Raja Darryl & Loh

Raja Darryl & Loh is frequently sought out by technology start-ups and other established companies for its extensive expertise in financial technology and digital banking. Besides, it is also experienced in various transactions including aviation finance, M&A, joint ventures and equity capital markets. With its robust disputes practice, the firm is active in various contentious matters, including antitrust, construction, employment and tax cases. Phye Keat Chew, Choon Hon Leng, Raja Eileen Soraya, Ravindra Kumar Rengasamy, Vijey Mohana Krishnan and Tong Lai Ling are recommended for competition, construction, dispute resolution, employment, tax and technology, respectively. 

Banking and finance

Work highlights

Advised on the acquisition financing of a new Airbus A321neo aircraft by way of the purchase and subsequent lease of the aircraft that was delivered to AirAsia X. This deal involved the purchase of the first Airbus A321neo aircraft to be registered in Malaysia.

Key clients

BBAM, CapSphere, Citibank, Mizuho Bank (Malaysia)

Competition/antitrust

Work highlights

Advised a bank on investigations by Malaysia’s competition commission concerning suspected cartel activities by the employees of the bank’s foreign exchange departments for unlawfully fixing non-deliverable forward exchange rates (NDFs).

Construction

Work highlights

Assisted Prasarana Malaysia, a government-owned public transport company, in its effort to review and revamp large infrastructure projects after the new Pakatan Harapan government came into power following the 2018 general elections.

Advising the main contractor, BumiMetro Construction, in an arbitration against a developer, Monday-Off Development, in respect to the construction of a high-end condominium project in Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.

Key clients

FGV Plantations (Malaysia), Mass Rapid Transit Corporation, UEM Land, WCT Construction

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Advised advertising company WPP on the disposal of a 60% stake in its global data, research, consulting and analytics business, Kantar, to Bain Capital.

Advised on the proposed merger of Digi.Com and Celcom Axiata. The merged entity will be the largest telco operator in ASEAN and the largest telco in Malaysia. The case is also significant as this was the first proposed merger of two large telecommunication companies with submissions for approval made under the Communications & Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA). 

Key clients

Hotel Royal, MAA Group, Micro Focus International, TUV Austria Holding

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Represented the plaintiff, MKH, in a libel suit against an individual who engaged in an aggressive social media campaign on Facebook against the client alleging that the client was engaged in corrupt practices and was an unethical developer.

Key clients

Heineken Marketing Malaysia, Rohasassets, The Edge Communications, United Overseas Bank

Intellectual property

Work highlights

Defending Vitally against a copyright infringement claim concerning technical drawings of a product by Alustil.

Key clients

Altus Solutions, Bridgestone Corporation, Centara International Management, Duopharma Biotech, Petrofac E&C

Labour and employment

Work highlights

Representing Volvo Car Manufacturing in a $1.1 million claim brought by KD Northern Resources for alleged wrongful termination of a recruitment and supply agreement.

Key clients

Columbia Asia, Finance Accreditation Agency, Foodteller, Petrofac Energy Developments

Tax

Work highlights

Acting for Asia Energy Services in appeal proceedings involving the deductibility of employee stock option costs incurred by an employer.

Key clients

Pengerang Independent Terminals, Shell Timur, SKF Bearings Industries, Sunny Uptown