The Singapore office opened in 1995 and acts for blue-chip Asian, European and US clients on cross-border and international aspects of transactions across a range of industries and countries. We are one of the few international firms to be awarded a QFLP licence and, as a result, are also able to advise on Singapore law. In addition, our unique association with the leading Indonesian law firm Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung (HBT), with whom we work to provide Indonesian legal advice of an international standard for more than a decade, gives us a market leading position in the region.
The office has approximately 50 fee-earners including ten partners who speak Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and French. The team acts for clients throughout the region, in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and the Indian subcontinent and has advised on some of the most high profile transactions and disputes in the region.
We offer advice across all major commercial practice areas, including:
- corporate finance/M&A – we have one of the largest and longest-established teams in the South East Asia market and have worked on a number of leading, cross-border transactions, advising Asian, European and US corporates on complex multi-jurisdictional acquisitions.
- energy – we have a dedicated team of energy specialists who are able to provide world-class legal advice to clients investing in South and South East Asian energy projects and are able to support a wide range of transactions. Our energy group has advised on a number of significant matters in jurisdictions including Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
- dispute resolution – we have a market leading reputation in Indonesian disputes and on cross-border litigation management and contentious regulatory disputes and we work closely with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and Baden Arbitrase Nasional Indonesia (BANI).
- capital markets - our practice provides international legal advice to corporates, investment banks and other financial institutions. The practice covers equity capital markets, debt capital markets, derivatives and securitisation and structured finance.
- banking and finance - we boast a strong finance team in Singapore, with particular expertise in projects, energy financing and emerging markets deals. The finance team has developed a strong reputation for advising international banks, development banks, multinationals and export credit agencies and are particularly active on project finance transactions.
For further information about our Singapore office, please contact Kevin Nudd - Head of Business Development, Asia.
Accolades
Law Firm of the Year, Asia
PLC Which lawyer? Awards, 2010
Corporate/Mergers & Acquisition - Firm of the Year, Singapore
Asian-Counsel, 2009
International Arbitration - Firm of the Year, Singapore
Asian-Counsel, 2009
Ranked first tier for two consecutive years in Arbitration, Asia
Chambers (Global and Asia), 2009-2010
Ranked first tier in Energy & Natural Resources, Asia
Chambers (Global and Asia), 2010
Ranked first tier for two consecutive years in Oversea Counsel, Malaysia
Chambers Asia, 2009-2010
Ranked first tier for four consecutive years in Dispute Resolution, Singapore
Chambers Asia, 2007-2010
“Almost unrivalled in its domination of the Indonesian market,” the team most notably represents international corporations in the defence of litigation, arbitration, regulatory investigations and anti-competition issues arising out of their South-East Asian operations.
Chambers Asia, 2009
"The Singapore base services clients seamlessly across South East Asia and the Indian sub-continent"
Chambers Asia, 2008
Ranked first tier for two consecutive years in Capital Markets - Equity, Asia Pacific
IFLR 1000, 2009-2010
"Herbert Smith seems to have really beefed up their [Singapore banking] practice and has really excelled in this area lately. Definitely one to watch in future," says a rival.
IFLR 1000, 2009
Ranked first tier in International Arbitration, Singapore
Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2012
Herbert Smith LLP is recognised as being 'strong on the energy side’. It has public company take-over experience, particularly in Malaysia, Singapore and India.
Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2009