Brunei

Abrahams Davidson & Co is an undisputed leader in banking and finance in Brunei. The firm regularly advises overseas clients on syndicated loans and bond facilities, and Islamic and conventional financing transactions. Bernard Tan is a well-known partner. He advised United Overseas Bank (UOB) on the sale of its retail banking business in Brunei to Baiduri Bank. Tan also advised Bank of China (Hong Kong) on regulatory requirements for entry into the local banking market. Other names to note are Ahmad Basuni Hj Abbas and Tan Suan Chin.

Cheok Advocates & Solicitors was founded by managing partner Robin Cheok Van Kee in 2009. Cheok is sought after for his Islamic banking expertise. He is advising a manufacturer on getting a bankable security asset for the bank as collateral for the financing of a new factory. Rising star Jonathan Cheok Teing Seng is another important partner.

Dr Colin Ong Legal Services regularly advises regional and international financial institutions. Founder Colin Ong is sought after for his extensive experience acting as counsel and arbitrator in commercial matters. Ong provided advice to clients on securities and lending matters in the past 12 months.

Pengiran Izad & Lee has built an excellent reputation in the banking and finance sector. The commercial law firm also has a niche practice in Shariah law. The firm has advised clients such as Shell, HSBC and Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam. Ronnie Lee and Izad Bahrin focus on corporate and financing work, and have a number of clients in the oil and gas sector.

Ridzlan Lim has a strong banking and finance practice, including Islamic trading and finance. The firm regularly advises banks and financial institutions on cross-border issues. Kelvin Lim and Ridzlan Ibrahim are the partners to note.

YC Lee & Lee has advised clients such as Standard Chartered, HSBC, UOB, Balayan Bank and Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam. Managing partner Yew Choh Lee has more than 25 years of experience practising banking, commercial, insurance and construction law.

Abrahams Davidson & Co advises clients on property development and conveyancing matters, including the sale, lease, development and construction of residential, commercial and industrial properties. “They are very good at conveyancing,” says a peer. Tan Suan Chin heads the banking and conveyancing department. Tan is highly experienced in property development, conveyancing, leases and tenancy agreements. Other names to note are Ahmad Basuni Hj Abbas and Bernard Tan.

At full service commercial law firm CCW Partnership, co-managing partner Linda Lee and consultant Andrew Ong, have been advising a client on a complex case involving engineering and construction issues in the past 12 months. Ong’s practice has a strong focus on construction disputes.

Robin Cheok Van Kee is the founder and managing partner at Cheok Advocates & Solicitors.  He advised a client on acquiring a piece of government industrial land and getting construction approval for building a factory to expand their capacity. He is also advising clients on a number of real estate litigation matters. Christina Lim Li Hui has a strong focus on conveyancing and commercial law. Hui has been working with a client to secure a lease. Rising star Lee Wai Yee specialises in conveyancing. She has been working with Cheok on a property dispute. 

Ridzlan Lim has a busy construction and real estate practice that advises land developers and industry contractors on property transactions, including leasing and tenancy matters. Lim Rui is a name to note.

Abrahams Davidson & Co is a multi-service law firm that excels in the corporate practice area. Bernard Tan has been advising credit card processor Elavon Financial Services on data protection and money laundering matters. He has also been advising travel and club membership company WorldVentures Holdings on various corporate matters concerning its entry into the Brunei market. The firm advised a Brunei government investment entity on the sale and divestment of its interest in halal medicinal and health company Simpor Pharma.

CCW Partnership is one of the most recognised corporate law firms in Brunei. Managing partner Dunstan Sim Liang Kiat heads the corporate department and practises multiple disciplines, including banking and property. Before joining CCW Partnership, he worked in leading Malaysian law firms, where he advised companies listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange. He has also worked as a corporate lawyer in New Zealand. “He’s very active in the corporate practice,” says a peer.

Dr Colin Ong Legal Services has a highly notable corporate practice. Led by experienced arbitrator Colin Ong, the firm has advised regional and international financial institutions as well as oil and gas operators on a range of banking and securities issues and loan transactions. The firm advised an oil company on a potential takeover of operations of an existing oil company in Brunei.

Ahmad Basuni Hj Abbas leads on litigation matters at Abrahams Davidson & Co. The firm has represented clients in areas such as property and construction, bankruptcy and insolvency and employment. “They are very experienced,” says a peer.

CCW Partnership has a well-known litigation practice and handles a variety of corporate matters. Co-managing partner Linda Lee and Tang Weng Leong are experienced in civil and commercial litigation and have appeared before the High Court and Court of Appeal in Brunei. Leong practised as a commercial and civil litigator in Kuala Lumpur before joining CCW Partnership. Andrew Ong retired as managing partner in 2016 and now works as a consultant. Ong and Lee advised a Brunei company on a complex dispute involving engineering and construction. On Hung Zheng joined as a partner in 2016 and focuses on litigation. He advised a manufacturer in connection with a distribution agreement. The firm works with a number of oil and gas, and construction companies on litigation.

Cheok Advocates & Solicitors is a mid-sized firm founded by managing partner Robin Cheok Van Kee. The firm advises on civil and criminal litigation and has been busy with real estate litigation recently. “The firm is pretty good and has a good client base and network,” says a peer. Cheok is advising on a complex property matter concerning a consent order which provided for the exchange of Brunei properties for Malaysian properties.

Dr Colin Ong Legal Services is spearheaded by Colin Ong, a highly reputable arbitrator who is a member of the Brunei, English and Singapore Bars. He has acted as an arbitrator under UN, Hong Kong, Singapore and International Chamber of Commerce arbitration rules. His specialties include commercial and construction arbitration. “He is pretty impressive,” says a peer. The firm advised a shipping line on litigation and negotiations to recover a debt for a Chinese shipping line.    

Dr Colin Ong Legal Services provides regular advice to oil and gas companies. Well respected partner Colin Ong has been advising Dredging Environmental & Marine Engineering on various aspects of Brunei law.

YC Lee & Lee has a notable disputes and litigation practice. It has been a legal adviser in Brunei to the British High Commission as well as the French and German embassies. The firm specialises in civil litigation, arbitration and consular relations as well as banking and finance, and insurance. Managing partner Yew Choh Lee is the name to note.

Managing partner Dunstan Sim Liang Kiat is the main contact for insurance at CCW Partnership. The firm is advising an international corporation on its employee insurance programme in Brunei.

Cheok Advocates & Solicitors has been active in insurance in the past 12 months. Robin Cheok Van Kee is advising a client on insurance liabilities and an employee on a personal injury claim.

On Hung Zheng focuses on IP and litigation matters at CCW Partnership. The firm has a strong focus on trade marks but also advises on patents and copyright matters. There is an emphasis on prosecution and opposition in addition to advisory and opinion work. The majority of the firm’s patent clients come from the oil and gas industries, while trade mark clients come from a range of industries, including food and beverage, and telecommunications. “On Hung Zheng is responsive,” says a client.

Cheok Advocates & Solicitors has a growing IP practice led by Christina Lim Li Hui. She has been advising clients on trade mark portfolios as well as trade mark infringement.

Co-managing partner Linda Lee is the main contact for employment matters at CCW Partnership. Lee and consultant Andrew Ong have been advising a corporation on its employment matters at the Court of Appeal.

Robin Cheok Van Kee leads the employment practice at Cheok Advocates & Solicitors. He has been advising an employee in litigation as well as a company on social security contributions by resident and non-resident employees.

Tang Weng Leong is the top contact for the shipping practice at CCW Partnership. Leong has been busy handling a complex case involving a collision between a tow and a jetty.

Dr Colin Ong Legal Services has a strong practice for shipping, maritime and aviation. Colin Ong himself has been advising Worldwide Aviation on corporate structuring.  He has also been assisting a shipping company on maritime law and debt recovery.