Duane Morris & Selvam

Duane Morris & Selvam’s office in Myanmar advises on general business law, including corporate and commercial, real estate and employment law issues. The firm has expanded recently, adding three local law associates and three foreign lawyers. The Yangon-based practice also includes the retired Attorney General of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Wunna Kyan Htin Tun Shin. Krishna Ramachandra heads the practice and is the key contact. Special counsel Priyank Srivastava is an on-the-ground specialist who has unique experience in the oil and gas, and construction sectors. Director Mark Wong left the firm for Shook Lin & Bok during the research period.

General business law

Work highlights

Advising Sembcorp Utilities on its $250 million financing of its gas-fired power plant project in Myingyan, Myanmar, the first internationally competitively tendered power project in the country and its biggest gas-fired power station to date.

Acting for Indian oil and gas company ONGC Videsh, on all aspects of regulatory and compliance matters, such as contractual matters with government authorities and third-party service providers.

Representing a South Asian foreign licensed bank on its short-term revolving credit of $5.2 million to a Korean micro-financing company in Myanmar.

Key clients

Ashro Singapore, OIL India, Ponna International, SDCI Myanmar

Duane Morris & Selvam provides a range of legal services to assist clients in banking and finance, capital markets, corporate and M&A, construction and dispute resolution. Key figures include Jamie Benson for capital markets, Leon Yee for corporate and M&A and Sarbjit Singh Chopra for dispute resolution. Its corporate practice strengthened with the addition of director Jon Crandall who joined from Clifford Chance in February 2020. Director Sean La’Brooy also joined the dispute resolution practice in July 2019 from Oon & Bazul, while Subramaniam Valliappan departed to Veritas Law Corporation in February 2020.

Capital markets

Work highlights

Acted for JM Financial and Edelweiss Financial Services, the book running lead managers, on the sale of $70 million equity shares in Prince Pipes’ Indian IPO alongside private placements outside India.

Key clients

Equirus Capital, ICICI Securities, Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India), SBI Capital Markets

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Represented Best World International, a Singapore-based skincare product developer, in its £27.7 million investment in Margaret Dabbs London, a British luxury brand, acquiring a minority stake.

Key clients

Bond Capital Partners, DuPont, Globe Telecom, Htoo Group, Profesional Telekomunikasi Indonesia

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Represented 3 Corporate Services against Grabtaxi Holdings, a Singapore based ride-sharing company, concerning breach of contract and cybersquatting issues.

Key clients

Apex Energy International, Avant Garde Maritime Services, Lotte Global Logistics

Client feedback

“We met with the partner Krishna Ramachandra. We were very impressed by his professionalism and clarity in thought. He was recommended to us by one of his clients and his superior knowledge impressed us. He assisted us in understanding this (capital markets) space and was very patient in answering our queries.” – Capital markets

“In-depth subject knowledge and deep insights with practical advice.” – Corporate and M&A

“The very pragmatic and honest assessments were very well received.” – Corporate and M&A

Krishna Ramachandra

“He is one of the sharpest people we have met in the blockchain-related capital markets regulation space. His clarity of thought is nonpareil; we were also impressed by his depth of knowledge and simplicity.”

“Very Knowledgeable; extremely hard-working; practical and understands the business perspective; integrity and solid advice.”

“Extremely commercial, pragmatic and sharp. Honest with his assessments and will go out of his way to find a solution to one's issues. Wish all lawyers could advise like that.”