Banking & Finance
Bolstered by “good knowledge and prompt action”, Shook Lin & Bok’s team “understands the bank’s requirements, concerns and thinks a step ahead to problem solve”, says a client. “The firm is willing to be engaged early for transactions,” continues the client. Market-leading lawyer Kai Zee Liew, practice head, has “broad knowledge of essential regulation in the region, especially for cross-border transactions”, adds another client.
Capital Markets
Marilyn See, a leading lawyer, and Lian Shueh Min of Shook Lin & Bok advised Oxley MTN and Oxley Holdings, the issuer and guarantor, respectively, on S$150 million 5.15% bonds due 2020 issue. Eu Jin Pok, a leading lawyer, worked with The Bank of New York Mellon as trustee on United Engineers’ S$1 billion multicurrency debt programme and S$150 million 3.68% fixed-rate notes due 2021.
Construction & Real Estate
“We have engaged Shook Lin & Bok’s [leading lawyer] Mei Choo Chew from the corporate real estate team and Joseph Tay from the litigation and dispute resolution team in handling some of our tenancy matters,” comments a client. “Throughout our dealings, they have been very attentive and professional in providing their legal advice. They are always able to consider all angles in which we often miss out at times. They are also able to articulate the legal jargons in a more layman term that all can understand.”
Corporate/M&A
“We selected Shook Lin & Bok (SLB) on the basis of a Singapore practice with Asia-wide experience in M&A transactions,” remarks a client. “What we appreciate is that the team bidding on projects are the same team that carry out the work. We feel SLB has built up natural rhythm with us and understand how we view commercial matters.” Another client respects how Dayne Ho is “professional, knowledgeable and responsive”. A third client describes Michelle Phang as “commercial-minded, pragmatic, fun and easy to work with, a steady pair of hands who has your back at all times”.
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Shook Lin & Bok’s practice is “very knowledgeable on commercial matters and good working connections with neighbouring jurisdictions’ legal practices”, comments a client. Edmund Eng, a leading lawyer, has “good knowledge of all available dispute resolution in the region. Another client adds that Eng is “good at picking up nuances and anticipating issues that sometimes even commercial people take for granted”. The “very thorough [with] detailed case analysis” Vincent Lim, a commercial litigation and arbitration specialist, is a partner to watch.
Financial Services Regulatory
Shook Lin & Bok’s Eric Chan, the head of the practice, worked with Zhongtai International Securities, formerly Qilu International Securities, on its securities dealing application to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) under the Securities and Futures Act. In addition to document preparation, the team advised the client on questions from MAS to start operations.
Investment Funds
“Shook Lin & Bok has a specialised team focusing on unit trust funds services, with very competent and dedicated members,” remarks a client. Doubling as the leader of the trust, asset and wealth management practice and corporate real estate co-head, Woon Hum Tan is respected for “his commerciality, depth of trust, knowledge and network.” Another client notes Andrea Ng’s “professionalism, prompt actioning, eye to details and commerciality”.
IT, Telco & Media
Shook Lin & Bok’s leading lawyer David Chong is working with S i2i, a Singaporean mobile prepaid card and handset distributor and IT-related solutions provider, on its new venture to distribute electric vehicles. Advice has included help on Si2i’s acquisition of electric vehicles to provide transport services through online booking platforms Uber and Grab. Dayne Ho, as Singaporean counsel, advised NTT Data, a Japanese system integration company, on its $3 billion global acquisition of Dell’s IT consulting division.
Labour & Employment
Shook Lin & Bok’s Pradeep Pillai, a disputes leading lawyer, and Stephanie Wee are assisting a global executive recruitment firm about allegations the client employed staff who breached their employment contract and improperly used confidential information from their former employers. Wee also represented the CEO of a Singaporean listed company about a dispute between the executive and members of the board of directors.
Restructuring & Insolvency
Shook Lin & Bok’s Sarjit Singh Gill, a leading lawyer, and Probin Dass are advising a large creditor in Swiber’s judicial management to reorganise the group. The team is confronting issues about validity of contractual and security arrangements, and many maritime matters because Swiber is an offshore engineering services company. British and Malayan Trustees, as trustee of three notes totalling nearly S$400 million, requested to join as a creditor representative, and the High Court set October 27 2017 as the deadline for creditors to file written submissions about the request.
