A&O Shearman’s market-leading practice covers the full spectrum of mandates, from private M&A, joint ventures, disposals, corporate restructurings and fundraisings to general commercial and corporate governance issues across the ASEAN region, in addition to inbound Singapore matters. Alun Evans, who focuses on cross-border M&A, joint ventures and restructurings, jointly leads the team alongside James Mythen, who has demonstrable experience advising private equity and other corporate investors across the banking and insurance, telecommunications, infrastructure and technology sectors on regional transactions. Recently promoted partner Tom Jokelson focuses on M&A, joint ventures and strategic investments involving Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Other key contacts in the group include senior associates Christine Fong and Ayesha Thapar. Following its merger with Shearman & Sterling, the team now includes Richard Porter and Kok Jin Ong.

Noted for its capability to advise on Singapore, English and New York law, the ‘all-star team’ at Clifford Chance covers the full spectrum of mandates, from M&A, joint ventures and divestments to general corporate advisory work across the energy and infrastructure, financial services, consumer goods and retail, healthcare and life sciences, TMT and private equity sectors. Praised as ‘one of the best M&A lawyers in Singapore’, managing partner Valerie Kong has built a strong portfolio of clients, including sovereign wealth funds, Singapore and Malaysia government-linked entities, multinational banks and corporates, with demonstrable experience in cross-border M&A, particularly in the Southeast Asia region. Kong jointly leads the team alongside Melissa Ng, who is commended for her ‘keen intellect, commerciality and extensive experience’ in M&A, divestments and joint ventures, and Tom Lin, who focuses on private equity transactions. Senior associate Ivan Chan is another key contact in the group.

Praised as an ‘excellent team to have in your corner’, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acts for major international companies on big-ticket transactions across Asia Pacific. Practice leader Nigel Gleeson, who is commended as ‘a superb operator with considerable cross-border M&A experience’, counts financial sponsors, including private equity houses, pension, and infrastructure funds, as well as sovereign linked investors, among his key roster of clients. Philip Morgan spearheads the Indonesian practice and advises on acquisitions, joint ventures, and divestments, while Simon Weller heads the firm’s global transactions practice and recently relocated to Singapore. Jon Bowden is another key contact in the group.

Noted for its capabilities in US, English and Singapore law advice, Latham & Watkins LLP handles the full spectrum of mandates, including public M&A, private takeovers, joint ventures, corporate restructuring and disposals. Amy Beckingham, who splits her time between the firm’s offices in Singapore and Hong Kong, advises on public and private M&A and joint ventures, while Sidharth Bhasin acts for private equity, sovereign wealth, and pension funds, as well as Asian and international corporates, on cross-border transactions. James Clayton-Payne focuses on multi-jurisdictional M&A and joint ventures, and Sharon Lau has experience in acquisitions and corporate finance transactions. Other key contacts in the group include Marcus Lee and Farhana Sharmeen.

Praised as a ‘top quality’ practice, Linklaters continues to showcase its capability in large-scale, cross-border transactions, leveraging the firm’s international footprint, combined with its well-established presence across Southeast Asia. Sophie Mathur leads the team and boasts a strong track record advising on M&A, private equity transactions, takeovers and joint ventures, with demonstrable experience in the financial services and energy sectors. Niranjan Arasaratnam stands out for his expertise in the technology arena, while Robert Elliot focuses on transactions involving private equity, infrastructure and sovereign wealth funds. Counsel Gary Beh, who assists on M&A and corporate regulatory mandates, is another key contact in the group.

Praised for its ‘unrivalled experience’ and ‘incontestable reputation in Southeast Asia’, Milbank counts multinational investment banks, multilaterals and funds, as well as regional and national companies across the power generation, natural resources, telecoms, consumer retail, e-commerce and healthcare sectors, among its key roster of clients. Managing partner David Zemans is heavily involved in cross-border transactions, namely involving Indonesia, India, China and European elements, with demonstrable experience in SPAC and de-SPAC transactions, joint ventures, auction sales, and minority investments. Zemans jointly leads the team alongside Jacqueline Chan, who stands out for her expertise in corporate finance, M&A and restructurings. ‘A rare lawyer of quality and character’, associate Min Kim is another key contact in the group.

Well-placed to leverage the firm’s international footprint, the team at Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow handles an array of domestic and cross-border transactions, from private equity and venture capital deals to corporate reorganisations and growth capital mandates. Shirin Tang jointly leads the practice alongside Bee Chun Boo, who has demonstrable experience in the energy, mining, infrastructure, healthcare and technology sectors. Andrew Martin, Xiao Hui Ting and Sharon Foo advise on M&A and joint ventures, in addition to general corporate matters.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP continues to showcase its capability in handling first of its kind M&A transactions, from infrastructure projects across Southeast Asia and large-scale towers sale and leaseback deals in the Philippines to private equity investments and strategic corporate transactions. Following the departure of Mark Robinson, Glynn Cooper spearheads the firm’s Southeast Asia energy, resources and infrastructure group and advises on M&A, joint ventures and project developments. Irina Akentjeva’s expertise lies in energy and infrastructure transactions. In September 2023, Malika Chandrasegaran relocated from the firm’s Sydney office, Anthony Patten and Peiwen Chen joined from King & Spalding LLP and White & Case Pte. Ltd. respectively.

Counting domestic and multinational corporates, private equity houses, investment funds and family offices among its key roster of clients, Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee handles cross-border transactions, with demonstrable experience across the consumer goods, healthcare, life sciences, technology, and financial services sectors. Stephanie Keen leads the team and boasts a strong track record in leveraged buyouts, M&A, equity offerings and corporate restructurings. Counsel Sylvia Taslim, who focuses on a variety of first-of-its-kind transactions in the emerging markets, is another key contact in the group.

Jones Day showcases its capability in private equity-sponsored leveraged buyouts and acquisitions, in addition to advising on real estate private equity transactions, venture capital investments, and oil, gas and energy-related M&A transactions. Key clients include US and European-headquartered companies acquiring business in Asia. Ben Witherall, who handles acquisitions, disposals and investments, jointly leads the team alongside Dennis Barsky, who focuses on cross-border transactions, with demonstrable experience in private equity-sponsored leveraged buyouts and transformative acquisitions for multinational clients. Elizabeth Cole is another key contact in the group.

Housing an ‘impressively deep bench of leading lawyers’, Morrison Foerster (Singapore) advises on large-scale M&A, private equity transactions and joint ventures, with demonstrable experience in the real estate, technology and financial services sectors. Tabitha Saw focuses on private equity real estate and data centre transactions, and Steven Tran is praised as ‘immensely knowledgeable’ in cross-border private equity and M&A deals. Former practice leader Shirin Tang and Lip Kian Ang left the firm in October 2024.

With demonstrable experience in the technology, insurance, financial services, energy, oil and gas, shipping and infrastructure sectors, Norton Rose Fulbright’s ‘high pragmatic’ team continues to showcase its capability in multi-jurisdictional transactions, involving China and Southeast Asia, as well as the US, UK, EU and Canada. Craig Loveless, who has experience in M&A, disposals, restructurings and joint ventures, jointly leads the team alongside insurance expert Anna Tipping, who handles M&A transactions in the financial institutions sector. Other key contacts in the group include counsel Shahin Foroughian, and senior associates Dexter Tan and Chris Bell.

Praised for its ‘attentiveness to client requirements, quick turn around times and approaching matters strategically’, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP has demonstrable experience advising on large-scale M&A mandates, while boasting a strong track record in noteworthy de-SPAC transactions. Head of the Singapore office Rajeev Duggal leads the team and advises on cross-border M&A and SPAC transactions arising out of the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Counsel Andrew Cohn, who has experience in public and private M&A, tender offers, spin-offs and venture capital deals, is another key contact in the group.

Noted for its expertise in the real estate, energy and infrastructure, data centre, technology and fintech sectors, White & Case Pte. Ltd. services clients throughout the South and Southeast Asia region on high-end M&A and private equity transactions. Jonathan Olier leads the team and counts private equity entities, large-scale corporates, investment funds and family offices among his key roster of clients, with demonstrable experience advising on a range of cross-border corporate transactions. Sayak Maity departed the firm in March 2024.

The ‘extremely detailed, service-oriented and commercial’ team at Ashurst LLP continues to showcase its capability in cross-border transactions, with demonstrable experience across the technology, energy and renewables, real estate and logistics sectors. Praised as a ‘rock star’, Michelle Phang co-leads the team and focuses on multi-jurisdictional M&A and investments, in addition to day-to-day operations. Well-placed to handle both the Singaporean and Indonesian aspects of transactions, Phang frequently collaborates with the corporate practice at Ashurst ADTLaw, which was recently bolstered with the arrivals of practice co-head Tao Koon Chiam, Xiaozheng Ko and Yi Ming Choo from Allen & Gledhill LLP in August 2022.

Praised for its ‘rich experience and attention to detail’, Dechert is well-placed to advise on cross-border transactions across the technology, energy and natural resources, financial services and infrastructure sectors. Maria Tan Pedersen has experience in M&A, joint ventures and financing transactions, while ‘creative, thoughtful, and meticulous’ Siew Kam Boon advises on private equity, emerging growth and venture capital mandates. Timothy Goh counts private equity and venture capital entities, start-ups, multinational companies and development finance institutions among his key roster of clients. All named partners collectively lead the team.

Counting multinational corporations and Singapore-based companies among its key roster of clients, DLA Piper is noted for its capability in multi-jurisdictional transactions, from M&A, joint ventures and corporate restructurings to private equity and venture capital mandates. Noted for his expertise in the technology, financial, energy and real estate sectors, managing partner Joe Bauerschmidt leads the team alongside Katherine Chew, who focuses on M&A and corporate restructurings. Philip Lee, who is English, New York and Australian qualified, is another key contact in the group.

Commended for its ‘creativity and efficiency’, Gibson Dunn has demonstrable experience advising on M&A, share and asset purchases, tender and exchange offers, joint ventures, restructurings and private equity investments. The team is noted for its expertise in the technology, energy and infrastructure, healthcare and consumer goods sectors. Jai Pathak leads the team and handles cross-border takeovers, dispositions, privatisations and joint ventures, namely arising out of Singapore and India. Saptak Santra and counsel Marcus Tan, who ‘form an outstanding team’, are also key contacts in the group.

The ‘superb team’ at King & Spalding LLP stands out for its expertise in energy and renewables-related M&A, with additional capability in handling disposals, private equity transactions and general corporate mandates. Commended for his ‘hands-on approach and remarkable availability’, Parveet Singh Gandoak advises on cross-border M&A, minority and control investments, joint ventures, secondary transactions, exits, and restructurings. Gandoak jointly leads the team alongside Simon Cowled, who specialises in energy-related M&A and project development transactions. Other key contacts in the group include senior associates Jill Cooper and Michael Ng.

King & Wood Mallesons counts domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures and private equity transactions in its workload, with demonstrable experience advising on digital infrastructure deals in South and Southeast Asia. Nicola Yeomans, who specialises in private equity transactions, leads the team. Michael Lawson has experience in the energy, infrastructure, life sciences and telecoms sectors, and Will McCosker acts on Chinese and pan-Asian investment transactions.  Jake Robson left the firm in March 2024.

Praised for its ‘extensive experience and business perspective’, Sidley Austin LLP is well-placed to leverage the firm’s full-service capability and international footprint to advise on M&A and private equity transactions. With demonstrable expertise in the digital infrastructure, insurance and the real estate sectors, Charlie Wilson leads the practice and is noted for his experience in advising private equity funds and corporates on their investments and disposals across Asia. Parthiv Rishi, who acts for private equity firms and their portfolio companies on M&A, leveraged buyouts and capital investments in Southeast and India, is another key contact in the group.

The ‘highly responsive’ team at Stephenson Harwood LLP handles private equity and venture capital investments across South and Southeast Asia, with demonstrable experience in the transport and maritime, technology and healthcare sectors. Acting in a formal alliance with Virtus Law LLP, the practice is well-placed to advise on the domestic and international aspects of transactions. Praised as an ‘excellent technical lawyer, whose client service is second to none’, Tom Platts leads the team and handles M&A, strategic joint ventures and corporate restructurings. Other key contacts in the team include US-qualified Jonathan Goacher, who joined the team from Hill Dickinson LLP in May 2023, Jay Tai who joined from Proskauer Rose LLP‘s Hong Kong office in October 2023, and of counsel Helen Rhind-Hufnagel.

Bird & Bird ATMD LLP is well-placed to leverage the firm’s international network to advise on multi-jurisdictional transactions, ranging from M&A, joint ventures, corporate restructurings and takeovers to leveraged buyouts, privatisations and private equity investments. Key clients include multinational companies and financial institutions, as well as private equity firms and government-linked entities. Marcus Chow leads the team and advises on M&A in the private and public markets, in addition to private equity and venture capital investments and exits. Co-head of the firm’s energy sector practice, Sandra Seah is another key contact in the group.

Noted for its expertise across the healthcare and life sciences, TMT, energy and financial services sectors, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang (Singapore) LLP is well-placed to leverage its global footprint to advise on cross-border transactions, from M&A, joint ventures and reorganisations to fundraisings, private equity and venture capital investments. Managing partner Toby Grainger acts for multinational corporations, regional corporates, start-ups and high-growth energy companies on cross-border M&A and investment transactions in the Asia Pacific region. Grainger jointly leads the team alongside London-based Babita Ambekar.  Of counsel Sam Ng is another key contact in the group. Gerald Licnachan joined the firm from Reed Smith LLP in November 2023.

Counting vendors, acquirers and financiers across the technology, healthcare, corporate real estate, consumer products and financial services sectors among its key roster of clients, Dentons Rodyk leverages its comprehensive international network to advise on cross-border M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions. Praised as ‘a leading authority in M&A’, Marian Ho jointly leads the team alongside Eng Leng Ng and S Sivanesan, while other key contacts in the group include Valerie Ong, Evelyn Ang, Sunil Rai and Mark Wong.

With demonstrable experience across the technology and telecommunications, energy, consumer goods and pharmaceuticals sectors, Duane Morris & Selvam LLP handles M&A and lease agreements, in addition to advising clients on forming business entities in Singapore, Vietnam and Myanmar. Leon Yee leads the team and advises on cross-border M&A, joint ventures and corporate governance matters, with a particular focus on deals arising out of Korea, Indonesia and China.

Reed Smith LLP stands out for its expertise in the energy and infrastructure sectors, with demonstrable experience advising on domestic and cross-border M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions, joint ventures and corporate governance mandates. Matthew Gorman leads the practice and acts for public and private companies on multi-jurisdictional M&A, joint ventures and equity issues, and Manoj Purush is another key contact in the group. Gerald Licnachan left the firm in November 2023.