Banking & Finance
Global Guide 2024 : Singapore
Spotlight
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+65 6671 6000Chambers Review
A&O Shearman's top-calibre team of banking lawyers is recognised for handling complex and prominent mandates across the region, including a focus on India and Indonesia. The banking team acts for an impressive range of clients from major international and regional banks to major corporate borrowers across the ASEAN region. A particular strength of the team is its cooperation with Vietnam and Indonesia offices. It is well known for its aptitude for cross-border matters and remains a top choice for work that includes a Singapore law component. The team is highly respected for its advice on syndicated loans, structured and Islamic financing, as well as sustainability-linked financing and refinancing work. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.
The firm's Singapore office has a significant focus on the Indian market, including advising on complex structured finance, export finance and refinancing transactions. The department is regularly entrusted by leading global banks on deals in India. The firm advised the mandated lead arrangers, underwriters and bookrunners on a USD1.2 billion senior term green loan facility for Biocon Biologics to finance its acquisition of biosimilar assets from Viatris. Gautam Narasimhan is the key contact for the firm's India practice.
The Singapore team often handles Indonesian financing transactions, led by Gautam Narasimhan. The team regularly combines with its associated firm in Jakarta, Ginting & Reksodiputro, on financing transactions, particularly within the energy, natural resources and manufacturing sectors. The firm advised a global financial institution as bilateral lender and scheme creditor to Pan Brothers.
Work Highlights
- The firm advised the mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners on the debt financing for the leveraged buyout of Ambuja and ACC by Adani for a purchase price of up to USD10.5 billion.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"They have an agile and responsive team with a very high customer focus. The team has led some of the largest and most complex financing deals for us."
"A top-notch practice for India and Singapore related leveraged finance with a good ability to juggle multiple matters on tight timelines."
"They have an agile and responsive team with a very high customer focus. The team has led some of the largest and most complex financing deals for us."
"A top-notch practice for India and Singapore related leveraged finance with a good ability to juggle multiple matters on tight timelines."
Notable Practitioners
Gautam Narasimhan retains a market-leading reputation, especially for Indian and Indonesian mandates, and offers structured and acquisition finance expertise.
"Gautam has a strong client focus and is committed to delivering high-quality legal services."
"Gautam is just an absolute guru in India acquisition finance and structured lending deals. He is a very prominent lawyer and very dominant in the market."
Prakash Raja Segaran offers expertise in high-value cross-border corporate and project financing. He often assists clients with the Singapore law aspects of cross-border loan facilities.
"Prakash is pragmatic and helpful on cross-border transactional work and projects, and brings to bear a detailed understanding of local legal and market developments."
Shuhui Kwok is noted for her financial regulatory practice in Singapore. She regularly assists fintech clients with licensing and MAS compliance mandates.
"Shuhui is a great relationship manager, and as a regulatory lawyer, she's proactive in thinking ahead for her clients and provides excellent user-friendly advice."
"She is a pleasure to work with - commercially savvy and very responsive."