Corporate/M&A: International: The Elite | Asia-Pacific

A&O Shearman is a global law firm known for handling some of the most complex transactions in the market from its Singapore office, with expertise in private M&A, public takeovers, joint ventures, disposals and corporate restructurings. The firm's impressive clientele includes banks, asset managers, corporates, international funds and insurers. The team is particularly strong in a range of heavily regulated industries, from private equity and insurance to TMT and e-commerce. The department regularly acts on deals across South-East Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. Clients benefit from the firm's market-leading finance practice, allowing the group to provide a holistic service. Clients of the firm include Investcorp, EdgeconneX and General Atlantic. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Clifford Chance has an experienced corporate legal team in Singapore, with a reputation for handling big-ticket and complex M&A, joint ventures and private equity transactions. The firm advises multinational corporates, sovereign wealth funds and financial institutions on transactions across a range of sectors, including energy and financial services. The group acts on deals across the region, including India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia, with lawyers capable of advising on English, Singapore and New York law. The team is able to leverage its expertise in financing, fund formation and capital markets. Clients include Credit Suisse, Contour and Partners Group.

Latham & Watkins' longstanding Singapore practice is known for its legal expertise in both M&A and capital markets. The team continues to be recognised for its high-calibre offering for cross-border transactions, especially in Indonesia, India, Vietnam and the Philippines. The firm advises on US, English and Singapore law, representing high-profile regional corporate clients, such as Singapore Technologies Engineering, Baring Private Equity Asia and PropertyGuru, as well as private equity firms and financial institutions. The department is active on matters across a range of sectors from healthcare and energy to engineering and technology.

Linklaters Singapore is a popular choice of law firm for multinational corporations, banks, private equity investors and early-stage businesses, including AXA, Macquarie Asset Management and Stonepeak. The firm handles private equity, public M&A and complex cross-border transactions, as well as joint ventures, disposals and corporate restructuring. The team is active in jurisdictions across the region including Indonesia, China and Malaysia, working with alliance firms in several countries. The lawyers cover a spectrum of sectors including energy and resources, insurance, technology and financial services.

Milbank is a global law firm which handles major corporate transactions across Asia-Pacific from its Singapore office. The firm has a longstanding focus on the Indonesian market, and additional expertise in Vietnam, the Philippines and other jurisdictions in South-East Asia. Milbank continues to be very active on M&A and private equity transactions. Deals advised on by the team include logistics, TMT, oil and gas, and finance sector mandates. Milbank's impressive client roster includes Asian conglomerates and global investors focused on the Asian market. Examples of clients advised include Grab Holdings, Emergent Logistics and WatchBanQ.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's legal team in Singapore handles cross-border M&A and private equity transactions for global clients. The firm is well recognised for its ability across multiple sectors, especially energy and natural resources, technology, telecommunications and financial services. The team's expertise spans numerous markets in the region, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and India. Clients include sovereign wealth funds and state-controlled entities, private equity firms and public companies, with examples including Blackstone, Udenna and Warburg Pincus.

White & Case has longstanding experience in Singapore's legal market, with a consistent flow of cross-border M&A and private equity deals. The firm is renowned for assisting US and European clients with inbound investment into South-East Asia, as well as outbound investments by Asian corporations. The department's sector-specific expertise includes banking, energy, TMT and real estate, with strong activity on data centre acquisitions. Clients benefit from its highly rated finance and restructuring capabilities. ESR, Adani Road Transport and DigitalBridge Group are examples of clients advised by White & Case.

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow balances international legal expertise with a strong domestic presence in Singapore, providing clients with US, English and Singapore law advice. The team acts on acquisitions across a wide range of sectors, including energy, TMT, healthcare, food and beverages, and consumer goods. The firm has a robust private equity offering advising international and regional clients regarding investments and exits, while also handling corporate restructuring mandates. The firm is highly regarded for its global and regional network of offices, often handling multi-jurisdictional deals with the help of its associated offices in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, among others. The firm's clientele includes Acciona Energia Global, DuPont and Nomura.

Hogan Lovells combines private equity and funds capabilities with a wide-ranging M&A legal offering in Singapore. Multinational and private equity clients also benefit from the firm's ability to provide both English and Singapore law advice. The department handles work across South-East Asia and South Asia, as well as further afield. The team is notably involved in investments across a broad array of sectors, such as technology, healthcare and education. Navis Capital Partners, PhonePe and Affirma Capital Managers are among its clients.

Morrison Foerster is a prominent law firm in the Singapore market, with an especially strong roster of clients in the financial services, technology and real estate sectors. The firm is active on a range of M&A, joint venture and corporate restructuring work and is praised for strength in complementary areas such as fund formation. The team leverages its leading reputation in Tokyo to provide advice to Japanese clients investing in South-East Asia. The practice also handles transactions covering a wide range of other jurisdictions, such as China and Vietnam. Key clients of the firm include GLP, IndoSpace and FLOW Digital Infrastructure.

Sidley Austin's team of lawyers in Singapore handles M&A and private equity transactions on behalf of prominent corporations, funds, private equity firms and financial institutions, such as KKR Asia, ChrysCapital and 65 Equity Partners. The firm is especially well known for sector expertise covering finance, energy, infrastructure and technology. Sidley Austin has a longstanding focus on Indonesia, with additional coverage of several jurisdictions across South-East Asia and South Asia. The team works closely with its notable investment funds and capital markets practices when assisting clients.

Skadden's legal team in Singapore has an established track record in assisting with high-profile transactional mandates. The lawyers are well versed in advising multinationals and investment companies, such as Grab, Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Axiata, on cross-border M&A and private equity transactions. The team's expertise also includes SPAC mergers. The firm offers strong expertise on investments across jurisdictions, including India. Clients benefit from its strong working relationship with the firm's international network of offices, including in the USA and Hong Kong.