asian legal business (seasia) may 2010

ISS

UE

10

.5

Singapore: The Harry Elias split Symptom of the market?

ALB Special Report: Japan 2010Ready to rebound

Renewable energy Private equity fills the funding gap

www.legalbusinessonline.com

LateraL moves DeaLs rounDup region-wiDe upDates Debt & equity market inteLLigence

ISSN 0219 – 6875MICA (P) 215/07/2009

ISlamIc fInance not just for the middle east

http://www.lexmundi.com

EDITORIal >>

1www.legalbusinessonline.com

In THe fIRST PeRSOn

“It’s tough to say but we hope there will be further large-scale IPOs. In Japan the IPOs that are big enough to include a global component are small in number but I hope more deals will happen in the typical listing season...” Alan Cannon, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (p6)

“Feedback from potential clients was that it was impossible for them to send quality work to a solo practice... I needed to be in a larger law firm”Bryan Ghows, TSMP (p22)

“Indonesia is a country with a population of almost 300 million and is untapped for Islamic finance. It is practically unknown there” Amir Fazael Zakaria, AirAsia (p64)

The younger generation: cause for celebration?

Several senior partners who are regular attendees at the ALB Law awards currently underway around the region have noted that each year they’re seeing not only their ‘old’ friends but also a growing number of younger lawyers taking part in the legal industry’s most

prestigious series of events. “younger lawyers – who are mostly in their 30s – have become an

increasingly important force in the legal industry. as the legal and regulatory environment has been changing at an unprecedented rate and magnitude, they appear to be most skilled at learning new things and adapting to the changes,” said one senior partner at the recently held ALB china Law awards 2010.

senior partners at Jun He, like many other firms in china and other countries around the region, are promoting a growing number of younger lawyers to partner ranks. currently, thirty-something lawyers account for nearly 50% of the firm’s 95 partners and counsel, up 20% from just two years ago. “younger lawyers are contributing significantly to business development. they have stronger teamwork ability and a stronger focus on specialised areas of law, so they will contribute to the firm’s further integration and modernisation,” said David Liu, Jun He’s senior partner.

of course, older lawyers will still sometimes make comments about the younger generation, especially those under 30, not fully appreciating the concept of hard work, loyalty and client service. yet each generation has its unique culture and values. at their core, young lawyers require constant opportunities to learn and challenging work – and they want to be proud of what they do.

young lawyers of today will drive the legal world of tomorrow, a world which is likely to be vastly different from today.

most of the change will be positive.

At their core, young lawyers require constant opportunities to learn and challenging work – and they want to be proud of what they do

2

NEws | deals >>

asian Legal business issue 10.52

CONTENTs >>

contents

country editors the regional updates section of ALB is sponsored by the following firms: Practice area and industry editors the industry updates section is sponsored by the following firms:

Philippines

Founded in 1945, sycip salazar Hernandez & gatmaitan is one of the most-established law firms, and the largest, in the philippines. principally based in makati city, the country’s financial and business centre, the firm also has offices in cebu city, Davao city and the subic

bay Freeport. sycip’s practice covers all fields of law and the broad range of the firm’s expertise is reflected in its client base, which includes top local and foreign corporations, international organisations and governments. sycip combines the traditions of professional integrity and excellence with a time-tested ability to break new ground.

Intellectual property / employment

atmD bird & bird is a dynamic and progressive firm with an established ip,

corporate & commercial, competition and dispute resolution practice. the firm also has extensive regional experience advising both domestic and foreign clients on cross-border transactions. atmD bird & bird has been voted singapore’s intellectual property Firm of the year at the 2005 and 2006 ALB awards and the 2005 asiaLaw (ip) awards.

IT

guidance software is recognised worldwide as the industry leader in digital investigative solutions. its encase® platform provides the foundation

to conduct thorough, network-enabled and court-validated computer investigations of any kind, such as responding to eDiscovery requests, conducting internal investigations, responding to regulatory inquiries or performing data and compliance auditing - all while maintaining the integrity of the data. www.guidancesoftware.com.

TM

Loo & partners was founded in 1985 as a niche practice, handling mainly banking, corporate, securities and commercial work. with the support of a comprehensive network of correspondent law firms, the firm serves its clients in their regional needs. Loo & partners has

been regularly noted for its ipo, m&a and general corporate work.

Singapore

International tax

azuretax Ltd provides transparent strategic and ethical tax advice. through our professional corporate and international, tax advisory and trustee services your tax plan is comprehensively implemented. our advice provides you with independent innovative and rigorous solutions

which deliver results and long-term accountability. we are qualified uk, us, Hong kong and prc tax advisors and complete tax filings for uk, us and Hong kong tax returns.

china

paul, weiss, rifkind, wharton & garrison LLp is a globally oriented, full-service

law firm employing over 500 lawyers worldwide. paul weiss is headquartered in new york and has offices in Hong kong, beijing, London, tokyo and washington, D.c.

indochine counsel is a commercial law firm focusing on business law practice in the indochina region. our areas of

practice include: Foreign investment, corporate & commercial, m&a, securities & capital markets, banking & Finance, property & construction, taxation, intellectual property, information technology & internet, international trade, outward investment & offshore incorporation, and Dispute resolution.

Vietnam

Indonesia

bastaman enrico is an indonesian law firm comprising a team of prominent and dedicated professionals who are

recognized for their knowledge and experience in handling many notable and high profile transactions in indonesia. the firm’s specialisations include corporate/ commercial law, mergers & acquisitions, energy & natural resources, plantations and telecommunications law.

malaysia

wong & partners is a malaysian law firm dedicated to providing a quality and

solution-oriented legal services to its clients. wong & partners has grown steadily with international standards of quality and experience and the Firm has a solid commitment to training its lawyers, and invests in training, professional development and quality management programs with the aim of producing lawyers of global standard.

8have triumphed over adversity. here is the complete list across all 36 categories

58 AustralianlawfirmsinAsiaaustralian law firms have been in asia just as long as some of their us and uK counterparts but their practises have not been graced with the same levels of success. ALB looks at the road ahead for australian firms in asia and suggests that success may lie with diversification

RegulaRS

4 DEALS14 NEWS• ‘Business as usual’ for thai law firms caught in

political unrest• harry elias split reflects new market pressures• Clifford Chance swaps singapore managers

neWS analYSIS

8 Privateequitygoesgreendeals in asia’s renewables sector may be flowing, but their small size often leaves a capital gap that needs to be filled. Can Pe and VC be to renewables in asia what it was to dot.coms in the silicon Valley?

10 ThetotallawyeralB looks at simmons & simmons’ initiative of sending junior lawyers on an mBa course in legal practice and asks whether this is the start of a trend to build ‘the total lawyer’?

12 Insolvencywork:restructuringwithasmall‘r’While the predicted surge of insolvency work after the GfC never materialised in asia, disappointed insolvency lawyers in the region still have reason to be cheerful

feaTuReS

32 ALBSpecialReport:Japan2010 despite lingering economic difficulties and

political uncertainty, things are looking positive for the legal services market. Both local and international law firms are eager to position themselves for when transaction levels pick up

40 Offshorelawfirmsdespite taking a beating from regulators during the financial crisis, offshore financial centres have bounced back to help lead the global economic recovery. the signs are equally as positive for the offshore legal services market, which is set to undergo yet another round of consolidation in the year ahead

48 ALBSEAsiaLawAwards2010 –thefinalists

all the finalists at this year’s se asia law awards

ALB’sLeadingIslamicFinanceLawFirms:Asiain-house lawyers, bankers and industry experts single out the leading islamic finance law firms across three jurisdictions in asia: malaysia, indonesia and singapore

62 cOVeR STORY


Hong Kongclaris tam

t (852) 2815 5988F (852) 2815 5225

[email protected]

Hong KongJimmy cheung

t (852) 2815 5988F (852) 2815 5225

[email protected]

aLb issue 10.5

3

ALB enjoys alliances with the following organisations

inter-pacific bar association corporate counsel Forum

www.ipba.org

www.beijinginhouse.comwww.scca.org.sg association of corporate Lawyers sri Lanka www.aclsrilanka.com

indonesian corporate counsel association

http://w3.icca-indonesia.com

financial services

Horwath Financial services (www.hfs.com.hk), an independent member firm of Horwath international (www.horwath.

com), provides a one-stop solution for your financial planning, investment, property financing and general financial health needs. we offer a range of payment options for our services, including a fee-based alternative, setting us apart in an industry that is dominated by commission-driven sales.

aDR

Housing best-of-class hearing facilities as well as top international alternative Dispute resolution (aDr) institutions, maxwell chambers offers you a one-stop,

full-shop service for aDr activities in singapore. our facilities can also be used for meetings, seminars and conferences.call us at 6595 9010 or visit www.maxwell-chambers.com for more information

azmi & associates is reputably known as one of malaysia’s leading firms in the areas of mergers & acquisitions, capital & Debt

market, corporate & commercial, energy & utilities, restructuring, projects, construction, privatisation and Financing, Litigation and arbitration and is also rapidly building its reputations in the areas of intellectual property and information technology.

Islamic finance

copyright is reserved throughout. no part of this publication can be reproduced in whole or part without the express permission of the editor. contributions are invited, but copies of work should be kept, as ALB can

accept no responsibility for loss.


eDITORIal enquIRIeSJoshua scott

t (852) 2815 5988; F (852) 2815 [email protected]

general managerLucinda maguire

asia-pacific managing directorrichard curzon

design managerJacqui alexander

designersweiyah chiang chris Lai

pHotograpHers

thilo pulch, Ji Junfeng, Xing qunkai

Business development managersvivian cheah (singapore) brenda Lau (Hong kong)yvonne cheung (china)

traffic managerspatsy ang (singapore) stacey rudd (australia)gloria ng (Hong kong)

regional managing editor

george walmsley

asia editorJoshua scott

cHina editoryun Zhang

australia Fiona wissink

t (61) 2 8437 4746F (612) 8437 4599

[email protected]

Hong Kongbrenda Lau

t (852) 2815 5988F (852) 2815 5225

[email protected]

aDVeRTISIng enquIRIeS

cHinayvonne cheung

t (852) 2815 5988 F (852) 2815 5225

[email protected]

singaporevivian cheah

t (65) 6423 4631 F (65) 6423 4632

[email protected]

For subscriptions please call(65) 6423 4631 (singapore) (852) 2815 5988 (Hong kong) or www.legalbusinessonline.com

annual subscription (12 issues) — usD$495including overseas postage & handling

production editors

Daniela arocheJennifer cross

australia editor

renu prasad

Junior Journalists

Jess seahrashida yosufzai

alice yan

toronto100 adelaide street west

suite 300, canada m5H 1s3t (0011 1 416) 644 8740 F (0011 1 416) 203 8940

www.kmipublishing.com

Hong Kongunit 2706 - 08, 27/F,

118 connaught road west, Hong kong

t (852) 2815 5988 F (852) 2815 5225

singapore121, telok ayer street

#02-01, singapore 068590t (65) 6423 4631 F (65) 6423 4632

www.keymedia.com.sg

sydneyLevel 10, 1 chandos street,

st Leonards, nsw 2065 australia

t (612) 9439 4566 F (612) 9439 4599

www.keymedia.com.au

keY meDIa InTeRnaTIOnal lTD

eVenT enquIRIeSsingaporevivian cheah

t (65) 6423 4631F (65) 6423 4632

[email protected]

Doing business in malaysia

naqiz & partners is a malaysian law firm with specialised practice areas including corporate & commercial, it/ ip, islamic Finance and capital markets. the firm has consistently

been ranked as a “recommended law firm in malaysia” by prestigious international publications based on its track record of representing local and foreign clients in notable transactions.

3214• legal work abounds as CnooC spreads wings• india and sport big business for law firm• firms close rare Pe deal in tough Gulf market

14 UKReport16 USReport68 M&Adealupdate70 Capitalmarketsdealupdate

INDUSTRYUPDATES18 IntellectualProperty

ATMD BirD & BirD

19 InformationTechnologyGuiDAnce

21 IslamicBankinginMalaysianaqiz & Partners

22 TechnologyTransferInMalaysiaAzMi & AssociATes

23 EmploymentATMD BirD & BirD

28 REGIONALUPDATES• China

PAul Weiss • Singapore

loo & PArTners

• PhilippinessyciP sAlAzAr HernAnDez & GATMAiTAn

• VietnaminDocHine counsel

• MalaysiaWonG & PArTners

• IndonesiaBAsTAMAn enrico

PROfIleS

37 MoriHamada&Matsumoto44 Walkers

4

NEws | deals >>


deals in brief

► BhartI aIrtel–ZaIn (aFrIca) acquIsItIOn Value: us$10.7bn

Firm:HerbertSmithlead lawyers: michael Walter,alan montgomeryclient: Bharti airtel

Firm:AZB&Partnersclient: Bharti airtel

Firm:Linklaterslead lawyer: Charles jacobs client: Zain Firm:WongPartnershiplead lawyers: susan Wong, Choo ai leen, tan Kay Khengclient: Bharti airtel

Firm:Allen&Overylead lawyers: sanjeev dhuna, Karan singhclient: standard Chartered Bank

• indian telco Bharti airtel bids us$10.7bn for the african business of Kuwaiti telco Zain,

HEADLINEDEAL

| INDIA |acquiring its 15 african mobile networks

• second-biggest overseas purchase by an indian company; Bharti will be world’s fifth-largest wireless company

• standard Chartered Bank was lead arranger for deal financing – largest ever finance raised for an acquisition by an indian corporate

• aZB previously advised Bharti on its us$23bn failed bid for mtn in september 2009. linklaters were also previously retained by Zain on its attempted reverse takeover of Paltel

• herbert smith retained 31 lawyers across twelve practices, from tmt to tax, and worked alongside european alliance firm stibbe, which was headed by partners Björn van der Klip and maarten de Bruin

• a&o worked alongside indian ‘best-friend’ trilegal, which provided local indian law advice, led by partner Karan singh

• WongPartnership acted as singapore counsel for Bharti airtel’s raising us$7.5bn from consortium of lenders

Susan Wong wongpartnership

| SINgApore/INDIA | ► FOrtIs healthcare–Parkway hOldIngs acquIsItIOnValue: us$658m

Firm:AZB&Partnerslead lawyers: ajay Bhal,hardeep sachdeva client: fortis healthcare Firm:Rajah&Tannlead lawyers: Goh Kian hwee,Kala anandarajah, evelyn Wee client: fortis healthcare

Firm:WongPartnershiplead lawyer: dilhan Pillay sandrasegara client: tPG Capital

• tPG Capital sold 23.9% stake in Parkway holdings to fortis healthcare for s$959m, which willbecome one of asia’s largest hospital networks

• fortis previously retained indian firm Vaish associates for its acquisition of Wokhardt in 2009

• Cross-border transaction spanning singapore, mauritius and india

| KoreA | ► kOrea lIFe Insurance glOBal IPOValue: us$1.6bn

Firm:Shin&Kimclient: underwriters

Firm:DavisPolk&Wardwelllead lawyer: eugene Gregor client: underwriters

Firm:SimpsonThacher&Bartlettlead lawyers: Youngjin sohn, Kristina Kang, soo Chung client: Korea life insurance

Firm:Lee&Koclient: Korea life insurance

• Global offering by Korea life insurance of 217 million shares on Korea exchange

• Kli is both oldest and second-largest insurance company in Korea

• largest Korean iPo since 2006, second-largest iPo in Korea ever, including dual-listed iPos

• four lawyer team at dP&W, seven

lawyer team from simpson thacher retained on transaction

| HoNg KoNg | ► sOuthgOBI energy resOurces IPOValue: us$438m

Firm:Skaddenlead lawyers: dominic tsun client: underwriters

Firm:Blakes,Cassels&Graydonclient: underwriters

Firm:Goodmanslead lawyers: Paul Goodman client: south GobiFirm:Dorsey&Whitneylead lawyer: david richardson client: south Gobi

• toronto-listed southGobi energy resources secondary listing of shares on hKse

• first listing by Canadian mining company on hKse and the first listing by any Canadian company in conjunction with share offering

| JApAN | ► eqt greater chIna II–JaPan hOme centre acquIsItIOn Value: undisc

Firm:WooKwanLee&Loclient: shareholders

Firm:Baker&McKenzielead lawyers: Cheung Yuk tong, tracy Wutclient: eQt Greater China ii

• Pe fund eQt Greater China ii acquires co-controlling stake in discount house-ware retail chain in hong Kong, japan home Centre (“jhC”)

• eQt has 40% ownership in jhC while the two founders, Peter lau and lisa ngai, have together retained a 60% stake

• Baker & mcKenzie advised on documentation and general transaction management

“ThisdealillustratesIndiancorporates’appetiteforsignificantandstrategicoutboundinvestments.AsIndia’sprimacyontheinternationalstagecontinuestogrowweexpecttoseemoreofthesehigh-profileacquisitions.ThefinancingalsohighlightstheextentofliquidityintheIndiandebtmarkets”

Sanjeev Dhuna, allen & Overy

Tracy Wut baker & mckenzie

NEws | deals >>


► yOur mOnth at a glance Firm Jurisdiction Dealname Value

(US$m)Dealtype

allen & Gledhill

singapore lippo Group loan facility 410 debt market

singapore singapore Post notes issue 150 debt market

singapore integrated media fund establishment 70 Pe

singapore Pt Bakrieland development bonds issue 155 debt market

singapore temasek holdings' notes series issue undisc debt market

singapore singapore airport terminal services mtn 357 debt market

singapore ruby assets exchangeable collateralised securities due 2019 250 debt market

singapore CVC Capital Partners asia Pacific iii–Pt matahari department store acquisition

823 m&a

singapore singtel Group treasury issuance of 3% notes 2020 500 debt market

allen & overy india/africa Bharti airtel–Zain (africa) acquisition bid 10,000 m&a

allens arthur robinson China/australia Chinalco–rio tinto jV 1350 energy & resources

anderson mori & tomotsune

japan dai-ichi life iPo 18,500 equity market

aZB & Partners

india Wireless tt info services–21st Century infra tele acquisition 280 m&a

india/s’pore/mauritius fortis healthcare–Parkway holdings acquisition 658 debt market

india hitachi–telcon stake acquisition 250 m&a

india sKil infrastructure–Pipavav shipyard stake acquisition 310 m&a

india/africa Bharti airtel–Zain (africa) acquisition bid 10,000 m&a

india reliance industries–deccan Cargo & express logistics investment undisc Corporate

Baker & mcKenzie

singapore/thailand Ptt Public Company loan 300 debt market

hong Kong eQt Greater China ii–japan home Centre stake acquisition undisc m&a/Pe

China/australia Chinalco–rio tinto jV 1,350 energy & resources

Blakes, Cassels & Graydon hong Kong/Canada southGobi energy resources iPo 438 equity market

Clifford Chance saudi arabia Carlyle Group–General lighting Company stake acquisition undisc Private equity

Commerce & finance China China merchants Bank rights offering 3,200 equity market

Conyers dill & Pearman China China lodging Group iPo 126 equity market

Crawford Bayley & Co india nmdC stake sale 2,200 equity market

davis Polk & Wardwell

Korea/us Korea life insurance Global iPo 1,600 equity market

india/singapore morgan stanley infrastructure consortium–asian Genco investment 425 energy & resources

China China lodging Group iPo 126 equity market

China China merchants Bank rights offering 3,200 equity market

dewey & leBoeuf saudi arabia Kingdom holding Company–Kingdom hotel investments acquisition 843 m&a

saudi arabia Carlyle Group–General lighting Company stake acquisition undisc Private equity

dla Piper hong Kong/Korea fila Korea note issue 50 debt market

dorsey & Whitney hong Kong/Canada southGobi energy resources iPo 438 equity market

freshfields

saudi arabia Kingdom holding Company–Kingdom hotel investments acquisition 843 m&a


Bahrain Central Bank of Bahrain international bond issue 1,250 debt market

Gibson dunn & Crutcher saudi arabia Carlyle Group–General lighting Company stake acquisition undisc Private equity

Gide loyrette nouel india nmdC stake sale 2200 equity market

Goodmans hong Kong/Canada southGobi energy resources iPo 438 equity market

hariyani & Co india matheson tri-Gas–K-air Gases india jV undisc m&a

harry elias Partnership

singapore develica aPs 100 sale 110 real estate

singapore schlumberger sa–Geoservices sa acquisition 800 m&a

singapore/China eagle Brand holdings divestment 80 Corporate

hassan radhi & associates Bahrain Central Bank of Bahrain international bond issue 1250 debt market

herbert smith india/africa Bharti airtel–Zain (africa) acquisition bid 10,000 m&a


hourani & associates saudi arabia Carlyle Group–General lighting Company stake acquisition undisc Private equity

| SAuDI ArAbIA | ► kIngdOm hOldIng cOmPany–kIngdOm hOtel InVestments acquIsItIOn Value: us$843m

Firm:Dewey&LeBoeuflead lawyers: Camille abousleiman, simon Briggs client: Kingdom holding Company

Firm:Linklaterslead lawyers: nick Garland,jeremy Parr client: Kingdom hotel investments

Firm:Freshfieldsclient: Citigroup and deutsche Bank

• us$843m acquisition of Kingdom hotel investments by Kingdom holding Company, owned by saudi royal family. KhC already owned 46% and bought out the remaining stake in this acquisition for us$370m

• Before it became dewey & leBoeuf through 2007 merger dewey had acted for Kingdom hotel investments (target on this transaction) advising on its iPo, first listing on the dubai international financial exchange

• also previously advised KhC in 2007 on its bid for a Gsm license

• linklaters acted through its dubai and london offices

| JApAN | ► daI-IchI lIFe IPOValue: us$18.4bn

Firm:AndersonMori&Tomotsunelead lawyer: hironori shibataclient: managers

Firm:Sullivan&Cromwelllead lawyer: izumi akaiclient: managers

Firm:SimpsonThacher&Bartlettlead lawyer: alan Cannonclient: dai-iChi life

Firm:Nishimura&Asahilead lawyer: Yasutaka nishikoriclient: dai-iChi life

• dai-ichi life on rule 144a and regulation s offering on tokyo stock exchange

6

NEws | deals >>


► yOur mOnth at a glance (cOnt)Firm Jurisdiction Dealname Value

(US$m)Dealtype

jun he China China lodging Group iPo 126 equity market


Khaitan & Co

india/japan Blackstone Group–jagran media network investment 54 Private equity

india neCl–machilipatnam Port acquisition undisc m&a

india hospira–orchid asset acquisition 392 m&a

india shree Ganesh jewellery house iPo 78 equity market

india united Bank of india iPo 72 equity market

india KsK Power Ventur aim listing undisc equity market

Kim & Chang

Korea KdB Consus Value Pef–Kumho life insurance acquisition 435 m&a

Korea eastman fibers Korea–sK Chemicals acetate asset acquisition 109 m&a

Korea inverness–standard diagnostics acquisition 190 m&a

lee & Ko Korea/us Korea life insurance Global iPo 1,600 equity market

linklaters


saudi arabia Kingdom holding Company–Kingdom hotel investments acquisition 843 m&a

Bahrain Central Bank of Bahrain international bond issue 1250 debt market

luthra & luthra india Gmr Group maharashtra power project 585 Project finance

nishimura & asahi japan dai-ichi life iPo 18,500 equity market

nishith desai associates india Goahead software–avantellis acquisition undisc m&a

orrick

japan/us sanei–Kate spade jV undisc Corporate

japannippon–dow agrosciences tebufenozide insecticide Business acquisition

undisc m&a

Paul hastings hong Kong intime department store share sale 100 equity market

Quays h Zubi Bahrain Central Bank of Bahrain international bond issue 1,250 debt market

rajah & tann india/s’pore/mauritius fortis healthcare–Parkway holdings acquisition 658 m&a

singapore Yangzijiang–PPl holdings bid 155 m&a

rodyk & davidson singapore Yangzijiang–PPl holdings bid 155 m&a

shin & KimKorea KdB Consus Value Pef–Kumho life insurance acquisition 435 m&a


simpson thacher & Bartlett

China China lodging Group iPo 126 equity market


hong Kong Pfh Partnership–Chapdelaine stake acquisition 100 Private equity


skadden hong Kong/Canada southGobi energy resources iPo 438 equity market

stamford lawsingapore/China China minzhong iPo 169 equity market

singapore Cairnhill Circle development undisc Construction

sullivan & Cromwell

hong Kong Pfh Partnership–Chapdelaine stake acquisition 100 Private equity

japan/us union Bank–tamalpais Bank acquisition 600 m&a


Wakhariya & Wakhariya india matheson tri-Gas–K-air Gases india jV undisc m&a

Watson farley & Williams singapore/uK standard Chartered Bank–Bibby offshore loan facility 55 debt market

White & Casehong Kong Pacific Century Group–aiG investment business acquisition 500 m&a/Pe

indonesia Pt semen Gresik sale 1,000 m&a

Winston & strawn hong Kong aegis–Charm Communications investment 50 Corporate

WongPartnership

singapore singapore airport terminal services mtn 357 debt market

india/s’pore/mauritius fortis healthcare–Parkway holdings acquisition 658 m&a


Woo Kwan lee & lo hong Kong eQt Greater China ii–japan home Centre stake acquisition undisc m&a/Pe

Zhong lun China China lodging Group iPo 126 equity market

Does your firm’s deal information appear in this table?please contact [email protected] 61 2 8437 4700

• World’s biggest iPo in 2 years, also largest in japan since us$18.4bn iPo of ntt doComo over a decade ago

• hopes pinned on dai-ichi’s billion-dollar listing to boost market sentiment. japan’s bourse suffering from a dearth of listings compared to glory days of 6 years ago – according to dealogic the 20 companies listed last year raised a total of only us$603m

• alan Cannon recently advised on japan’s largest securities offering seen in a decade, mufj financial Group’s us$12bn iPo, and said given the size of this offering may not see any larger this year

| bAHrAIN |

► central Bank OF BahraIn InternatIOnal BOnd Issue Value: us$1.25bn

Firm:Freshfieldslead lawyers: harnek shoker, tobias müller-deku, fares al-hejailanclient: CBB and ministry of finance

Firm:QuaysZubiclient: ministry of finance

Firm:Linklatersclient: joint lead managers

Firm:HassanRadhi&Associatesclient: joint lead managers

• Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) on us$1.25bn international bond issue – size increased to us$1.25bn to meet investor demand

• first bond issue of its size and format in Bahrain, offering marketed to investors in the us, asia and europe

• freshfields utilised new saudi alliance with fares al hejailan, and london offices partners

• CBB has been good source of work for Bahrain-based law firms – hassan radhi, trowers & hamlins and Charles russell were retained on past deals, latter two as administrators for two troubled local banks in august 2009

Harnek Shoker Freshfields

900 LAWYERS.

15 GLOBAL OFFICES.

1 PLATFORM.

ELITE 3E CONNECTS YOUOur complete 64-bit platform makes all the difference in workflow that requires

streamlined communication across the globe – or across the hall. Only Elite 3E® is

flexible and reliable to handle both. Built from the ground up for forward-looking

firms like yours, our highly configurable 3E platform has the tools you need to

track and manage activity easily on a multi-office, multi-language and multi-

currency scale. It’s technology that keeps everyone on the same page.

Call +852 2147 3201 or email [email protected] to learn how

3E can connect your workflow.

© 2010 Thomson Reuters L-357468/2-10

Thomson Reuters and the Kinesis logo are trademarks of Thomson Reuters.

L-357468A.qxp 2/10/10 10:22 AM Page 1

http://www.thomsonreuters.com

8

NEws | analysis >>


AnAlysis >>

PE goes greenRenewable energy is quickly becoming big business for investors, developers and, not least, lawyers across the region. Most countries in Asia, from China and India to Thailand and the Philippines, are expected to invest heavily in renewables over the next five years. But many lack a solid policy framework. This, as well as the typical deal size being smaller, has left a capital gap that needs filling. Private equity and venture capital is becoming the common choice for filling that gap

State of the market

The last year or so has been a time of immense change for renewables in Asia, spurred on by a seemingly collective

regional recognition that greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced and energy security and independence need to be secured. Most of the region’s biggest economies have made positive inroads in terms of developing sustainable renewable energy policies.

“Climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while achieving developmental goals, are the key drivers for almost all energy markets in Asia,” said Paul Curnow, co-head of Baker & McKenzie’s Asia-pacific renewable and clean energy practice. “More focus has been placed on bringing in renewable energy as a substantial component to meet energy needs.”

India and China continue to lead the way in this regard, both in Asia and globally. Both countries are in the world’s ‘top-five’ in terms of the amount of installed renewable energy. “India and the PRC both have a preferential feed-in tariff system in place to drive investment in renewables. Both have tariffs that are higher than the

normal electricity price for coal or gas for a range of renewable energy technologies,” said Curnow.

This has meant that wind has become the renewable of choice in both countries. According to the Wind Energy Council, China was ranked third globally for cumulative wind capacity (25,104MW; 15.9% of the global market) while India ranked fifth with current capacity of 10,926MW or 6.9% of global market share.

► tOP glOBal clean-tech Venture caPItal sectOrs In 2009

solarus$1.2bn

transportation (including electric-

drive vehicles, batteries, fuel cells)

us$1.1bn

energy efficiency us$1bn

Biofuels us$554m

smart grid us$414m

Water us$117m

Source: deloitte

NEws | analysis >>


Elsewhere in the region, regulators are also making good inroads bringing their industries up to speed with Asia’s two powerhouse economies. “Thailand has put in place a system of feed-in tariffs, the Philippines has a framework law in place, while Malaysia has said that it intends to bring in something by 2011,” said Curnow. “Indonesia has not formalised a feed-in system at the legislative level but does have tariffs around geothermal projects.”

In a policy-driven area such as renewables, the importance of cogent and workable regulatory frameworks cannot be underestimated. Curnow said the fact that activity here has increased substantially since the turn of the year may indicate that countries in the Asian region have the legislative mix right. “At the moment the market [in Asia] is dominated by utilities that are diversifying their own portfolios. In a lot of countries you have government-owned utilities looking to build out their generating capacity in renewable. From a financing point of view, a lot of that is on their balance sheets, but is also occurring with a lot of debt financing from local banks,” he said.

At the same time a number of boutique renewable energy developers based out of Europe, Japan and Korea, plus big names like Suzlon and Siemens, are entering the renewables markets in Asia. They are making the transition downstream from simply constructing energy technologies such as wind turbines to actual project development. But despite a wealth of companies looking to tap into Asia’s renewable energy sectors, some real challenges to their entry remain.

“In terms of project finance, several banks here have been involved in lending across the region but there are still a lot of barriers due to perceived risks and the size of the projects,” said Curnow.

These perceived risks ostensibly

biomass, wind and solar. The generating capacity is small, as are the projects from a capital needs point of view,” Curnow said. “Most banks are not really interested in projects less than US$50m, but a lot of these projects only have capital needs of US$5-10m, so there is a gap in terms of getting interested players to come in.”

Parker Weil, co-head of the Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s energy and investment banking group, agrees with Curnow’s assessment and said that the financial crisis has also limited the amount of financing available for renewables projects. “The market environment is challenging and the cost of capital has increased dramatically. In addition, the price of oil and natural gas has declined which makes renewable energy less attractive.”

Weil also pointed out that the troubles experienced by US banks has impaired their ability to use tax equity financing, once a staple of renewables project finance deals. “Tax equity [the selling of the projected dollar value of tax credits at a discount to finance projects] was

“Themarketenvironmentischallengingandthecostofcapitalhasincreaseddramatically.Inaddition,thepriceofoilandnaturalgashasdeclined,whichmakesrenewableenergylessattractive”PARKERWEIL,BANKOFAMERICAMERRILLLYNCH

emanate from the fact that policy frameworks around renewable energy in Asia are still in their infancy. Legal advisers can help their clients understand and therefore minimise the risks, but the other problem – access to capital – is less easily resolved. “Once you move out of China, India and even Australia, project sizes become a lot smaller. When you look at renewable potential in South-East Asia a lot of it is focussed around small hydro,

the oil that was lubricating [renewable energy project finance], because it’s low-cost and the financial benefits are easily quantifiable and certain,” he said. “[But] it offsets taxable earnings, so if you can’t use the deduction there’s a problem going forward – one that’s not easily solved.”

The expected rate of return on a tax equity investment used to be in the vicinity of 6% but now that it has risen the cost of capital from a project developer’s perspective has increased. “That’s consistent with the cost of capital across industries and investment types. The cost of debt and equity has increased. You need to pay a higher new issue premium and bigger discounts to get deals done,” Weil explained.

Pe’s green playIn light of these difficulties, private equity and venture capital’s increasing interest in renewables is opportune. Over the past year, PE and VC investment in this sector was one of the few bright spots for project finance work. Whereas global project finance volumes retreated to Asian financial crisis levels during 2009, PE- and VC-backed project finance deals fared substantially better – so much so that 25% of all these investments in 2009 were in the clean-tech sector. “What we have started to see recently is investment from PE funds,” said Curnow. “If you look at the US and Europe this has been happening for some time now, but because of the substantial growth opportunities on offer in Asia their attention is turning [there].”

While this phenomenon is still in its early days in the region, a number of trends are already becoming salient. “Many PE players are looking at making their entry through fund investment rather than into the assets themselves,” Curnow said. “This is usually the case where these PE

“OnceyoumoveoutofChina,IndiaandevenAustralia,projectsizesbecomealotsmaller.WhenyoulookatrenewablepotentialinSouth-EastAsiaalotofitisfocussedaroundsmallhydro,biomass,windandsolar”PAULCURNOW,BAKER&MCKENZIE

10

NEws | analysis >>


AnAlysis >>

The total lawyerSimmons & Simmons’ recent announcement that it would defer the start dates for some of its 2010 graduate trainees was not unusual − many of the firm’s international counterparts have announced similar moves to reduce the strain on their budgets in the wake of the financial crisis. More remarkable was the firm’s decision to send some of its ‘class of 2010’ on an MBA program. Indeed this may be the start of moves to build the ‘total lawyer at a much earlier career stage. ALB investigates

players are new to the sector and don’t have their own large internal teams to do their own analysis on the assets.” Interest also extends to corporate finance. Here, PE and VC players are keen to invest in project developers by taking an equity interest in the companies who are developing the projects and are going to be sitting on generating assets. Legal practitioners tip that both these areas will grow as PE and VC operatives become more familiar with the different renewables markets across Asia, and the quickly changing regulatory regimes underpinning them.

“As we see PE players become more familiar with markets in Asia, they should start looking at making direct investments themselves,” Curnow said. “I would suspect that those equity investments would be smaller … perhaps a minority interest placed across a number of different projects across a number of different countries.”

The legal workLawyers note that once investments reach this stage, the issues that come into consideration aren’t dissimilar from those confronting PE and VC investments in any other sector. Yet in reaching this point the role that lawyers have to play could not be more important. Practitioners ALB spoke to are all busy conducting client information seminars, briefings and workshops on investment opportunities, perceived risks, and basic regulatory and policy drivers behind renewables in Asia. Lawyers who have already enjoyed success in this area posit a direct relationship between these client-facing activities and future business.

Notwithstanding this, the key for law firms looking to take the lead in this area depends not only on how well they can leverage their pre-existing energy & resources skills and expertise, but also on the extent to which they can serve as a missing link between their clients and projects, developers and financing sources. According to conversations held with industry professionals, those firms which are also able to shepherd ‘green clients’ through the whole process – from regulatory advice and due diligence to project management, post investment and commissioning – will also be in high demand. ALB

NEws | analysis >>


factor helping law firms separate themselves from the competition in an increasingly saturated legal services market. “You will see law firms in Asia following what is happening in the UK because it is vital to their future success,” Seddon said.

“Asian clients can sometimes be more demanding than those in the US or the UK because there is potentially more cost pressure on them, and as a result lawyers here need to be more than just draftsmen,” he said. “Most lawyers do not worry about the continued existence of their firm – very few law firms go bust, but a number of businesses do. To be able to understand this, to appreciate the pressure that clients are under, is greatly valued and definitely a factor

which separates great lawyers from good lawyers.”

Robert Pe, a partner with Orrick in Hong Kong, said that the business and financial skills learnt through an MBA program offered lawyers more. “One does get a heightened understanding of the commercial drivers acting on clients and how to demonstrate that you are adding value,” he said. “In this sense, an MBA adds skills to your repertoire and also enhances those that you already have.” He undertook a two-year MBA course at London Business School, and is quick to point out that the benefits of an MBA extend beyond client relation skills. The business development and management skills obtained also assist lawyers in building their own profitable practice.

“Of course the skills in entrepreneurship that one gains from

In the 1970s, Dutch coach Rinus Michels turned 100 years of football strategy on its head when he devised the concept of “total football” –

totaalvoetbal. The sporting concept was simple: each player on the pitch had no nominal role but was instead expected to play as an attacker, midfielder or defender depending on the passage of play.

The strategy was so successful that it saw Michels’ team at the time, Ajax Amsterdam, dominate European football and the Netherlands national team come agonisingly close to clinching its first World Cup.

The success on offer for law firms who embrace a similar concept could also be great. The total lawyer cannot of course be expected to offer specialist legal advice on all practice areas. The total lawyer should, however, be better able to understand the pressures facing clients. In essence, the total lawyer is one who is best able to also play the role of the client.

The total lawyerEarlier this year London-based international firm Simmons & Simmons paired up with London-based educational provider BPP Business School to launch an MBA (Legal Services) course specifically tailored to lawyers. The one-year course is designed to create “first-rate, commercially astute lawyers capable of offering legal advice based on an understanding of the business context.” In other words, to give young lawyers a deeper appreciation of the real-world financial pressures acting on their clients. “The MBA will give our future trainees a great headstart in terms of gaining commercial business skills, but the skills they acquire will remain with them for life,” said Simmons partner Nick Benwell.

Nick Seddon, managing director of Eversheds in Hong Kong, believes such initiatives are long overdue, even if they are coming out of the UK. Any program that brings lawyers closer to their clients may be a crucial

“YouwillseelawfirmsinAsiafollowingwhatishappeningintheUKbecauseitisvitaltotheirfuturesuccess.AsianclientscansometimesbemoredemandingthanthoseintheUSortheUKbecausethereispotentiallymorecostpressureonthem,andasaresultlawyershereneedtobemorethanjustdraftsmen”NICKSEDDON,EVERSHEDS

nick Seddon eversheds

courses such as an MBA are becoming critical for lawyers today – but training in areas like management, teamwork and being able to work with people from all different sorts of backgrounds with all different types of emotional make-ups is just as important.”

These skills, Pe said, means that MBA holders have a clear advantage in the legal job market. “When I look at CVs and see someone has MBA qualifications it certainly piques my interest. Of course one has to consider where the qualifications were obtained, but it is fair to assume that most MBA graduates from good schools have been through an incredibly rich and challenging learning experience, where they have learnt leadership and management skills

and how to work with a commercial outlook.”

MBA holders aren’t of course the only lawyers that possess these skills, but without specific training and education in the area, it is unlikely the average lawyer will have the requisite level of these skills until much later in their careers, when they have been taught through experience.

As law firms across the region – both international and domestic – become younger, the need for junior-level lawyers with these attributes is all the more important. While building the ‘total lawyer’ is an obvious goal, it seems that taking a leaf out of Simmons’ book of professional development and building total lawyers as early as possible in their career could become an imperative for leading firms – GFC or not. ALB

nick Benwell simmons & simmons

Robert Pe orrick

12

NEws | analysis >>


Insolvency work: restructuring with a small ‘r’

enabled many stressed companies to refinance their maturing obligations – and government rescue plans also allowed banks to shore up their balance sheets.”

Head of Clifford Chance’s Asian restructuring practice Scott Bache agrees, confirming that Asia’s relatively well-performing economies meant t a lower number of insolvencies.

AnAlysis >>

The financial crisis presented a lucrative opportunity for firms to beef up their insolvency & restructuring practices for

the predicted surge in insolvency cases. “Accountants and insolvency practitioners became very excited when the GFC was in full swing,” said WongPartnership litigation and arbitration partner, Sean Yu Chou. “There were hopes for company collapses which provide lucrative

liquidation and administration work.”

Ready and waiting, some law firms went into urgent recruitment mode for extra staff, transferring lawyers from other practices to handle insolvency work or building capacity through lateral

While the predicted surge of insolvency work after the GFC never materialised in Asia, disappointed insolvency lawyers in the region still have reason to be cheerful

“Accountantsandinsolvencypractitionersbecameveryexcitedwhentheglobalfinancialcrisiswasinfullswing.Therewerehopesforcompanycollapseswhichprovidelucrativeliquidationandadministrationwork”SEANYUCHOU,WONGPARTNERSHIP

Sean Yu chou wongpartnership

“In this region we have not seen the predicted wave of insolvencies post-GFC, [but] we have seen plenty of restructuring with a small ‘r’ – refinancings and revisions to agreements,” he said.

“Also, with respect to China there have been many onshore/offshore financings that continue to be in default, as the offshore investors

hires. But apart from a handful of headline corporate failures at the time, such as Lehman Brothers and more recently Japan Airlines, the expected levels of work never eventuated.

“The surge of insolvency work following the GFC did not materialise as many in the region predicted,” said Linklaters partner Melvin Sng. “Government stimulus programs had pumped a massive amount of liquidity into the world’s economies. This

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

► sIngaPOre cOmPanIes In cOmPulsOry lIquIdatIOn – 2010

jan feb mar

Petitions filed Companies wound-up

Cases

Source: insolvency Public trustees office

NEws | analysis >>


“AlthoughinAsiamarketshavereboundedmorequicklythanelsewhere,therecoveryisstillveryfragileandthereisasensethataseconddipmayberoundthecorner”MELVINSNG,LINKLATERS

have had considerable difficulty using their offshore rights to go over the border into China and get closer to the operating assets. Until China passes reforms allowing offshore equity holders to use their voting rights to displace directors that are not cooperating with a consensual restructuring process, it is hard to see this position changing in the foreseeable future.”

Banks also took a more tolerant approach to debt. “There were not many instances where creditors ‘pushed the button’ and went ahead with fully enforcing their rights,” said Chou. “Many have endeavoured to achieve consensual restructuring.” Bank creditors have experienced in-house teams that can effectively handle these restructuring arrangements without the need for complex and contentious work – what necessitates and excites insolvency lawyers.

The more obvious reason why Asia has not seen a blow-out in insolvency work is because government stimulus programs kept the world economy liquid and banks’ balance sheets strong. However, Linklaters’ Sng points out that the government injection of liquidity among the domestic banks will not last forever and consequently those weaker companies – both in and

out of Asia – will cease to have access to cheap money. “If the macroeconomic environment and the appetite of banks to lend do not improve sufficiently to offset the withdrawal of government stimulus programs, weaker corporates will need to restructure their debts or go insolvent,” Sng said.

He added that the fundamental

problems in Asia – of overcapacity in some economies and high leverage in certain sectors – remain unresolved. As the effects of the liquidity boost wear off in 2010, even stronger companies may need to restructure or refinance their debt. Certain sectors of the economy, including manufacturing and shipping, may come under particular stress.

“Although in Asia markets have rebounded more quickly than elsewhere, the recovery is still very fragile and there is a sense that a second dip may be round the corner,” Sng said. “We therefore anticipate a further round of corporate defaults to generate increased insolvency and restructuring work.” ALB

Scott Bache clifford chance

http://www.maxwell-chambers.com

14

NEws >>


uk report

ROUNDUP• dla Piper recently appointed a 19-lawyer team from simmons & simmons to enhance the capabilities of its

existing 100-strong lawyer practice operating from milan and rome. the team includes four partners• lovells promoted 21 lawyers to its partnership this year in the litigation, iP and finance practice areas. it is the

firms largest promotion since 2007, compared to the 19 and 18 made up in 2009 and 2008 respectively • addleshaw Goddard litigation partner monica Burch has won the partnership’s backing to succeed senior

partner Paul lee following a contested election for the position of chairman of the firm’s board. Burch will take over from former managing partner and current chairman of the llP mark jones

• Konstantin mettenheimer and Guy morton recently announced that they would not be taking on third terms as joint senior partners at freshfields Bruckhaus deringer. an election campaign is likely to be held in autumn, but the firm is yet to decide whether it will continue having a joint senior partner or instead opt for one lawyer to take on the role

• scott Bowie was recently appointed to succeed tim shipton as head of linklaters global investment management team. shipton will continue in his role as co-head of linklaters’ investment managers

• reed smith recently recruited four senior construction partners from Pinsent masons, boosting its construction practice and leaving reed smith with just two london-based construction partners

• Walker morris is set to scrap its executive chairman role once current chairman Peter smart retires in may 2011. the role of executive chairman will be replaced by a non-executive chairman and managing partner

into its network of alumni to handle increased workloads. Given the working title “fresh Work”, the scheme is aimed at former fee-earners who might be available to work either part-time or on a short-term basis during busy periods.

Changesafootforassociatesalariesin2010Clifford Chance has followed suit behind freshfields to become the latest magic Circle firm to unfreeze associate salaries. the firm raised rates for assistants as well as allowing them to progress through the lockstep system.

from 1 may, associates and trainees will enjoy increased rates by an average of 3%– nQs will now earn £61,500, up from £59,000 last year. an associate with one year’s PQe will now take home £68,000 and three-year PQe salaries have increased to £84,500. trainees will also benefit from a small salary increases: first and second years will now earn £38,000 and £43,000.

meanwhile, linklaters has announced its associate pay scale for the coming year, maintaining its current rates after a reduction 12 months ago.

SJBerwincourtProskauerRoseformergerits scope would always have been much narrower, but the talks around a merger between West Coast-headquartered us firm orrick and uK player sj Berwin were already underway even before the hogan-lovells merger had actually come into effect. some industry observers saw the orrick-sj Berwin tie-up as the first in a possible series of uK-us reactions to the hogan-lovells coup. alas, the talks fell over as most such discussions do – in the early stages. not to be deterred, though, sj Berwin is already pressing ahead with another potential us partner – Proskauer rose. this merger is said to be driven by the funds practices of the two firms, who already have a working relationship. the combined firm would have revenues of approximately us$900m, putting it in the global top 30 by revenue.

Part-timerspatchupcapacityatFreshfieldsan anticipated upturn in work levels later this year has prompted freshfields to consider tapping

inDUsTRy >>

Job vacancies rocket as recovery gathers paceas major banking & financial

institutions in Asia look to recoup post-financial-crisis talent shortages, so too it seems are firms.

Signs of the renewed recruitment market for banking & finance lawyers are popping up everywhere – banks such as Citigroup, BoA Merrill Lynch and UBS are offering lucrative pay packets and bonuses in-house to fill talent shortages following the financial crisis.

And according to recruitment firms, demand from the financial services industry and other sectors is being transferred to private practice. “Banking & financial service has seen the greatest legal jobs growth over the last three months,” said Carolyn Dickason, regional director of Hays Legal. “Firms have an ongoing need to identify banking & finance lawyers who have handled matters with the

THAilAnD >>

‘Business as usual’ for Thai law firms caught in political unrest

NEws >>


news in brief>>

Job vacancies rocket as recovery gathers pace

leading financial institutions.”Norton Rose, fresh from its Australia

merger with Deacons, is among the more aggressively hiring firms. As of mid-May it was offering a total of 45 vacancies in Asia-Pacific (see table), the majority of which were in corporate and banking. ALB

‘Business as usual’ for Thai law firms caught in political unrest

l aw firms in Thailand with offices on the main road where the military

and protestors were standing off continued to operate as usual, despite fears the street could become a battleground between angry protestors and armed troops. Red-shirt protestors opposed to the government pushed into the “Wall Street” of Thailand, on Silom Road, where many of the country’s top international and domestic law firms are located. One of those is Blumenthal Richter & Sumet, an international law firm located on the intersection of the Silom and Rama IV roads.

“I can see [the protest] outside my window actually, in the intersection where the Dusit Thani Hotel is. You can hear the protestors’ loudspeakers from here,” said partner Ira Blumenthal at the time. “Right below our office, there are troops blocking off Silom road, and on the other side you have the protestors. So there’s a kind of standoff happening and nobody’s really doing anything.”

The political unrest, which has raged on for more than a year now, has been affecting the flow of inbound foreign direct investment work for local law firms. Some clients cancelled business trips indefinitely, as embassies issued travel warnings. “There is uncertainly as to what’s going to happen next,” said Blumenthal. “We’ve had a lot of clients rescheduling cancelled meetings until things are clarified.”

There is hope that will soon change. Herbert Smith’s Bangkok office is situated in the same building as Blumenthal’s and office managing partner Alistair Henderson said that although the pace of work had slowed, the firm continued to receive significant instructions from regional clients wanting to do business in Thailand. “Work hasn’t disappeared – there is definitely work to be done,” he said. “We’re receiving instructions and talking to clients looking to expand operations or set up here. Morale is holding up quite well.” ALB

► nOrtOn rOse – asIa-PacIFIc VacancIes as OF 12 may 2010

Location Number

gulf 2

australia 29

greater china 11

Japan 3

FOxMANDALGETSCLOSERTOLEGALINDUSTRYREGULATORfoxmandal little’s noida office played host to the new newly constituted Bar Council of delhi’s newly elected office bearers – chairman KK sareen, vice-chairman jaibir singh nagar, and honorary secretary nitin ahlawat, and others. the firm said it was “very keen” to host the event as the Bar has a significant role in regulating the legal profession. “[We] regularly get queries from law firms the world over on regulatory issues of the indian legal system and the firm intends to work closely and seek guidance from the delhi Bar Council in view of the exploding indian economy and opening up of various service sectors,” said managing partner som mandal.

CLIFFORDCHANCEPLUGSGAPINASIACAPITALMARKETSTEAMClifford Chance has reorganised its capital markets practices in singapore and hong Kong in the wake of hong Kong partner alex lloyd’s move to sidley austin (see appointments p24). CC has filled lloyd’s position by relocating head of asia capital markets Crawford Brickley from singapore to hong Kong, as well as bringing in julian Perlmutter, a senior consultant from the london office, in late february. in singapore, the firm has promoted senior associate johannes juette to senior consultant.

CLAYTONUTZDENIESU-TURNONASIAPOLICYaustralian firm Clayton utz’s decision to open a hong Kong office is not a departure from its traditional relationships-based approach to international operations, says CeP david fagan. the decision will see Clayton utz arrive in hong Kong some 20 years after rival mallesons first entered that market. “this move doesn’t derogate from what we’ve done with lex mundi or PraC - it’s a logical extension of the construction and major projects work we’ve done in asia,” said fagan. “We remain committed to our relationships with local hong Kong firms. in fact, we expect there will be more opportunities to work with local firms in the region as the result of our having a presence on the ground in hong Kong.”

the two-partner office will be led by Glenn haley, who most recently headed deacons’ hong Kong construction practice, and Clayton utz partner Colin dodd, who has been based in hong Kong for a number of years. the office will focus on construction and major projects and international dispute resolution, although expansion into other areas is not being ruled out.

David faganclayton utz

16

NEws >>


us report

ROUNDUP• linklaters recently appointed jean-Philippe Brisson as head of its us environment and climate change

practice in new York. he joins a four-partner team in the firm’s practice• us firm akin Gump strauss hauer & feld has poached hogan & hartson’s Geneva office to launch its

own swiss practice this month. the team will be led by Charles adams, hogan’s former Geneva office managing partner and co director of the firm’s international litigation and arbitration practice, and will continue to focus on international arbitration, international civil litigation, corporate and commercial law and giving tax advice to corporates and high-net-worth individuals

• mayer Brown has launched a competition and distribution practice in Paris with the hire of partner nathalie jalabert-doury from Carreras Barsikian robertson & associés, who joins the office as the new practice head

• milbank tweed recently hired shearman & sterling’s latin american practice head andrew jánszky, to lead its new são Paulo office. jánszky – previously shearman’s latin american head and managing partner in são Paulo – will arrive at milbank with associate tobias stirnberg, who joins as partner

• hogan & hartson and lovells may want to re-think their name post-merger, after it emerged that the hogan lovells name has already been trademarked by a road haulage company in nebraska. if the name is not changed it could develop into a costly litigation battle

LovellsChicagoofficetoclosecurtainslovells recently announced plans to close its seven-partner Chicago office, due to its underperformance for a number of years. although the plan is still subject to partnership approval it is expected that the office will close at the end of october, six months after the firm’s merger with hogan & hartson goes ahead. however, firm officials stress that the closure has been under review for some time and is not related to the merger. lovells is currently in discussions to see whether there is scope to transfer the Chicago partners to another office, although this is not guaranteed.

meanwhile, lovells us managing partner marc Gottridge has vowed to continue building the firm’s new York presence, following its may merger with hogan & hartson.

BryanCavelookforUKtie-upst louis firm Bryan Cave has been active on the

merger front for a number of years – an attempted large-scale tie-up with squire sanders failed but a useful one with atlanta-based 220-lawyer firm

Powell Goldstein went ahead last year. now, however, it has installed one of the key players behind the Powell move – litigation partner rodney Page – as head of its london office, with a specific directive to find a uK partner firm. Bryan Cave’s london office had a tough 2009 and its uK and european growth ambitions needed the extra impetus. the most likely merger candidate will be a mid-rank firm with similar PeP.

MayerBrownslashesstaffmayer Brown recently cut 28 associates and counsel and 47 members of staff from its us offices in the firm’s third round of layoffs in 18 months. the firm cited that ‘overall demand for legal services has not recovered fully’ and ‘voluntary lawyer departures have been significantly lower than our normal levels’, as reasons. mayer Brown’s recently released financial results revealed that revenues fell by almost 14% in 2009, along with a decline in total revenue from us$1.12bn to us$1.29bn. the firm’s london office also saw a double-digit decline in revenues, with turnover falling by 16% to £93.8m from £111.6m in 2008.

sinGAPORE >>

Harry Elias split reflects new market pressuresThe managing partner and six

lawyers who left Singapore firm Harry Elias Partnership in February have set up a new firm with the help of clients and other law firms.

Inca Law, an acronym of the founding partners’ surnames – Harry Elias’ former managing partner Latiff Ibrahim, head of criminal litigation Shashi Nathan, head of insurance Lynette Chew, and constructions partner Kelvin Aw – opened recently with the backing of the local legal industry and the lawyers’ clients, said Ibrahim.

After news broke of their departure from Harry Elias, the lawyers decided to set up their own practice despite receiving offers to join other firms. “A few established Singapore and foreign law firms kindly offered us to join them or enter into some working arrangements, but when we explained our desire to run our own boutique practice they were very understanding and supportive, and left the door open for future collaborations,” added Nathan. Some clients even helped find office space.

“Initially we worked from home and our clients’ offices, then one of our clients offered a partially fitted-out office at the heart of the city in Raffles Place,” said Aw. “Another client assisted us to fit out the office. For two months we were running a law firm with all kinds of people – ID designers, contractors, IT engineers, telephone technicians – all around us.” It is understood the lawyers brought

sinGAPORE >>

Clifford Chance swaps Singapore managers to focus on infrastructure work

c lifford Chance’s infrastructure partner

Geraint Hughes will take over management of the Singapore office from current head Phillip Rapp, in a sign of where the firm will focus its regional business.

Hughes, who heads the firm’s Asian

geraint Hughesclifford chance

NEws >>


news in brief>>INDIANFIRMJOINSBANKSINOFFICECOMPLExindian firm majmudar & Co has relocated its mumbai office to greener pastures in the Bandra Kurla Complex, in what the firm hopes will be greater access to the local banking & financial industry. moving to the BKC will make it the first major national law firm there. in the last couple of years, BKC has become a financial centre, and a number of multinational and indian banks are now headquartered there.

majmudar’s local litigation and dispute resolution team will be based near the mumbai high Court in flora fountain; the firm also has an office in Bangalore.

HARNEYSGAINSBESTFRIEND’SCYPRUSOFFICEoffshore firm harneys has gained a presence in Cyprus after merging the office of its Cypriot ‘best friend’ firm aristodemou liozides Yiolitis (alY) into its network. the firm entered into the ‘best friends’ agreement with alY in 2008 and now, having formalised the merger, has gained its fifth international office.

the firms hope to target russian and indian offshore businesses through the BVi, utilising the favourable tax treaties Cyprus has formed with emerging economies. “Cyprus is a preferred jurisdiction for russia investment… we believe Cyprus will be relevant to a great many of our clients, including those in the far east, india and europe,” said harneys partner Peter tarn.

FORMERMAPLESPARTNERSTOHEADUPOFFSHOREBOUTIQUEINHONGKONGCayman islands boutique firm, thorp alberga, has opened in hong Kong where it will be led by former maples and Calder partners richard thorp and harriet unger.

the firm’s move into hong Kong is opportunely timed. the sar relaxed listing rules late last year paving the way for jersey and BVi incorporated companies to list on the hKeX, which is likely to bring a corresponding increase in workload for offshore firms in hong Kong. also, recent consolidation activity among offshore firms has made the offshore legal market hierarchy as fluid as ever. nevertheless, hong Kong is among the world’s most competitive offshore legal markets, being an office location of all of the major offshore players (appleby, Conyers, harneys, maples and Walkers).

Harry Elias split reflects new market pressures

many of their old clients from Harry Elias with them.

As ALB reported in February, the lawyers’ departures came after disagreement on Ibrahim’s leadership style in promoting new partners and seeking merger and alliance partners to grow in order to compete with foreign law firms arriving with Qualifying Foreign Law Practice (QFLP) licences in 2009.

“It is the medium-size firms who are going to be affected the most by the QFLPs, especially those who are not willing to deal with the issues head-on. For us, all foreign firms present opportunities for collaborations on a case-to-case basis. That desire – to establish close working relationships with well-reputed local law firms in some ASEAN cities – remains

strong ...” said R Ravindran, a former Member of Parliament who joined the firm as a consultant from Harry Elias.

Perhaps the greatest challenge – and the most amusing – was coming up with a unique name to separate the firm from the competition: “We didn’t want future directors to feel that they are not part of the firm; English names were just not us, and there were too many local law firms with Latin names (one that came up was shared by a cleaning company, so that was quickly rejected),” explained Ibrahim. “Then in the list of names that we all had proposed was “INCA” – the initials of the four founding directors. We tested it with a few key clients and close friends and after the initial friendly ribbing about ancient civilisations, Machu Picchu and so on, they all loved it. The rest is history.” ALB

Clifford Chance swaps Singapore managers to focus on infrastructure workenergy and infrastructure group, will relocate from his current post in Hong Kong in May to take over operations in Singapore. Rapp will remain in Singapore heading the Southeast Asia corporate practice. He recently oversaw the firm’s changeover to a local law-qualified practice following the QFLP licence granted by the Singapore government last year.

The shift from a corporate to an infrastructure specialist indicates where Clifford Chance’s longer-term investments will be made in the region. The firm’s head of Asia, Peter Charlton, said the changeover is part of the “next phase of development” in the Southeast Asian region for the Magic Circle firm and that energy and infrastructure would be a particular focus. ALB

18

NEws >>


CHinA >>

Legal work abounds as CNOOC spreads wings Both CNOOC’s in-house legal department headed and

the company’s external counsels have had a busy month working on headline transactions. A week after the company announced its plan to take up a 50% stake in Argentina’s Bridas for US$3.1bn, it entered into a 20-year

India and sport big business for law firminDiA >>

The Queen’s Baton made its way to Australian firm Middletons’ Melbourne office yesterday as part of a

networking event which presented an opportunity for the firm to not only host the baton before it makes its way to Delhi later this year but also promote and develop cross-border business through a common love of sport.

India group head Cameron Abbott said his firm understands that sport is big business in both countries. “Both Australians and Indians love their sport including cricket and the Commonwealth Games and many a business deal has no doubt been struck while watching their beloved side win or lose.”

Abbott is certainly on the money. For both Australian and Indian business, India’s growing, affluent middle class will be a key part of leveraging brand power through sport. The brand value of the Indian Premier League has been estimated to be around US$4bn.

“We encourage our local clients to look to India when investing or off-shoring work because of the similarities of our laws and that fact that India recognises copyright and

uPdate >>

Intellectual Property

Outsourcing of patent search and examination

One of the lesser known facts about the singapore patent system is that the search and examination of singapore patent applications is not conducted by the intellectual property office of singapore

(ipos). instead, this important task has been contracted out to foreign patent offices, namely the australian, austrian, Danish and Hungarian patent offices.

unfortunately, applicants cannot select which patent office they wish to conduct the search and examination at the time of making the request. instead, cases are assigned by ipos to one of these patent offices and the applicant simply receives a search and examination report from one of these patent offices and is required to deal with them.

How does this peculiarity affect patent applicants who choose to request search and examination in singapore? in theory, when the various patent offices undertake to conduct this search and examination, they agree to do so under singapore patent laws. However, in practice, the question arises as to whether it is possible for these patent offices to be able to effectively apply singapore law to these patent applications. in particular, under singapore patent law, there is no exclusion for patentable subject matter such as computer software and business methods. in some of the patent offices which have been tasked with conducting the search and examination, such applications would not be patentable under their law. it is not clear therefore whether these patent offices would be able to adequately examine the patent applications in relation to such subject-matter. in the writer’s opinion, this would be challenging, though of course not impossible.

interestingly, in the case of post-grant requests for search and examination under section 38a of the singapore patents act, patent owners do have a choice of which patent office they wish to conduct the search and examination and the fees for the different offices varies to conduct the search and examination. in such cases, the patentee has the opportunity to consider which patent offices would be most appropriate to conduct the search and examination for the technology,

applicants should therefore bear this in mind when requesting search and examination in singapore for patent applications relating to subject-matter that is not patentable in europe. since the applicant cannot choose the patent office, it may be preferable in such instances to avoid the search and examination process in singapore and rely on the grant of a corresponding patent, an acceptable alternative under singapore patent law.

Sheena Jacob, head of IP & technology group ATMD Bird & Bird LLP Tel: 65 6428 9801 Email: [email protected]

ATMD Bird & Bird LLP is a Singapore law practice registered as a limited liability partnership in Singapore. The firm is associated with Bird & Bird, an international legal practice. It is solely a Singapore law practice and is not an affiliate, branch or subsidiary of Bird & Bird or Bird & Bird LLP.

Sheena Jacob

NEws >>


Legal work abounds as CNOOC spreads wings

India and sport big business for law firm

trade marks – not a luxury available in many countries with a low-cost manufacturing base,” said Abbott, who also reports advising a number of Australian companies, mostly in the logistics industry, going to India ahead of the Commonwealth Games. ALB

LNG purchase agreement with Australia’s BG Group – one of Australia’s largest LNG contracts.

“This project is unique. It is the first coal seam gas to LNG deal in the world and also represents one of the largest volumes of LNG sold in one contract in Australia...The timeline for completing the numerous project documents has been a challenging one,” said Anna Howell, the head of energy Asia at Herbert Smith, who advised on the deal.

Herbert Smith was also one of the five international law firms representing CNOOC in its 2005 bid to acquire US’s Unocal for US$18.4bn. The offer was eventually withdrawn due to political pressure in the US. In addition, Herbert Smith is reportedly acting for CNOOC in its latest endeavour to acquire a third of Tullow Oil’s assets in Uganda.

In terms of PRC legal advice and deal executions, CNOOC receives strong support from its renowned in-house legal team led by general counsel Zhao Liguo. “If foreign law requires it, we would prefer to obtain legal opinions from international firms with careful supervision and review them in-house. To some extent, the role of such international firms is supposed to be expressly putting forward all reminders of potential legal risks under underlying foreign law, on the basis of good understanding of and communication with their clients,” said Zhao.”When selecting external counsels, we will look through and pay more attention to the personal achievements/credentials of those members to render legal services to us but not the overall experiences/credentials of those candidate law firms. Frankly, we would certainly hope to get a reasonable quotation and hourly rate as well,” he added. ALB

uPdate >>

It column TM

Preserve in Place vs. collect to PreserveCan you explain the distinction between the preserve-in-place and collect-to-preserve approaches, including how this might cause you to recommend one type of eDiscovery solution over another? – Senior Litigation Support Specialist, Fortune 500 Biotechnology Company

“Preserve in place” refers to preservation of archived data formats, such as back-up tapes, email archives and scanned document repositories—items that are not altered in the

normal course of business. However, recently the term has been expanded to refer to “locking down” files currently in use wherever they are found, including files on custodians’ computers. the risk and inconvenience of using “preserve in place” for documents currently in use by the custodian limits its usability for eDiscovery preservation.

“preserve in place” does not actually collect files in a forensically defensible manner. once a document is “locked down,” the custodian must make a copy of the file to edit and use for business purposes. if the file is on a computer of a custodian who is also an “administrator” on that computer, it may be possible to override the in-place preservation. in addition, leaving a file in place on a computer in the possession of a custodian exposes the data to greater risk of accidental or purposeful destruction. Finally, the metadata and unique hash value of the file may be altered when “locked down,” rendering proof of chain of custody and duplicate identification difficult or impossible. “collect to preserve” is the method that data forensics and eDiscovery professionals use when preserving potentially relevant evidence.

this method uses digital investigation or eDiscovery software to create a copy (which is an original under the Federal rules of evidence) of the target data (often filtered by keywords, dates, or other parameters). the software verifies the accuracy of that copy by generating a Hash or crc value, then preserves the copy, along with its exact state and metadata, within a court approved file format. by quickly preserving data out of the stream of use in the regular course of business, you can minimize business disruption, the burden of “preserve in place” data management and the risk of spoliation. if you are collecting data for submission in court or for proof of compliance to regulators, use an eDiscovery solution that uses the “collect to preserve” method.

Written by Michael Rhoden For more information, please contact: Carl Kimball, General Manager, Asia Pacific Guidance Software, Inc Phone: +65 6248 4527 Email: [email protected]

carl kimball

20

NEws >>


news in brief>>MSILOOKINGFORMOREASIANFIRMSinternational legal network msi Global alliance has admitted Carag de mesa & Zaballero (CdmZ) as its exclusive member for the Philippines.

CdmZ was established in 1996 and has since grown into a five-partner, 25-staff firm. “With many clients now requiring advice in jurisdictions throughout asia and in europe, the middle east and north america, it is important that we establish stronger, more formal links to law firms around the world,” said name partner Priscilla Zaballero.

msi’s chief executive james mendelssohn said that the appointment of CdmZ is a sign of things to come for msi in the region. he said that further expansion of the network’s operations in southeast and north asia is also imminent. “Carag de mesa & Zaballero’s [appointment] as msi’s sole law member in the Philippines is another big step forward for msi in the east asia region… We are now aiming to extend msi’s coverage to Cambodia, indonesia, myanmar, south Korea and taiwan, and invite strong, local firms to apply,” he said.

KUWAITIFIRMASARREBRANDSKuwaiti firm al-sarraf & al-ruwayeh has rebranded its name to asar – al ruwayeh & Partners, a year after the split between the firm’s two local Kuwaiti partners. in 2009 founding partner hameed al sarraf exited the firm to set up his own separate Kuwaiti practice. it continued operating under the same name – al sarraf & al ruwayeh – while its international division in Bahrain continued independently under the asar Bahrain name.

the decision to rebrand came after hameed al sarraf’s practice announced its intention to set up an international division of its own. “hameed al sarraf is now pursuing a separate and new international department with his local law firm abdul hameed al sarraf & Partners,” said sam habbas, the head of the firm’s international operations, adding that the rebranding will not affect the firm’s international operations – all the partners, associates and staff will remain at the firm bar hameed al sarraf.

americas asia-Pacific emea

Source: DealogicThis chart captures transactions where the buyer is a PE firm acquiring a target based in Americas, Asia-Pacific or EMEA.

Deal volume includes deals where values are disclosed and non-disclosed.

► Pe deal VOlume By regIOn

278705 629

967 518 1,025

1,2891,289

1,289 614 1,292

MiDDlE EAsT >>

Firms close rare PE deal in tough Gulf market gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Dewey

& LeBoeuf, Clifford Chance and Hourani & Associates have closed a rare PE transaction for The Carlyle Group amidst a tough PE market in the Middle East.

Gibson Dunn and Hourani & Associates advised Carlyle on its acquisition of a 30% stake in Saudi

lighting company, General Lighting, which was advised by Dewey. The other firms advised the banks.

The transaction was the first Saudi acquisition for the Carlyle Group, which has remained active despite the slowdown in the global PE market. In Asia, the company has so far made 118 investments and has just closed a

MiDDlE EAsT >>

Latham & Watkins gains White & Case’s Riyadh office latham & Watkins has confirmed a

tie-up with former White & Case Saudi sponsor Mohammed Al-Sheikh that has led to a new Lathams office in Riyadh.

Al-Sheikh’s departure from White & Case was among four other senior-level defections from the firm’s Middle East operations in February, all to Latham & Watkins. At the time, Lathams declined to verify the appointments but has since confirmed that Al-Sheikh has aligned with the firm, taking with him projects partner Christopher Langdon and banking & finance associate Harjaskaran Rai.

They will be accompanied by New York-based banking & project finance associate Salman Al Sudairi, a former White & Case lawyer, who is transferring to Riyadh. The lawyers are operating in the same Al Tatweer Towers office as during the White & Case association.

For Latham, it will mean a fourth branch in the Middle East, along with the Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices that were launched in 2008. Al Sheikh’s appointment will also give the firm a stronger foothold in the local Islamic finance sector.

It’s not the first time Lathams has built up a new office through lateral hires – in 2009 it confirmed the appointment of seven corporate partners defecting from Allen & Overy Hong Kong. For some international firms in Saudi Arabia, cementing a sponsor has been a shaky business in the past – between 2008 and 2009, DLA Piper lost two Saudi sponsors, Abdul Aziz Al Bosaily and Abdulaziz Al Assaf, before linking up with Alaa Naji. Although White & Case still has a Riyadh presence on its website, no local lawyers are listed. It hasn’t confirmed the search for a new sponsor. ALB

NEws >>


Firms close rare PE deal in tough Gulf market new US$2.55bn fund focused on acquisitions in the region, named Carlyle Asia Partners III. It is also increasing its focus on the Middle East market, having raised US$500m last year for acquisitions in the region.

Dubai-based partner Paul Harter, who led Gibson’s team on the transaction, is not, however, confident of an immediate pick-up in regional PE activity. “The trend line coming out of the worst of the financial crisis is good, but not steep. Six to 12 more difficult months would not surprise me,” he added.

The market has been plagued by lack of funding for deals. “Sourcing deals remains difficult; it’s been a very difficult market for financial sponsors in the Middle East,” said Harter. “Low investor confidence and tight credit markets means that only the best and strongest have been able to get deals off the ground.”

Harter says that more deals will unsurprisingly depend on the security of the debtor, and those like Carlyle (which his firm has represented on several deals in Europe and the US) may do well. “Carlyle and a small number of the more prestigious regional players are well positioned to do more deals sooner than others,” he said. “Lenders want to lend on the security of reputation, more than on the security of assets or cash flows. Carlyle is one of the only international players with a regional buyout fund and if they say they will do more deals this year, I believe them.” ALB

US firm launches in Middle East with dual tie-ups uS firm Crowell & Moring has made its Middle East debut

by forming associations with Saudi firm Al Enizy & associates and Cairo-based firm Hegazy & Associates.

► crOwell & mOrIng – Fast Facts• 11 offices – Washington, new York, los angeles, san francisco, orange

County, anchorage, london, Brussels, Cairo, riyadh, jeddah • founded in 1979 by 53 lawyers, mostly from jones day • Currently has approximately 500 lawyers

MiDDlE EAsT >>

The firm has opened an affiliated Cairo office under the sponsorship of Walid Hegazy, an Islamic finance lawyer who headed the Islamic finance practice at Freshfields in 2007. In Saudi Arabia, it has tied up with local lawyer Fahd Al Enizy, whose practice focuses on Islamic finance and corporate work. Al Enizy has another office in Jeddah.

Crowell is focusing its new Middle East practice on on corporate and M&A matters for US clients doing business in the MENA region. It said the decision to go to Egypt was made in response to the growing amount of energy, telecoms and construction work there. ALB

uPdate >>

Islamic Banking in malaysia

recent amendments to central Bank of malaysia act 2009

The recent amendments to the central bank of malaysia act 2009 (“cBa”) stems from the High court judgment dated July 18 2008 in arab malaysian Finance berhad v taman ihsan Jaya & others (2008), where it was

ruled that the application of the bai bithaman ajil (“BBa”) contracts before the court was contrary to the islamic banking act 1983 (“IBa”), noting that the sale element in the bba is “not a bona fide sale”.

this prompted bank negara malaysia, (“Bnm”) to make plans to compel the High court to refer to the shariah advisory council (“Sac”) of bnm when presiding over islamic banking and finance-related cases, unlike presently, where High court judges are neither required to consult the syariah experts nor heed their advice, thus bypassing the sac in relation to such matters.

the sac is an independent advisory body established under section 51 of the cba and is the authoritative body for the ascertainment of syariah law in islamic banking, finance and takaful business. the cba provides that the sac can be referenced by the courts in proceedings relating to syariah matters in islamic banking and financial business disputes. the council, which comprises experts in the disciplines of syariah, banking, finance, economics and law, are appointed by the yang di-pertuan agong under advice of the minister of Finance after consultation with bnm.

the recent amendments to the cba came into force late 2009 and provided more bite to the sac rulings. apart from establishing the sac, the amendments include, amongst others, section 56 and 57 of cba which now makes it compulsory for any court or arbitrator in proceedings relating to islamic financial business to take into consideration any published rulings of the syariah or to refer such question to the sac for its ruling and the effect of the sac rulings shall be binding on the court and arbitrator.

the amendments to cba will provide certainty in relation to disputes and court proceedings over issues concerning the application of syariah principles in islamic finance transactions. similar amendments were also made to the capital markets and services act 2007 which came into force on 1 april 2010 whereby the sac has the final say on islamic capital market issues. it is acknowledged that the members of the sac which comprise experienced and respected islamic scholars in their respective fields would provide greater certainty than judges who may not have the relevant training or experience in islamic finance. this is another landmark step for malaysia towards establishing confidence in its comprehensive regulatory and legal framework in islamic banking and finance.

Khairul Ismail, Partner E-mail: [email protected] Naqiz & Partners PL01, Plaza Level, No. 45, Block A, Medan Setia 1, Plaza Damansara, Damansara Heights, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: + (603) 2095 1188 | Fax: + (603) 2095 1186 www.naqiz.com

khairul Ismail

22

NEws >>


High hopes as ribbon is cut on Kensington Swan’s Abu Dhabi dabble

nz/UAE >>

Had he been back in Wellington, New Zealand’s trade minister Tim Groser would have still been a few hours

away from having to get up to a wet, chilly morning. As it was, he was eight time zones away in Abu Dhabi enjoying a dry, balmy evening. The occasion? The official opening of Kensington Swan’s pioneering new Middle-East office.

The fact that it was the minister himself wielding the ribbon-cutting scissors perhaps gives credence to the claims of

Aussie firms in Japan: a viable proposition? AUsTRAliA/jAPAn >>

australian top-tier firm Blake Dawson says its precedent-setting move in being the

first Australian firm in Japan may help other Aussie firms launch there too.

Six months after announcing its plans, the firm coordinated with the Japanese Ministry of Justice to obtain regulatory approvals and has secured its licence to operate as a foreign firm advising on Australian law.

“It was a fairly lengthy process in confirming that our office would satisfy all the legal requirements of the ministry,” said resident partner Natsuko Ogawa. “It was probably made more difficult in that the Australian system has not had to come into their scrutiny in the past. That in some ways may benefit other firms following in our footsteps if they choose to, but it’s hard to say.”

natsuko Ogawablake Dawson

uPdate >>

technology transfer In malaysia

an Overview in malaysia

The significant investments made by both the public and private sectors in the technology sectors globally have created a fertile ground for licensing and technology transfer. many organisations in malaysia

enter into technology transfer arrangements. technology transfer arrangements comprise licences over specific processes, formulas or technology, know-how and expertise in infrastructure construction, manufacturing and provision of various forms of technical assistance. it is useful to note that companies involved in manufacturing projects licensed under the industrial coordination act 1975 must obtain the prior written approval of the ministry of international trade and industry before entering into any technology transfer arrangement with foreign parties. this serves the objective of ensuring that unfair or unjustifiable restrictions or terms prejudicial to national interests are not imposed on the local company by the foreign technology owner.

in malaysia and most other countries, technology transfer is usually implemented at two levels, at the government level between the states and at the private level between corporations. technology transfer occurs in the form of foreign direct investment; licensing and joint ventures involving the importation of equipment and materials, skilled manpower and know-how; technical assistance and know-how agreements; turnkey contracts; intellectual property license agreements and management consultancy agreements.

ownership rights over technology are institutionalized via certain safeguards such as patent registration. at this moment, advanced countries such as Japan and korean with well-established research and Development (r&D) facilities dominate the sphere of patents and have registered many of their patents in malaysia. technology transfer is the consequence of a negotiation process and hence, the most crucial element is the ability to negotiate in order to get the best terms, including the assurance that the technology will actually be transferred. it is a policy in all government procurement contracts executed in malaysia involving technology that there must be some element of transfer of technology from the technology owner.

Jeffrey Tan Siew Yang, Partner Intellectual Property / Technology Practice Group Azmi & Associates 14th Floor, Menara Keck Seng, 203 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Phone: +603- 2118 5000 ext. 5009 Fax: +603- 2118 5111 E-mail: [email protected]

Jefrey Tan Siew Yang

NEws >>


High hopes as ribbon is cut on Kensington Swan’s Abu Dhabi dabble

Kensington Swan’s chairman, Clayton Kimpton, that the new office was important “not just for Kensington Swan but for the New Zealand professional services sector as a whole”.

As the choice of Abu Dhabi – the seat of the UAE national government – over the more commonly selected Dubai suggests, the team is targeting government work as a significant source of revenue, along with private clients and outbound investment into Australasia. ALB

Aussie firms in Japan: a viable proposition? Ogawa is accompanied by three other lawyers stationed at

the new office, with another to join later this year. Although the firm has a stable list of Japanese clients such as Kirin and Mitsui – there is scepticism that the market for an Australian firm in Japan may not be sustainable.

“The market solely for Australian law advice is far too thin in Tokyo to merit a major investment there by the large Australian law firms, who already compete effectively for this business among themselves in the major Australian cities,” said White & Case Tokyo partner Robert Grondine. “Just because there has been a surge of investment transactions from Japan to Australia in the past 12-24 months, which already illustrates my point that all of that work has been accomplished and serviced by them without having offices in Tokyo, does not justify the very large investment to open offices and staff people to Tokyo for the ongoing future.” ALB

uPdate >>

employment

encouraging the re-employment of older employees in singapore

As part of a continued effort to address the issue of singapore’s rapidly ageing population, the ministry of manpower released an updated set of tripartite guidelines for reemployment of older employees

(“guidelines”) on 11 march 2010. the guidelines supersede an earlier set of guidelines introduced in april 2008, and were finalised after one month of public consultation.

the guidelines seek to assist employers put in place re-employment policies for workers up to the age of 65, ahead of re-employment legislation which is set to be enacted by 1 January 2012, which will enable more people to continue working beyond the current statutory retirement age of 62.

employers are encouraged to adopt the following re-employment practices:

Plan and Prepare employees for RetirementEmployers should aim to re-employ the majority of their older workers. medical fitness to continue working and satisfactory performance are relevant key criteria when offering re-employment contracts to employees.

Employers should engage employees on re-employment issues as early as possible. ideally, this should be done not less than 6 months prior to re-employment.

Flexible job arrangements should be provided for re-employed employees. employers have the responsibility of informing, preparing and providing training for employees whose job scope will be modified or changed entirely.

adopt flexible Re-employment contractsThe offer of re-employment should be made at least 3 months before the employee is due for retirement. employers should obtain written confirmation from eligible employees who do not wish to be re-employed. benefits can focus on performance-based criteria instead of adopting a seniority-based system.

assist eligible employees whom employers are unable to employAs a last resort, employers should offer a one-off Employment Assistance Payment (“EAP”) if a suitable job is unavailable. the guidelines suggest principles to guide the amount of eap payable, for example, a minimum eap of s$4,500 with a cap at s$10,000; and eap decreasing as the employee reaches the age of 65.

conclusionthe general theme of the guidelines focuses on assisting older employees to remain employable notwithstanding the statutory retirement age. provided that an older employee is willing and able to continue working, employers are encouraged to adopt their best efforts to retain him in the workforce, with appropriate modifications to job scope and/or benefits. implementing such internal company policies as soon as practicable will provide for a smoother transition in due course when the re-employment legislation is enacted.

Claire Gomez, Associate ATMD Bird & Bird LLP 2 Shenton Way, #18-01 SGX Centre 1, Singapore 068804 Direct: +65 6428 9415 Tel: +65 6534 5266 | Fax: +65 6223 8762 Email: [email protected] Web: www.twobirds.com ATMD Bird & Bird LLP is a Singapore law practice registered as a limited liability partnership in Singapore. The firm is associated with Bird & Bird, an international legal practice. It is solely a Singapore law practice and is not an affiliate, branch or subsidiary of Bird & Bird or Bird & Bird LLP.

claire gomez

24

NEws >>


Clifford Chance Sidley Austin

SidleygainscorporatefinancepartnerfromCliffordChancesidley austin will welcome corporate finance lawyer alex lloyd to its hong Kong office this month, following his move from Clifford Chance’s capital markets practice in hong Kong. lloyd said he was attracted to his new firm having worked with sidley lawyers on past transactions.

Commenting on the appointment, sidley’s asia-Pacific regional manager thomas albrecht said “as the asian region continues its unprecedented economic growth, capital raising will be necessary to fuel that growth and we anticipate that the high yield debt and equity capital markets will continue to be very active.”

Various Khaitan & Co

Khaitan&Coappointsthreenewpartners;gainsboutiquefirmindia’s Khaitan & Co has gained three new partners from rival firms. foremost among them is telecommunications specialist assim abbas, who has been appointed partner in charge of Khaitan & Co’s telco & media practice based in new delhi. abbas has agreed to merge his own boutique law practice, legal spectrums, which he set up in 2008 after leaving his post as vice president of legal affairs at indian telco giant Bharti airtel.

arriving from rival firm j sagar associates is infrastructure specialist amitabh sharma, joining Khaitan & Co’s infrastructure & projects practice in mumbai. sharma’s addition will be the second hire from j sagar associates for the firm in less than six months, following the appointment of competition partner manas Kumar Chaudhuri in december.

Khaitan’s mumbai office will also see the addition of former White & Case associate shishir mehta. his arrival in the banking & corporate practice is intended to build its capability in cross-border transactions – mehta is admitted to practice in new York, Gujarat and the uK.

Orrick Winston & Strawn

OrricklawyersdefecttoWinston&StrawnHongKongfour litigation lawyers from orrick’s hong Kong office have moved to Winston & strawn, beefing up the latter’s commercial litigation practice. Partner adrian Yip – who formed orrick’s 2005 launch team in hong Kong – has taken fellow litigation associates Philip Kwok, Cliff mok and Genevieve Ku along with him to Winston & strawn’s hong Kong office.

Winston & strawn launched in hong Kong as recently as 2008 through an association with local firm luk & Co. With the additions, the firm hopes to boosts its litigation expertise in securities and iP disputes and white-collar crime. its total number of lawyers in hong Kong will grow to 12

Ministry of Justice Nishimura & Asahi

JapaneseMOJofficialjoinsBigFourfirmformer japanese ministry of justice (moj) official takashi shibuya has joined local Big four firm nishimura & asahi.

shibuya specialises in corporate and criminal law

► lateral hIresname leaving going to Practice locationalex lloyd Clifford Chance sidley austin Corporate finance hong KongVarious orrick Winston & strawn litigation hong Kongassim abbas legal spectrums Khaitan & Co telco & media new delhiamitabh sharma j sagar associates Khaitan & Co infrastructure & projects mumbaishishir mehta White & Case Khaitan & Co Banking & corporate mumbaitakashi shibuya ministry of justice nishimura & asahi Corporate tokyo emmanuel hadjidakis allen & overy Baker & mcKenzie.

Wong & leowBanking & finance singapore

sun jin hwang Warburg Pincus Kim & Chang m&a seoultae-Wook shin Korea Customs service Kim & Chang Customs, international

tradeseoul

Bryan Ghows Ghows tsmP iP/it singaporealison lindsay Clifford Chance

hong Kongminter ellison rudd Watts

tmt auckland

maurice hoo Paul hastings orrick Pe hong Kong

► relOcatIOnsFirm lawyer* From toClifford Chance Various london, singapore riyadh. hong Konglatham & Watkins salman al sudairi new York riyadhWhite & Case Baldwin Cheng hong Kong Beijing

*foreign qualified

appointments

► PrOmOtIOnsname Firm Promotion Practice locationian mcGrath denton Wilde sapte Partner energy & infrastructure omanVictoria simonova denton Wilde sapte Partner energy & infrastructure Kazakhstanjohannes juette Clifford Chance senior consultant Capital markets singaporemin Yee ng latham & Watkins Partner Capital markets singaporeVarious lovells Partner iPmt, corporate, Bri,

litigation, bankingshanghai, hong Kong, dubai

Gavin margetson herbert smith Partner General dispute resolution

tokyo

lewis mcdonald herbert smith Partner energy, singaporemay tai herbert smith Partner arbitration shanghaiPaul scarr herbert smith Partner Corporate abu dhabidon stokes freshfields finance Counsel tokyo William Coleman freshfields finance Counsel dubai marc fèvre freshfields finance Counsel abu dhabi robert lonergan freshfields finance Counsel hong Kong Various Yulchon Partner Corporate & finance seoul Various Yulchon Partner tax seoul Various Yulchon Partner dispute resolution seoul

Yulchon

YulchonpromoteslargestpartnerclassKorea’s Yulchon has made up the largest number of associates to partner since the firm launched in 1997. the 16 new additions raise the firm’s partner total to 68.

most of the partners are from the corporate & finance practice – four locally qualified and three senior foreign counsel. from the tax practice, four new partners have been made up while the dispute resolution practice has added five. Yulchon co-founder sai ree Yun said that the promotions are part of the firm’s strategy to build organically rather than pursue mergers. “many Korean law firms pursue size first, merging with other firms to expand their services,” said Yun. “But we take the opposite approach of … internal talent development [combined with] strategic lateral hiring.”

alex lloyd

assim abbas

amitabh Sharma

Shishir meht

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS • ENERGY • INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMODITIES • TRANSPORT • TECHNOLOGY

Norton Rose Group has always served the needs of clients with interests in the Asia Pacific region. But now that Norton Rose Australia has joined forces with us, we’ll be even better placed. The move will create a major legal practice across the region. 700 lawyers in 13 offices to be precise. Our clients right around the world will benefit from a new wealth of resources, knowledge and contacts.

www.nortonrose.com/asiapacific

700 lawyers, 13 offices, one team

Norton Rose Group in Asia Pacific

http://www.nortonrose.com/asiapacific

26

NEws >>


having spent two decades at the japanese public prosecutor’s office and the moj. as counsel at nishimura he will work across a number of practices, with a focus on corporate crisis management.

London Saudi Arabia

CliffordChancetostrengthentieswithSaudiallyClifford Chance has transferred the co-head of its london capital markets practice to riyadh, to boost ties with its saudi ally, al-jadaan & Partners. tim Plews will be relocated permanently to the saudi firm in october where he will join fellow Clifford Chance partner mohamed hamra-Krouha, who has been on secondment since 2008 at al-jadaan.

al-jadaan’s managing partner welcomed the addition, while Clifford Chance said Plew has strong client relationships in the Gulf and his addition will strengthen ties with al-jadaan.

the firm has also announced that hong Kong infrastructure partner Geraint hughes will be the new managing partner of its singapore office.

Lovells

Lovellsmakesupnewpartnersaheadofmergerlovells has made up the largest number of its lawyers to partner since 2007, just before it rebrands and merges with us firm hogan & hartson in may. twenty-one lawyers across its international offices have been made up, six of them from asia and the middle east. in 2007 the firm made up 31 lawyers to partner.

the firm has four new partners in hong Kong, one in shanghai and one in dubai (see table, below). the new partnerships come into effect on the day that hogan lovells officially launches, and with these additional partners the firm will have more than 800 partners located in offices across asia, europe, the middle east and the us.

► lOVells’ PreVIOus years’ electIOns tO PartnershIP

Year Numberofpartnerpromotions

2009 19

2008 18

2007 31

2006 18

2005 12

2004 15

2003 17

2002 19

2001 24

Bakers Allen & Overy

BakersappointsAllen&OveryseniorassociateBaker & mcKenzie.Wong & leow has appointed

former allen & overy banking & finance lawyer emmanuel hadjidakis as an associate principal in its finance & projects practice.

hadjidakis, a senior associate at allen & overy’s singapore office, and prior to that worked at allens arthur robinson’s sydney office. his practice focuses on islamic finance, restructuring and general banking.

Trowers, DLA King & Spalding

King&SpaldinggrowsMiddleEastpracticewithDLA,TrowerslawyersKing & spalding’s uae offices have gained two new lawyers arriving from trowers & hamlins and dla Piper. in dubai, the firm has appointed leroy levy, trowers’ former infrastructure partner and head of its saudi practice. in abu dhabi, the firm has gained the head of dla Piper’s abu dhabi construction and infrastructure practice, timothy Burbury.

King & spalding’s new managing partner, jawad ali, who was appointed the position earlier this year, said the two new appointments would add more depth to his firm’s middle east practice.

Herbert Smith

HerbiesmakesupthreeAsialawyerstopartnerthree lawyers from herbert smith’s asia offices have been made partners, as part of the firm’s annual partnership exercise.

tokyo disputes lawyer Gavin margetson, singapore energy lawyer lewis mcdonald and shanghai arbitration lawyer may tai will join the firm’s partnership in may.

the rest of the partners have been made up outside of asia, with 14 in europe and only one in the middle east – corporate lawyer Paul scarr in abu dhabi. all up, the firm will have 272 partners as of may.

Clyde & Co WongPartnership

Clyde&ColosesQatarMPtoWongPartnershipin one of the Gulf’s most high-profile lateral moves this year, singapore-based firm WongPartnership has secured Clyde & Co’s Qatar managing partner andrew Watson. Watson will join WongPartnership as co-head of its middle east practice and will sit within the firm’s iP and media & technology practice. Watson will share the middle east mP role with Paul sandosham who has been at the helm of WongPartnership in the Gulf since it launched in Qatar in 2007.

Watson, who has also spent time with denton Wilde sapte in muscat, london and Brussels (where he was managing partner), also boasts strong credentials in the energy, infrastructure, trade and banking & finance sectors.

according to the firm’s senior partner alvin Yeo, Watson’s appointment is part of strategy aimed at expanding the firm’s Gulf offering “to beyond construction and corporate advisory areas”.

Freshfields

FreshfieldspromotestwoGulflawyerstocounselfreshfields has promoted two middle east-based lawyers to counsel – abu dhabi-based project finance lawyer marc fèvre and dubai-based aviation finance lawyer William Coleman.

in asia, the firm has also promoted two finance lawyers to counsel – hong Kong-based robert lonergan, and tokyo-based don stokes. middle east managing partner joseph huse said the new Gulf counsel will be expected to further develop the finance practice for the firm.

Dentons

DentonslookstoMiddleEastandCentralAsiaforpromotionsdenton Wilde sapte has made up only two lawyers to partner as part of its annual promotion and both are based in the middle east and Central asia region. the numbers are down from last year when the firm made up six lawyers to partner.

the firm’s new partners are energy & infrastructure lawyers ian mcGrath in oman, and Victoria simonova in Kazakhstan. Chief executive howard morris said that the location and practice area of the new partners are significant: “[they’re] both based in our international offices [which] is a reflection of the sustained levels of growth we have seen and are supporting in the middle east and Central asia. it’s also no coincidence that they are both energy lawyers, as we expect this sector to grow significantly in the future,” he said.

Paul Hastings Orrick

PaulHastingslosesChinaPEheadtoOrrickthe head of Paul hastings’ China Pe practice maurice hoo has left the firm to become the co-head of global Pe for orrick in hong Kong. hoo will share the role with orrick’s london partner Peter o’driscoll. he is expected to bring his clients with him, among which are Pe firm Warburg Pincus and aiG investments. orrick’s global corporate head, don Keller, said the appointment will help his firm focus on international Pe transactions while retaining a focus on asia.

emanuel Hadjidakis

Victoria Simonova

maurice Hoo

http://www.aderant.com

28

NEws | regional update >>


cHinapaul weiss

pHiLippinessycip salazar Hernandez & gatmaitan

Reg

ional

updat

es

Each month, ALB draws on its panel of country editors to bring readers up to date with regulatory developments across the region

singaporeLoo & partners

vietnamindochine counsel

maLaysiawong & partners

inDonesiabastaman enrico

product warnings or, in severe cases, recall their products.

Article 65 of the Tort Law introduces a no-fault based liability and stipulates that any person who pollutes the environment and causes damage is subject to tort liability, without specifically being found in violation of any specific environmental regulation. The burden of proof is also switched to the defendants in these environmental cases. They have the burden to prove they should not be liable for the pollution, or certain mitigating factors should apply or that there is no causation between their acts and the pollution.

While the Tort Law has made an attempt to address many tort liability matters, the general nature of the law has left many questions unanswered. For example, how an aggrieved party could pursue remedies and the standard of calculating remedies are not spelt out in the law. The issuance of further judicial interpretations and guidance are anticipated to fill the gaps and give teeth to the legislation.

Written by Jeanette Chan, partnerKayleigh Mak, legal internPaul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison

Hong Kong Club Building, 12th Floor 3A Chater Road, Central Hong Kong Email: [email protected] Ph: (8610) 5828-6300 or (852) 2846-0300

As of July 1, 2010, China will have a specific law to govern tort liability. The Tort Liability Law (“Tort Law”) provides a general outline on the tort liability over wide-ranging matters, including data and environmental protections and product liability.

The Tort Law reiterates subscribers’ freedom to legally use telecommunications and confidentiality of their communication afforded under the PRC Telecommunications Regulations. Article 36 provides that network users and network service providers are liable for tortuous acts they commit when utilizing networks. A network user whose right is infringed may demand the service provider to make necessary deletion, screening and disconnection to stop the infringement. A network service provider who is aware of an infringement but fails to take any necessary corrective measure shall bear joint and several liability with the infringer.

The Tort Law officially uses the term “punitive damages” in Chinese law. Prior to the promulgation of the Tort Law, manufacturers of defective products are under consumer rights protection and product quality laws to pay compensation or be fined at amounts equal to specified multiples of the products’ values. Article 47 provides that manufacturers and sellers who knowingly produced or sold defective products that cause death or serious health hazard are liable to pay punitive damages, without a specific limit. Articles 45 to 46 also give an additional protection to consumers with a right to request manufacturers and sellers to eliminate and remove danger of unsafe products. If defects are found in products already in circulation, manufacturers and sellers shall issue

cHina

new tort Liability Law in china

pHiLippines

Foreign investments continue to play a significant role in spurring economic

availment of incentives by Foreign investors – a surmountable challenge



the inflow of foreign investments. However, such a challenge would be surmountable with the active participation of lawyers, particularly local counsel, in the processing of applications for incentives.

Written ByBenedicto P. Panigbatan

SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan 3rd Floor, SSHG Law Center 105 Paseo de Roxas 1226 Makati City, Philippines T (632) 817 9811 to 20; 817 2001 to 09 F (632) 817 3896; 817 3567; 817 3145; 817 3570; 818 7562 E [email protected] W www.syciplaw.com

growth in developing countries, like the Philippines. While domestic trade and local business may have aided in cushioning the adverse effects of the worldwide economic crisis that found its way to Southeast Asian shores from the West, the benefits arising from foreign investments are, to say the least, undeniable.

In line with this, governments of countries like the Philippines have made the promotion of foreign investments a cornerstone of their economic policies. Legislatures have passed laws providing for tax and other incentives aimed at attracting foreign investors. However, the challenge seems to be in the implementation of such laws. And this is where the role of lawyers, particularly local counsel, cannot be undermined.

It is typical for foreign investors to seek assistance from local counsel for the purpose of availing themselves of tax and other incentives allowed in the host country. There are instances, however, when regulatory agencies become engaged in a tussle that hampers the processing and grant of incentives. In the Philippines for instance, one particular challenge is the power of a local chief executive to give consent to an endorsement which is required in order to qualify an applicant-company for incentives granted to locators in economic zones.

In this regard, local counsel’s advice and assistance would be valuable. Arguments put forward by local counsel help shape decisions to be rendered by relevant government agencies in relation to applications for incentives. In turn, such decisions become precedents that would aid in the speedy resolution of similar issues in connection with future applications for incentives. It may be said that the more predictable the process of availing of incentives becomes, the more likely that a transaction involving foreign investments, in which the obtaining of incentives is a condition, would proceed to closing.

In sum, attaining synergy, efficiency and predictability in the implementation of laws providing for incentives to foreign investors appears to be a challenge that developing countries like the Philippines need to hurdle in order to promote and sustain

Two years after worldwide M&A plunged into a deal famine, 2010 seems to be a time of valuable opportunity for those with an appetite for acquisitions. Recently, the market has been buoyant with good news of economic recovery pouring in. The Ministry of Trade and Industry announced on 14 April 2010 that it expects the Singapore economy to grow by 7.0 to 9.0 per cent in 2010. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore’s economy made a remarkable recovery from a year ago and expects a good year going forward. Without a doubt, Singapore’s

singapore receives boosts in fertility for

growth of mergers and acquisitions (“m&a”) – m&a allowance and

remission of stamp duty for qualifying m&a

Deals entered into from 1 april 2010

singapore

strong economic performance for the first quarter of 2010 has surpassed expectations with the speed of its rebound from the downturn.

One of the strategies employed by the Government of Singapore to achieve higher productivity is to support the progressive restructuring of Singapore’s overall economy, towards higher-value, more competitive and more innovative players. The Government believes that it would be crucial to ensure a continuous flow of start-ups and new entrants into the economy, and to encourage the most efficient and competitive players the room to grow and scale up, through, amongst others, M&A. By creating a dynamic, innovative and viable small and medium-sized enterprise (“SME”) sector, the Government is hopeful that the SMEs may acquire the scale required to attract talent, invest in technologies and compete effectively in overseas markets.

Accordingly, the Government has announced in the budget speech of 2010 that it would be facilitating M&A by introducing a new one-off tax allowance scheme and the remission of stamp duty to help defray a portion of M&A costs.

The M&A allowance will be equal to 5% of the value of the acquisition. For example, the acquisition of a $5 million company will give the acquiring company a tax allowance of S$250,000. The acquiror will be able to deduct the tax allowance against its taxable income over a period of 5 years. The M&A allowance will be limited to a maximum of S$5 million in a single year of assessment.

As a further measure to reduce the costs of M&A, the Government will also be waiving stamp duty on the transfers of unlisted shares for such deals (which similarly, are executed from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2015 (both dates inclusive)). The stamp duty waiver will apply to such deals worth up to S$100 million in any year. This one-off concession will also be available for five years.

The M&A tax allowance and stamp duty remission will collectively cost about S$100 million per year. Internal Revenue Authority of Singapore will be releasing further details by June 2010. Further clarity on what constitutes a “qualifying deal” is eagerly awaited.

Although speedier growth can be

30



vietnam

ip-related aspects in Drug registration in

vietnam

The current Pharmaceutical Law requires a registration with the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) before a drug can be distributed in the territory. There are three pertinent IP-related rights in the drug registration process: trademark, patent and data security.

If a trademark is applied to a drug in an application for product registration, such application must be accompanied by a copy of a certificate of trademark registration or a trademark search result

the product registration. An exception exists where the applicant of the subsequent application dossiers obtains a letter of consent from the owner of the secured clinical drug test data or proves that the clinical drug test data included in the subsequent application was independently created. Information about drug registration with data security is published at http://www.dav.gov.vn/Default.aspx?tabid=60.

Written By Nguyen Thi Hong Anh, Partner / Head of IP & Technology Group

Indochine Counsel Unit 4A2, 4th Floor, Han Nam Office Bldg. 65 Nguyen Du, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Tel) +848 3823 9640 (Fax) +848 3823 9641 [email protected] www.indochinecounsel.com

maLaysia

The Malaysian Ministry of Health (“MOH”) recently announced that it will soon be compulsory for all Traditional and Complimentary Medicine (“TCM”) practitioners to register with the MOH upon the passing of the Traditional & Complementary Medicine Bill, which is set to be tabled at parliament this year.

Registration is currently voluntary and practitioners are encouraged to do so through the “ePengamal” online system as it forms an important database for the MOH to chart new strategies for the advantage of all practitioners in the country. The MOH reported approximately 15,000 practitioners in Malaysia as of March 2010, with only 1,000 practitioners registered with the MOH as of August 2009. Some of

from the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP). An official decision on the formal acceptance of the relevant trademark application issued by the NOIP may also be accepted as evidence of the applicant’s rights to the trademark.

Applicant for a drug registration is not required to submit to the DAV any evidence to proving patent rights to the drug or proving non-infringement of other’s patent rights. Owners of patent rights in Vietnam are, however, entitled to notify the DAV and the DAV will refer to such patent rights in examining drug registration applications. Information about active ingredients patented in Vietnam that have been notified to the DAV is published at http://www.dav.gov.vn/Default.aspx?tabid=60.

Data security is provided for in the Circular No. 05/2010TT-BYT dated 01 March 2010, that was recently promulgated by the Ministry of Health, and replaced Decision No 30/2006/QD-BYT. Effective on 15 April 2010, the circular makes clinical drug test data subject to data security if it satisfies the following conditions:i. The clinical drug test data is for a

finished drug containing a new active ingredient. A finished drug is a drug that has completed all stages of production. A new active ingredient is an active ingredient that has neither been granted registration for circulation in Vietnam or elsewhere more than 12 months prior to the filing date.

ii. The data must be deemed to be a business secret under the current Law on Intellectual Property.

iii. The data must be the result of an investment of significant effort.

iv. A request for securing the data must be properly lodged with the DAV.

Note that the security of clinical drug test data in an application dossier for registration of a drug will be refused if securing such data may have serious effects for the public health or if the drug is denied product registration.

Upon determining eligibility for data security, the first in time application preempts all subsequent applications containing the secured clinical drug test data for 5 years from the grant of

achieved through M&A, an M&A exercise could often be risky, costly and disruptive. Accordingly, the Government’s initiative is lauded as a welcome assistance to lowering the risk and costs of M&A to a more manageable level. As these tax incentives provide significant tax savings, Singapore companies should seriously evaluate available M&A opportunities and make hay while the sun shines.

Written by Ms Wong Joy Ling and Ms Lee How Fen

Ms Wong Joy Ling, Foreign CounselS e n i o r L e g a l A s s o c i a t e ( C o r p o r a t e P r a c t i c e )Ph: (65) 6322-2234Fax: (65) 6534-0833E - m a i l : w o n g j o y l i n g @l o o p a r t n e r s . c o m . s gandMs Chris Ling, Foreign CounselLegal Associate (Corporate Practice)Ph: (65) 6322-2231Fax: (65) 6534-0833E-mail: [email protected] Loo & Partners LLP 88 Amoy Street, Level Three Singapore 069907

compulsory registration for traditional medicine

practitioners



the popular TCM practices in Malaysia include acupuncture, homeopathy and reflexology.

In view of the rampant availability of TCM practitioners across the country, there have in recent years been several calls for the MOH to enforce stricter regulation to ensure the efficacy and safety of TCM practices and products. Unsubstantiated and exaggerated claims by manufacturers of TCM products and the absence of approved standards for training, qualification and indemnity coverage for TCM practitioners are amongst some of the concerns voiced. There is thus a need for the MOH to establish objectives of training and defined core competencies for TCM practitioners and procedures affording the public the opportunity to pursue complaints against TCM practitioners whose acts are not compliant with prescribed codes of conduct.

To address the issues highlighted above, the Traditional & Complementary Medicine Bill will, in addition to compulsory registration procedures, set up a council to regulate TCM practitioners similar to the Malaysian Medical Council which regulates doctors. The council would comprise of practitioners and ministry officials and be responsible for the issuance of guidelines and regulations for ethical TCM practice. In so doing, it is hoped that the practice of TCM will become a regulated profession developed within a safe and controlled environment in tandem with the interests of the public.

Written by Chew Kherk Ying, Partner Sonia Ong, IP Manager

Wong & PartnersLevel 21, Suite 21.01The Gardens South TowerMid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra59200 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaTel: +603 2298 7888Fax: +603 2282 [email protected]@wongpartners.com

inDonesia

indonesian product Labeling requirements – the introduction of

regulation 62

General of Domestic Trade, Ministry of Trade, as raw and/or supporting materials. In such circumstances, the manufacturer or distributor may sell the products without conforming to the Indonesian labeling requirements.

Any failure to comply with the labeling requirements imposed by Regulation 62 may expose the offending manufacturer or importer to sanctions including product recalls from the market, trading business license revocation, or criminal liability as stipulated under Indonesian Consumer Law.

Regulation 62 is intended to take effect within one year of its enactment or by 21 December 2010. Notwithstanding the lack of any official statement been released by the Ministry of Trade thus far, industry observers expect that Regulation 62 will take effect by 1 July 2010.

Written By Enrico Iskandar and Debu Batara Lubis

Enrico Iskandar Managing Partner, Bastaman Enrico E-mail: [email protected] Debu Batara Lubis Associate, Bastaman Enrico E-mail: [email protected] Bastaman Enrico (Attorneys At Law) Plaza Asia, Zone 12C Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 59 Jakarta 12190 Indonesia Tel: +(62 21) 514 01 380 Fax: +(62 21) 514 01 379 www.bastamanenrico.com

Generally, labeling requirements for products (including food, beverages and drugs) have been tightly regulated in Indonesia. In order to provide for better consumer protection, expanded labeling requirements for products sold in Indonesia have been recently introduced by the Government of Indonesia. The scope of the new labeling legislation has been extended to products such as household electronic products, telecommunication products, building materials and motor vehicle spare-parts.

The Ministry of Trade Regulation No. 62/M-DAG/PER/12/2009 (“Regulation 62”) provides that labels on products that are manufactured or imported by businesses for sale in the territory of Indonesia, must at the very least, contain the following information: (i) name and address of the manufacturer or importer and (ii) description of the products. Information on products labels which relate to safety, security, consumer health and the environment must include (i) the usage guidance and (ii) relevant hazardous symbol and/or a clear warning sign.

In relation to labeling standards, the Regulation 62 requires product labels to be described in clear and concise Bahasa Indonesia. However, Regulation 62 contains exceptions relating to the use of foreign languages, Arabic numerals or Latin alphabets which are permitted only if there are no suitable Bahasa Indonesia translations for the relevant words or phrases.

The Regulation 62 also contains exception relating to: (i) products which are sold in bulk form and directly packaged before reaching consumers and (ii) motor vehicle spare parts which are imported by manufacturers or distributors approved by the Directorate

32 asian Legal business issue 10.5

alB spECIal REpORT | Japan 2010 >>

JAPAN 2010





► BrIghter tImes ahead FOr In-hOuse lawyers In JaPan

in-house salaries in japan remain flat in 2010 despite increased demand for corporate counsel, according to a report published recently by japanese recruitment consultants optia Partners. the report notes that although hiring activity was possibly at its lowest point for some time over the last 18 months, the legal services employment market seems to have bottomed out from Q2 2010, pointing to the fact that some companies have opened up new roles in regulatory and compliance, banking and insurance.

in a trend that is identical to elsewhere in the region, foreign companies (gaishekei) continue to out-pay their local equivalents by – in some cases – as much as 30%. But the jury is still out on whether foreign or local companies are better places to work for in-house lawyers. the report notes that while the culture within foreign companies means they still may be ahead in this regard, a number of local companies like mitsubishi, sony and fujitsu are highly recommended for the excellent training programs they offer their legal staff.

A financial crisis along with political and regulatory uncertainty may have slowed the Japanese economy in 2009 but half-way through 2010 fortune and renewed confidence is returning – for the country’s economy as well as its legal services market. ALB takes a look

At the depths of the economic downturn in 2009, domestic recovery seemed to be nowhere in sight. Unlike the seemingly

unflappable emerging markets of India, China and South-East Asia, the situation in Japan was depressed and remained so for much of the first half of the year. It was compounded by nearly a decade of slow economic activity and an inexorable decline in staple sectors like real estate, flagging capital markets and political uncertainty.

This confluence of factors had led many to suggest that the country was staring down the barrel of a ‘second downturn’ in 2010. But as Japan heads into the second part of the year, the worst of the financial crisis seems to have abated – as has talk of a second downturn. Dealflow has seemingly been restored (although, as in most other economies across the region, the mega-transactions have been replaced by a flood of smaller deals) and confidence has picked up. This has been evident to the extent that signs of life have even reappeared in the country’s ailing real estate sector.

This is not to say that Japan’s economic fortunes have been completely reversed (think of the effect that high-profile corporate failures of Toyota and JAL has had on business confidence). There is lingering political uncertainty but the signs are positive for the nation’s economy this year, and are perhaps just as good for law firms in the country, many of whom have used

the comparatively quiet times of 2009 to rebuild, restructure and refocus their practices.

2009: annus horribilis for foreign law firms in Japan?

That last year was a difficult year for law firms in Japan is no secret. A downturn in capital markets and real estate practices – and in some cases cross-border work – caused severe discomfort, the only answer to which was a drastic scaling back of operations. The result, of course, was mass layoffs, particularly at the associate and junior-lawyer level, as well as the repatriation of many foreign attorneys back to head offices or other branch offices within the region.

“Some foreign law firms did it really tough over the past 12 months,” said one Tokyo-based partner at an international law firm. “Some firms, like Paul Hastings, Linklaters and Allen & Overy have been hit hard because their core areas were suffering.” This partner notes that while further layoffs by international firms are “unlikely” this year, many firms are still exploring ways to minimise the pressure on their bottom lines. “Some foreign law firms have sent associates and counsels on long-term or mid-term secondments to other international offices in the region,” the partner said.

“I’ve heard of cases where gaiben have started to work two months in their Beijing or Shanghai office


alB spECIal REpORT | Japan 2010 >>alB spECIal REpORT | Japan 2010 >>

and then one month in Tokyo.” Yet this is not to say that all foreign law firms have suffered – in fact the performances of some firms has been impressive (for example, MoFo, Milbank and Herbert Smith).

The downturn has provided a salutary lesson in practice management for international law firms in Japan, many of whom have already re-evaluated their strategies in the country. Whether this process will be successful depends on a number of factors, not least the continued economic recovery internationally and domestically, and whether international law firms who have entered the country with a view to servicing only a handful of practice areas, are capable of executing a strategic u-turn.

“It will be quite difficult for some international law firms to regroup,” said the same partner. “There’s no doubt that some need to… but for a

firm that has entered [the market] on the understanding that they would do 80% [of their business in] real-estate/finance work, it remains to be seen how easily they can restructure to do other things. I don’t know of many international law firms that have a client base, or head office, that flexible.”

Nonetheless, this process of diversification is one that is seemingly already occurring in Japan. Most foreign law firms have reinforced their presence in dispute resolution and many are said to be eyeing developments in the renewable and green energy spheres.

“We have seen a number of deals in the energy space, particularly renewables – wind and solar energy” said Mark Weeks, managing partner of Orrick in Tokyo. “Japanese utilities are

foreign companies

japanese companies

m= millions of Yen

5.58m 5.23m

15.87m

11.4m

17.29m

14.27m

30.44m

20.09m

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

legal staff legal manager legal counsel legal director/general counsel

► gaIsekeI Versus JaPanese cOmPanIes: aVerage salary By POsItIOn

Hisashi Haranagashima ohno & tsunematsu

“we have seen more demand in areas related to the financial crisis. this means more work in insolvency and bankruptcy, as well as in regulatory and corporate crisis management”

Akira Kosugi Nishimura & Asahi



keen to invest overseas because their markets here have been deregulated so there is more domestic competition.” Weeks also notes an upturn in enquiries from clients in the life sciences sector, where he says two-way investment levels will increase in the year ahead.

The local marketTo suggest that local law firms in Japan have escaped the same pressures squeezing the bottom lines of their international counterparts would be incorrect. Domestic law firms were not immune from the drop-off in capital markets, structured finance and real-estate work. But unlike many of their international counterparts, these law firms in Japan were better-placed to capitalise on the increased workflow in counter-cyclical areas like insolvency & restructuring and litigation, due to the ‘full-service’ nature of their practices.

“Japanese law firms that handled a wide scope of business transactions have not been affected as badly during this crisis,” says Masanori Sato, a partner with Mori Hamada & Matsumoto. “Of course the downturn in corporate and finance transactions affected firms, but depending on the size of their bankruptcy and insolvency practices they would have been able to limit this damage.”

Akira Kosugi, managing partner of Nishimura & Asahi, shares Sato’s assessment of the market, noting that from what he had heard most firms had performed “much better financially than they had expected in 2009.” He notes that this is as much due to the increase in activity coming from the insolvency and restructuring areas as the emergence of new pockets of advisory work for domestic law firms. “We have seen more demand in areas related to the financial crisis. This means more work in insolvency and bankruptcy, as well as in regulatory and corporate

crisis management.” Hisashi Hara, of

Nagashima, Ohno & Tsunematsu adds competition and anti-trust to this practice list and is optimistic about the amount of work on offer for local law firms in this area. “We are seeing strong demand in anti-trust because of the increase in cross-border transactions by Japanese companies,” he says. “As the economy stabilises and transaction levels pick up, this area will grow especially on the more sophisticated deals.” For example, in Panasonic’s recent tie-up with its ailing rival Sanyo, both Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu (Panasonic) and Mori Hamada & Matsumoto (Sanyo) were called on to provide Japanese competition law advice.

This increased demand in newer areas of practice has forced many local firms into deepening the diversification of their practices. For instance, all of the ‘Big Four’ have a dedicated presence in areas like litigation and arbitration – whereas only one or two did five years ago. Of course, in tandem with this process has been renewed activity in staple areas of practice for local law firms in Japan. Cross-border volumes started to pick up from Q4 2009, and the capital markets saw small issues plus mega-global offerings – the likes of which had not been seen for almost two years in Japan.

“M&A and capital markets activity should remain robust in the year ahead,” says Sato. “Just how robust is hard to predict – but we will most certainly see private equity and foreign funds return. Strategic M&A will continue and from what we can already see, calmer economic conditions will see Japanese companies continue to invest elsewhere in Asia, particularly in emerging markets in India, China and South-East Asia.”

Hara also notes an upturn in enquiries from the Chinese. “Companies in mainland China – along with some in Singapore and Malaysia – have expressed interest in acquiring Japanese companies, mainly SMEs, particularly those with ready-made technology. This trend is something

akira kosuginishimura & asahi

masanori Satomori Hamada & matsumoto

mark Weeksorrick

“we have seen a number of deals in the energy space, particularly renewables – wind and solar energy. Japanese utilities are keen to invest overseas because their markets here have been deregulated, so there is more domestic competition”

Mark Weeks Orrick



to make the endeavour worthwhile.”

Yet it seems that Week’s enthusiasm is not shared by a majority of his international counterparts. In a quick poll covering Tokyo managing partners of major foreign firms, 94% said they would not be interested in opening a second office in Japan. But once you get out of Tokyo, finding the right people becomes a different proposition, says Atsumi & Partners’ Daniel Hounslow.

“If you have a family there is major quality of life and quality of education difference between somewhere like Osaka and Tokyo,” he says.“This would make staffing an office out there very difficult for international law firms. There is good reason that most law firms in Tokyo do not have offices in Osaka.”

Unsurprisingly, local lawyers feel that even if international law firms were to open additional offices in the country, its impact on the local market would be negligible. One partner at a local Japanese firm says he is confused about why this is necessary. “Perhaps it is just about giving foreign law firms equal treatment but I don’t think any will open branch offices in Japan, especially in light of the difficult period they have just been through.”

local challengesDespite this spike in new areas and counter-cyclical areas of practice, Japanese companies face some challenges in the year ahead. Practitioners ALB spoke to note that although the upturn in work in these

36

that is heavily backed by the Japanese government.”

further liberalisation on the cards? Despite the general poor health of the international segment of the Japanese legal services market, further liberalisation could be on the cards – which may pave the way for foreign firms to open more than one branch office in the country.

In mid April 2010, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) announced its intention to update the current law which permits foreign law firms to have only one office in Japan in association with a domestic law firm. It is understood that the amendment would extend to foreign law firms the same rights as domestic law firms vis-a -vis office expansion. Currently, local Japanese law firms are allowed to open more than one office in the country if they enter into a professional corporation.

It is believed that the proposed amendments will be submitted to the Diet in the fourth quarter of this year and could come into effect from January 2012, meaning that foreign law firms could soon be opening offices in places like Osaka or Kyoto very soon.

Osaka is home to many major Japanese companies like Toyota, Osaka Gas and Panasonic, but it is underserviced by foreign law firms, says Weeks. “There are a lot of manufacturing clients in that [Western] region and very substantial client bases [there]. We will definitely look at [opportunities], but you really need to find the right people

► In-hOuse legal Industry POsItIOns – JaPan

Legalstaff Legalmanager Legalcounsel Legaldirector/generalcounsel

Min(JPYm)

Max(JPYm)

Avg(JPYm)

Min(JPYm)

Max(JPYm)

Avg(JPYm)

Min(JPYm)

Max(JPYm)

Avg(JPYm)

Min(JPYm)

Max(JPYm)

Avg(JPYm)

Advertising&consumer 4.5 7.0 6.3 8.0 12.0 10.5 8.5 25.0 13.7 13.1 28.0 19.5

Finance 4.0 8.0 5.7 7.0 24.0 14.0 7.0 50.0 20.1 12.0 100+ 30.0

Insurance 5.0 9.0 5.8 10.0 20.0 13.4 11.0 20.0 15.1 13.0 27.0 20.4

Lifescience 4.0 8.5 6.6 8.0 16.0 11.7 10.0 22.0 14.2 10.0 30.0 19.4

Manufacturing 4.0 8.0 5.6 5.0 22.0 11.2 9.0 23.0 15.4 11.0 23.5 16.5

Technology 3.5 8.0 5.5 5.5 24.0 12.7 12.0 25.0 15.7 11.0 36.0 19.0

“quite a few local firms staffed up heavily in anticipation of banking & finance and m&a work taking off in 2009, meaning that they are now a little bottom-heavy. this puts some in a difficult position. they need to trim staff numbers but probably aren’t ready to do this yet”

Bonnie Dixon Atsumi & Partners

Daniel Hounslowatsumi & partners

Hiroo atsumiatsumi & partners



Firm Profile Mori Hamada & Matsumoto


Foreign insolvency proceedings in Japan

As a natural consequence of the Lehman shock back in 2008, many international business entities have become insolvent and have

filed for legal proceedings in their respective jurisdictions in the past couple of years. In some instances, foreign insolvent companies which commenced their bankruptcy proceedings in their own jurisdictions have certain assets in Japan. Liquidators or administrators of these companies will be obligated to move such assets back to their countries and/or dispose of them in order to maximise the distribution of assets to creditors in compliance with the applicable bankruptcy laws.

Some of these liquidators or administrators intuitively ask themselves the following question: does my appointment as liquidator/administrator by the competent court with jurisdiction in my country give me authority over the debtor company in Japan? This article will give you an outline of the relevant law of which you should be aware when acting as a liquidator/administrator of an international entity which has certain assets in Japan.

Recognition Order and assistance OrderEven if the law under which you are appointed as a liquidator/administrator sets out that it will be applicable to the insolvent entity’s assets located in a different jurisdiction, Japanese law does not automatically recognize foreign legal proceedings or your authority in the Japanese territory. You must first obtain a Recognition Order from a Japanese court for the legal proceeding to be recognized by the court, in accordance with the Act on Recognition and Assistance for a Foreign Insolvency Proceedings (RAFIP Act.) This legal procedure is in line with the Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), which requires

such recognition from local courts before a foreign liquidator/administrator may act with authority in the territory.

However, unlike the position under the UNCITRAL Model Law, the Japanese Recognition Order does not by itself result in automatic provision of certain assistance to foreign liquidator/administrator. In Japan, the Recognition Order is simply a precondition for obtaining one or more Assistance Orders. These include (i) an order to injunct an ongoing compulsory execution against debtor’s assets, (ii) an order to generally prohibit compulsory execution against debtor’s assets, (iii) a general prohibition of asset disposal and repayment of debts by the debtor, and (iv) an order to exclusively give asset disposal rights in Japan to the debtor-in-possession or foreign-appointed liquidator/administrator (called an Administration Order).

It is important that a foreign-appointed liquidator/administrator understands that he/she is not legally empowered to take control over or dispose of debtor’s assets located in Japan without first obtaining the Administration Order. Japanese law considers that the debtor’s assets can only be controlled or disposed of by the existing executive officers and does not automatically recognise the liquidator/administrator’s authority as given by a foreign legal system. Thus, in the case where a liquidator or administrator of a debtor sells debtor’s certain assets and re-patriates the proceeds to the company’s jurisdiction without first obtaining an Administration Order in Japan, it may be regarded as theft or embezzlement under Japanese criminal law.

Restriction on disposal rightsOnce an Administration Order is issued, the foreign liquidator/administrator will become an approved trustee under the RAFIP Act, and becomes the sole person who can control the debtor’s business and dispose

of the debtor’s assets in Japan. However, even having secured the Administration Order, the approved trustee must also obtain individual court approvals each time it wishes to dispose of debtor’s assets or transfer them beyond Japan’s borders. This restriction is intended to prevent unjust removal of such assets from Japan and to protect domestic creditors’ rights. From a foreign liquidators/administrators’ standpoint, obtaining such individual approvals is quite burdensome and unnecessary, as they are already appointed as the authorised fiduciary of the debtor under the law of the relevant jurisdiction and are therefore obliged to meet their fiduciary obligations. This would seem to make any further imposition by the Japanese courts unnecessary.

The author admits that it seems somewhat strange that the RAFIP Act requires individual approval for asset disposal to protect domestic creditors, since the court will have already recognized the foreign proceedings as fair and legitimate during the process of issuing the necessary Recognition Order. Having said that, it is not advisable to neglect the requirements of the RAFIP Act in taking the risk of committing theft or embezzlement under the Japanese law. If you think the individual approval of asset disposal is a redundant requirement in your case, you may want to specifically explain and exhibit to the Japanese court the fairness of the proceedings in your country and how the Japanese creditors would be equally treated thereunder. Then one could request that the Japanese court issues a “catch-all” approval to apply to all of the company’s assets, or that it expedites the future approval process. Accumulating these efforts would help rationalise the court practice and facilitate international bankruptcy practitioners’ activity in Japan in the future.

Junichi Tobimatsu, partner Mori Hamada & Matsumoto email: [email protected] tel: +81-3-5223-7760



are looking at limiting the number of associates, junior lawyers or support staff they bring in over the next few months. While the lightning organic growth of previous years may not be attainable for many in 2010, many Japanese law firms may be well served by looking to growth of a different kind – the broadening of their international offerings.

Offices in mainland China have been an important part of the international strategies of Mori Hamada and Anderson Mori, and now Nishimura & Asahi has announced it will open on the mainland in the coming months, but there is already a sense that Japanese firms must do more – especially as Japanese clients become increasingly active in markets like India and South-East Asia.

Whether this would involve establishing additional branch offices is still unclear. Of all the local law firms ALB interviewed for this report, only Nishimura & Asahi’s Akira Kosugi admitted that his firm was “looking at the possibility of South-

has been noticeable, very few said that it compensated for the downturn being felt in other ‘fee-fat’ areas like M&A, banking & finance and real estate.

As a number of observers pointed out, this may force many local firms into making difficult strategic decisions in the year ahead if they wish to preserve the growth that many have displayed such a penchant for over the last decade. But such decisions won’t come easily – as Bonnie Dixon, a partner with Atsumi & Partners, points out. “Quite a few local firms staffed up heavily in anticipation of banking & finance and M&A work taking off in 2009 meaning that they are now a little bottom-heavy,” she says. “This puts some in a difficult position. They need to trim staff numbers but probably aren’t ready to do this yet.”

“Bottom-heavy” is something that a number of the country’s ‘top four’ admit to being, with many firms saying they

East Asian offices.”Nonetheless, the process of

internationalising one’s practice need not be only about opening offices across the region. It can start at home by bringing on board international lawyers who can often compensate for a firm’s lack of geographical coverage.

One law firm that has been something of a pioneer in this regard has been Atsumi & Partners. In addition to having admitted the first foreign lawyer to partnership at a local law firm, the firm has a number of international lawyers in its ranks. “We have seen international work coming to us because of our foreign credentials… and because of this we are well positioned to take such business away from our competitors,” notes Hounslow.

Regardless of what method is pursued, it is clear that this process of internationalisation is an important one for Japanese law firms. It is yet another way that local law firms can prove their worth in a market where clients are demanding more of it and competition is intensifying. ALB

Bonnie Dixonatsumi & partners

http://www.amt-law.com

http://www.maplesandcalder.com

FEaTURE | Offshore firms >>


Offshore law firms: Consolidation beckons

40



When ALB last reported on the status of the offshore legal services market, the ire of a small, but vocal,

segment of the world community was directed squarely at offshore financial centres. World leaders decried the role that that offshore locations were playing in cultivating ‘shadow banking systems.’ But as the pressures of the financial crisis eased and some of the less transparent offshore financial centres outlined their commitment to cooperating more fully with onshore regulators across the world, talk of the inherent ‘evils’ of offshore financial centres dissipated.

Instead it is replaced with odes to their importance, and a seemingly worldwide recognition of the integral role that they play in keeping the wheels of the world economy turning. “International financial centres play a vital economic role in the global economy. In fact, the economic recovery has been aided by transactions that happened in these centres,” says Hugh O’Loughlin, head of Asia for law firm Walkers. “As Asia continues to grow and mature as a global financial centre, it is important that investors and financial institutions look to the range of options available to them – including the use of international financial centres.”

It is this renewed interest in offshore financial centres as conduits for investment in lucrative emerging markets such as China, India, Russia, Africa and South America that has kept, and is continuing to keep, offshore law firms in Asia busy. But just as attitudes to offshore financial centres have moved on markedly from where they were in 2009, so too has the complexion of the offshore legal services market. Consolidation, merger activity, regulatory changes – as well as the emergence (and reemergence) of new areas of practice – have rendered the legal market hierarchy as fluid as it has been for some time.

State of the market‘Buoyant’ is perhaps the best way to describe the offshore market at the moment, with those lawyers ALB interviewed noting that they are seeing the full spectrum of work now, from GFC-related restructurings to an abundance of corporate work, funds and listing matters.

Christine Chang, joint managing partner of Maples and Calder’s Hong Kong office says that while there is still some GFC-related work to come, firms are enthused by the increase in activity in other areas as well. “Having worked on a number of hedge fund restructurings, schemes of arrangement, and cross-border insolvencies during 2009, the first quarter of 2010 has, by contrast, brought a flow of new non-GFC related “new money” deals such as IPOs, new hedge fund start-ups and financings,” she says. “We are also seeing new “green energy” projects… dealflow is moving from the West to the East, with an increase in outbound Asian investment, particularly into emerging markets such as Latin America and Africa. 2010 marks a new era in terms of lessons learnt post-GFC.”

Carol Hall, head of investment funds for Walkers in Hong Kong says that while Walkers still has a number of restructuring projects in the pipeline, the speed of Asia’s economic recovery has meant “steady growth in new fund formation, downstream spends, and corporate finance-related transactions.”

► largest OFFshOre law FIrms*#Firm lawyers partners Offices

1 appleby 207 74 112 maples and

Calder196 62 7

3 Conyers dill & Pearman

163 41 11

4 Walkers 146 48 7

5 ogier 170 33 9

6 arendt & medernach

270 30 6

7 harney, Westwood & riegels

62 23 5

*Only offshore law firms with a presence in Asia are listed#Global lawyers figures used

“we have also been approached to advise investors on their inward investment into Jersey listed companies. we expect to see a new trend in the use of Jersey and BVI entities, particularly from clients based in russia and europe”

Frances Woo Appleby

Hugh O’loughlinwalkers



listingsPractitioners are equally as optimistic about the prospect of recovery on the region’s capital markets, with many lawyers noting that the Hong Kong Exchange’s decision to relax the listing requirements for Jersey and British Virgin Islands (BVI) incorporated companies has generated a fair amount of interest. This is notable because both jurisdictions have been historically popular with Asia-based clients.

“From a BVI perspective, this development has generated significant interest among our clients as it simplifies the listing process and provides a cost-efficient exit strategy for investors in BVI-incorporated companies,” said Maples’ Chang. “The HKEX listing development should encourage yet more investment in China through BVI companies.” It’s also worth noting that BVI companies provided the second-largest source of foreign investment in China (at US$5.8bn) for 1H09.

But others say that Jersey is generating as much, if not more interest, among their clients. While it is certainly attracting more attention in Asia, historically BVI is the preferred jurisdiction, “as companies are better known and Asian clients, especially in China, have a comfort level with BVI,” saysDenise Wong, a partner with Walkers in Hong Kong. “That said, there seems to be more interest in using Jersey for HKEX listings, so it will be interesting to see what happens in the coming months.”

Frances Woo, managing partner of Appleby in Hong Kong, adds that this should also see an increase in other types of investment related to BVI and Jersey-incorporated companies. “The relaxing of the listing rules for Jersey and BVI has been met with great interest… particularly within the private equity sector,” she says. “We have also been approached to advise investors on their inward investment into Jersey listed companies. We expect to see a new trend in the use of Jersey and BVI entities, particularly from clients based in Russia and Europe.”

But despite the positive signs surrounding this development, a “wait and see” approach may be needed until some of the finer details are ironed out, of which clarification on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong’s Practice Note vis-a-vis BVI listings and what is needed to satisfy the nexus requirement between the BVI and the business and operations of the company being listed is the arguably the most pressing.

Islamic finance Both Islamic financial institutions and issuers of Shariah-compliant financial products are searching for ways in which they can, inter alia, avoid taking on debt in excess of their share capital – especially in the context of sukuk. Offshore financial centres and law firms stand to benefit. “Islamic finance structures and sukuk transactions, in particular, are a growing source of business for offshore jurisdictions,” says Chang. “Many Islamic finance structures require offshore companies and vehicles to hold assets or issue securities as part of more complex arrangements. This is becoming an important market for the offshore industry.”

But as Kerri Lefebvre, managing partner of Conyers Dill & Pearman in Dubai, is quick to point out, sukuk is not the only product that issuers are showing an interest in. “[While] the use of offshore companies continues to be popular for sukuk and other Islamic finance transactions… the use of offshore trust structures is increasing and offshore companies are also being used in wakala, murabaha and musharaka structures.”

Growth of this area of offshore law is one that all of the major players are keen to secure a share of, but it is one that also presents immense challenges for practitioners. Most of the largest offshore law firms have hired lawyers who can advise on Shariah law over the last 12 months. As lawyers ALB interviewed have noted, given that the offshore component of Islamic finance transactions are but one of several parts of a structure, offshore firms will need to work closely with onshore firms and other jurisdictions.

Chang says the other difficulty facing offshore law firms relates to holding

assets. She explains that offshore structures often require that assets be held in other jurisdictions. But many of the jurisdictions where Islamic finance is popular have strict local ownership laws, requiring complicated arrangements to be put in place before the offshore companies can hold the underlying assets.

In terms of offshore jurisdictions, the most popular centres to date have been Cayman, Jersey, Bermuda and Luxembourg – while Singapore and Hong Kong are also seen to be making positive inroads. Luxembourg, for example, has a long history with Islamic finance having been chosen to domicile the first Shariah-compliant insurance company in Europe in 1983. The Luxembourg Stock Exchange was also the first European stock exchange to enter the sukuk market, having listed since 2002. As at the end of 2009, 15 sukuk have been listed and traded on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, and 39 Shariah-compliant investment funds and sub-funds have been established in the jurisdiction.

While Luxembourg may be a popular destination for European and US issuers, for those in Asia and the Middle East, offshore markets with which they are already familiar are proving the most popular. “The Cayman Islands continues to be a leading choice of domicile for Islamic finance transactions,” says Conyers Lefebvre. “Bermuda’s reputation as a premier jurisdiction for aircraft registration and finance has enabled it to position itself as the jurisdiction of choice for sukuk and other Shariah-compliant structures, using aircraft as an asset base.”

Appleby’s Woo adds BVI and Jersey to the list, saying that BVI’s popularity with Asian clients and Jersey’s “strong regulatory environment and reputation” mean they are also both well placed to develop their Islamic finance market in the future.

However, the dark horse in this race is most surely the Malaysian federal territory of Labuan. Recently, the Labuan Financial Services Authority introduced a new regulatory framework for captive insurance, trusts and

frances Wooappleby

christine changmaples and calder



“as asia continues to grow and mature as a global financial centre, it is important that investors and financial institutions look to the range of options available to them – including the use of international financial centres”

Hugh O’Loughlin Walkers

THE RIGHT PEOPLE. THE RIGHT PLACES. THE RIGHT GUIDANCE.

Navigating offshore options can be tricky. Appleby

offers our clients skilled advice and a depth of

knowledge across our offshore jurisdictions.

Our Hong Kong office has been guiding clients

to the best options for Asian, Indian and African

investment for over 20 years. That’s what we offer

clients and why we continue to grow.

We are pleased to announce the opening of our

new Guernsey office. Unparalleled jurisdictional

reach and trusted advice. Appleby.

For further information, please contact:

Frances Woo, Managing Partner, Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2905 5720

Email: [email protected]

Bahrain

Bermuda

British Virgin Islands

Cayman Islands

Guernsey

Hong Kong

Isle of Man

Jersey

London

Mauritius

Seychelles

Zurich

applebyglobal.comOffshore Legal, Fiduciary & Administration Services

foundations, as well as Islamic financial services and products. Director-general Azizan Abdul Rahman is confident that these new laws will boost business in the jurisdiction by 20% this year. And four new laws were enacted with comprehensive amendments made to four existing ones.

“The profile of a jurisdiction will be raised once an important or landmark Islamic finance transaction is launched in such a jurisdiction,” said Lefebvre noting that the task for any offshore, or onshore, jurisdiction wishing to increase their market share of Islamic finance transactions must ensure that their tax laws do not put Islamic finance transactions at a disadvantage.

further consolidation beckons? By almost every measure, 2009 was a watershed year for the offshore legal services market. Mergers (such as Appleby’s acquisition of Dickinson Cruickshank and the impending merger between Mourant and Ozannes) as well the creation of a number of new firms

and office openings by others, have turned the offshore legal market status quo on its head. But despite the changes that have occurred over the past year, there is still a sense that this process of consolidation is incomplete and that the new status quo’s stay is temporary.

“General business sense indicates that additional consolidation will be seen within the offshore legal market,” says Appleby’s Woo. “A strong combined and substantial firm has the financial, management and professional resources for clients to achieve efficiencies and economies of scale. We expect that to lead to further consolidation in due course.”

Interestingly, others see consolidation of a different type occurring. Spencer Privett, joint managing partner of Maples and Calder in Hong Kong, says “the number of sustainable offshore jurisdictions is declining. Rather than work coming from an increasing number of offshore centres, we believe that offshore business will consolidate into a few leading jurisdictions such

http://www.applebyglobal.com


44 asian Legal business issue 10.5 44

Firm Profile Walkers

arwel Lewis, looks at current trends in the asian private equity industryBackground

Unsurprisingly, given the global economic landscape of the last few years, the private equity industry experienced a turbulent time in

2009, reflected by a challenging capital-raising environment for new private equity funds and a reluctance to call on investors to commit funds to new portfolio investments. General partners and managers also tell us that they had to commit significant time to the monitoring and restructuring of existing investments, which have been a drain on resources that could otherwise have been deployed on new fund raising or investments.

However, promising signs during the first quarter of 2010, particularly in Asia, give grounds for optimism.

Improvements in both the economy and stock indices (the Hang Seng Index crossed the 22,000 threshold in mid-April 2010, doubling from the lows of October 2008), a cautious re-emergence of leverage from the debt markets, improved business confidence and China’s continued economic growth and perceived role in leading the global economic recovery, has led to a marked increase in activity in the Asian private equity environment.

new fundsLarge funds are making a re-appearance. Among the recently reported deals is the US$2.55 billion Carlyle Asia Partners III, one of the biggest private equity funds in the region since the height of the global financial crisis in 2008, which reportedly includes large institutional investors from around the world, including the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Asia.

We have also seen a greater number of small and mid-market fund launches, seeking more achievable fund sizes and specifying more focused sector and geographic investment guidelines. Particular sectors that appear popular include infrastructure, healthcare, new energy and commodities, as well as the more traditional real estate funds. Unsurprisingly, China is the dominant geographic focus.

In our experience there has also been several notable joint ventures between financial institutions and corporates with expertise in the fund’s targeted investment sector and geographic focus. The combination of the former’s access to capital and the

latter’s industry contacts and knowledge, proving attractive. The eagerness of large Chinese financial institutions to invest in and to sponsor their own Cayman Islands funds has also led to increased work flows.

Generally speaking, a number of Walkers’ clients are working toward substantial closings, which supports a more positive outlook for capital deployment in the second half of 2010.

fund Raising TrendsOn the fund raising side, some trends are becoming increasingly apparent. Investors are aggressively targeting fees payable to the general partner and fee free-periods are commonly demanded from funds. In addition, lengthier and more complex clawback provisions, enabling investors to recoup fees previously paid to the general partner, are becoming more common place, with some arrangements involving fees being paid into escrow to give investors greater comfort that the clawback obligations will be met.

Investors are also becoming more focused on corporate governance and the ability to ensure that the investments pursued by their funds comply with various ethical standards.

As a result, the frequency of side letters between the general partner and investors appears to be increasing, and the provisions of those side letters are becoming lengthier and more complex, perhaps reflecting the eagerness of general partners to secure investor’s commitments.

Investments and exitOn the investment side, there have been a number of high profile Asian public to private investments, including Carlyle’s successful investment in Natural Beauty Bio-Technology. In addition, Walkers investment funds team in Hong Kong and Singapore have been involved in a number of significant Pre-IPO investments, structured through subscriptions in convertible bonds, or perhaps more commonly, preference shares.

As deal flow has started to return, the range of potential exit opportunities has widened, particularly with the recovery in global stock markets. As debt finance opportunities improve, trade sales have also become more realistic options.

Private equity and venture capital owned companies featured strongly in a wave of IPOs over the last six months (Carlyle investee

companies China Forestry Holdings and Kaisa Group, and The Jordan Company’s exit from International Mining Machinery, being prime examples), as firms looked to release value from investments made over the past few years, a trend that is expected to continue during 2010.

RmB fundsFinally, RMB Funds, structured as PRC partnerships seeking investment in yuan, as opposed to the market standard Cayman Islands partnerships (raising US Dollars), are also firmly in focus, following recent high profile announcements by US private equity giants Carlyle and Blackstone that they have teamed up with partners in the PRC to form and manage funds.

The market awaits with interest whether the current legal and regulatory hurdles to allow foreign investors to invest directly in RMB funds, and to negotiate the applicable foreign exchange restrictions, can be overcome. Until those issues can be definitively addressed in legislation, it seems likely based on our experience, that the Cayman Islands and the Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership will remain as the jurisdiction and structure of choice for new fund structures in Asia.

Arwel Lewis is a senior associate in the Investment Funds team in the Hong Kong office of Walkers, one of the leading offshore law firms practicing Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands and Jersey law.

15th Floor, Alexandra House 18 Chater Road Central, Hong Kong T +852 2596 3319 F +852 2284 4560 [email protected]

arwel lewis




C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

ONealWebster_210x268.pdf 1 5/2/10 10:50 PM

http://www.onealwebster.com



ROBERTSON JOINS TOP TEAM• Everton Robertson will join Richard Thorp and Harriet Unger in Thorp Alberga’s newly opened Hong Kong office from 1 June 2010. Previously with Linklaters and Shearman & Sterling, Everton was most recently a private equity partner in Walkers’ Hong Kong office.

• Everton focuses on pre-IPO financing, private equity, M&A and capital markets and is admitted in both Cayman and the British Virgin Islands. Everton has acted for major financial institutions, corporates and private equity firms throughout Asia.

• Thorp Alberga is a boutique law firm offering Cayman Islands and BVI legal advice from our Hong Kong office.

2606 The Centrium 60 Wyndham Street Central, Hong KongTel: +852 2801 6066 Fax: +852 2801 6767

Harbour Place South Church Street, George Town Grand Cayman, Cayman IslandsTel: +1 345 949 0699 Fax: +1 345 949 8171

www.thorpalberga.com

as the Cayman Islands and the BVI,” he said. “Our view is that the more recently established jurisdictions have attracted business as a result of their network of Double Taxation Treaties (“DTTs”). With increased focus on maximising tax collections in many onshore jurisdictions, national tax authorities are starting to deny tax treaty benefits to entities which do not have substantive operations in the relevant offshore jurisdiction.

Privett cites changes to tax practice in the PRC as an example, saying that the issuance of Circular 601 by the Chinese State Administration of Tax has introduced uncertainty in assessing a claim for DTT tax benefits, for a typical vehicle established in an offshore jurisdiction such as Barbados or the Seychelles. “As the likelihood of successfully claiming DTT benefits diminishes, Cayman and the BVI will

find themselves on the same playing field with regard to taxation as the DTT jurisdictions.”

But while there will always be competition for work between offshore financial centres, there has perhaps never been more of a need for them to cooperate as well. To this end, a firm dialogue has already been established through the International Financial Centres Forum, an organisation formed in December 2009 by a group of offshore law firms including Appleby, Conyers, Mourant, Ogier and Walkers. “We see more cooperation among offshore jurisdictions and law firms,” says John Rogers, head of finance for Walkers in Singapore. “The best example of this is the formation of the IFC… [which] aims to present a more coordinated response to the political rhetoric aimed at offshore financial centres, so that policy makers fully understand the positive contributions that IFCs make to the global economy and the potential consequences of restricting their activities.” ALB

“after a number of hedge fund restructurings, schemes of arrangement, and cross-border insolvencies during 2009, the first quarter of 2010 has, by contrast, brought a flow of new non-gFc related “new money” deals such as IPOs, new hedge fund start-ups and financings”

Christine Chang Maples and Calder

Spencer Privettmaples and calder

http://www.thorpalberga.com



http://www.harneys.com

EVENTs | SE Asia Law Awards >>


► FIrms – leadIng FInalIstsFirm No. Lawfirmawards Dealawardsallen & Gledhill 28 Commercial litigation

Constructioninternational arbitrationiPreal estatesingapore dealsingapore shippingtax & trusts

asset & corp financedebt marketequity marketinsolvencyislamic financese asia m&asingapore m&a

WongPartnership 15 Commercial litigationConstructionmanaging partnerreal estatesingapore dealtax & trusts

asset & corp financeequity marketinsolvencysingapore m&a

Clifford Chance 14 international dealthailand deal

debt marketequity marketinsolvencyProject financese asia m&asingapore m&a

allen & overy 11 international dealmanaging partnerthailand deal

equity marketdebt marketinsolvencyislamic financeProject finance se asia m&asingapore m&a

linklaters 11 energy & resourcesinternational deal

debt marketequity marketinsolvencyislamic financese asia m&asingapore m&a

hadiputranto, hadinoto & Partners 10 indonesia deal debt marketequity marketinsolvencyislamic finance Project finance se asia m&a

latham & Watkins 9 energy & resourcesinternational deal

debt marketequity marketProject financese asia m&asingapore m&a

rajah & tann 9 Commercial litigationConstructioninternational arbitrationreal estatesingapore dealsingapore shipping

insolvencyProject finance

shearman & sterling 9 international arbitrationinternational deal

debt marketProject financesingapore m&a

stamford law Corporation 9 singapore deal asset & corp financedebt marketequity marketinsolvencyse asia m&a singapore m&a

Baker & mckenzie. Wong & leow 8 iPtax & trusts

asset & corp financeequity marketinsolvencyislamic financeProject finance

rodyk & davidson 8 iPmanaging partnerreal estatesingapore deal

asset & corp financeinsolvency se asia m&asingapore m&a

davis Polk & Wardwell 7 international deal debt marketequity marketse asia m&a

amarchand & mangaldas & suresh ashroff & Co 6 india deal debt marketinsolvencyProject financese asia m&a


► FIrms – leadIng FInalIsts (cOnt)Firm No. Lawfirmawards Dealawardslovells lee & lee 6 energy & resources

managing partnerasset & corp financeislamic financese asia m&asingapore m&a

luthra & luthra 6 energy & resourcesindia deal

debt marketProject finance

milbank 6 energy & resourcesinternational deal

debt marketequity marketislamic financese asia m&a

norton rose 5 energy & resourcesinternational arbitration

equity marketProject finance se asia m&a

Walkers 5 offshore asset & corp financeislamic finance singapore m&a

White & Case 5 equity marketinsolvency Project financese asia m&a

assegaf hamzah & Partners 4 debt marketequity marketislamic finance insolvency

Conyers dill & Pearman 4 offshore asset & corp financedebt marketsingapore m&a

jones day 4 debt market insolvencyse asia m&a

melli darsa & Co 4 debt marketequity marketse asia m&a

sidley austin 4 debt marketequity marketinsolvencyse asia m&a

sycip salazar 4 Philippines deal se asia m&asingapore m&a

Zul rafique & partners 4 malaysia deal equity marketislamic finance

albar & Partners 3 insolvencyislamic finance

ali Budiardjo, nugroho, reksodiputro 3 indonesia deal Project financese asia m&a

appleby 3 offshore asset & corp financeinsolvency

aZB & Partners 3 india deal insolvencydebt market

azmi & associates 3 malaysia deal asset & corp financeislamic finance

Baker & mckenzie 3 international dealthailand dealVietnam deal

freshfields Bruckhaus deringer 3 Vietnam deal singapore m&aince & Co 3 se asia shipping asset & corp finance

islamic financej sagar & associates 3 india deal Project finance

insolvencyKadir, andri & Partners 3 malaysia deal equity market

islamic financemakarim & taira s 3 insolvency

Project financese asia m&a

makes & Partners 3 indonesia deal se asia m&aromulo mabanta 3 Philippines deal se asia m&ashook lin & Bok 3 malaysia deal asset & corp finance

se asia m&a

EVENTs | SE Asia Law Awards


Asset & CorporAte FinAnCe DeAl oF the YeAr

fInalISTS ► asIa lIOn and Psa wOrld POrt term lOan FacIlIty

Firms:Allen&GledhillBanks: dBs Bank; intesa sanpaolo; oCBC; Bank of tokyo-mitsubishi ufj; united overseas Bank• us$1.1bn term loan facility granted to asia lion and Psa World

Port for refinancing and for general corporate purposes• one of largest syndications on singapore market, at height of

financial crisis• allows the company to draw in four different currencies,

reflecting diverse revenue source of company

► maPletree trustee BrIdge lOan reFInancIngFirms:Allen&Gledhill;StamfordLawCorporationBank: dBs Bank• us$669m senior facility andus$77m mezzanine facility used

to refinance existing us$0.76bn bridge financing for the acquisition by mapletree of commercial properties

• managing requirements of senior lender and mezzanine lender in documentation and their respective rights to security package was challenging

• facilitating discharge and re-mortgage of portfolio of assets (including the undertaking of relevant due diligence) was difficult given its sheer size

► saFeena FIrst InVestmentFirms:Allen&Gledhill;Azmi&Associates;BlankRome;Ince&Co;MochtarKaruwinKomar;Vogt&Wiig;WalkersBanks: amanahraya investment management sdn Bhd; asian finance Bank• investment in stainless steel chemical carrier made through

istisna’a and ijarah mawsufah fi zimmah structure (ie islamic deferred purchase and forward lease arrangement)

• first time this type of financing adopted by a fund, let alone an islamic shipping fund, particularly in midst of economic recession; was first investment by shariah compliant shipping fund outside middle east

• multi-jurisdiction transaction involving legal counsel in singapore, malaysia, indonesia, marshall islands, BVi and london

► sOuth Beach cOnsOrtIum term lOan FacIlItyFirms: Allen & Gledhill; Appleby; Baker & McKenzie.Wong&Leow;ConyersDill&Pearman;WongPartnershipBanks: dBs Bank; hsBC; oCBC; sumitomo mitsui; united overseas Bank• s$400m raised through innovative cross-border structure

involving mezzanine facility subordinated to senior bank lenders, and ability of investors of notes to convert notes into ordinary shares

• one of largest property-backed loans made in singapore market in the challenging economic and financial climate of 2009

• interplay between different senior and mezzanine financing structures and need to address varied intercreditor interests of senior and mezzanine lenders required detailed and delicate drafting of key provisions, resulting in intense negotiations

► suntec reIt reFInancIngFirms:Allen&Gledhill;Rodyk&Davidson;ShookLin&BokBanks: CimB; Citibank; dBs Bank; natixis; oCBC; standard Chartered Bank; united overseas Bank• s$825m term loan facilities to hsBC institutional trust

services as trustee of suntec reit• refinancing of existing collateralised mortgage-backed

securities, medium term notes and indebtedness under a revolving credit facility

► uOl equIty InVestment term lOan FacIlItyFirms:Allen&Gledhill;LovellsLee&Lee;WongPartnershipBanks: anZ; dBs Bank; inG Bank; united overseas Bank• uol takeover bid for uiC involved much strategising given

the competition for control over uiC that followed a 2005 takeover bid by the largest single shareholder

• change in statutory control over uiC will involve chain principle offer to be made for singland pursuant to takeover Code

• loan amount was so large that, given the credit situation, certain non-standard covenants had to be negotiated at length

islAmiC FinAnCe DeAl oF the YeAr

fInalISTS ► cImB-standard IslamIc InFrastructure Fund

Firms:Ashurst;Gibson,Dunn&Crutcher;ZaidIbrahim&Co;ZulRafique&partners

Banks: asian development Bank; CimB; islamic development Bank• asia’s first major multi-country islamic infrastructure fund• fund will meet needs of investors looking for shari’ah-

compliant equity investments by investing in many countries including malaysia, central asia, azerbaijan, Bangladesh

► Pengurusan aset aIr IJarah and musyarakah PrOgramme

Firm:Albar&PartnersBank: CimBaccountant: ernst & Young• sPV incorporated to finance PaaB’s acquisition of water

assets under national Water services industry restructuring initiatives using islamic medium-term notes and islamic commercial papers up to collective limit of rm20bn (approx us$6.2bn)

• maslaysia’s biggest corporate islamic fund-raising, and used unique mixture of ijarah and musyarakah principles

• finer points of restructuring initiatives, the governing Water services industry act 2007 and applicable tenets of shariah law all had to be considered, as well as official state secrets

► PetrOnas JumBO sukukFirms:ClearyGottlieb;Kadir,Andri&Partners;LovellsLee&Lee;Milbank;ZulRafique&partnersBanks: Bank of new York mellon; CimB; Citibank; morgan stanley• sukuk issued concurrently with us$3bn bond; size of the

issue, widespread investor interest and involvement of multinational corporation such as Petronas make this truly global issuance

• one of two largest global sukuks ever done and first global corporate sukuk of 2009

• largest asia issuance in last 5 years and second largest asia issuance ever

► rePuBlIc OF IndOnesIa us-dOllar sukukFirms:Allen&Overy;AssegafHamzah&Partners;Baker&McKenzie.Wong&Leow;Hadiputranto,Hadinoto&Partners;Linklaters;MarsinihMartoatmodjoIskandarKusdihardjoBanks: Barclays; hsBC; standard Chartered Bank• republic of indonesia’s debut global sukuk transaction,

valued at us$650m, denominated in us dollars• follows an ijara (sale and leaseback) structure; issuer, a state-

Commensurate with the growth of the profession as a whole, the biggest night on this year’s legal calendar features a bigger, wider and deeper array of talent than ever before. Here is a complete list of all the finalists across the 36 categories of this year’s ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2010

The finalists revealed!

deals of the year




owned entity, will use proceeds of trust certificates to purchase beneficial rights over certain real properties which are then leased back for period equal to tenor of trust certificates

• largest-ever us$ straight sukuk from non-GCC country; first benchmark us$ straight sukuk from asia since 2007; largest sukuk since june 2007; only second reg s/rule 144a registered sovereign sukuk since malaysia in 2002

► saFeena FIrst InVestmentFirms:Allen&Gledhill;Azmi&Associates;BlankRome;Ince&Co;MochtarKaruwinKomar;Vogt&Wiig;WalkersBanks: amanahraya investment management sdn Bhd; asian finance Bank • investment in stainless steel chemical carrier made through

istisna’a and ijarah mawsufah fi zimmah structure (ie islamic deferred purchase and forward lease arrangement)

• first time this type of financing adopted by a fund, let alone an islamic shipping fund, particularly in midst of economic recession; was first investment by shariah compliant shipping fund outside middle east

• multi-jurisdiction transaction involving legal counsel in singapore, malaysia, indonesia, marshall islands, BVi and london

► sunway cIty musharakah mutanaqIsah term FInancIng

Firm:Albar&PartnersBank: maybank• refinancing of existing term loans to part-finance

construction of monash university’s sunway Campus - the first foreign university campus in malaysia

• ground breaking in that it extended traditional islamic boundaries of musharakah mutanaqisah (diminishing partnership), typically used for home financing by individuals by applying it to refinance existing term loans

• declining balance partnership represented excellent example of concept at work as substitute for traditional debt

insolvenCY & restruCturing DeAl oF the YeAr

fInalISTS ► daVOmas restructurIng

Firms:AssegafHamzah&Partners;CliffordChance;DavisPolk&Wardwell;Hadiputranto,Hadinoto&Partners;Harney;JonesDay;Makarim&TairaS;O’Melveny&Myers;Rajah&Tann;SidleyAustin;SkaddenBanks: deutsche Bankaccountants: Bdo; PKf• first debt exchange offer coupled with an indonesian

“composition plan” bankruptcy process• exchange of existing high-yield notes for new ones at 50%

discount achieved 98% acceptance - highly unusual for capital markets exchange offer

► deutsche Bank lOdha InVestment restructurIngFirms:JSagar&Associates;JurisCorp;O’Melveny&MyersBank: deutsche Bank• restructuring of original transaction involving investment

of over us$400m in real estate by way of synthetic equity structure involved significant financial and structural re-engineering in light of global credit crisis

• involved filing an appeal before the high Court to reinstate the rights of the investor under the investment documents and to successfully reverse the order of the ClB

• innovative as it had to ensure that, without technically being in default, certain obligations of the group are waived but investor was still able to recoup envisaged returns and ensure asset base was not prejudiced in any manner

► lehman mInIBOnds settlement and unwIndIngFirms:Allen&Overy;Appleby;Cravath,Swaine&Moore;FountainCourt;StamfordLawCorporation;WeilGotshal&Manges;WongPartnershipBank: hsBCaccountant: PwC

• structure of minibond Programme has different tiers and many different types of swaps, each requiring substantial documentation and review

• both singapore and english law have to be taken into account in the enforcement proceedings, and settlement deed entered into by seven geographically disparate parties

• unprecedented legal issue on whether lehman Brothers special financing would have priority claim on liquidation proceeds, and lack of judicial/commercial precedents in respect of numerous issues

► measat satellIte systems PrOJect FInance restructurIng

Firms:Albar&Partners;Baker&McKenzie.Wong&Leow;CliffordChance;White&Case• restructuring of project financing in relation to m3 and m1r

satellites involved 17 commercial lenders• negotiating restructuring of such large number of facilities,

subject to several different governing laws meant transaction was highly complex – “even getting the 17 different parties to sign one agreement was in and of itself a significant achievement”

• us exim Bank element required solution that could satisfy both its stringent requirements for restructurings as well as keeping commercial banks happy

► suZlOn energy cOnVertIBle BOnds cOnsent sOlIcItatIOn

Firms:Allen&Gledhill;Allen&Overy;Amarchand&Mangaldas&SureshAShroff&Co;AZB&Partners;Bharucha&Partners;CliffordChance;Linklaters;TalwarThakore&Associates;White&Case• comprehensive exercise to obtain amendments to strict

financial covenants and certain other terms of loan facilities (including us$500m in usd convertible bonds) in order to achieve greater financial flexibility

• first comprehensive restructuring exercise of convertible bonds of indian issuer, and first exchange offer of convertible bonds issued by indian company

• first time reserve Bank of india has allowed the all-in cost ceilings to be exceeded for restructuring of existing convertible bond issued by indian company

► tt InternatIOnal restructurIngFirms:Allen&Gledhill;ChrisChong&CTHo;DavidLim&Partners;Drew&Napier;HarryEliasPartnership;KhattarWong;PremierLaw;Rajah&Tann;Rodyk&Davidson;StamfordLawCorporation;TanPengChin;Unilegal;WongPartnership• consensual restructuring through the implementation of a

scheme of arrangement • tt has close to 80 subsidiaries in various jurisdictions around

the world, which gave rise to challenging cross-jurisdictional legal and practical issues in the restructuring; also tt’s creditors comprise mixed group with widely divergent interests (including over 20 bank lenders)

• tt successfully obtained a court order to convene meeting of creditors for entering into a scheme of arrangement; high Court has since issued order approving the scheme

projeCt FinAnCe DeAl oF the YeAr

fInalISTS ► aIrcel IndIan telecOm InFrastructure PrOJect

FInancIngFirms:Amarchand&Mangaldas&SureshAShroff&Co;Baker&McKenzie.Wong&Leow;JSagar&Associates;Khaitan&Co;Shearman&Sterling;White&Case• p r o j e c t f i na n c i n g o f a G sm / a Bs b a s e d m o b i l e

telecommunications service for telecommunication circles in india

• financing combined indian rupees, us dollar facilities and export credit facilities - unusual for project financings in india to use foreign currencies

• one of the few foreign funded telecoms financings to have

occurred in india in recent years, and first deal that China development Bank and sinosure have done in india

► Ongc greenFIeld PetrOchemIcal cOmPlex PrOJect FInancIng

Firms:Amarchand&Mangaldas&SureshAShroff&Co;Luthra&Luthra• us$2.69bn mega petrochemical complex slated to become

one of largest petrochemical complexes india• entire debt component entirely financed through rupee

facility, evidencing growing appetite of indian lenders for mega infrastructure projects in india

• only large-scale petrochemicals in india to be promoted by public sector undertakings in recent times

► Perusahaan lIstrIk negara Fast track PrOgramme PrOJect FInancIng

Firms: Aditomo Ariyanto Peri Hantono; Ali Budiardjo,Nugroho,Reksodiputro;CliffordChance;Hadiputranto,Hadinoto & Partners; Makarim & Taira S; MochtarKaruwinKomar;NortonRoseBanks: Bank of China; Barclays; China development Bank; China exim Bank• first long-term bilateral or syndication-based rupiah

fundings to be successfully concluded with banks since 1995 and first loan guaranteed by ministry of finance

• financing notable for its scale (approximately us$5bn) at a time when credit is scarce

• involvement of Chinese banks adds cross-border element

► sasan ultra mega POwer PrOJect FInancIngFirms:Luthra&Luthra;PaulHastings;Singhania&Co• at over us$4bn this was largest financing since outbreak of

credit crisis• structure enables company flexibility to use portions of the

facility committed by different lenders optimally• structure achieves avoidance of interest rate or currency rate

risk, within parameters of traditional syndicate philosophy of equal risk sharing between lenders

► senOkO POwer PrOJect reFInancIngFirms:Allen&Overy;CliffordChance;Latham&Watkins;Rajah&TannBanks: anZ; Bank of tokyo mitsubishi ufj; BnP Paribas; Calyon; dBs Bank; fortis Bank; inG Bank; KBC Bank; mizuho Corporate Bank; national australia Bank; natixis; oCBC; rBs; societe Generale; sumitomo mitsui; sumitomo trust & Banking Co • refinancing of existing bridge loan involved rolling over

existing hedge arrangements and establishing corporate-guaranteed loan for refurbishing power plants

• multi-jurisdictional issues involved because transaction involved Belgian and japanese sponsors and dutch and singapore borrowers and mezzanine lender that is japanese governmental entity

• several branches to this financing, each individually highly innovative and complex

Debt mArket DeAl oF the YeAr

fInalISTS ► adarO IndOnesIa us$800m BOnd OFFerIng

Firms:Emmet,Marvin&Martin;HendraSoenardi;Latham&Watkins;LubisGanie;Milbank;S&RAssociates;Shearman&Sterling;StamfordLawCorporationBanks: Bank of new York mellon; Credit suisse; dBs Bank; oCBC; uBs Accountant: PwC • us$800m guaranteed senior notes issue was first 10-year

indonesian private sector usd corporate high-yield bond and largest of any maturity

• undertaken in tandem with us$500m bank facility when financing for resources sector, particularly in indonesia, was highly competitive and still recovering from crisis



• one of first, and largest, deal taken to market since requirement that all transactions documents be translated into Bahasa indonesia was passed, which added further time pressure

► IndIka us$230m senIOr nOtes OFFerIngFirms:Allen&Overy;AssegafHamzah&Partners;ConyersDill&Pearman;DavisPolk&Wardwell;MelliDarsa&Co;OsmanBingSatrio&Rekan;SidleyAustinBanks: Citigroup Global markets; hsBCaccountants: deloitte; PwC• us$230m high-yield note offering employed complex

security involving parent and subsidiary guarantees, share pledges, inter-company loans, and a covenant package ensuring bondholder protection

• senior secured notes issued in 2007 required issuer to solicit highly technical and necessary consents from existing noteholders, which further complicated transaction’s structure

• note’s indenture was to be amended by way of new intercreditor agreement, creating critical prerequisite for new notes offering within limited timeframe

► maJaPahIt us$1.25Bn guaranteed nOtes OFFerIngFirms:Allen&Gledhill;Dewey&LeBoeuf;Hadiputranto,Hadinoto&Partners;Linklaters;Shearman&SterlingBanks: Barclays; uBs• largest usd bond issue by indonesian company in 2009; two

tranches of us$750m and us$1.25bn• tranche one’s two-tier structure is to cater for the “beneficial

owner concept” introduced under certain indonesian tax rules• tranche two, unlike most global bond issues by indonesian

companies, uses two sPV subsidiaries, for more effective tax planning

► rePuBlIc OF IndOnesIa us$3Bn BOnd OFFerIngFirms:DLAPiper;Linklaters;MarsinihMartoatmodjoIskandarKusdihardjoBanks: Barclays; CimB; Citigroup Global markets; Credit suisse; deutsche Bank; nomura; uBs• first guaranteed medium-term note program established for

the republic of indonesia• biggest emerging market sovereign bond since Czech

republic in june 2008; largest sub-investment grade offering since april 2008; and largest deal in asia since hutchison Whampoa’s us$5bn dollar deal in nov 2003

• drawdown involved dual series issuance pursuant to rule 144a and reg s, and followed four weeks after establishment of program

► sterlIte IndustrIes us$500m cOnVertIBle BOnd OFFerIng

Firms:HenryDavisYork;Latham&Watkins;Luthra&Luthra;S&RAssociates;Shearman&SterlingBanks: deutsche Bank; morgan stanley• first ever convertible security offered by an indian issuer in

the us in an seC-registered offering• deal was structured like an indian CB with a five-year

maturity and no put, but since the bonds are convertible into sterlite’s american depositary shares (ads) listed in the us, it was marketed like a us deal

• featured highest conversion premium (37.5%) on asian convertible bond in 2009 and represented one of most significant registered convertible bond offerings out of india in recent times

► tata steel us$875m exchange OFFerFirms:Allen&Gledhill;Amarchand&Mangaldas&SureshAShroff&Co;AZB&Partners;LinklatersBanks: aBn amro; Calyon; Citigroup Global markets; standard Chartered Bank• at us$875m was largest ever exchange offer for convertible

bonds in the asia-Pacific region• one of the first and the largest exchange offers for

convertible bonds by an indian company• one of first few transactions in which reserve Bank of india

allowed all-in-cost ceilings to be exceeded for restructuring of existing convertible bonds issued by indian company

► temasek us$1.5Bn guaranteed nOtes OFFerIngFirms:Allen&Gledhill;DavisPolk&Wardwell;Latham&WatkinsBanks: deutsche Bank; Goldman sachs; morgan stanleyaccountant: KPmG• rule 144a and reg s offering by temasek financial of

us$1.5bn of guaranteed notes (under its us$5 billion medium-term notes programme)

• one of the largest singapore offerings of the year

► VIncOm us$100m cOnVertIBle BOnd OFFerIngFirms:CliffordChance;JonesDay;Shearman&Sterling;VILAF;YKVNBank: Credit suisse• Vietnam’s first overseas sale of convertible bonds and also

first international capital raising from any Vietnamese issuer since us$750m sovereign bond in 2005

• no concrete procedure in place for registering and approving convertible bonds in Vietnam, so various regulatory authorities could request supporting documents at different stages of each approval; much uncertainty as to when each approval could be obtained

• many other challenges related to lack of familiarity of stakeholders with this transaction type, language, etc – a pioneering deal

equitY mArket DeAl oF the YeAr

► Bank danamOn IndOnesIa rIghts OFFerIngFirms:Bahar&Partners;DavisPolk&Wardwell;Hadiputranto,Hadinoto&Partners;MelliDarsa&CoBanks: Citibank; morgan stanleyaccountant: KPmG• at us$335m was largest rights issue by a financial issuer ever

carried out in indonesia, and was 99.9% subscribed, making it most successful rights offering in asia to date in 2009

• first rights offering from indonesia where international investment banks served as sole standby purchasers to backstop the offering

• one of largest international rights offerings ever out of indonesia, so required significant effort to synchronise local laws and regulations with international underwriting and offering practices

► Bank taBungan negara IPOFirms:AssegafHamzah&Partners;Baker&McKenzie.Wong&Leow;SidleyAustin;Soemarjono,Herman&RekanBanks: CimB; mandiri sekuritasaccountant: ernst & Young• proceeds of us$199m made it largest listing on idX in 2009• first major international privatization in indonesia to be

executed by iPo in over two years

► Bw PlantatIOn share IssueFirms:Bahar&Partners;Baker&McKenzie.Wong&Leow;Hadiputranto,Hadinoto&Partners;MooreStephens;NortonRoseBanks: BnP Paribas; danareksa sekuritas• this is the first iPo in 2009 under the new Public offering

regulation, which makes process substantially different and more complicated

• regulatory changes increased exposure of underwriters significantly , with knock-on impact on legal work

• employed ‘green shoe’ mechanism as well as issuance of new and divestment share

► caPItaland rIghts IssueFirms:Allen&Gledhill;Latham&Watkins;LinklatersAllen&Gledhill;WongPartnershipBanks: Bank of america merrill lynch; dBs Bank; jPmorganaccountant: KPmG• at s$1.84bn this rights issue was one of largest by

singaporean company• first rights issue in singapore to take advantage of sGX

measures to facilitate equity fund-raising through rights

issues introduced in january 2009• temasek’s sub-underwriting participation was important as

it supported comfort level of underwriters

► caPItamalls IPOFirms:Allen&Gledhill;Allen&Overy;CliffordChance;WongPartnershipBanks: Credit suisse; dBs Bank; deutsche Bank; jPmorgan• at s$2.8bn was largest initial public offering in singapore

since 1993 and ranked by reuters as the tenth largest iPo globally in 2009

• one of the few initial public offerings (“iPo”) in singapore involving the spin-off of a subsidiary by the parent company

• size of deal meant: significant amount of legal due diligence, including co-ordination with foreign counsel in six other countries; and coordination across multiple practice areas

► dBs grOuP rIghts IssueFirms:Allen&Gledhill;DavisPolk&Wardwell;VentureLaw;White&CaseBanks: Citigroup Global markets; Goldman sachs; jPmorgan; morgan stanley; uBs• us$2.8bn deal was first significant international rights

offering to be conducted under singapore law• raised many singapore law issues in connection with

international underwriting and offering practices• one of first significant fund-raising exercises out of se asia since

financial crisis and led way for many follow-on rights offerings

► maxIs IPOFirms:AdnanSundra&Low;CliffordChance;Kadir,Andri&Partners;Linklaters;ZulRafique&partnersBanks: aminvestment Bank; CimB; Clsa; Credit suisse; dBs Bank; Goldman sachs; hsBC; jPmorgan; maybank; nomura; rBs; rhB; standard Chartered Bank; uBs• usd3.3bn iPo of one of malaysia’s leading mobile

communications service providers • largest ever listing in malaysia and se asia• transaction was first in malaysia to feature cornerstone

investors

► nePtune OrIent lInes rIghts IssueFirms:Allen&Gledhill;Milbank;StamfordLawCorporationBanks: dBs Bank; hsBC; jPmorgan; morgan stanley• s$1.44bn rights issue fully backed by majority owner

temasek holdings• deal done under strict confidentiality and was swiftly

structured and announced following intensive discussions with parties over a single weekend

• significant because of size of proceeds raised, despite prevailing risk-averse market environment

se AsiA m&A DeAl oF the YeAr

► aIg asIa cOnsumer FInance BusIness dIsPOsalFirms:Allen&Overy;CliffordChance;LeeandLi;Linklaters;RomuloMabanta;Russin&Vecchi;SycipSalazarBanks: aBn amro; deutsche Bank; Phatra securities• us$310m deal conducted against background of fed reserve

rescue of major financial institutions, so great deal of sensitivity as to risk of panic by depositors which might have resulted in ‘bank runs’

• every aspect of transaction monitored by fed’s legal and financial advisers to ensure maximisation of disposal proceeds for benefit of us tax payers

• transaction timetable always subject to change dependent on market sentiment with fed standing by to provide emergency credit lines if required

► Bat IndOnesIa - BentOel mergerFirms:Hadiputranto,Hadinoto&Partners;HerbertSmith;HiswaraBunjamin&Tandjung;White&CaseBank: uBsaccountant: ernst & Young



come up with proposals (under singapore and us laws) for taking out the debt as well as convertible preference shares

• principals on deal based in abu dhabi and singapore, and target listed on singapore and nasdaQ, so negotiations took place in different parts of world and had to accommodate law issues in singapore, abu dhabi and us

• as well as the us$1.8bn cash element of the transaction, the deal also involved the acquirer taking on approximately s$3.1bn

► ks energy - aqua-terra - ssh PrIVatIsatIOnFirms:Allen&Gledhill;CliffordChance;Drew&Napier;StamfordLawCorporation;WongPartnershipBank: inG Bankaccountant: PwC• s$320m involved merger of three companies (Ks energy,

aqua-terra supply and ssh) listed on singapore exchange – a first for singapore

• complex transactional structure of inter-conditional schemes of arrangement coupled with capital reduction and consolidation of businesses via acquisition agreements

► OcBc - Ing Bank asIan PrIVate BankIng acquIsItIOn

Firms:CastilloLamanTanPantaleon&SanJose;CliffordChance;Drew&Napier;FreshfieldsBruckhausDeringer;Kim&Chang;StamfordLawCorporation;SycipSalazar;WalkersBanks: Goldman sachs; jPmorganaccountant: PwC• one of largest value acquisitions of private bank in recent

history, fully funded by cash• deal traversed europe, asia and middle east, was fast-paced,

and was time-sensitive spanning just over six months from start to completion

• extensive regulatory and compliance approvals required in order to fulfill conditions precedent, including complex arrangements to ensure simultaneous completion of acquisition and re-branding and re-naming of target on same day

► PetrOchIna - sIngaPOre PetrOleum acquIsItIOnFirms: Allen & Gledhill; Drew & Napier; FreshfieldsBruckhausDeringer;King&Wood;Shearman&SterlingBanks: Bank of america merrill lynch; deutsche Bank• us$2.3bn deal was challenging as PetroChina is a company

listed on shanghai, hong Kong and new York; target company of acquisition was also listed company in singapore

• four law firms cooperated closely in this deal and made announcements in four jurisdictions almost simultaneously to comply with rules of each exchange

• first public takeover by a Chinese company of a target in asia, and possibly largest public m&a deal in singapore corporate history since 2001

► sIncere watch acquIsItIOnFirms:ConyersDill&Pearman;Linklaters;LovellsLee&Lee;RichardsButler;Rodyk&Davidson;Walkers;WongThomasandLeong;WongPartnership• complex s$113m deal was acquisition by a consortium that

included former sincere owner and Pe company• involved default on loan by previous acquirer leading to sale

of charged shares by lender, and the lender taking an equity stake in the offeror

• subscription price payable by lenders for shares in the offeror will be set off against the cash consideration that will be due to them for tendering charged shares into the offer

se AsiA DeAl oF the YeAr

FinAlists to be AnnounCeD At the event

singApore DeAl oF the YeAr


• us$326m fast-track merger was largest in indonesia in 2009• included complex issues with employees, sale forces,

cooperatives and other third parties given pre-merger structuring, concurrent merger integration and restructuring of the Bat Group shareholding in Pt Bat indonesia for tax structuring reasons

► chIna InVestment cOrPOratIOn - BumI resOurces InVestment

Firms:DavisPolk&Wardwell;JonesDay;MaplesandCalder;SamuelSekuritasIndonesiaBanks: China international Capital Corporation; deutsche Bankaccountant: ernst & Young• us$1.9bn investment was fully customized to suit CiC’s

investment needs, and Bumi’s borrowing needs and existing indebtedness, in light of significant ongoing and future developments, acquisitions and borrowings

• included customized call provisions providing for guaranteed internal rate of return and covenant package tracking traditional asian high-yield terms, but in form of more traditional credit facility

• structuring and executing investment took considerable coordination among us, indonesian, dutch and Chinese counsel, and consideration of laws and regulation of these jurisdictions

► hsBc - Bank ekOnOmI acquIsItIOnFirms:Hadiputranto,Hadinoto&Partners;LovellsLee&Lee;Makes&Partners;NortonRoseBank: hsBC • us$607m acquisition of 90% stake in Bank economi • involved mandatory offer pursuant to indonesian takeover

regulations• one of the highest profile banking acquisitions in indonesia

to date and involved complex regulatory and commercial issues

► nOrthstar PacIFIc - delta - Buma transactIOnFirms:AliBudiardjo,Nugroho,Reksodiputro;CliffordChance;Hadiputranto,Hadinoto&Partners;K&LGates;MelliDarsa&Co;Milbank;O’Melveny&Myers;ShookLin&Bok;Rodyk&Davidson;StamfordLawCorporation;Susanto&PartnersBanks: Bahana securities; Bank of tokyo-mitsubishi ufj; Barclays; Clsa; danareksa sekuritas; deutsche Bank; inG Bank; macquarie Capital; sumitomo mitsuiaccountant: PwC• involves six major deals which were interwoven into one

large transaction with simultaneous closings: i. northstar bought 40% of delta ii. delta bought Buma iii-vi. Buma raised approximately us$1bn to finance its buyout by delta through a refinancing, a new facility, a bond and an equity offering

• requires complex documents to be prepared, and coordination with many parties involved in the transaction

• involved rare leverage buy out (lBo) structure created to accommodate the acquisition of shares in Buma by delta

► qatar telecOm - IndOsat tender OFFerFirms:DavisPolk&Wardwell;Dewey&LeBoeuf;SidleyAustinBank: Goldman sachs• us$815m deal triggered by Qtel’s initial acquisition of

40.81% interest in indosat pursuant to a share purchase agreement with stt Communications

• involved concurrent tender offers in indonesia and us pursuant to indonesian and us regulatory requirements

• involved us, indonesian and Qatari law

► rOyal Bank OF scOtland asIa BankIng BusIness dIsPOsal

Firms: Allen & Gledhill; Blake Dawson; Haidermota &Co; LeeandLi; Linklaters;Makarim&TairaS;Makes& Partners; Romulo Mabanta; Russin & Vecchi; SycipSalazarBanks: Bank of america merrill lynch; Credit suisse; morgan stanley • approx us$550m deal involved super-regional strategic

acquisition by anZ bank of parts of rBs group in asia across six countries through regional bidding process

• transaction and implementing documents included complex transitional, shared services and business integration agreements, among other standard agreements

• involved intensive and extensive strategic discussion and application of banking, corporate, labor, iP and other local laws and regulations, and is subject to various regulatory compliance and approvals

► tech mahIndra - satyam acquIsItIOnFirms:Amarchand&Mangaldas&SureshAShroff&Co;JonesDay;Latham&Watkins;Sullivan&CromwellBank: Goldman sachs• us$578m deal required multi-jurisdictional team (including

attorneys from asia, europe and the us) to deal with securities laws of all countries in which satyam was listed

• extremely complicated: government took control of satyam following accounting fraud and led auction process, so most senior decision makers had limited knowledge of workings of company

• undertaken in adherence to rules of both seBi and seC, leading to many structuring challenges

ipp FinAnCiAl ADvisers AwArD singApore m&A

DeAl oF the YeAr ► adVanced technOlOgy InVestment cOmPany

– chartered semIcOnductOr manuFacturIng acquIsItIOn

Firms:Allen&Gledhill;Allen&Overy;Latham&Watkins;Shearman&Sterling;WongPartnershipBanks: Citibank; Credit suisse; morgan stanley; • very complex – lawyers needed not just to negotiate scheme

agreement (subject to both singapore and us laws) but also

IPP FInancIal advIsersiPP financial advisers Pte ltd is singapore’s largest independently owned financial advisory. founded in 1983, it is also singapore’s oldest and most established, with a reputation for impartial advice and high levels of ongoing service rather than just simple product implementation. all representatives are licensed by mas and offer clients the full range of services from life insurance

and medical cover, to savings plans and wealth management, right through to legacy planning and will writing. there is also a specialist expatriate division offering tax-efficient and globally portable financial services. Based in singapore, iPP also has licensed offices in hong Kong and malaysia.

iPP currently has in excess of sGd 2.25 Billion of assets under advice and has recently established ‘iPP Privilege Circle’, with exclusive offerings and expert advice for high net Worth individuals around the world.Contactdetails:ian PryorP:+65 6309 0138 | F: + 65 6309 0127 | E:[email protected] | W: www.ippfa.com

sPoNsors



bAnking AnD FinAnCiAl serviCes in-house teAm oF the YeAr

•CIMB•Citibank•DBSBank•HSBC•Maybank•OCBC•StandardCharteredBank

investment bAnk in-house teAm oF the YeAr

•BankofAmericaMerrillLynch•CreditSuisse•DeutscheBank•GoldmanSachs•JPMorgan•MorganStanley•Nomura•UBS

iN-house awardsit/teleCommuniCAtions

in-house teAm oF the YeAr•Axiata•Maxis•SingTel•StarHub•TataCommunications

reAl estAte & ConstruCtion in-house teAm oF the YeAr

•Capitaland•CityDevelopment•FarEastOrganization•JonesLangLaSalle

hill DiCkinson AwArD For shipping in-house teAm oF the YeAr•Cargill(Singapore)•MISCBerhad•NeptuneOrientLines•PacificCarriers

singApore in-house lAwYer oF the YeAr

•Capitaland–LowSai-Choy•CityDevelopment–SharifahShakilaShah•DBSBank–KennethFagan•OCBC–LorettaYuenLing•StarHub–VeronicaLai

singApore in-house teAm oF the YeAr


firM awardsCommerCiAl litigAtion lAw Firm oF the YeAr

fInalISTS

Allen&Gledhill• Practice has over 60 lawyers making it one of the largest in

singapore. • in 2009 acted on such matters as rBs/aBn amro Bank

nV in the high Court of singapore in respect of class actions brought by minibond investors, tiger airways in a claim against swissport and WBl Corporation for alleged contravention of insider trading rules.

Drew&Napier• 7 senior Counsel- practice is winner of this category since its

inception in 2005• advising the mas in relation to the lehman minibond notes

programme and sucessfully represented singapore Pm lee hsien loong and lee Kuan Yew in defamation action against the far east economic review

Rajah&Tann• Well rounded commercial disputes practice is a perennial

finalist in this category• representative matters include acting for security services

provided against a defamatory whistle blower and various matters before the Competition appeal Board of singapore.

Wong&Leow• fifteen-strong commercial litigation team which has grown

significantly over the past 12 months• representative matters include acting for Pt Panasonic

Gobel indonesia in its dispute with stratech systems limited and successfully acting for clients against a fraudulent scheme which originated in Canada.

WongPartnership• one of singapore’s largest Commercial litigation practices

headed by four senior Counsel

• representative matters include acting for shareholders of Petroval singapore in long-running, multi-jurisdictional dispute arising out of the Yukos oil saga and a number of club-related law suits involving defamation and misrepresentation.

ConstruCtion lAw Firm oF the YeAr

fInalISTS

Allen&Gledhill• a perennial finalist in this category, allen & Gledhill’s

practice spans both contentious and non-contentious work. • significant representative matters include acting for tuas

Power in a project to design, procure, commission, start-up, test and deliver the s$2bn Biomass Clean Coal Power and multi-utilities Plant and acting for the consortium developing the s$2bn south Beach Project

Drew&Napier• a finalist in this category for the last 3 years, the firm again

polled strongly during the research process.

PinsentMasons• a new entrant, the firm took out the award in this category

at the 2009 hong Kong alB law awards. • Boasting a team of ten lawyers focused almost exclusively

on construction work the firm and its local ally mPillay, have been involved in almost every major construction and infrastructure project undertaken in singapore in 2009.

Rajah&Tann• Practice houses over 30 lawyers and two senior counsel and

a winner in this category for four of the past five years. • Practice spans singapore, malaysia, and other parts of

southeast asia as well as the PrC.

WongPartnership• another name to appear regularly as a finalist the firm also

has the largest number of accredited adjudicators appointed under the Building and Construction industry security of Payment act (Cap 30B)

• highlights include advising sports services ltd. in relation to the tender to design, develop and operate the Changi motor sports hub, the first fully integrated permanent race track

energY & resourCes lAw Firm oF the YeAr

fInalISTS

Gibson,Dunn&Crutcher• team is active in a number of industries in the energy and

resources sector, including oil and gas (at all levels of the value chain including exploration, production, storage, refining, regasification, lnG, and production platforms); renewable energy (including wind, hydro, geothermal, solar, and biofuels); ethanol and methanol; pipelines; and mining (including aluminum, coal, copper, gold, iron, steel, and other natural resources).

Latham&Watkins• one of the most active practices in southeast asia the

firm advises e&r companies on project financings, capital markets financings, bank financings and m&a activities across the region, but particularly in singapore, indonesia, india, Papua new Guinea, laos and thailand

• Clients include Pt adaro and its subsidiaries, senoko Power / marubeni Corporation, nippon oil exploration and Vedanta resources

Linklaters• a perrenial finalist in this category, the firm’s e&r practice is

active both in singapore and throughout southeast asia• the firm has acted on a number of high-profile deals in the

past year including one of india’s largest companies on its foreign listing



LovellsLee&Lee• another heavyweight in the e&r space in southeast asia,

the firm is noted for its particular strengths in oil & gas where singapore-based partner Brad roach is seen as a key man by the industry

• highlights in 2009 include acting for Pt medco energi internasional tbk in connection with several of its major projects, including the first downstream lnG project in indonesia, the donggi-senoro lnG Project and murphy oil Corporation in connection with its successful bid for the semai ii Production sharing Contract in Papua indonesia

Luthra&Luthra• highlights include acting as sole lenders’ indian legal

counsel to a syndicate of domestic and foreign lenders for financing of the approximately 4000 mW sasan ultra mega power project, along with development of integrated coal mines for captive usage amounting to usd 4 billion.

• Was also involved in the financing of the Phase iV (1980 mW) of the adani Power Project at mundra, Gujarat amounting to usd 1.5 billion.

Milbank• another international firm with strong energy credentials,

the firm had another stong year acting on adaro indonesia’s us$800m bond offering .

NortonRose• With a dedicated team of energy specialists working in

singapore and throughout southeast asia, norton rose has had another strong year in which it acted on Perusahaan listrik negara’s fast track Programme project financing

ip lAw Firm oF the YeArfInalISTS

Allen&Gledhill• led by senior Counsel dr stanley lai, allen & Gledhill’s iP group

advises on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious matters and also boasts a specialized patents practice

• one of few local law firms with a dedicated biotechnology practice, the firm has acted for martek Biosciences Corporation in defending two patent revocation actions that were brought by Cargill international trading Pte ltd, in the Patent registry and mühlbauer aG in an appeal arising out of a patent infringement/invalidation trial in the high Court that was commenced by mühlbauer against a competitor

ATMDBird&Bird• a winner of this award for six consecutive years, atmd Bird

& Bird continues to shine, with its patent practice coming in for special mention.

• 2009 saw the firm fight and win a number of landmark trademark and iP cases. Partner sheena jacobs come highly recommended.

Baker&McKenzie.Wong&Leow• 2009 was another busy year for the iP team at Baker &

mcKenzie. Wong & leow• representative matters include acting for Clinique

laboratories llC in a well-known trade mark anti-dilution/infringement and passing off action and a major mnC software and consumer electronics company in an opposition in singapore involving one of their key product marks, which also involves simultaneous proceedings in the united states, China, malaysia and hong Kong.

Drew&Napier• award winning iP practice successfully acted for mediaCorp

ltd in a copyright infringement action concerning claims of groundless threats of copyright infringement as well as a counterclaim for copyright infringement.

• successfully represented singtel, in a trade mark infringement matter against taiwanese computer firm mitac international Corporation, which alleged that singtel used “mio” trademarks similar to those it already had in place.

Lee&Lee• lee & lee’s strengths rest in the fact that it provides equally as

strong representation in contentious and non-contentious matters• noted for its particular strengths in brand protection and

portfolio management respondents singled out head of iP tan tee jim sC as a leader in the field

Rodyk&Davidson• Considered a heavy hitter in iP, the firm boasts one of the

most well developed iP departments in country possessing a capability to cover services ranging from portfolio management to transactional and contentious work

• head of the firm’s iP & technology practice group lee ai ming comes highly recommended

internAtionAl ArbitrAtion lAw Firm oF the YeAr

fInalISTS

Allen&Gledhill• led by partners, andrew Yeo, edwin tong, andrew Chan and

dinesh dhillon, the firm’s international arbitration group has handled several complex arbitrations in 2009 with a total value in dispute exceeding us$2bn.

• highlights include: acting for a foreign Bank in an arbitration relating to a purchase of distressed assets, acting for the employer in an arbitration of a transport infrastructure project dispute and acting for a us fortune 500 company in an on-going siaC arbitration against a singapore Government linked Company. the dispute concerns a chemicals production facility in the region.

Drew&Napier• a winner in this category in 2007 and 2009 the firm is home

to a number of ‘heavy-hitters’ in international arbitration including jimmy Yim and Cavinder Bull.

• the firm is or has worked on a number of high-profile cross-border disputes over the past 12 months.

HerbertSmith• a powerhouse international arbitration outfit in the region

and a regular finalist in this catgory maurice Burke, joint head of the firm’s ia practice in se asia and alastair henderson both come highly recommended.

NortonRose• headed up by Guy spooner, the firm’s international l

arbitration and dispute resolution practice is said to be among a handful of elite practices in the region.

• the firm’s capabilities in this area were strengthened by virtue of its merger with deacons australia.

Rajah&Tann• led by Chong Yee leong and anchored by andre Yeap

s.C., francis Xavier s.C. and Chong Boon leong, 2009 was another strong year for the firm’s world-renowned international arbitration practice.

• on top of a Gar 30 ranking (the only asian law firm to achieve such a feat) the firm had 62 pending international arbitrations with a total quantum value of us$3.9bn pending as at september 2009.

Shearman&Sterling• headed by john savage, the firm’s international arbitration

group was again held in high regard throughout the polling process this year.

oFFshore lAw Firm oF the YeArfInalISTS

Appleby• always a strong contender in this closely-fought category,

the firm will once again be up for the top honour following another strong year.

• the firm secured advisory roles on two finalist deals this year: the lehman minibonds settlement and unwinding as well as the south Beach Consortium term loan facility

Cains• this isle of man specialist had another strong year to back up

its good showing in 2009. • a surprise packet at last years awards winning 4 deal awards

including the coveted singapore deal of the Year and se asia deal of the Year

ConyersDill&Pearman• a winner in this category last year the firm continues to be

among the most active in the southeast asian region• the firm will once again be in the reckoning for the top

award following its roles on indika’s us$230m senior notes offering, the sincere Watch acquisition and the south Beach Consortium term loan facility

MaplesandCalder• always a strong contender in this category, maples’ 2009

performance gives them another strong chance of seeing more silverware this year.

• highlights included advising on recent CVC Capital Partners asia Pacific iii lP acquisition of a 98% stake in Pt matahari department store tbk (mds) from Pt matahari Putra Prima tBK and as Cayman counsel to Pt Bumi resources tbk, the largest coal mining company in indonesia, in a us$1.9bn six-year loan from China investment Corporation limited, acting through a subsidiary.

Walkers• a strong 2009 puts Walkers in the mix for a number of

awards this year. • deal highlights include acting as offshore counsel on oCBC’s

acquisition of inG’s asian Private Banking business, safeena first’s investment and the sincere Watch acquisition – all of which are finalist deals at this years awards.

reAl estAte lAw Firm oF the YeArfInalISTS

Allen&Gledhill• always a contender in this category, the firm had another

strong year despite the financial crisis bringing property transactions to a grinding halt.

• highlights include acting on the acquisition of the singapore international Convention & exhibition Centre, Katong mall and divestment of several buildings, as well as a number of reit deals including fCt’s acquisition of alexandra technopark and the tianjin eco-City.

Drew&Napier• another perennial finalist in this category, the firm took out

the category in 2008 and will be hoping to repeat its feat this year after another strong showing in a deflated market.

Lee&Lee• led by ow Yong thian soo, the firm boasts one of the more

established practices in the lion City • representative highlights include acting for morganite Pte ltd,

a joint venture between Capitaland residential limited (35%), hotel Properties limited (22.5%), morgan stanley Capital (real estate) Pte ltd (22.5%) and Wachovia development Company (20%), in the purchase of the development known as “farrer Court” at a record price of s$1.3388bn

Rajah&Tann• a new entrant in this category, the firm was included on the

back of strong polling among singapore-based in-house lawyers.

• soon Choo hock is said to lead a strong team while lee lay see and Gan hiang Chye are both highly-respected

Rodyk&Davidson• firm is said to boast one of most well-rounded practices

in the country advising on matters across the area from collective sales to real estate finance.

• 2009 transaction highlights include acting for oue in the sale of the property formally known as the Parisian, 21 angullia Park, via the sale of oue’s subsidiary, oue (angullia) Pte. ltd, to China sonangol land and far east organization in the developer’s project the Greenwood, a 54-unit strata landed housing development.

WongPartnership• a winner in this category in 2009 the firm is once again set

to be among the contenders this year after a strong year of dealmaking.

• highlights include acting for ascendas funds management (s) limited (in its capacity as the manager of ascendas real estate investment trust) in its acquisition of dBs asia hub, a built-to-suit 9-storey business park facility for s$116 million at Changi Business Park



se AsiA shipping lAw Firm oF the YeAr

fInalISTS

Clyde&Co• a two-time winner in this category the firm boasts highly-

regarded experience in the wet and dry aspects of practice• john Champion and Chris edwards are both highly praised

HolmanFenwick&Willan• a perennial finalist in this category and a winner of this

award at the alB hong Kong law awards in 2009; hfW has invested heavily within the region, with a team that now numbers 28 partners and 52 other fee earners, coupled with a master mariner in each of melbourne and shanghai, with two in each of hong Kong and singapore

Ince&Co• a winner of this award at last years event, 2009 was another

strong year for ince & Co in southeast asia. • the firm advised on the safeena first investment and was

appointed to the ship finance legal panel of a number of international banks including standard Chartered and dVB Bank.

StephensonHarwood• recognised for having a shipping practice that is well-

balanced and strong across the board, 2009 was another year of growth for this firm.

• major highlights include acting for the Bank of China on a fourteen vessel financing for more than $us500m, and on the disputes side acting for shipowners in multi-party arbitrations involving numerous issues regarding diversions, bills of lading and charter party obligations with the amounts in dispute exceeding us$1m

Watson,Farley&Williams• a perennial finalist in this hotly-contested category.• 2009 deal highlights include: acting for the lenders on

facilities in excess of us$630m for the refinancing by KoGas of four lnG carriers on charter to four Korean carriers and sCB, together with inG Bank and rabobank, in relation to a us$125m loan facility made available to lamnalco limited for 15 offshore vessels.

singApore shipping lAw Firm oF the YeAr

fInalISTS

Allen&Gledhill• Boasts one of the largest shipping practices of any large,

full-service law firm in singapore capable of handling dry and wet work.

• 2009 major highlights include acting as counsel to ocean tankers (Pte) ltd who entered into a us$70m sale and leaseback of the vessel “ocean Queen” in a highly structured shariah-compliant sale and leaseback transaction

HaridassHo&Partners• a perennial finalist in this category, this specialist shipping

practice is believed to be expert in all areas across the practice

• Partner ajaib haridass was regularly singled out during the polling process as a leading individual in his practise

JTJB• always a strong contender in this category, this specialist

player continues to press the larger firms for the most lucrative of work not only in singapore but across the region

• founding partner dato’ jude Benny is praised for his knowledge and experience and for remaining one of the most hands on of the industry’s elder statesmen

Rajah&Tann• 26-lawyer, 10 partner strong practice is one of the largest in

singapore• firm handles full gamut of work in the area and is particularly

noted for its arbitration and dispute resolution strengths

TSOon&Bazul• 2009 was another strong year for fast-growing mid-size firm

ts oon & Bazul• highlights of 2009 include acting for various shipowners and

P&i Clubs on oil & Gas disputes, collisions and casualties in the region and cargo contamination and shortage claims.

tAx & trusts lAw Firm oF the YeArfInalISTS

Allen&Gledhill• always a strong contender in this category and winner of this

award last year, the firm’s practice spans the entire breadth of the area

• 2009 highlights include advising on numerous high-profile capital markets deals, including the issuance of bonds by temasek, singapore telecommunications limited, Port of singapore authority, singapore Post limited and south Beach Consortium Pte ltd, and on the issuance of islamic debt securities by the monetary authority of singapore and majlis ugama islam singapore

Baker&McKenzie.Wong&Leow• one of the stronger practices in the lion City, the firm’s

practice covers ross-border service in tax structuring, transfer pricing, wealth management, trusts and a wide range of tax issues.

• 2009 advisory work includes acting for a uK mnC on singapore tax issues arising from proposed investments by an asian investor into its singapore operations

Drew&Napier• always in contention for this award, the firm’s tax group had

another strong year with several notable successes for its clients in disputes with the iras.

• one of the highlights was the tax discharge obtained for a major logistics company in respect of gains amounting to s$105m derived pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction. leading clients include asia Pacific Breweries ltd, Credit suisse, dBs Bank ltd, and Proctor & Gamble asia

KhattarWong• 2009 was another solid year for the firm in singapore• head of department leon Kwong Wing comes highly

recommended for defending taxpayers in audit and investigation cases, pursuing objections against revenue assessments and valuations, and acting as counsel in hearings at the review Boards and in the Courts.

WongPartnership• a regular finalist in this category, the firm scored several

high-profile tax advice mandates over the past year. • advised Bharti airtel limited, as singapore counsel, on the tax

issues in relation to the grant of us$7.5bn from a consortium of lenders to Bharti airtel international (netherlands) B.V. (the “Company”) and Bharti international (singapore) Pte. limited, in connection with the acquisition by the Company of the entire issued share capital of Zain africa B.V.

inDiA DeAl Firm oF the YeArfInalISTS

Amarchand&Mangaldas&SureshA.Shroff• a winner of this award in 2009, the firm will once again be in

the mix after a strong 12 months on the deal front• notable matters include acting on Cairn india’s us$1.6bn

bond offering and nhPC’s us$1.3bn public offering.

AZB&Partners• another strong year for Clifford Chance’s indian ‘best friend’

will see it in contention to take out this award• Was one of the advisors for the failed deal between Bharti

telecom and south africa’s mtn

JSagar&Associates• dla Piper’s ‘preferred’ firm in india is a perennial finalist in

this category• Worked on two finalists deals including aircel indian

telecom’s infrastructure project financing and deutsche Bank lodha investment restructuring

Khaitan&Co• one of india’s oldest law firm had a solid 2009• noteworthy transactions include, advising hospira inc, usa

in its acquisition of the injectable pharmaceutical business of orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, the Blackstone group on acquisition of a majority stake in Cms Computers india limited and Bahrain telecommunications in respect of its acquisition of 42.7% shareholding in s tel limited

Luthra&Luthra• a perennial finalist in this category, the firm’s strong 2009

was capped off when it was ranked first in the world in dealogic’s Global review of Global Pfi/PPP deals for 2009

TalwarThakore&Associates• 2009 was a strong year for linklaters’ indian ally• the firm scored mandates on the sale of satyam Computer

services limited to tech mahindra for approximately inr 2889 crores; novartis aG’s acquisition of a substantial stake in novartis india limited and axis Bank ltd’s simultaneous Gdr/ QiP issue.

Trilegal• a new entrant in this category, the firm, which enjoys a ‘best

friends’ agreement with allen & overy, had another strong year and will be among the contenders to take out the award

inDonesiA DeAl Firm oF the YeArfInalISTS

AliBudiardjo,Nugroho&Reksodiputro• a perennial finalist in this category, the firm acted on two

finalist deals this year including northstar Pacific - delta - Buma transaction and Perusahaan listrik negara fast track Programme project financing

Hadiputranto,Hadinoto&Partners• one of the most formidable players in the indonesian legal

services arena, the Baker & mcKenzie member firm has been nominated for awards in no less than 10 categories at this years awards.

LubisGanieSurowidjojo• a strong year sees this firm among the favourites for this

award• acted on adaro indonesia’s us$800m bond offering and has

been heavily involved in the indonesian bank restructuring program as the primary counsel to the indonesian Bank restructuring agency (iBra).

Makes&Partners• a strong year for this perennial finalist in which it landed

mandates on hsBC’s acquisition of Bank ekonomi and the rBs asia’s business banking disposal

MelliDarsa&Co• a firm that always polls strongly throughout the research

process, melli darsa & Co was involved in many of the countries most high-profile deals of 2009 including the acquisition by indika energy of 81.95% shares of Petrosea, the northstar Pacific - delta - Buma transaction and the the global restructuring of delphi international.

SSEK• another regular finalist in this category, the firm’s strong

showing in 2009 has solidified its position as one of the nation’s leading corporate law firms

mAlAYsiA DeAl Firm oF the YeArfInalISTS

AdnanSundra&Low• the firm capped off a strong year by winning a role on maxis’

blockbusting us$3.3 bn malaysian iPo.

Azmi&Associates• 2009 was a fine year for the firm having top mergermarket’s

league table of legal advisors to malayisan m&a• the firm acted on the safeena first investment which is a

finalist at this years awards



Kadir,Andri&Partners• 2009 was a strong year for the firm despite the financial crisis. • the firm acted on a number of finalist deals including the

us$3.3bn maxis iPo, and the Petronas jumbo sukuk

ShearnDelamore• a busy year for one of the oldest firms in the country which

saw it land roles on a number of deals including acting for Public Bank Berhad in its long term strategic alliance agreement with inG

ShookLin&Bok• a perennial finalist in this category, the firm acted on two

finalist deals this year: the northstar Pacific - delta - Buma transaction and suntec reit refinancing.

Skrine• firm’s banking practice advised on an rm800m facility from

the government to finance a project in malaysia for one of the world’s leading manufacturers in 2009

• theresa Chong, Chen Kah leng, Philip Chan and Goh Kuan hock are all highly recommended

ZulRafique&partners• a perennial finalist and winner of this category in 2005• acted on three finalist deals this year including CimB-

standard islamic infrastructure fund, maxis iPo and the Petronas jumbo sukuk

philippines DeAl Firm oF the YeArfInalISTS

ACCRALaw• always a contender in this category, the firm’s counts a

number of the country’s top companies as regular clients

PicazoBuycoTanFider&Santos• a new entrant in this category this category, the firm has

certainly punched above its weight in 2009• deal highlights include acting on san miguel Brewery’s mega

bond offering, advising on the common shares follow-on offering of metro Pacific investments Corporation, and served as was counsel to consortium that won the bid for the us$3.95bn privatization of the national transmission Corporation (national Grid Corporation of the Philippines)

QuisumbingTorres• Baker & mcKenzie member firm has had another strong year

in the transactional space having worked for a number of foreign and local clients

RomuloMabanta• a winner in this category in 2009 and a perennial finalist• representative highlights include acting for the Psalm in

respect of a new cash exchange offer

SyCipSalazarHernandez&Gatmaitan• another perennial finalist and a winner in this category in

2008 the firm had another strong year advising on three finalist deals including aiG asia’s consumer finance business disposition; royal Bank of scotland asia banking business disposal and the oCBC - inG Bank asian Private banking acquisition.

thAilAnD DeAl Firm oF the YeArfInalISTS

Allen&Overy• strong year for the magic circle firm in the Kingdom• firm acted on the acquisition of shell’s solvents Business in

thailand and Vietnam and advised thai oil Public Company limited on a us$120m purchase of 80.52% of sak Chaisidhi Company limited’s shares from shell overseas investment B.V. and Pattanakij Chemical Co., ltd. and the purchase of a solvent distribution and marketing business from the shell Company of thailand.

Baker&McKenzie• a perennial finalist in this category and a winner in 2008 and

2009 the firm has had another successful year• deals include acting in the acquisition of shares in siam

City Bank by thanachart Bank and providing english and

thai law counsel to the Bank of tokyo mitsubishi ufj., ltd., sumitomo mitsui Banking Corporation and mizuho Corporate Bank ltd. in connection with a usd 300 million term loan agreement made with Ptt Public Company limited “Ptt”.

Chandler&Thong-Ek• this m&a and fdi-specialist firm has had another strong year

to back up its finalist placing in 2008 and 2009

CliffordChance• always a strong performer in this category, the firm has

registered another good year having worked on six of the finalist deals at this years awards.

vietnAm DeAl Firm oF the YeArfInalISTS

AllenArthur&Robinson• a winner in this category in 2008, the firm had another solid

year in which it acted for Commonwealth Bank of australia on its agreement to invest in ViB Bank and continues to act for several landmark Vietnam infrastructure projects, including the Vung ang ii coal-fired power plant, the nghi son refinery & Petrochemical project, and Gamuda’s urban development in hanoi.

Baker&McKenzie• a finalist in this category in 2008 and 2009• the firm is lead legal adviser on the complex three country

transactions involving asX-listed origin energy acquiring an interest in a diverse south east asia oil exploration portfolio held by lse-listed salamander energy PlC.

FreshfieldsBruckhausDeringer• a finalist in this category in 2008 and 2009 • acted on some of the country’s most high-profile deals

of 2009 including aes Corporation on the us$2.1m development and financing of the 1200mW coal-fired mong duong 2 power plant and anZ on the us$550m acquisition by anZ of aBn amro Bank n.V.’s business in Vietnam as part of anZ’s acquisition of rBs’s businesses in asia.

VILAF• a regular finalist and a winner of this category in 2009, the

firm has a good chance of defending its crown this year after another strong year

• acted on Vincom’s us$100m convertible bond offering

YKVN• a perennial finalist in this category and a winner in 2005, the

firm acted on a number of high-profile and groundbreaking deals over the past 12 months.

• acted on Vincom’s us$100m convertible bond offering

mAnAging pArtner oF the YeArfInalISTS

Allen&Overy–KennethAboud• instrumental in the firm achieving its Qualifying foreign law

Practice (QflP) license in late 2009, a&o’s headcount has increased under aboud’s leadership from 32 to 48 lawyers.

• among the high-profile names to have come on board in this period were singapore lawyers lock Yin mei, Kenny Kwan and Yeoh lian Chuan while Cerintha Chia joined late december 2009 to head its singapore law Banking practice. andrew Battisson arrived in october 2009 to head-up the firm’s international arbitration practice, while growth of its international Capital markets practice is also foreshadowed.

• also regarded as one of the more active managing partners on the deal side, continuing to lead many of the firm’s high-profile cross-border deals of the last twelve months.

LinklatersAllen&Gledhill–KevinWong• Kevin Wong has been managing Partner of linklaters allen &

Gledhill for seven out of the ten years that the two firms have been in a joint law venture in singapore.

• during this time, the jlV has gone from strength to strength, having substantially increased their footprint in singapore and throughout southeast asia.

• Wong is also head of the firm’s Capital markets and has

acted on such deals as the us$3.3bn iPo of maxis, Bumi resources’ us$375m Convertible Bond and the republic of indonesia’s us $650m global sukuk (Best islamic financing, financeasia awards 2009).

LovellsLee&Lee–JamesHarris• is the managing partner of lovells lee & lee in singapore as

well as head of lovells’ projects practice for south east asia and lovells’ asia infrastructure Group.

• recognised as a leading project finance lawyer by many in the industry, he has led teams in successfully completing many award-winning projects in the region such as us$4.4bn resorts World at sentosa; s$661.4m guarantee project financing of a 300mm wafer fabrication plant in singapore supported by the economic development Board and singapore’s first privately owned and operated waste incineration plant (fifth incineration Plant).

Rodyk&Davidson–HelenYeo• under Yeo’s leadership the firm has grown to rival the

position of the nation’s ‘big four’ firms.• it was the first foreign law firm to be granted a license to

open an office in China and maintains a strong network of alliances with local law firms throughout southeast asia.

• under Yeo’s leadership, partners in the firm undertook major projects such as Wuxi-singapore industrial Park (China), Vietnam-singapore industrial Park (Vietnam), sanlin township project (China) and raffles City project (China).

StephensonHarwood–MartinGreen• has been at the helm of the firm in singapore for the last 14

years and has grown it from a one partner, one practice firm to a 9 partner, 13 associate group advising on a wide swath of areas including all aspects of shipping, oil& gas, insurance and aviation and dispute resolution.

• the firm has planned for further expansion later this year as it looks to repeat its 2009 feat of being named as one of asia’s fastest growing firms.

Watson,Farley&Williams–ChrisLowe• under lowe’s guidance, the firm has both expanded

cemented and grown its presence in singapore. • lowe is also continuing his efforts to expand the singapore

team and plans to fortify the office’s presence in the region through an expansion of the project and structured finance group and focus on the aviation sector and the continuing recruitment drive of the arbitration/litigation group.

WongPartnership–DilhanPillay• dilhan Pillay’s leadership has seen the firm transformed into

one of the largest law firms in the lion City with a footprint that extends to mainland China and the middle east.

• led the firm’s he recent restructuring initiatives which fine-tuned the firm’s regional strategy.

• these initiatives are also part of dilhan’s succession plan, where he sees that involving a younger generation of lawyers in the strategic development of the firm, even beyond the level looked at for succession, empowers and develops them into leaders of the future.

• dilhan still maintains a busy corporate practice, having acted on the Capitamalls asia iPo and atiC’s acquisition of Chartered semiconductor manufacturing

internAtionAl DeAl Firm oF the YeAr

fInalISTS

•Allen&Overy•Baker&McKenzie•CliffordChance•DavisPolk&Wardwell•Latham&Watkins•Linklaters•Lovells•Milbank•Shearman&Sterling

singApore DeAl Firm oF the YeArfInalISTS

•Allen&Gledhill•Drew&Napier•Rajah&Tann•Rodyk&Davidson•StamfordLawCorporation•WongPartnership

BOOK YOUR TABLE NOW! SEATS ARE LIMITED

Name:

Job title:

Company:

Host/Contact name:

Venue: The ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore, 7 raffles Avenue | Date: Friday 4 June 2010 | Time: 6:30pm – Cocktails / 7:00pm – Dinner & Award presentations

Please reserve table(s) at SGD$1,888 + GST – 1 table seats 10 people

BOOK A TABLE OF TEN AND SAVE OVER SGD$600

Fax back to (65) 6423 4632 or Email: [email protected]

Address:

Tel: Fax:

email:

Signature:

Dress code: Black Tie / Formal

Please reserve seat(s) at SGD$250 + GST each

Cancellation Policy: Written notice of cancellation must be given to Key Media Singapore no less than 28 days before the event date. Funds will be repaid less US$50 administration and processing fee. If no such notice is received the fee will remain payable in full.

official publication organised by:Award Sponsors: Supporting organisationAward patron

Yes! I want to attend ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2010 dinner & presentation ceremony

Everyone I spoke to enjoys the ALB Awards dinner. The black tie dinner, the style of the awards is all fantastic.

Partner – Conyers Dill & Pearman, Hong Kong The event is very well organised and a big success!

General Counsel – COSCO Pacific It is a great event and I am proud to be a part of it.

Partner – Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy

http://se.albawards.legalbusinessonline.com/register/register.aspx

58

FEaTURE | Australian firms in Asia >>


Asia has been a top priority for Australia’s best law firms for the past decade, but 2010 is seeing new expansion. Blake Dawson has just set up in Tokyo, Clayton Utz is opening in Hong Kong, and Minter Ellison is eyeing Beijing. ALB talks to Australia’s top law firms about new openings and their strategy for the region. By Alice Yan

niche play to the north

Ever since moving into Asia in the 1980s, Australian law firms have pursued aggressive growth strategies in the region.

This year, however, things are really heating up, with three new office openings scheduled for 2010. And it is now common market conjecture that the underlying motivation behind the recent move into Australia by some UK firms was really targeted at Asia.

These new developments are undoubtedly an extension of law firms’ long-term growth strategies for the Asia-Pacific region. Yet their similar timing is not mere coincidence; it reflects a common optimism towards post-GFC Asia.

asia in 2010While the Asian region has always been rich in opportunity, post-GFC Asia offers some ‘once-in-a-global economic cycle’ opportunities. “The financial crisis has shifted the balance of East and West as far as the global economy goes,” says Allens Arthur Robinson’s head of greater China M&A, Campbell Davidson. He says that the GFC has accelerated, in particular, China’s political and economic ascendancy. “It has rushed China into a role we may have expected from it 20-30 years down the track. This creates enormous opportunities to provide the corresponding legal infrastructure to keep up to pace with these accelerated financial leaps.”

Asia’s relative immunity to the global slump has increased its respective economic and political importance.

Australians in Asia

Clayton Utz’s managing partner for litigation, Stuart Clark, says India also weathered the financial crisis well and foresees enormous project investment opportunities from the country, both internally and offshore. Australian lawyers in Asia forecast a promising 2010 ahead in Asia. “There was a small hiccup in investment, but Asia came out of the GFC not burdened by the same level of debt as the rest of the world,” Clark says. “Once the shackles of the GFC are shaken off and investors realise the prospect of a ‘double dip’ is unlikely, development and infrastructure projects and construction work will really pick up, with a spill over into dispute resolution. There is a clear way forward with real opportunities.”

Australian law firms expect to capitalise on the growing Asian market, predicting a greater share of its outbound flows going into this home country. “Australia is now the 10th largest economy in the world,” Blake Dawson partner Ian Williams says. “Our domestic market has become an attractive home for investment in its own right.” He says energy & resources will remain a natural focus for Asia-outbound investment into Australia, but he also foresees investment opportunities in non-traditional areas arising there. “We’re seeing a lot more interest from Asia in areas like foodstuffs, consumer products and financial services, in particular

securities law,” he says.Blake Dawson tax

partner Duncan Baxter says that Australia’s economy came out of the global downturn viewed as a more attractive home for investment capital, especially for more cautious investors in Asia. In particular, outbound investment from China that previously went to the US may now be redirected to Australia. “Our clients in Asia are moving away from the traditional model of appointing distributors and instead taking market shares in leading Australia companies. This creates M&A work,” Williams says.

new officesLeading Australian firms are strikingly different in their motives for opening, their locations across Asia and their practice focuses. While Australian law firms struggle for distinction in their saturated home market, the strategic approaches and targets each has adopted in the broader Asian marketplace for legal services are fairly unique.

Clayton Utz opened its first office in Asia this April, with the move onshore

Stuart clarkclayton utz

Ian Williamsblake Dawson

► BreakdOwn OF asIa-FOcused reVenues

0

3

6

9

12

15

10%Blake

dawson’s revenue made up over 10%

of overall revenue,

growing by around 25%

a year

15%Contribution of mallesons

stephen jaques’ asia practices to overall firm

revenue

59



departing from the ‘fly-in-fly out’ model it had faithfully defended for the past two decades while its major competitors were setting up offices across Asia. But the big question is why go onshore now? Clark says that opening a physical office formalises the position that the firm has already had for a long time – serving top-quality premium clients with a strong fly-in-fly-out team for years, and with an established reputation in the region. “We’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to

“the financial crisis has shifted the balance of east and west as far as the global economy goes”

Campbell Davidson Allens Arthur Robinson

take the next step,” Clark says.Clayton Utz has formed a local

alliance with Haley & Co, to be headed up by founder Glenn Haley. He has had longstanding ties with Clayton Utz and the firm’s partner Colin Dodd, who has been based in Hong Kong for a number of years. “This was a unique opportunity in Hong Kong where we already have pre-existing work and partners with credibility, reputation and profile,” Clark says.

Clayton Utz’s move resembles how Mallesons Stephen Jaques first entered the Asian market fully years before Mallesons, by setting up a base in Hong Kong in alliance with Denton Hall and Burgin. Clark acknowledges that the firm has adopted a similar approach

to Mallesons, but says it is with a very different intention. “We are not hoping to set up a full-service office in Hong Kong,” Clark says. “We aim to play to our strengths and concentrates on those areas.”

Clayton Utz’s Hong Kong office will focus on the firms’ two core strengths – construction and major projects – and dispute resolution and arbitration, though he says expansion into other areas hasn’t been ruled out.

“There’s little doubt Clayton Utz has the strongest dispute resolution team in Australia. We’ve also accumulated substantial experience in project work

► strategIes OF On-shOre FIrms

ThefourfirmsthatmovedonshoreintoAsiafirsthaveverydifferentstrategicfocusesintheregion:

Firm MallesonsStephenJaques

AllensArthurRobinson BlakeDawson MinterEllison

Strategy mallesons stephen Jaques clearly has the biggest asia footprint, but demonstrates a north asia bias, serviced largely by its hong kong office where its critical mass in asia is based

allens arthur robinson has the broadest reach across asia, with an unparalleled number of offices scattered throughout the region. It is also more active in the mainland, being the first australian firm in china to establish three offices and the first firm licensed to work on IP matters

Blake dawson’s offices follow the flows of capital, putting a long-term strategic focus on Japan, singapore and china. the firm has made a strategic decision not to target hong kong, seeing it as a place where money flows through. “we are interested in being where the assets are,” Blake dawson partner michael wadley says

minter ellison’s china office serves as an effective marketing tool. the shanghai base is a small representative office on the ground, which acts as ‘eyes and ears’ by building contacts and bringing work home

in the region, including water projects in Indonesia and wind farms and power stations across Asia.”

Blake Dawson has also been on the move, but with different targets in sight. Shortly after opening in Singapore in 2009, the firm opened another new office in Tokyo this April, earning the distinction of being the first Australian law firm to set up a base in Japan. Williams says the Tokyo opening was an extension of its long-term strategic focus in Japan. “We decided to make Japan a growth priority 15 years ago, and the firm now has the largest – and leading – Japanese practice in Australia.” He says that currently, a large percentage (about 5%) of the firm’s overall client base in Australia, Port Moresby and Jakarta are Japanese, so opening in Tokyo cements the firm’s relationship-based strategy for Asia.

“We want to be located where our

http://aar.com.au

60



clients are. We already have five partners living and working in Japan. Opening this office was the logical next step,” he says.

Similarly, Blake Dawson opened its Singapore office last year to follow the flow of capital. “The regional headquarters of multinational corporations and the investment division of our major clients are based

in Singapore,” Williams says. “A lot of the investment into India also goes via Singapore.” He says the firm would be looking at Korea as the next logical market for opening an office after liberalisation allows it, but Minter Ellison, on the other hand, is awaiting approval to open a new office in Beijing.

Onshore versus offshoreClayton Utz was the last top-tier firm to defect from the offshore model. Its decision to open onshore confirms the consensus reached amongst the top Australian firms over time that there are unparalleled advantages of being onshore. The most obvious one is presence. “Being able to give real-time advice on the ground when it is needed is a real attraction to our clients,” says Minter Ellison’s international managing partner Mark Green. As business in China is relationship-driven, having an onshore presence also means better client building opportunities and marketing. Bonds will surely form faster with someone over hotpot than from four thousand miles away!

Allens Arthur Robinson’s Davidson says relationships take a long time to develop and requires lawyers to be on the ground, mixing with locals. “You need a significant team of PRC lawyers, born and bred and educated in the PRC, with their own contacts and friends working in local firms and government,” Davidson says. Williams says Blake Dawson’s physical presence sends a signal to local lawyers. “It shows we have a real commitment to serving their market,” he says.

Yet Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s Sydney partner Anthony Latimer says that physical presence makes little difference, as long as Australian-based staff can make themselves available and be mobile.

mark greenminter ellison

“when you get to a certain point, an office on the ground can do things you need that a fly-in-fly-out model cannot”

Stuart Clark Clayton Utz

“Not being across the road means we cannot be at their office in half an hour, but we can hop on a flight and be there in eight hours,” he explains. Corrs is one remaining firm without an Asian office, preferring to use six partners across its Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane offices dedicated to China-related work. Latimer says the firm manages client relationships on par with onshore firms, using a combination of modern technology, strong language skills in Australia and senior partners who have spent most of their lives in China.

But Minter Ellison’s Green insists that this is no substitute for personal interaction. “When you are in the same room, you can read body language across the table that you can never get from a telephone conversation over a screen,” he says.

Even Clayton Utz succumbed to the need for opening an Asian office, just waiting for the right opportunity. “When you get to a certain point, an office on the ground can do things you need that a fly-in-fly-out model cannot,” says Clark. Those firms which remain offshore in the region continue to claim they are not at any disadvantage, but closer examination of the circumstances show they’ve not moved onshore because they lacked the capacity to – or acted too late. Most Australian mid-tier firms like Corrs Chambers Westgarth will fall into the first category, but Freehills is in the second. The firm was late jumping onto the Asia bandwagon, and decided in 2004 to fast-track its cultural learning curve by forming an alliance with local law firm TransAsia in Singapore.

As Australia plays more of a role in the international market its law firms will increasingly struggle with the fundamental operating decision about how ‘international’ they want to (and can afford to) become. “They must choose between staying a purely domestic business or regional business. Going regional requires significant investment financially and in HR and management,” Williams says. “Only the committed will go ahead.” ALB

► targetIng asIa usIng an australIan Base

the defection of 16 australian partners from a major firm to a uK entrant stirred a scandal in the australia market that distracts from the real target. it is popular market sentiment that allen & overy’s entrance onto australian soil was not motivated by the small – and already saturated – domestic market, but rather is a clever ploy to increase market share and presence in asia by leveraging off an australian base.

so far the asian practices of australian firms have enjoyed natural advantages over their uK competitors, simply by being ‘australian’. john Curtis, a partner with freehills explains that australian firms are the natural choice for asian- outbound work into australia. this is a substantial amount when you consider that Chinese investment into australia alone amounts to $90 billion.

australian firms are also the top pick for work within asia, have unparalleled regional expertise in the region. But local expertise and reputation are attributed as much to the australian firm brand as to their top people. so when the uK firms start pinching their best talent, they are eroding the local firms’ main competitive edge.

Yet most australian top-tiers continue to shrug away the threat with determined nonchalance. mallesons stephen jaques partner robert milliner says that “magic Circle isn’t a magic bullet in this part of the world”. and stuart Clark from Clayton utz says the idea that allen &7 overy will service its asian needs with newly-acquired australian resources is not a viable model. “australia is still a nine-hour flight away from most of asia,” he says.

ian Williams from Blake dawson claims that any uK set-ups in australia do not, by a long way, have the spread and depth of expertise in the region that the leading australian firms have. no doubt, they do not have this just yet. Williams acknowledges that “the uK entrant into the australian market is a fundamental inflection, [a] point of change. it marks the shift in the australian legal market from a domestic legal market to an international legal market in the next two-three years.” Consequently, australian firms may have to extend and move beyond their natural competitive advantages to effectively differentiate themselves in asia.

anthony latimercorrs chambers westgarth

61



http://www.intl-risk.com

62

FEaTURE | Islamic finance >>


Law firms are moving to new and emerging markets to not only target, but be part of, the unstoppable growth of Islamic finance structures.By Rashida Yosufzai

Since modern-day Islamic finance emerged as a model in the Middle East in the 1970s, its expansion has been rapid. The

IMF estimates that Islamic finance assets have grown by 10% every year in the last decade.

That growth – making Islamic finance one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global financial market – has been achieved in a relatively short time. Yet it’s that very pace of growth which has the legal world worried.

In December 2009, when UAE property firm Nakheel faced defaulting on repayment of its sukuk (Islamic

ALB’s Leading Islamic finance law firms: Asia

bonds), worldwide headlines claimed that the market would shun Islamic finance as a banking system. For many observers, and not only in the legal world, it seemed that the growth story might end.

But lawyers on the frontline argue that far from Islamic finance coming to an end, it’s really at the very beginning. In keeping with the market, this model carves out a potentially lucrative practice area. Now, and for those venturing into markets traditionally perceived as non-Islamic (in the EU and North Asia), to the surprise of many it is currently growing.

62

nOVemBer 2009 >>

Maxis Berhad IPOUs$3.3bn

firm: linklatersClient: underwriters

firm: Clifford ChanceClient: maxis Berhadlead lawyer: Crawford Brickley

firm: adnan, sundra & lowClient: underwriters

firm: Zul rafiqueClient: maxis Communication Berhad

firm: Kadir andri & PartnersClient: maxis Berhadlead lawyers: samuel hong, e. sreesanthan

• malaysia’s biggest mobile phone company, maxis Berhad, in us$3.3bn iPo on the Bursa malaysia

• largest malaysia iPo and asia in 2009

• Biggest telco public offering seen in asia-Pacific since 2000

nOVemBer 2009 >>

Kuwait energy company shariah financing Us$50m

firm: fulbright & jaworskilead lawyers: andrew hart, michael mcmillen, david moroneyClient: ifC

firm: lovells lead lawyers: matthew andrews, rustum shahClient: Kuwait energy Company

• Kuwait energy Company

loaned us$50m shariah-compliant financing from international finance Corporation towards oil and gas assets exploration

• first financing provided by ifC Kuwaiti oil and gas company, represents the dedication of all parties involved to ensure that commercial requirements of this unique class of financing was compatible with the shariah

• lovells/fulbright cross-border london/dubai offices advised on english law and shariah structuring

HEADLINEISLAMICFINANCEDEALS–WORLDWIDE:

MALAYSIA KUWAIT

63



Islamic finance’s continued ascendancyThe GFC presented a unique

opportunity for “unconventional” banking methods to shine and, by principle, Islamic finance is the very embodiment of unconventional. The model shuns financial risk and interest, and requires tangible assets to back up transactions. Due to this, some argued that the global economy would not have suffered as much had Islamic finance been used instead of conventional banking: it had, in effect, a moral upper hand.

In 2007, the total value of sukuk issuances peaked at almost US$35bn. “During the global financial crisis, a number of conventional banks closed down – but at the same time new Islamic banks were opening up all over the world,” says Madzlan Hussain, partner and head of Islamic finance at Malaysian law firm Zaid Ibrahim & Co. However, Islamic finance institutions

(IFIs) were not entirely unexposed to the crisis. Besides Nakheel, three other IFIs restructured debts or had defaulted on their sukuk repayment, starting off with East Cameron Gas (Oct 2008), Investment Dar (May 2009), and Saad Group (June 2009).

If sentiment was still soaring then it was firmly grounded by December 2009. The announcement by the conglomerate Dubai World that it would halt repayment of its subsidiary Nakheel’s Islamic bonds, which were due in a matter of weeks, stunned the global market. Because one of Islamic finance’s pillars is for investors to share the issuer’s risk, as opposed to the conventional system of risk-taking, many considered that Islamic finance had limited scope to grow.

This presented Islamic finance groups in law firms with a major problem: not only did Nakheel cast a

decemBer 2009 >>

Ge capital sukuk Us$500m

firm: Conyers dill & Pearman lead lawyer: david CookeClient: Ge Capital

firm: allen & overy lead lawyer: anzal mohammed Client: Ge Capital

firm: Clifford Chance Client: Citi/Goldman sachs

• Ge Capital’s offering of sukuk certificates to diversify alternative funding sources

• first such offering issued by major us company and first of its type to be used to finance aircraft leasing

safeena shariah shipping investment firm: ince & Co lead lawyer: martin Brown Client: safeena

firm: azmi & associates lead lawyer: ahmad lutfi abdull mutalip Client: safeena

firm: mKKlead lawyer: Craig heggieClient: safeena

• unique islamic finance investment deal for malaysia’s only islamic shipping fund, deal structured through deferred purchase and forward lease arrangement

• first purchase and forward lease structure (also called an istisna’a-ijarah structure) used by shipping fund

• ince & Co approached by safeena due to Brown’s prior experience on conventional and islamic financing deals-

• azmi & associates retained through ince & Co, advising on legality/enforceability of legal documentation and fund structure to meet local law requirements

march 2010 >>UAE MALAYSIA

alB’s leading islamic finance law firms: asia

► malaysIa:• abdul rahman & Partners • adnan, sundra & low • albar & Partners • azmi & associates • hisham sobri & Kadir • Kadir andri & Partners • lee hishammuddin allen & Gledhill •mohamed rizda & Co • rajah darryl & loh • shahrizat rashid & lee • shearn delamore & Co. • Zaid ibrahim & Co • Zul rafique & partners

► IndOnesIa:• assegaf, hamzah & Partners • hadiputranto, hadinoto & Partners • hannafiah Ponggawa & Patners • mmiK law office • soebagjo, jatim & djarot

► sIngaPOre: • allen & Gledhill • arfat selvam alliance

► InternatIOnal law FIrms- asIa• allen & overy • Clifford Chance • lovells • norton rose

► methOdOlOgyalB conducted the extensive research with numerous in-house legal counsels, banking & financial services professionals, industry specialists and private practice lawyers for the last 3 months. our respondents were asked to nominate asia’s leading islamic finance law firms and lawyers based on their industry reputation and quality of work. submissions made as part of the alB law awards series were also considered. the middle east region was excluded from this survey.

64



banking crisis,” he said. But Asia-based Islamic finance lawyers remain confident there will be no fallout from the affair. “Despite the Nakheel event, the interest in Islamic finance is still growing,” says the head of Malaysian firm Azmi & Associates’ Islamic finance practice, Ahmad Lutfi Abdull Mutalip. “The problem was not really because of Islamic finance but because of the credit risk of the issuer, which can occur in any sort of banking method – Islamic or conventional.”

So what kind of market do Islamic finance lawyers face now – uncertainty or optimism? “It’s safe to say there’s huge potential for growth in Islamic

negative light on the growth of Islamic finance, but some looked towards the lawyers’ roles in structuring the Shariah documents. The Nakheel sukuk default was viewed as contributing to weaker investor confidence in Islamic finance, says Oliver Agha, the co-founder of Shariah-compliant law firm Agha & Shamsi. “Certainly, public confidence in a system is undermined when widespread defaults suggest a systemic fault, as was the case with the conventional

IF: not just for the Middle East Old world versus new

Malaysia and the Middle East have always dominated the global

Islamic finance market as a solid source of work for many law firms. Malaysian government investment over the years has created a stable base of clients for law firms – it was on the encouragement of the Malaysian central bank that Asia’s largest low-cost airline, AirAsia, embraced Islamic finance, not only for an aircraft leasing transaction but for a sukuk issue.

“We embraced Islamic finance, not only because it was economically feasible but because there was a drive in the last few years to make Kuala Lumpur an Islamic finance hub,” says AirAsia senior counsel, Amir Fazael Zakaria. Last year, the airline won industry plaudits for its US$336m innovative Islamic French-Malaysian lease used to finance eight new aircraft. The year before, the company issued US$158.5m in sukuk to finance its capital expenditures.

“There were some hoops and hurdles we had to jump through to make [the 2009 lease] Shariah compliant but the basic structure is still a lease,” explains Zakaria, adding the company’s future embrace of Islamic finance will depend on whether the government will continue to invest in the sector. “Islamic finance will always be an option that AirAsia will be open to, given the right circumstances, if

the cost of funding is still competitive, and the government is still providing incentives. We’ve been noted as an entity that actively partakes in Islamic finance in the region and we’re proud of that.”

Law firms are continuing to invest in the Middle East region on the back of regional growth in Islamic finance. In January King & Spalding promoted Islamic finance specialist Jawad Ali

“Indonesia is a country with a population of almost 300 million and is also untapped for Islamic finance. It is practically unknown there”

Amir Fazael Zakaria AirAsia Senior Counsel

to regional managing partner. In February, Denton Wilde Sapte said it wanted to target the Islamic finance market in Bahrain, and launched a local office through an alliance with Hassan Radhi & Associates. The firm had sound rationale for the move – Bahrain is positioning itself as the area’s Islamic finance hub. According to the Governor of its central bank, Bahrain has one of the largest numbers

Oliver agha, agha & shamsi

finance because it reached the [IMF’s estimated] 10% growth rate in such a short space of time,” says Hussain.

“certainly, public confidence in a system is undermined when widespread defaults suggest a systemic fault, as was the case with the conventional banking crisis.”

Oliver Agha Agha & Shamsi

65



of IFIs in the world, providing a solid client base.

Hussain says that Malaysia has done a lot of the groundwork that other jurisdictions can replicate without going through the same painstaking experiments. “It will continue to be a leading jurisdiction for Islamic finance, but at the same time you cannot undermine the potential for others to also compete very well in offering the best platform for Islamic finance to take off.”

Although Malaysia and the Middle East will continue to dominate much of the market, some hiccups have been felt in both regions. For example, Malaysia’s latest investment proposal, allowing up to five foreign law firms to practice local law (but only on Islamic finance transactions) didn’t exactly receive the same kind of enthusiasm as Singapore’s 2009 license grants. “For many full-service [foreign firms] the value proposition would not be too enticing because they can service Islamic finance from their headquarters anyway,” explains Hussain. “I believe the central bank is looking to revise the proposal because of the [feedback from] international firms – that it’s not a valuable enough proposal to set up in Malaysia –and maybe to allow perhaps a larger practice base.”

In the Middle East, law firms looking for work may also be cautious as not all countries have embraced Islamic finance. In Oman, for example, lawyers note there is no Islamic finance industry, let alone work, there. “There is a general perception that Oman does not favour the establishment of Islamic finance institutions. In any event the transaction costs, for example, of real estate sale and leasebacks can be very high,” explains lawyer Taimur Malik, of Muscat-based law firm SALSO. “There is a sector of the private and business community which has an appetite for Shariah-compliant financing or products and there may be a market, but it’s subject to a change in government policy and with real costs to be competitive with conventional financing structures.”

In a similar fashion to Zaid Ibrahim, US firm Crowell & Moring made its Middle East debut in April, opening an affiliate office in Egypt by partnering with Cairo-based Hegazy & Associates.

The firm’s motivation was also the rising market for Islamic finance, yet it faces a similar hurdle as others because Islamic finance is still underdeveloped in Egypt. Like in Oman, the government has yet to embrace Islamic finance.

Nevertheless, one of the main types of work for Islamic finance practices, sukuk issuance, is growing on the basis of IFIs tapping into new markets. A recent Standard & Poor’s report says “sukuk is attracting issuers from an increasing number of countries and this trend is set to continue. Issuers from more than 20 countries have expressed interest in issuing, or announced their intention to issue, sukuk.”

New and emerging markets for Islamic finance – in short, where the work is likely to move – is one of the most pressing issues for law firms worldwide. In a list of ‘“up and coming jurisdictions’, lawyers throw a number of interesting locations into the mix – London, Australia, France, Germany, Malta, the Channel Islands, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea. And the list goes on.

new horizonsAirAsia’s Zakaria says that there is a good reason why Malaysia has positioned itself to be the world’s Islamic finance hub – its strategic location within such a large investor base. “Indonesia is a country with a population of almost 300 million, and is also untapped for Islamic finance. It is practically unknown there,” he says. “It’s not just in terms of the aviation industry but for consumer banking. It’s why Malaysia continues to place itself as a hub. We have a head-start since we started taking baby steps almost three decades ago.”

Such is Hussain’s faith in the growth of Islamic finance that his firm took a huge investment risk last year to target a virtually absent Islamic finance market in Australia. Zaid Ibrahim partners said they saw local interest while accompanying a trade delegation from Malaysia’s central bank to promote Islamic finance in Australia, so last year it became the first Asian law firm with an Australian operating licence. Partner Lim Kar Han, who will head the Australia practice, admits that while the market in Australia is still in its infancy the firm will be part

► tOP 10 glOBal IslamIc BOnd Issuer rankIngs - 2010 q1

Pos. Issuer Dealvalue(US$m)

No %share

1 danga capital Bhd 612 1 34.7

2 dar al-arkan real estate development co

446 1 25.3

3 khazanah nasional Bhd

228 1 12.9

4 saudi hollandi Bank 193 1 11.0

5 gamuda Bhd 97 1 5.5

6 cagamas Bhd 94 1 5.3

7 Pt Perusahaan listrik negara-Pln

32 1 1.8

8 sunrise Bhd 29 1 1.7

9 tradewinds corp Bhd 15 1 0.9

10 aeon co ltd 9 1 0.5

Source: dealogic

of the process, helping it grow through education. “It’s a nascent industry which is growing, but there still has to be an education process. The next step for us is a roadshow where we’ll be looking at case studies and how you can bring [products] to the market.”

Yet there are only a handful of Australian banks that have shown interest in Islamic finance. A local banker who managed the roll-out of a product for one prominent bank could not comment on the potential for future growth in Australia. Regardless, the Australian government has put considerable thought into using Islamic finance to make the country an Asian financial hub, on the basis that Australia has a larger Muslim population than for example, Hong Kong or Japan.

Lim says that Zaid Ibrahim is already working closely with two Australian law firms. “We are working on some [Islamic finance] products at the moment to develop together with the firms,” he said. “It’s very much a collaborative process and we just want to build on those good relationships.” So what else can the firm expect for Islamic finance in Australia? “There are a whole range of Islamic finance products you can tap in Australia, but the best is to [target] the lower hanging fruits first,” says head of Islamic finance Hussain. “There is scope both at the commercial, retail and wholesale funding levels; because the Australian banking industry taps quite significantly into international funding.”

66



so much that they have control over. “In-house lawyers really don’t play that much of an active role in the product structuring. Because of the way Islamic finance structures are devised we see the financing once we have [the] term sheet in front of us. It’s not something that we can proactively say ‘let’s look out for these dangers’. Besides, in Asia there is a lot of faith in regional IFIs who have well-established Shariah boards. We don’t see any issues to be worried about on their credibility,” he explains.

Another huge source of work for lawyers will be in reconciling Shariah interpretations in various countries. “Since Islamic finance is a global phenomenon, the basic set of corporate

laws in each country should at least be ‘talking to each other’, as documents will be applied individually where the contract belongs,” says Mutalip.

Oliver Agha says that ensuring IF transactions abide by Shariah and not conventional risk profiles will “generate much work for law firms”. “We’re witnessing many structures that were hurriedly put together with Shariah approvals that have hit serious legal enforceability issues,” he says. “A Shariah approval does not render a transaction enforceable but merely declares the scholar’s view as to its perceived compliance. There is a significant amount of work involved in sorting through issues where the approval deviates from consensus

Islamic finance lawyers will face some significant challenges in the next

few years, and will play a huge role developing modern legal structures for Shariah-compliant transactions and innovative Islamic finance transactions. “Recent issues opened the eyes of Islamic finance bankers and teams who look to structure deals better so that those kinds of problems can be eliminated in future sukuk issues,” says Azmi & Associates’ Mutalip. “Lawyers [can] now ensure they’re brought in from day one ... so that in the event of a default the transaction structure is foolproof.”

What Nakheel and other troubled IFIs did was not only bring Islamic finance into the consciousness of the mainstream market but helped shine a light on some of the difficulties lawyers have faced over the years. It’s not just problems with reconciling different interpretations of Shariah law in each country but how to reconcile Islamic finance product structures within western legal regimes. The Nakheel default, for example, pushed Dubai into developing better bankruptcy laws. In short, Islamic finance’s problems can also create new opportunities and business for lawyers too.

Harris Irfan, head of Islamic products at Barclays Capital, says that the role of lawyers is more important now. “In-house legal departments are taking their time on Shariah representation and carefully looking at the language of the contract, so no one can say it’s null and void,” Irfan told Reuters in March. “The process already takes time and we’re making it even slower. It’s a shame but this is going to make the industry grow at a slower pace.”

But not all in-house lawyers share the same view. Zakaria says there’s only

or results in a structure that has deficiencies under the law of the jurisdiction at question. As more and more such structures come to light, the work for lawyers with comprehensive Shariah knowledge and skills will continue to increase.”

Reconciling Shariah principles – perhaps through a global code of practice – is certainly idealistic, and Hussain says it won’t be easy. “Streamlining Shariah interpretations will not be the best way forward, especially since Islamic finance is still in its infancy,” he says. “Innovation and paradigm shifts will need to take place within Shariah law itself, so I don’t think there will be any uniformity taking place in the near

future.” What’s more, says Hussain, it doesn’t matter whether reform happens or not. “There is an opportunity for law reform to happen but the growth of the industry will not be dependant on it,” he says. “The industry will still move forward because new jurisdictions are very much well positioned to accommodate the growth.”

What is certain among lawyers and bankers is that Islamic finance is attracting more attention. Lim says the reason why traditionally non-Islamic nations have embraced the model is that IF is becoming an important part of [the] international finance world. It will compliment and compete with conventional finance, no longer taking a back seat.” he says. ALB

IF lawyers – important future role

“since Islamic finance is a global phenomenon, the basic set of corporate laws in each country should at least be ‘talking to each other’, as documents will be applied individually where the contract belongs”

Ahmad Lutfi Abdull Mutalip Azmi & Associates

abdul rahman & PartnershQ: level 27, menara haw Par, jalan sultan ismail,

50250 Kuala lumpur, malaysia Phone: +603 2078 1 888 | facsimile: +603 2078 1 999

email: [email protected] | [email protected]

abdul rahman & Partners is established since 1985 and is one of the fastest growing boutique firm in providing premier legal services in malaysia. our practice mainly covers islamic banking and finance, debt capital market and broad area of corporate and commercial, and litigation practices. our commercially sound legal advice have benefited many banking and corporate institution clients in structuring islamic facilities on syndicated-related and club deal basis, and even via sukuk issuance to cater various needs.

AreasofExpertise:• asset finance & securitisation • Capital market • Corporate recovery • Corporate & Commercial • islamic Banking and finance • Project finance

http://www.abdulrahman.com.my

http://www.habibalmulla.com


maRkET DaTa | M&A >>

Asia-Pacific M&A Activity - Quarterly Trends

League Table of Financial Advisors to Asia-Pacific (ex-Japan) M&A (Jan 01, 2010 - Apr 23, 2010)League Table of Legal Advisors to Asia-Pacific (ex-Japan) M&A (Jan 01, 2010 - Apr 23, 2010)

1-Apr-10 Tong Yang Cement Company Limited (59.2% stake)

Golden Oil Corporation 741Tong Yang Major Corporation

Lightyear Capital LLC16-Apr-10 NAU Country Insurance Company

Advising seller:Sullivan & Cromwell

QBE Insurance Group Limited 565

Power Sector Assets & Liabilities Management Corporation

16-Apr-10 345-MW San Roque Multipurpose Hydroelectric Power Project

San Miguel Corporation 450

1,5587-Apr-10 Daimler AG (3.1% stake) Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Nissan Motor Company Limited; and Renault SA

Nishimura & Asahi; Sullivan & Cromwell

12-Apr-10 Syncrude Canada Limited(9.03% stake)

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation

Advising seller:Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt

ConocoPhillips Company 4,650Blake, Cassels & Graydon

3226-apr-10 HNA Airport Holding (Group) Company Limited (54.5% stake)

Hainan Meilan International Airport Company Limited

Grandall Legal Group HNA Group Company Limited; Kingward Investment Limited

Votorantim Novos Negocios Ltda 18-Apr-10 Sul Americana de Metais S.A

Honbridge Holdings Limited 390

6-Apr-10 Jushi Group Company Limited (49% stake)

China Fiberglass Company Limited

China National Building Material Company Limited; Hony Capital; Surest Finance Limited; and ZhenShi Holding Group Company Limited

430King & Wood

Advising seller:Jones Day; Ledgewood Law Firm; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

Atlas Energy Inc9-Apr-10 Atlas Energy Resources (Marcellus Shale) (40% stake)

Reliance Industries Limited Vinson & Elkins 339

AnnouncementDate

Target Company Target/SellerLegal Advisor

Bidder Company Bidder Legal Advisor Seller Company Deal Value(USDm)

Asian Legal Business ISSUE 10.4

Top 10 Announced Deals - Asia-Pacific (Apr 01, 2010 - Apr 23, 2010)

Valu

e (U

SDm

)

Value (USDm)

Num

ber o

f dea

ls

Volume

00

20,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

200,000

40,000

600

700

800

400

500

100

200

300

900

15-Apr-10 PT Carrefour Indonesia (40% stake)

PT Trans Corpora Carrefour SA 300

MARKET DATA | M&A >>

M&A TRANSACTIONS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Notes: Top deals table includes lapsed and withdrawn bids, and is based on geography of either target, bidder or seller company being Asia-Pacific•Quarterly trend graph excludes lapsed and withdrawn bids, and is based on dominant geography of target only being Asia-Pacific•League tables are based on geography of either target, bidder or seller company being Asia-Pacific. League tables of legal advisors include lapsed and withdrawn bids, while league tables of financial advisors exclude lapsed and withdrawn bids. League tables are ranked by value • Statistics includes all deals valued over USD 5m. Where deal value not disclosed, deal has been entered based on turnover of target exceeding USD 10m•Activities excluded from statistics include property transactions and restructurings where the ultimate shareholders’ interests are not changed.

Rank House Value (USDm) Deal Count

1 Herbert Smith/Gleiss Lutz/Stibbe 48,657 3

2 Slaughter and May 38,683 4

3 Sullivan & Cromwell 36,077 4

4 Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton 35,950 3

5 Norton Rose 35,896 9

6 Simpson Thacher & Bartlett 35,824 4

7= Cravath Swaine & Moore 35,500 1

7= Debevoise & Plimpton 35,500 1

7= Weil Gotshal & Manges 35,500 1

10 Davis Polk & Wardwell 29,211 5

Based on announced deals, including lapsed and withdrawn bids, from 1 January 2010 to 23 April 2010

In association with


1 Deutsche Bank 53,846 11

2 Goldman Sachs 49,160 14

3 HSBC 46,628 4

4 Citigroup 43,282 11

5 Credit Suisse 42,289 8

6 Morgan Stanley 36,831 11

7= Blackstone 35,500 1

7= JPMorgan Cazenove 35,500 1

7= Lazard 35,500 1

10 UBS Investment Bank 23,760 15

Based on announced deals, excluding lapsed and withdrawn bids, from 1 January 2010 to 23 April 2010

Q103

Q209

Q210*

Q110

Q409

Q309

Q109

Q203

Q303

Q403

Q104

Q204

Q304

Q404

Q105

Q205

Q305

Q405

Q106

Q206

Q306

Q406

Q107

Q207

Q307

Q407

Q108

Q208

Q308

Q408


maRkET DaTa | M&A >>

Asia-Pacific M&A Activity - Quarterly Trends

League Table of Financial Advisors to Asia-Pacific (ex-Japan) M&A (Jan 01, 2010 - Apr 23, 2010)League Table of Legal Advisors to Asia-Pacific (ex-Japan) M&A (Jan 01, 2010 - Apr 23, 2010)

1-Apr-10 Tong Yang Cement Company Limited (59.2% stake)

Golden Oil Corporation 741Tong Yang Major Corporation

Lightyear Capital LLC16-Apr-10 NAU Country Insurance Company

Advising seller:Sullivan & Cromwell

QBE Insurance Group Limited 565

Power Sector Assets & Liabilities Management Corporation

16-Apr-10 345-MW San Roque Multipurpose Hydroelectric Power Project

San Miguel Corporation 450

1,5587-Apr-10 Daimler AG (3.1% stake) Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Nissan Motor Company Limited; and Renault SA

Nishimura & Asahi; Sullivan & Cromwell

12-Apr-10 Syncrude Canada Limited(9.03% stake)

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation

Advising seller:Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt

ConocoPhillips Company 4,650Blake, Cassels & Graydon

3226-apr-10 HNA Airport Holding (Group) Company Limited (54.5% stake)

Hainan Meilan International Airport Company Limited

Grandall Legal Group HNA Group Company Limited; Kingward Investment Limited

Votorantim Novos Negocios Ltda 18-Apr-10 Sul Americana de Metais S.A

Honbridge Holdings Limited 390

6-Apr-10 Jushi Group Company Limited (49% stake)

China Fiberglass Company Limited

China National Building Material Company Limited; Hony Capital; Surest Finance Limited; and ZhenShi Holding Group Company Limited

430King & Wood

Advising seller:Jones Day; Ledgewood Law Firm; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

Atlas Energy Inc9-Apr-10 Atlas Energy Resources (Marcellus Shale) (40% stake)

Reliance Industries Limited Vinson & Elkins 339

AnnouncementDate

Target Company Target/SellerLegal Advisor

Bidder Company Bidder Legal Advisor Seller Company Deal Value(USDm)

Asian Legal Business ISSUE 10.4

Top 10 Announced Deals - Asia-Pacific (Apr 01, 2010 - Apr 23, 2010)

Valu

e (U

SDm

)

Value (USDm)

Num

ber o

f dea

ls

Volume

00

20,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

200,000

40,000

600

700

800

400

500

100

200

300

900

15-Apr-10 PT Carrefour Indonesia (40% stake)

PT Trans Corpora Carrefour SA 300


M&A TRANSACTIONS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Notes: Top deals table includes lapsed and withdrawn bids, and is based on geography of either target, bidder or seller company being Asia-Pacific•Quarterly trend graph excludes lapsed and withdrawn bids, and is based on dominant geography of target only being Asia-Pacific•League tables are based on geography of either target, bidder or seller company being Asia-Pacific. League tables of legal advisors include lapsed and withdrawn bids, while league tables of financial advisors exclude lapsed and withdrawn bids. League tables are ranked by value • Statistics includes all deals valued over USD 5m. Where deal value not disclosed, deal has been entered based on turnover of target exceeding USD 10m•Activities excluded from statistics include property transactions and restructurings where the ultimate shareholders’ interests are not changed.












Based on announced deals, including lapsed and withdrawn bids, from 1 January 2010 to 23 April 2010

In association with




3 HSBC 46,628 4






7= Lazard 35,500 1


Based on announced deals, excluding lapsed and withdrawn bids, from 1 January 2010 to 23 April 2010

Q103

Q209

Q210*

Q110

Q409

Q309

Q109

Q203

Q303

Q403

Q104

Q204

Q304

Q404

Q105

Q205

Q305

Q405

Q106

Q206

Q306

Q406

Q107

Q207

Q307

Q407

Q108

Q208

Q308

Q408



In association with

Notes: League tables are based on geography of either target, bidder or seller company. League tables of legal advisors include lapsed and withdrawn bids, while league tables of financial advisors exclude lapsed and withdrawn bids. League tables are ranked by value•Statistics includes all deals valued over USD 5m. Where deal value not disclosed, deal has been entered based on turnover of target exceeding USD 10m•Activities excluded from statistics include property transactions and restructurings where the ultimate shareholders’ interests are not changed.•Q2 10* = 1 April 2010 to 23 April 2010

League Table of Legal Advisors to Greater China M&A (Jan 01, 2010 - Apr 23, 2010)












Based on geography of either target, bidder or seller company being China, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan

League Table of Financial Advisors to Greater China M&A (Jan 01, 2010 - Apr 23, 2010)







5= HSBC 35,500 1


5= Lazard 35,500 1


10 China International Capital 8,164 6

League Table of Legal Advisors to Japanese M&A (Jan 01, 2010 - Apr 23, 2010)


1 Mori Hamada & Matsumoto 7,864 15

2 Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom 6,885 3

3 Nishimura & Asahi 5,691 10

4 Gibson Dunn & Crutcher 4,611 2

5 Latham & Watkins 4,014 1

6 Anderson Mori & Tomotsune 3,560 9

7 Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu 3,397 10

8 Shearman & Sterling 3,333 3

9 Morrison & Foerster 2,871 2

10 Dewey & LeBoeuf 2,871 1

Based on geography of either target, bidder or seller company being Japan

League Table of Financial Advisors to Japanese M&A (Jan 01, 2010 - Apr 23, 2010)


1 Nomura Holdings 7,710 19

2 JPMorgan 4,938 4


4 Citigroup 3,795 3


6 Centerview Partners 2,871 1

7 Bank of America Merrill Lynch 1,740 1


9 Greenhill 1,226 1

10 Celfin Capital 924 1

League Table of Legal Advisors to Southeast Asian M&A (Jan 01, 2010 - Apr 23, 2010)


1 Weerawong, Chinnavat & Peangpanor 3367 2

2 Kadir, Andri & Partners 2649 1

3 Allen & Gledhill 2098 8

4 WongPartnership 1995 10

5= Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff 1840 1

5= Wadia Ghandy 1840 1

7 Hunton & Williams 1258 1

8 Clifford Chance 1237 3

9 Hughes Hubbard & Reed 1170 1

10 Makes & Partners 777 1

Based on geography of either target, bidder or seller company being Southeast Asia

League Table of Financial Advisors to Southeast Asian M&A (Jan 01, 2010 - Apr 23, 2010)



2 CIMB Group 2,894 7

3 Public Investment Bank 2,885 2

4 Barclays Capital 2,873 2

5 RHB Investment Bank 2,700 2

6 JPMorgan 2,649 2

7 Standard Chartered 2,617 2


9 Citigroup 2,148 2


League Table of Legal Advisors to Indian M&A (Jan 01, 2010 - Apr 23, 2010)


1 AZB & Partners 13,407 18

2 Allen & Overy 10,761 3

3= Herbert Smith/Gleiss Lutz/Stibbe 10,700 1

3= Linklaters 10,700 1

5 Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff 1,935 4

6 Wadia Ghandy 1,840 1

7= Crawford Bayley 1,184 1

7= Tozzini Freire Teixeira E Silva Advogados 1,184 1

7= Veirano Advogados 1,184 1

10 WongPartnership 685 1

Based on geography of either target, bidder or seller company being India

League Table of Financial Advisors to Indian M&A (Jan 01, 2010 - Apr 23, 2010)


1 Barclays Capital 13,311 4

2 Standard Chartered 13,097 4


4 HSBC 10,820 2

5= BNP Paribas 10,700 1

5= Global Investment House KSCC 10,700 1

5= State Bank of India 10,700 1

8 Citigroup 2,130 2

9= Nomura Holdings 1,840 1

9= Rothschild 1,840 1


maRkET DaTa | capital markets >>

EqUITy CapITal maRkETs TRaNsaCTIONs lIsT asia, inc Japan, ex australia & New Zealandapr 4-may 2Issuer proceeds

(UsDm) Issue date Currency Bookrunner(s) sector

HONG kONGCOSCO Pacific Ltd 601.3 04/29/10 HKD JP Morgan Securities Asia Pte; Goldman Sachs & Co IndustrialsBrightoil Petroleum(Hldgs)Ltd 128.9 04/12/10 HKD Industrial & Comm Bank China IndustrialsChow Sang Sang Holdings Intl 128.5 04/27/10 HKD Bank of America Merrill Lynch Consumer Products and ServicesSkyworth Digital Holdings Ltd 116.0 04/13/10 HKD CLSA High TechnologyTUL 109.5 04/29/10 HKD Morgan Stanley HealthcareHua Han Bio-Pharm Hldg Ltd 91.1 04/15/10 HKD Kingston Securities Limited; First Shanghai Sec Ltd HealthcareAsian Citrus Hldg Ltd 69.8 04/21/10 HKD Bank of America Merrill Lynch; CLSA Consumer StaplesChina Precious Metal Resources 53.6 04/29/10 HKD Oriental Patron Securities Ltd; Cantor Fitzgerald Inc Consumer StaplesCity Telecom(HK)Ltd 52.3 04/23/10 USD Oppenheimer & Co Inc TelecommunicationsINDIaEssar Energy Ltd 1,943.2 04/30/10 GBP Deutsche Bank AG; JP Morgan Cazenove Energy and PowerAdani Enterprises Ltd 331.2 04/28/10 INR ICICI Securities & Finance Co; Enam Securities; IDFC-SSKI Ltd Consumer Products and ServicesGMR Infrastructure Ltd 313.1 04/19/10 INR DSP Merrill Lynch Ltd FinancialsVideocon Industries Ltd 249.5 04/23/10 INR SBI Capital Markets Ltd; Indiainfoline Ltd; Link Intime India Pvt Ltd High TechnologyTech Mahindra Ltd 146.9 04/28/10 INR Citi High TechnologyKalpataru Power Transmission 101.8 04/30/10 INR Morgan Stanley; Nomura Holdings Inc; IDFC-SSKI Ltd; Collins Stewart Ltd Energy and PowerShree Ganesh Jewellary House 83.6 04/08/10 INR Axis Bank Ltd; ICICI Securities & Finance Co; Avendus Capital Pvt Ltd Consumer Products and ServicesCORE Projects & Tech Ltd 75.0 04/15/10 USD Standard Chartered Bk (India) High TechnologyBharat Forge Ltd 61.3 04/26/10 INR Axis Bank Ltd; Citigroup Global Markets India; Kotak Mahindra Capital Co MaterialsINDONEsIaIntiland 230.1 04/09/10 IDR Minna Padi Investama PT Real EstateBk Internasional Indonesia PT 154.8 04/08/10 IDR Sinartama Gunita PT FinancialsMultipolar Tbk PT 83.7 04/12/10 IDR Sharestar Indonesia PT High TechnologyJapaNYamaha Motor Co Ltd 835.1 04/13/10 JPY Nomura Securities IndustrialsJoyo Bank 95.8 04/12/10 JPY Nomura Securities FinancialspHIlIppINEsMetrobank 112.0 04/29/10 MYR UBS Investment Bank FinancialsMetro Pacific Investments Corp 94.6 04/15/10 MYR CLSA FinancialssOUTH kOREaSamsung Life Insurance Co Ltd 4,409.1 04/23/10 KRW Korea Investment & Securities FinancialsWoori Fin Hldgs Co Ltd 1,033 04/08/10 KRW Credit Suisse; UBS Ltd; Daewoo Securities Co Ltd; Samsung Securities FinancialsTaihan Electric Wire Co Ltd 165.7 04/14/10 KRW Tong Yang Securities Inc High TechnologyHalla Engineering & Constr 97.4 04/09/10 KRW Woori Invest & Sec Co Ltd IndustrialsTaIwaNWintek Corp 122.1 04/26/10 USD JP Morgan Securities Asia Pte High Technology

DEBT CapITal maRkETs TRaNsaCTIONs lIsT asia, inc Japan, ex australia & New Zealandapr 4-may 2Issuer proceeds

(UsDm) Issue date Currency Bookrunner(s) sector

HONG kONGHong Kong Mortgage Corp Ltd 90.2 04/23/10 HKD JP Morgan (Hong Kong) FinancialsHong Kong Mortgage Corp Ltd 64.4 04/22/10 HKD Hongkong & Shanghai Bank (HK) FinancialsHong Kong Mortgage Corp Ltd 64.4 04/23/10 HKD Hongkong & Shanghai Bank (HK) FinancialsINDIaPower Finance Corp Ltd 901.3 04/29/10 INR ICICI Sec Primary Dealership; Axis Bank Ltd; Trust Investment Advisors; Almondz Global Securities Ltd; ICICI

Bank Ltd; Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd; AK Capital Services Ltd; LKP Shares & Securities Ltd; SPA Merchant Bankers; Yes Bank Ltd; HSBC India; Edelweiss Capital; Darashaw & Co Ltd; R.R. Financial Consultants; Sec Trading Corp of India; SBI Capital Markets Ltd; Deutsche Bank (India); Real Growth Projects Ltd

Financials

Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd 226.0 04/09/10 INR Standard Chartered Bk (India); Citibank NA (India); Axis Bank Ltd; SBI Capital Markets Ltd Energy and PowerExport-Import Bank of India 199.1 04/14/10 USD Citigroup Global Markets Inc; Deutsche Bank AG (London) FinancialsNABARD 146.0 04/29/10 INR Barclays Bank PLC; ICICI Sec Primary Dealership; ICICI Bank Ltd; Trust Investment Advisors; ING Vysya

Bank; Deutsche Bank (India)Financials

Corporation Bank 123.5 04/29/10 INR Trust Investment Advisors; AK Capital Services Ltd FinancialsSteel Authority of India Ltd 123.2 04/16/10 INR Edelweiss Capital; Axis Bank Ltd; ICICI Bank Ltd; Trust Capital Services; ICICI Sec Primary Dealership;

Almondz Global Securities Ltd; AK Capital Services Ltd; Deutsche Bank (India); Yes Bank Ltd; Real Growth Projects Ltd; Darashaw & Co Ltd

Materials

L&T Infrastructure Finance 118.6 04/16/10 INR Barclays Bank PLC FinancialsHDFC 113.0 04/09/10 INR ICICI Sec Primary Dealership FinancialsHDFC 112.6 04/05/10 INR ICICI Sec Primary Dealership FinancialsUnited Phosphorus Ltd 67.8 04/09/10 INR Yes Bank Ltd MaterialsIDFC 56.5 04/09/10 INR Trust Investment Advisors FinancialsIDFC 56.3 04/05/10 INR Trust Investment Advisors FinancialsIDFC 56.3 04/05/10 INR ICICI Sec Primary Dealership; Trust Investment Advisors FinancialsINDONEsIaBakrie Telecom Pte Ltd 250.0 04/30/10 USD Credit Suisse; Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Morgan Stanley TelecommunicationsJapaNJapan Finance Corp 2249.5 04/27/10 USD Barclays Capital; BNP Paribas SA; Citi Government and AgenciesJapan Housing Finance Agency 1549.3 04/22/10 JPY Nomura Securities Government and AgenciesMizuho Corporate Bank Ltd 1394.1 04/14/10 JPY Mizuho Securities Co Ltd FinancialsSumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp 1072.3 04/13/10 JPY Nikko Cordial Securities Inc FinancialsDevelopment Bank of Japan Inc 994.6 04/13/10 USD Barclays Bank PLC; HSBC Holdings PLC Government and AgenciesBank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ 858.0 04/13/10 JPY Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co FinancialsToyota AOT 2010-A 775.0 04/23/10 USD JP Morgan; Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Barclays Capital FinancialsSekisui House Ltd 750.7 04/14/10 JPY Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co Real EstateORIX Corp 749.9 04/21/10 USD Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Morgan Stanley & Co; UBS Investment Bank FinancialsJapan Finance Corp 644.7 04/27/10 JPY Nomura Securities; Daiwa Sec Capital Markets Government and AgenciesNTT Data Corp 643.1 04/14/10 JPY Mizuho Securities Co Ltd; Daiwa Sec Capital Markets High TechnologyNissan Motor Co Ltd 535.3 04/22/10 JPY Nikko Cordial Securities Inc IndustrialsMetropolis of Tokyo 434.0 04/16/10 JPY Daiwa Sec Capital Markets Government and AgenciesJapan Finance Corp 429.8 04/27/10 JPY Nomura Securities; Daiwa Sec Capital Markets Government and AgenciesNTT Data Corp 428.9 04/14/10 JPY Mizuho Securities Co Ltd; Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co High TechnologyTokyo Electric Power Co Inc 428.3 04/08/10 JPY Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co Energy and PowerSumitomo Chemical Co Ltd 379.8 04/16/10 JPY Nomura Securities MaterialsJFM 375.4 04/13/10 JPY Nomura Securities Government and AgenciesJapan Expressway Holding 332.2 04/28/10 JPY Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co; Daiwa Sec Capital Markets; Nikko Cordial Securities Inc Government and AgenciesKansai Electric Power Co Inc 322.1 04/09/10 JPY Nomura Securities Energy and PowerCentral JR 321.8 04/13/10 JPY Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co; Mizuho Securities Co Ltd IndustrialsHitachi Capital Corp 321.8 04/13/10 JPY Mizuho Securities Co Ltd FinancialsJFM 321.8 04/13/10 JPY Nomura Securities Government and AgenciesChiba Prefecture 321.7 04/09/10 JPY Daiwa Sec Capital Markets; GSJCL Government and AgenciesTokyo Electric Power Co Inc 321.2 04/08/10 JPY Mizuho Securities Co Ltd Energy and PowerNissan Motor Co Ltd 321.2 04/22/10 JPY Nikko Cordial Securities Inc IndustrialsSumitomo Realty & Development 319.4 04/23/10 JPY Daiwa Sec Capital Markets Real EstateCentral Nippon Expressway 271.3 04/16/10 JPY Daiwa Sec Capital Markets; Nikko Cordial Securities Inc IndustrialsAll Nippon Airways Co Ltd 217.0 04/16/10 JPY Nomura Securities IndustrialsTokyo Metro Co Ltd 217.0 04/16/10 JPY Nomura Securities; Nikko Cordial Securities Inc IndustrialsChubu Electric Power Co Inc 214.7 04/21/10 JPY Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co Energy and PowerNippon Steel Corp 214.5 04/13/10 JPY Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co; Mizuho Securities Co Ltd; Nikko Cordial Securities Inc MaterialsAsahi Breweries Ltd 214.5 04/20/10 JPY Nomura Securities; Daiwa Sec Capital Markets Consumer StaplesDevelopment Bank of Japan Inc 214.5 04/20/10 JPY Daiwa Sec Capital Markets; Nikko Cordial Securities Inc; Nomura Securities Government and AgenciesDevelopment Bank of Japan Inc 214.5 04/20/10 JPY Daiwa Sec Capital Markets; Nikko Cordial Securities Inc; Nomura Securities Government and AgenciesAcom Co Ltd 214.1 04/22/10 JPY Daiwa Sec Capital Markets; Deutsche Securities Inc Financials


maRkET DaTa | capital markets >>

JFM 214.1 04/22/10 JPY Nomura Securities Government and AgenciesMori Building Co Ltd 214.1 04/22/10 JPY Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co Real EstateNissan Motor Co Ltd 214.1 04/22/10 JPY Nikko Cordial Securities Inc IndustrialsCentral Nippon Expressway 162.8 04/16/10 JPY Nomura Securities IndustrialsJapan Finance Corp 161.2 04/27/10 JPY Nomura Securities; Daiwa Sec Capital Markets Government and AgenciesTokyo Metro Housing Supply 160.9 04/09/10 JPY Mizuho Securities Co Ltd; Nomura Securities Government and AgenciesCentral JR 160.9 04/13/10 JPY Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co; Nomura Securities IndustrialsHulic Co Ltd 128.7 04/20/10 JPY Mizuho Securities Co Ltd Real EstateCity of Nagoya 128.4 04/22/10 JPY Barclays Capital Japan Government and AgenciesCentral Nippon Expressway 108.5 04/16/10 JPY Daiwa Sec Capital Markets; Nomura Securities; Nikko Cordial Securities Inc IndustrialsJapan Real Estate Investment 108.5 04/16/10 JPY Mizuho Securities Co Ltd Real EstateSumitomo Chemical Co Ltd 108.5 04/16/10 JPY Mizuho Securities Co Ltd MaterialsSumitomo Metal Industries Ltd 108.5 04/16/10 JPY Nikko Cordial Securities Inc MaterialsTokyo Metro Co Ltd 108.5 04/16/10 JPY Nomura Securities; Nikko Cordial Securities Inc IndustrialsCity of Osaka 108.4 04/16/10 JPY Mizuho Securities Co Ltd; Mizuho Investors Securities Co; Merrill Lynch Securities Co Government and AgenciesCredit Saison Co Ltd 107.5 04/15/10 JPY Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co FinancialsMitsui Fudosan Co Ltd 107.5 04/15/10 JPY Nikko Cordial Securities Inc Real EstateSankei Building Co Ltd 107.4 04/21/10 JPY Daiwa Sec Capital Markets Real EstateCity of Kobe 107.4 04/09/10 JPY Daiwa Sec Capital Markets; Barclays Capital Japan Government and AgenciesMitsui & Co Ltd 107.4 04/09/10 JPY Nomura Securities Consumer Products and ServicesTobu Railway Co Ltd 107.1 04/22/10 JPY Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co IndustrialsPromise Co Ltd 106.1 04/22/10 JPY UBS Securities Japan Ltd FinancialsJFM 96.7 04/28/10 JPY Shinkin Securities Government and AgenciesForester SPC 92.5 04/30/10 JPY Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd FinancialsJFM 75.2 04/28/10 JPY Nomura Securities Government and AgenciesMitsui-Soko Co Ltd 75.1 04/09/10 JPY Nomura Securities IndustrialsAmerican Honda Finance 75.0 04/28/10 USD Deutsche Bank Securities Corp FinancialsJFM 64.2 04/22/10 JPY Nikko Cordial Securities Inc Government and AgenciesJFM 53.7 04/28/10 JPY Daiwa Sec Capital Markets Government and AgenciesmalaysIaGerbang Perdana CIQ Sdn Bhd 314.2 04/17/10 MYR CIMB Investment Bank Bhd; Alliance Investment Bank Bhd IndustrialsAxiata SPV1 (Labuan) Ltd 299.8 04/22/10 USD Goldman Sachs & Co; Morgan Stanley; CIMB Investment Bank Bhd FinancialsCagamas Berhad 156.1 04/27/10 MYR AmInvestment Bank Bhd FinancialspHIlIppINEsPSALM 671.0 04/12/10 PHP Development Bk of Philippines; First Metro Investment Corp; HSBC Manila FinancialsADB 369.4 04/20/10 AUD Commonwealth Bank of Australia; RBC Capital Markets; TD Securities Inc Government and AgenciesAyala Corp 225.4 04/15/10 PHP HSBC Manila; BPI Capital; BDO Capital Investment Corp; First Metro Investment Corp; RCBC Capital

Corporation; ING Bank Manila; Standard Chartered (Manila); Citibank NA (Manila)Financials

RCBC 190.7 04/15/10 PHP HSBC Manila FinancialsADB 161.6 04/13/10 AUD Nomura International PLC Government and AgenciesADB 130.2 04/14/10 BRL TD Securities Inc Government and AgenciesRCBC 97.8 04/15/10 PHP HSBC Manila FinancialsADB 53.9 04/13/10 NZD Nomura International PLC Government and AgenciessINGapOREYanlord Land Group Ltd 300.0 04/26/10 USD HSBC Holdings PLC; RBS; Standard Chartered Bank PLC Real EstatePSA Corp Ltd 290.9 04/20/10 SGD DBS Bank Ltd IndustrialsOtto Marine Services Pte Ltd 72.9 04/28/10 SGD Standard Chartered Bank (SG) FinancialsDBS Bank Ltd 70.9 04/13/10 HKD Standard Chartered Bank (HK); DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd FinancialsCity Developments Ltd 65.3 04/19/10 SGD DBS Bank Ltd Real EstatesOUTH kOREaHana Bank 499.2 04/26/10 USD Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Citi; JP Morgan; RBS; Hana Bank FinancialsHyundai Motor CZ sro 498.5 04/12/10 USD Barclays Capital; Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Citi; Goldman Sachs & Co; Nomura Securities IndustrialsNew Challenge Kodit 2010 408.6 04/22/10 KRW Tong Yang Securities; Bookook Securities Co Ltd; IBK Securities Co Ltd; Woori Invest & Sec Co Ltd FinancialsShinhan Financial Group Ltd 403.7 04/29/10 KRW SK Securities Co Ltd FinancialsKorea Housing Finance Corp 372.8 04/23/10 KRW E Trade Korea Co Ltd; Hanwha Securities Co; KB Invest & Sec FinancialsWoori Bank 311.5 04/06/10 KRW Hana Daetoo Securities Co Ltd FinancialsWoori Bank 241.4 04/19/10 KRW Hana Daetoo Securities Co Ltd FinancialsSK Networks Co Ltd 224.3 04/30/10 KRW Hana Daetoo Securities Co Ltd TelecommunicationsDongbu HiTek Co Ltd 207.5 04/23/10 KRW Dongbu Securities MaterialsLG Electronics Inc 171.4 04/22/10 KRW Woori Invest & Sec Co Ltd High TechnologyKookmin Bank 147.3 04/05/10 KRW Kyobo Securities Co Ltd FinancialsHana Financial Group Inc 135.3 04/23/10 KRW SC Securities Korea Ltd FinancialsSamsung Total Petrochemicals 134.3 04/20/10 KRW Daewoo Securities Co Ltd; SK Securities Co Ltd MaterialsKyongnam Bank 133.5 04/06/10 KRW Hyundai Securities Co Ltd FinancialsWoori Financial Co Ltd 125.2 04/19/10 KRW Korea Investment & Securities FinancialsShinhan Capital Co Ltd 117.3 04/15/10 KRW SC Securities Korea Ltd FinancialsHite Brewery Co Ltd 107.4 04/09/10 KRW Korea Investment & Securities Consumer StaplesKosepco(KEPCO/South Korea) 106.8 04/08/10 KRW KB Invest & Sec Energy and PowerKospo(KEPCO/South Korea) 100.0 04/15/10 USD Woori Invest & Sec Co Ltd Energy and PowerCJ Corp 98.5 04/09/10 KRW Samsung Securities; Korea Investment & Securities FinancialsShinhan Card 97.9 04/06/10 KRW Samsung Securities FinancialsBusan Bank 90.6 04/26/10 KRW Korea Investment & Securities FinancialsWoori Bank 90.2 04/15/10 KRW KB Invest & Sec FinancialsHyundai Dept Store Co Ltd 90.2 04/23/10 KRW Korea Investment & Securities RetailBusan Bank 90.1 04/16/10 KRW Hana Daetoo Securities Co Ltd FinancialsSK Engineering & Constr Co Ltd 90.1 04/16/10 KRW Mirae Asset Securities; SC Securities Korea Ltd IndustrialsSsangyong Cement Indl Co Ltd 90.1 04/27/10 KRW Korea Development Bank MaterialsHana Bank 90.0 04/14/10 KRW SC Securities Korea Ltd FinancialsLG Telecom Co Ltd 89.7 04/30/10 KRW Korea Investment & Securities; LIG Investment & Securities Co TelecommunicationsCJ CGV Co Ltd 89.5 04/09/10 KRW Daewoo Securities Co Ltd Media and EntertainmentKorea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co 89.5 04/20/10 KRW Woori Invest & Sec Co Ltd Energy and PowerGS Engineering & Constr Corp 89.1 04/05/10 KRW KB Invest & Sec IndustrialsDoosan Heavy Inds & Constr Co 89.0 04/06/10 KRW KB Invest & Sec IndustrialsWoongjin Holdings Co Ltd 80.7 04/12/10 KRW Woori Invest & Sec Co Ltd FinancialsSamsung Card Co Ltd 80.2 04/05/10 KRW SC Securities Korea Ltd FinancialsDoosan Engine Co Ltd 72.2 04/15/10 KRW Kumho Investment Bank IndustrialsSamsung Card Co Ltd 72.0 04/14/10 KRW SC Securities Korea Ltd FinancialsKT Rental Co Ltd 71.6 04/09/10 KRW Hyundai Securities Co Ltd; Tong Yang Securities; Woori Invest & Sec Co Ltd; KB Invest & Sec Consumer Products and ServicesHana Bank 71.6 04/27/10 KRW SC Securities Korea Ltd FinancialsShinhan Card 63.1 04/15/10 KRW Dongbu Securities FinancialsShinhan Bank 63.1 04/16/10 KRW Mirae Asset Securities FinancialsWoori Bank 63.1 04/16/10 KRW SC Securities Korea Ltd FinancialsPosco Power Corp 62.8 04/30/10 KRW KB Invest & Sec Energy and PowerPoongsan Holdings Corp 62.7 04/09/10 KRW SK Securities Co Ltd MaterialsKDB Capital Corp 54.2 04/21/10 KRW Hyundai Securities Co Ltd FinancialsPOSCO Specialty Steel Co Ltd 54.1 04/15/10 KRW Tong Yang Securities MaterialsHansol Paper Co Ltd 54.1 04/22/10 KRW Kiwoom Securities Co MaterialsCJ GLS Inc 54.1 04/28/10 KRW Tong Yang Securities IndustrialsSamsung Card Co Ltd 54.0 04/14/10 KRW Shinhan Investment Bank FinancialsHanwha Engineering & Constr Co 53.8 04/29/10 KRW Shinhan Investment Corp IndustrialsCJ O Shopping Co Ltd 53.7 04/09/10 KRW Samsung Securities Media and EntertainmentHana Bank 52.2 04/09/10 KRW SC Securities Korea Ltd FinancialsHyundai Capital Services Inc 50.0 04/23/10 USD Korea Investment & Securities FinancialsExport-Import Bank of Korea 49.6 04/30/10 SGD Standard Chartered Bank PLC FinancialsSK Securities Co Ltd 45.3 04/26/10 KRW Shinhan Investment Corp FinancialsSamsung Card Co Ltd 45.1 04/16/10 KRW SC Securities Korea Ltd FinancialsSsangyong Cement Indl Co Ltd 45.1 04/19/10 KRW Hanwha Securities Co MaterialsKorea Development Corp 45.1 04/28/10 KRW Tong Yang Securities Consumer Products and ServicesTaIwaNTaipower 369.6 04/22/10 TWD Standard Chartered (Taiwan) Energy and PowerNan Ya Plastics Corp 191.6 04/30/10 TWD Mega Securities Co Ltd MaterialsFormosa Plastics Corp 191.5 04/23/10 TWD Masterlink Securities Co MaterialsFormosa Chem & Fibre Corp 191.5 04/23/10 TWD Capital Securities Corp Consumer StaplesYuen Foong Yu Paper Mnfg Co 79.9 04/26/10 TWD KGI Securities (Taiwan) MaterialsUni-President Enterprises Corp 69.8 04/12/10 TWD Fubon Securities Co Ltd Consumer Products and ServicesTHaIlaNDThai Oil PCL 93.0 04/29/10 THB Standard Chartered Bank(Thai) Energy and PowerPEA(Thailand) 46.5 04/27/10 THB Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Energy and Power

http://www.jlegal.net

http://www.hughescastell.com

http://www.martindale.com

asian legal business (seasia) may 2010

Documents

young lawyers

older lawyers

senior partners

following firms

alb law awards

alb china law awards

legal industrys

challenging work