Oon & Bazul is active in banking and finance, dispute resolution and restructuring and insolvency, beyond its longstanding forte in shipping. Notably, the firm climbs into the ‘Highly Recommended’ tier for restructuring and insolvency after a momentous year being involved in many of the jurisdiction’s high-profile and high-value unwindings. Its lawyers have in-depth knowledge and an intimate understanding across various sectors, including financial services, trusts and securities, insurance, and oil and gas. In particular, the firm has extensive expertise handling matters related to trade finance, commodities, banking, commercial disputes and cross-border fraud. Key partners include Bazul Ashhab, Kelly Yap, Chi Yen Ting, Yi Wayn Ng and Meiyen Tan. The general disputes team was significantly boosted by the arrivals of partner Benedict Eoon from Covenant Chambers and partners Priscilla Lua and Jerald Foo from Clifford Chance.
Client feedback
“They are responsive and cooperative.” – Banking and finance
“We value their responsiveness and clarity of communication.” – Corporate and M&A
“Good set-up and infrastructural support for case management.” – Dispute resolution
“I appreciate their hard work, responsiveness and value for money.” – Dispute resolution
“Positive attributes include their expertise, ability to understand issues and provide commercial solutions and reasonable costs.” – Dispute resolution
“They provide quick and direct advice.” – Dispute resolution
“Partners and associates are very competent, they are well prepared and research well.” – Energy
“The lawyers are articulate, supportive and professional on meeting requirements.” – Regulatory
“Good technical knowledge, good team, easy to work with, practical and commercial.” – Restructuring and insolvency
“Diplomatic and knowledgeable advisory services.” – Restructuring and insolvency
“Extremely responsive to client timelines with a positive, calm, ’can do‘ attitude. A fantastic mixture of legal and important practical advice. They also work really well to support in-house counsel. It feels very much like a team approach and you know you are in good, steady, knowledgeable hands.” – Shipping
Bazul Ashhab
“Excellent responsiveness, knowledge of the business of the client and good value for money.”
Jerald Foo
“He is very responsive and attentive, has a good eye for detail, which is fundamental for dispute resolution. He is very competent with a high level of expertise in dispute resolution.”
“Very responsive and knowledgeable.”
Keith Han
“Easy to talk to and a quick thinker.”
“A good advocate, good strategist.”
Meiyen Tan
“Easy to work with, good communicator and practical.”
“Provides knowledgeable, timely and practical advice and solutions.”
Ng Yi Wayn
“Responsive communications and colleague referrals.”
“Extremely professional and knowledgeable, but also approachable and supportive.”
Prakaash Silvam
“Certainly perspicacious, he has a wide breadth of prior experience that helps on case framing. He is likable, personable, approachable, helpful and very capable.”
“Prakaash combines strong legal knowledge, strong legal skills and good client management. I have no issue putting him in front of our traders and management, as I know he is respectful of my role but also understands the business, the trader mindset and how we operate.”
Ting Chi Yen
“Responsive, helpful and cooperative.”
Work highlights
Acting for Winson Oil Trading on a suit that was brought against the defendant for their failure to effect payment pursuant to an irrevocable documentary letter of credit despite the client’s compliant presentation of documents.
Advising Taconic Capital Advisors on professional negligence claims by Dynamic Oil Trading against Deloitte & Touche in Singapore High Court proceedings.
Key clients
ICICI Bank, Universal Metal Coating Company, Wivewaters Resources, Zaftr
Work highlights
Assisting in restructuring Xihe Capital, its subsidiaries and several special purpose vehicles, which are owned by the Lim family who also owns the distressed Hin Leong Trading, Ocean Tankers and Xihe Holdings. The total debt of these companies is estimated to be in the range of $4 billion.
Advising the TEE Group on the restructuring of its debts of $100 million.
Key clients
Ascentra Holdings, Asia Process Industries, Wirecard, Zetta Jet
Work highlights
Acted for digital trust and safety product company Sift Science on its acquisition of Keyless, a pioneer in passwordless and multi-factor authentication.
Advised Trail Mix Ventures as the lead investor in the $2.2 million funding round for Plentina, a Philippines-based start-up.
Represented Indonesian food and beverage chain Kopi Kenangan in closing a $96 million Series C funding round.
Key clients
Boku, Fishawack Health, GeoPost
Work highlights
Defending Winson Oil in proceedings brought against it in relation to misdelivered cargo.
Representing petrochemical trading group, Integra Petrochemicals on bringing an application in the Singapore Court to release the arrested vessel by relying on a string of old English authorities.
Acting for Innovek, a bunker barge operator, to overturn the first instance judgment in the landmark Court of Appeal decision of The Luna [2021] SGCA 84.
Key clients
Adidaya Energy Mandiri, Navig8 Chemical Tankers 4 Incorporation, Ocean Light Shipping, Visa Resources
