawater a day to the national water supply.

A team, also led by Seah, is advising Sportshub on all its leasing issues for commercial and ticketing space, for the development of the Singapore Sports Hub managed under a PPP model.

In the past year, the firm has also advised on the alienation of State Land under Singapore Economic Development Board’s request for interest for foreign system schools, and reviewed the state financing instruments for the first LNG terminal to be constructed in Singapore.

KhattarWong’s real estate, infrastructure and construction practice group is involved in both contentious and non contentious legal work associated with the projects, construction and real estate sectors.

With a client base spanning real estate and corporate clients, as well as construction and engineering contractors, consultants and employers, lawyers have significant experience in both domestic and international litigation, arbitration, mediation and alternative dispute resolution.

In one unresolved case this year, a firm team led by practice head Chia Ho Choon is acting in an arbitration claim of US$16 million relating to a construction project in Vietnam.

Commercial litigation lawyer Spring Tan is also leading a team advising on proposed S$180 million alterations to Singapore’s Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall.

Practice head Carla Barker is another key contact in the group.

Stamford Law

While Stamford Law’s real estate practice is relatively new, it has rapidly gained momentum. With global financial institutions, local and foreign developers, property funds and REITs, as well as financiers among its clients, the team has acted on a number of landmark transactions over the past 12 months, including the second largest REIT of the year.

Highlight deals include acting for Mapletree Investments on the IPO and listing of units in the REIT Mapletree Commerical Trust. The deal was Singapore’s second largest REIT transaction this year.

Practice group head Susan Kong is a notable contact in the space, and Valarie Jagger is highly rated for her acquisition financing expertise.