Carey Olsen Singapore LLP launched a Singapore office back in 2017 and in a short period has become the largest offshore firm in Singapore. Providing a full-service approach to the market, it covers dispute resolution, insolvency, banking and finance, corporate and M&A, and private wealth. The team provides Cayman, BVI, Bermuda and Jersey law expertise. It has a China desk, dedicated to advising Chinese clients on disputes, corporate and private wealth matters, and has achieved further growth in clients from Australia, Japan, South Korea and India. With one of the most established dispute resolution teams amongst the offshore firms in Singapore, the firm has made further headway in shareholder disputes, insolvency cases, trust and private wealth matters, and cases connected to Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act. The office is also noted for crypto disputes and other cases in the fintech arena. On the transactional side, the firm has experienced growth in Nasdaq listings using a Cayman or BVI vehicle, fund raising for large and mid-cap managers, and trusts and private wealth work for family offices and ultra high net-worth individuals. Anthony McKenzie is the Singapore office managing partner and head of the Asia corporate practice. Cayman and BVI admitted James Noble leads the firm’s litigation, insolvency and restructuring team in Asia, which includes fluent Mandarin and Cantonese speaker Helen Wang (‘ability to understand the Chinese business landscape is also unparalleled‘). Tom Katsaros heads the funds team.

Maples Group‘s global brand and presence in multiple jurisdictions provides a more than solid platform for the Singapore office. The team works closely with colleagues in Hong Kong and across the globe (including BVI, Cayman Islands, Dubai, Dublin, Jersey, London and Luxembourg) on a range of matters in the corporate, finance, insolvency, funds and investments, and dispute resolution sectors. It has continued to advise on numerous headline and landmark transactions, including the first de-SPAC transaction in Singapore and several other de-SPAC deals. The Singapore team is also noted for its prominence in structured debt programmes and for its expertise in fund finance and private credit. Working with Hong Kong colleagues, the Singapore group provides further senior firepower in fund launches. Based in Asia since 2006, Michael Gagie is regional head for Asia and leads the finance team in the region, also leading the global BVI legal practice. Matt Roberts is Asia head of corporate, splitting his time between Hong Kong and Singapore. Nick Harrold is an experienced partner in funds and investment management, along with Iain Anderson and Ian Clark, the latter joining from Harneys in 2023. Dispute resolution specialist Cherrin Wong was promoted to counsel in 2024.

Walkers has a longstanding presence in Singapore and has an established and large team that works seamlessly with colleagues in Hong Kong. Along with its eminence in banking and finance, it has a sizeable team that is dedicated to corporate transactions and investment funds work. Fund formation matters have grown considerably in recent times, across the private equity, hedge and venture capital fund segments; Japan private equity funds have been a particular area of growth. Having advised on a significant pipeline of de-SPAC transactions, the office is now increasingly active in take privates. The team is also noted for private equity M&A and strategic investments. Insolvency and dispute resolution has become a major focus for the Singapore office with the elevation of Gareth Murphy to the partnership and the ongoing efforts of Adam Hinks  . Working with colleagues in Hong Kong, the Singapore office has represented a number of private equity clients in connection with disputes over redemption rights in their portfolio companies. Timothy Stevens is a prominent name in fund formation and structuring, particularly in the private equity and hedge fund sectors, along with Tania Toh, while James Twigg has a prolific record in corporate and M&A transactions, including SPAC and de-SPAC deals. Managing partner John Rogers, Richard Siddle and Shirleen Tan make up a formidable senior bench in banking and finance. Counsel Marco Lam is rated for regulatory and risk advisory matters. Laura Rogers retired from the firm in 2024.

Forbes Hare is especially known for insolvency and dispute resolution matters and for its expertise in Cayman and BVI laws. All members of the team have been based in Cayman or BVI during the course of their career. Much of the Singapore office’s practice is centred on commercial litigation, insolvency, investment fund disputes, trust litigation and arbitration. The firm is also noted for investment funds formation, especially Cayman and BVI alternative investment and private equity funds; it has experienced a notable uptick in fund structures for blockchain entrepreneurs and represents a number of venture capital funds and family offices. Sam Robertson (‘the epitome of what one seeks in an offshore lawyer based in Asia‘) is noted for cross-border insolvencies, along with litigation and arbitration. Catherine Ross and Patrick Colegrave are experienced investment funds practitioners.

Harney Westwood & Riegels Singapore LLP has been present in Singapore for over 10 years, now offering expertise in transactions, disputes, insolvency and restructuring, and private client matters. The Singapore team has a wealth of experience in BVI and Cayman laws, along with a number of other jurisdictions, including Bermuda and Luxembourg. The Singapore office is deeply embedded in the financial services sector and works closely with colleagues in Hong Kong and Shanghai. It continues to focus on the crypto, blockchain, and digital assets arenas, including fund, regulatory and litigation engagements. The office also remains noted for private wealth and trusts work for UHNW individuals, trustees, private banks and family offices. Singapore managing partner Lishi Fong heads the transactional practice, specialising in banking and corporate matters, while building the firm’s standing in the crypto field. Qualified Jersey advocate Nicola Roberts (‘accomplished and unflappable litigator’) leads the litigation, insolvency and restructuring team in Singapore, as well as the trust and private client advisory group across Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai; she is further noted for digital assets disputes. Jayesh Chatlani provides further senior-level dispute resolution expertise, having been promoted to partner in 2023.

Conyers is noted for financings and capital markets offerings. It has worked on a series of equity and debt offerings by Indonesian issuers, while making a further impression in sustainability-linked financings, including those linked to data centre operators; it advised the lenders on the A$4.6bn multi-currency sustainability-linked loan for the AirTrunk group of companies. Preetha Pillai heads the Singapore office and has a primary focus on corporate and securities work involving Bermuda, BVI and Cayman Islands laws; she is also a member of funds team in Singapore.

Mourant launched its Singapore office in October 2023 with a focus on investment funds and alternative investment management. Craig Luton joined the firm from Maples Group to lead the office, bringing senior expertise in investment funds formation and structuring under BVI and Cayman laws.