A member firm of Baker McKenzie International, Wong & Partners consists of 19 partners and more than 50 associates. The firm has strong expertise in corporate and M&A, intellectual property and tax where the firm is ranked ‘Outstanding’ in our tables. In addition to being highly ranked across a number of practice areas, the firm also has industry knowledge in banking and financial services, consumer goods and services, infrastructure, real estate, and technology and telecommunications.
Banking and finance
Work highlights
Represented one of the largest Malaysian investment banks in relation to multi-currency term loan facilities for refinancing their Mezzanine facilities in three of their branches in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.
Represented the Malaysian subsidiary of BNP Paribas, in connection with the conventional credit facility granted to a special purpose company established by a consortium of sponsors for the construction, development and operation of a 30MWac large scale solar (LSS) photovoltaic plant located in Mukim Beriah.
Key clients
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Maybank Investment Bank, MUFG Bank Malaysia, U Mobile
Capital markets
Work highlights
Advising SP Setia in connection with its equity fundraising comprising of a rights issue of ordinary shares, a rights issue of new class B Islamic redeemable convertible preference shares, and placement of new SP Setia shares. Each proposal is intended to raise to $292 million.
Key clients
Maybank Investment Bank
Construction
Work highlights
Acting for Gunkul Engineering, a leading integrated energy company based in Thailand, on the $43.7 million development of a solar farm in Kuala Paka as part of the Malaysian Energy Commission’s Large Scale Solar Photovoltaic Project.
Key clients
BNP Paribas, Maybank Investment Bank, PCPP Operating Company
Corporate and M&A
Work highlights
Advised Press Metal Aluminium Holdings, the largest integrated aluminium producer in Southeast Asia, in connection with its proposed $176 million acquisition of a 50% stake in Japan Alumina Associates (Australia) from ITOCHU Corporation and ITOCHU Minerals & Energy of Australia through its 80%-owned subsidiary Press Metal Bintulu.
Key clients
Maybank Asset Management Group, Navis Capital Partners, Nestle, Paramount Corporation, Tianshui Huatian Technology
Dispute resolution
Work highlights
Acted for the Malaysian arm of British Telecommunications, BT Malaysia, in defending against a $2.4 million claim initiated by a service provider, Perintis Kembara.
Key clients
CIMB Group Holdings, PCPP Operating Company, Rex Group, Sonoco Products
Intellectual property
Work highlights
Represented Lunas Technologies, a Malaysian IT service provider, in defending a claim by LKPP Corporation concerning a software used for palm oil estate management. This matter included three suits filed against the client and spanned a period of three years. This was also the first time an allegation of similarities in database schema was raised as a basis for copyright infringement.
Key clients
3M, GrabTaxi, Measat Broadcast Network Systems, Petronas, Ralph Lauren, Vivo
Labour and employment
Work highlights
Advised a multinational manufacturing company in connection with the Malaysian immigration law regarding the engagement of foreign workers through third party agencies. The raid conducted by the Malaysian Immigration Department at its warehouse which resulted in the arrest of approximately 300 foreign workers and therefore leading to disruption to the production lines and claims for compensation for the client against the third party vendors for losses suffered out of the foreign worker work permit issues.
Key clients
Nestle
Tax
Work highlights
Reviewing US-based global consumer goods and life sciences manufacturer’s supply chain structure in relation to the import of finished goods and the supply of goods from a local sales tax registered manufacturer involving sophisticated limited risk distributor arrangement and advising on the appropriate valuation method to be adopted for sales tax purposes.
Advised a leading global tobacco manufacturer on the available structuring options for streamlining and amalgamating their Malaysian operations and represented the client in a successful application for a court merger from the High Court of Malaysia under Section 370 of the Companies Act 2016.
Client feedback
“Their work has been very helpful and timely. They are also very practical in offering solutions to different issues so that both the banks and the issuer can align our interests. They could provide better services if they have more international perspectives in light of companies like us with China operations and Hong Kong listing background.” – Banking and finance
“Ability to respond very quickly to the case. Provides practical and business related solutions.” – Competition/antitrust
“The team at Wong & Partners has taken active steps to learn and understand the nature of our business and its technical terms, engaging with us regularly to ascertain how these terms are ‘translatable’ for domestic application and our risk appetite, and giving us pragmatic outcomes within the confines of local law.” – Corporate and M&A
“Excellent work! Timely, structured, focused on the objective and client centric.” – Corporate and M&A
“The firm is generally fairly responsive, and able to deliver the needed advice in a timely manner.” – Corporate and M&A
“They have been performed well and provided useful advises satisfactorily.” – Dispute resolution
“I found the firm to be very responsive and adept at providing practical and workable solutions. They also have a firm grasp and understanding of our company and the way we do business which shows when they render their advice. Kherk Ying and Tze Lin are very easy to work with and have supported us in a number of matters over the years. They have a quick turnaround time and quick to respond and assist especially when the matter needs urgent attention. The firm and Kherk Ying also goes one step further in adding value to their services by organising talks and seminars which are informative and relevant on key areas of the law or when there are developments and updates in the law.” – Intellectual property
“Gives very practical and applicable legal advice. Good understanding of the industry.” – Labour and employment
“Meticulous and experienced. Principled negotiator and was able to close the transaction agreements with the best possible commercial outcome.” – Oil and gas
“Responsiveness, global reach, technically proficient.” – Tax
Yvonne Beh
“Excellent work quarterbacking the whole project.”
Kherk Ying Chew
“I find Kherk Ying to be very easy to work with and extremely adept at providing practical and workable solutions. Her wealth of knowledge and experience is evident when she provides advice. She is quick to respond and is easy to reach which is handy especially when urgent matters crop up.”
Eddie Chuah
“Efficient and excellent advice.”
Andre Gan
“Precise and concise. Provides relevant business solutions which the business can adapt. Promptly responds to e-mails and has in-depth knowledge of the subject matter.”
Mark Lim
“Mark has been very helpful in offering practical solutions to align parties' interest in major transactions, and coordinate and supervise the team to provide responsive, cost-effective and efficient services to clients.”
Siaw Wan Lim
“Competent and has in-depth knowledge on the subject matter under negotiation.”
