Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill is a well-established leader in the Malaysia legal market. The firm has built its strong reputation over more than 70 years by delivering pragmatic, business-oriented solutions. Its team of lawyers spans the spectrum of experience from prominent senior figures to up-and-coming talent. The firm commands leading practices in banking, construction, dispute resolution, employment and tax. It advises numerous multinational enterprises and offers deep expertise across sectors such as real estate and technology. While the recent departure of notable partners Xin Yee (Cindy) Sim and Wei Lynn (Eunice) Chan represents a loss of experience and know-how, the firm’s depth of talent ensures it remains a powerhouse for transactional legal work.
Client feedback
“High level of professionalism and experience.” – Construction
“The firm was very thorough in their review, regularly providing prompt updates, explaining each stage and providing necessary guidance. They broke down complex matters, allowing us to understand and make decisions.” – Construction
“LHAG (Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill)’s lawyers are very attentive to their client and always provide a quick response. Despite the tight timeline, they provided sound and well-rounded legal advice.” – Construction
“LHAG are prompt in their responses, which I appreciate. In their review, they structured their responses clearly, so that the conclusion was clearly set out in order for us to understand the outcome of their review, followed with a detailed analysis.” – Dispute resolution
“They have been on top of the case. They provided good advice on the direction for a resolution and closure of the matter.” – Dispute resolution
“Familiar with our business and operating models and able to provide commercial/practical input.” – Dispute resolution
“Value for money, time-effectiveness, clarity.” – Dispute resolution
“Great strategy and advice on the most suitable and cost-effective method.” – Dispute resolution
“Fast turnaround. Responses are clear and accurate. Friendly people. Easy to speak with.” – Dispute resolution
“We have been impressed with LHAG’s professionalism, attention to detail and dedication in handling this case. Their strategic approach, coupled with their in-depth understanding of the legal landscape, has greatly enhanced our position and increased the likelihood of successful debt recovery.” – Dispute resolution
“Throughout this process, LHAG has maintained clear communication with us, providing regular updates on the progress of the legal action and any relevant developments. Their transparent and proactive approach has instilled confidence in us as clients that they are actively working towards achieving a favourable outcome." – Dispute resolution
“Carefully managed the preparation schedule for the trial.” – Dispute resolution
“Good time management. Laid out plans and timelines.” – Energy
“Anticipated future issues and made provision and backup plans to address them.” – Energy
“Always available, even during weekends and public holidays, to provide updates and follow up on the deliverables.” – Insurance
“Always open to questions from clients, especially those without legal background, and happy to explain the basics and provide clear justifications for certain actions/plans. Likewise, LHAG would always listen with interest to understand the client’s environment, industry and issues." – Labour and employment
“Well mannered and punctual. Committed to the tasks given and well structured.” – Labour and employment
“Ensures the review and opinion provided are understandable by conducting physical briefings and explanations.” – Labour and employment
“Good knowledge of local labour laws and industrial relations best practices. Prompt advice when required.” – Labour and employment
“Their quality of work has been outstanding and there is nothing to pick on in terms of their timelines in responding.” – Labour and employment
“They advise their clients diligently, which makes us trust that – as our law firm partners – they think of the best interest of their clients.” – Labour and employment
“I find that they provide excellent labour and employment as well as corporate advice. I am very pleased with their responsiveness.” – Labour and employment
“The firm provided extremely good advice based on the latest case laws, with quick turnaround times and accommodation of aggressive deadlines.” – Labour and employment
“Very attentive, professional and clear in responding to all queries and preparation for court case hearing.” – Labour and employment
“Fast turnaround time, substantial involvement of the partner in charge, Amardeep. Available to attend to queries at all times during reasonable hours, providing multiple channels of communication between client and lawyer. Detailed and systematic approach to dispute resolution. Friendly and helpful team.” – Labour and employment
“Successfully defended Lembaga Tabung Haji at the Court of Appeal in relation to the claim of gratuity payments by former employees who had resigned through early retirement schemes.” – Labour and employment
“They are our go-to firm in Malaysia because they know the market and laws. They are responsive and reasonable in terms of costs.” – Labour and employment
“Giving good advice pertaining to the breach of contract/court case.” – Private client
“LHAG has a pretty responsive, dedicated, highly skilled team of lawyers.” – Real estate
“Critical evaluation of the issue and client’s concerns. Rendered out-of-the-box solutions on justifiable basis. Delivered well thought-out response by addressing the potential risks.” – Regulatory
“Our experience with this team has been extraordinarily commendable, primarily because of their unmatched expertise in the telecommunications sector. The team’s turnaround times have been equally impressive. They have consistently provided swift responses, regardless of the complexity or scale of our queries. To summarise, this team of solicitors has demonstrated a distinctive blend of industry knowledge, legal expertise, and client service that is truly professional.” – Technology and telecommunications
“They assisted us by providing great advice in relation to the current law and guidelines. They also did seminars by sharing their experiences with their clients.” – Technology and telecommunications
Ai Ting Ho
“She is extremely dedicated and prompt in responding to any queries. Her advice is clear and precise.”
“She is very responsible, detailed and dedicated.”
G Vijay Kumar
“G Vijay Kumar’s communication stands out. He provides his advice in a manner that is both understandable and succinct.”
“Accurate identification of facts and ability to collect evidence.”
“Familiarity with our business and operational model.”
“He is willing to share with his clients his experience and knowledge of what he has encountered or managed.”
“He demonstrated deep knowledge, reliability and ability to meet demanding timelines, providing clear and succinct advice, showing vast expertise, industry knowledge and professional client service.”
Chee Yong Lim
“He is very attentive and has a great ability to grasp and understand any issues presented to him quickly. He is able to provide an objective view of each situation and this made it easy for us to decide on the next steps along the adjudication process.”
CK Lung
“Always available, transparent and willing to listen, demonstrating professionalism and personability.”
Shariffullah Majeed
“Knowledgeable and responsive to client needs and demands, with an in-depth understanding of the legal process and its idiosyncrasies.”
“Responsive, sound, clear and practical legal advice.”
Nitin Nadkarni
“Dato’ Nitin, who led the team from LHAG, was instrumental in helping us apply their review from a practical perspective. This gave us a clearer idea of the strengths or weaknesses of an argument that could be presented."
“Dato’ Nitin is always available even for quick free calls, providing direct and clear responses.”
SM Shanmugam
“Quickly assesses issues, advising on strength of defence and out-of-court settlements to save time and costs.”
Amardeep Singh
“Amardeep Singh delivered well and his explanations were easily understood. He added value by providing materials and updates from the labour department.”
“He is friendly and able to deliver information and answer questions in simple understandable sentences.”
“He provides a well thought-out legal opinion relating to the matters on which we engaged his firm.”
“Good communication skills and patient in dealing with clients’ queries.”
“Understands clients’ needs. Always available to explain consequences clearly with knowledge in clients’ best interests.”
Darshendev Singh
“Experienced, smart, friendly and client-oriented.”
“Sharp legal acumen, perseverance and commitment.”
“We have known Dev since 2017, when our company engaged LHAG to enforce a trade arbitration award at Malaysia’s High Court. We love working with competent lawyers that have strong commercial awareness – and Dev is the man for us. It is fairly difficult to find a competent lawyer to truly understand the complexity of palm oil business, even though the palm oil industry is contributing 6% of Malaysia’s national GDP. In this respect, Dev knows our business and the industry very well; often he can give excellent advice with a comprehensive rationale. He is capable of providing us with understanding from both legal and commercial perspective, and able to convey it simply and efficiently. On top of that, Dev is client-driven, solution-oriented and responsive. As a client, we always want our lawyer to stay focus in all decisions and put effort into what is in the best long-term interests of our company. Often Dev is goes beyond our expectations. He is a hardworking lawyer that is willing to fight every single bit of the way for us.”
Hooi Ping Tan
“Excellent communication and ability to meet deadlines.”
“Hooi Ping is very responsive and presents her advice in a clear and careful manner.”
“Extremely responsive, with deep case knowledge. Provides clear, implementable advice, irrespective of queries and timings.”
Wai Fung Teh
“Dedicated to the tasks given and always punctual.”
“Fast and efficient. Clear and accurate responses.”
“Friendly and structured, with clear timelines, quickly grasping clients’ needs and industries while patiently clarifying legal issues for non-legal persons.”
Wai Chin Wong
“Very attentive to the client and able to provide good result despite tight deadlines.”
Work highlights
Successfully represented Cash Band, a Selangor state government company, in a tax dispute before the Special Commissioners of Income Tax (SCIT). This is a landmark decision on the taxability of gains from joint-venture developments. The SCIT and High Court decisions confirm that gains received by landowners from a joint venture development are not necessarily taxable income, even if calculated based on percentage of sales, where their role is not operational. The High Court also held that a company director’s personal skills cannot be attributed to the company.
Successfully represented Seiwa Podoyo in its appeal at the High Court against a tax assessment issued by the tax authority. The court’s decision and grounds issued in June 2022 confirm that public tax rulings have no legal force and cannot contradict the Income Tax Act (ITA). The High Court also held that filing an incorrect tax return alone does not justify a ‘negligence’ finding to issue time-barred assessments. Otherwise, the time limit provision in the ITA would be redundant.
Representing CSC Steel, a cold-rolled coil manufacturer in Malaysia, in two concurrent administrative reviews of anti-dumping duties on imports from Korea and Vietnam. This is a significant development on international trade and trade remedies in Asia, as Vietnamese and Korean exporters are actively contesting anti-dumping duties imposed by the Malaysian Government in two investigations. It has also received tremendous attention from the regional steel market. The outcome of the review will have significant impact on the product’s manufacturer in all three countries.
Key clients
Dyson Manufacturing, HICOM Automotive Manufacturers, Honda Malaysia, Mycron Steel, Sandakan Edible Oils
Work highlights
Represented the US in its appeal to the Federal Court against the Court of Appeal setting aside the High Court’s ruling that the Embassy’s security guard dismissal enjoyed restrictive sovereign immunity from the Industrial Court’s jurisdiction. The Federal Court held the Industrial Court should first determine the immunity issue. The matter was remitted to the Industrial Court to hear the immunity issue. The High Court’s ruling that the US and Embassy enjoyed immunity because of restrictive sovereign immunity was one of Malaysia’s first cases on its applicability in diplomatic mission employee unjust dismissal claims. The case concerns comity of nations, mutual respect and reciprocity underpinning sovereign immunity, an important international legal order principle.
Key clients
FGV Plantations (Malaysia), TH Plantations, United Malacca
Work highlights
Advising record label company RedRecords in defending copyright infringement claims brought by an artist. The suit will test Malaysia’s existing copyright laws and may set precedents on issues including ownership of song copyrights and whether exclusive artist agreements affect this; the impact of Thai and German copyright law on Malaysian law under the Berne Convention; and the lawfulness of granting synchronisation licences given the parties’ relationship and exclusive agreement. This concerns issues such as international copyright treaties, synchronisation licences and contractual obligations.
Key clients
Montana Cycle, Sunway Winstar
Work highlights
Acted for Bharat Serums and Vaccines (BSV) in the acquisition of the entire equity interest in Firstline Pharmaceuticals and Genomicks. In addition to advising on the share sale agreement for acquisition of the target company, the firm also provided advice ranging from foreign exchange regulations and tax implications of proposed structure to a post-merger integration and compliance exercise, including advice on personal data protection and employment matters. BSV is one of the few Indian biopharma majors with a strong global footprint. This transaction is particularly significant as it bolsters BSV’s presence in the women’s health and reproductive therapy industry in Malaysia and accelerates its business goal of deepening its presence in south-east Asia. This acquisition also allows BSV to expand the portfolio of treatment options, devices and advanced fertility treatments, which will further improve the lives of women in Malaysia.
Key clients
Super Hi International Holding, WTK Holdings
Work highlights
Acted as the local solicitors for Super Hi, the overseas unit of Haidilao International Holding, in the internal restructuring of its Malaysian subsidiaries and its proposed listing by way of introduction on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) via distribution in specie to the qualifying shareholders of Haidilao International Holding. The spin-off listing concerns a listing by way of introduction of the entire shares of Super Hi on the Main Board of the HKEX. Before the spin-off listing, Super Hi was part of Haidilao International Holding, a self-operated restaurant brand, primarily serving Haidilao hotpot in the international market.
Key clients
Lim Seong Hai Capital, Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC), Sancy, WCE Holdings
Work highlights
Advised OSK Holdings in respect of the legal documentation for its Islamic term financing and Islamic revolving credit facility. The firm’s work focused on reviewing, revising, and providing comments on the client’s existing legal documentation to incorporate the relevant revisions and to ensure that such revisions comply with the relevant shariah regulations.
Advised Direct Lending on its shariah-compliant auto service financing product offered via an online technology platform. Direct Lending is an online personal lending marketplace that offers shariah-compliant auto service financing, enabling customers to obtain funding to cover the costs of car repairs. The firm also advised the client on the legal and shariah compliance aspects of the proposed web-based and mobile financing solution.
Key clients
Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC)
Work highlights
Acting for DHL Express (Malaysia) in relation to its construction of a cargo warehouse and its plans to relocate its facility from Subang terminal to a build-to-suit airside facility at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Cargo Village. Over the past year, the firm has been advising the client on the construction contract and the sub-contract. This project is important to the client as it plans to triple warehousing capacity and increase processing by 400% at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in competition with Alibaba logistics unit Cainiao’s new regional hub.
Key clients
MTD ACPI Engineering
Work highlights
Acting for UEM Sunrise for the disposal of 17 parcels of leasehold land located in Tapah, Perak by its subsidiary, Symphony Hills (SHSB) to Tapah Land Development, which is a subsidiary of Sunsuria. This transaction is particularly complex because of the number of plots of lands involved and the presence of numerous issues affecting different plots, which includes existing encumbrances, settlement of a group of indigenous people and litigation over lands.
Acted for Mapletree Logistics Trust Management for the acquisition of two plots of lands located in Selangor by its subsidiary, MapletreeLog Holdings, from Privileged Achievement and Sheng Loong Enterprises. As the acquired parcels of lands are located adjacent to the client’s existing properties, this acquisition was particularly significant as it was part of the trust’s long-term plan to amalgamate the lands in order to develop the first modern ramp-up warehouse in Subang Jaya.
Key clients
Accurate Industrial Steel, KIP Real Estate Investment Trust, Lagenda Properties, Newfields Property Management
