Independent law firm Shook Lin & Bok in Singapore has a well-diversified practice across the financial and corporate space. The firm maintains offices in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and has also established China and India desks.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is ranked highest in banking and finance, M&A, restructuring and has strong capital markets and investment funds practices.
Sectors of focus include banking and financial services, energy, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, transportation, technology and telecommunication, oil and gas, and real estate.
Key clients
Key clients include DBS Trustee, HSBC Institutional Trust Services (Singapore), Morgan Stanley, Perpetual (Asia), State Street Trust (SG), Advance Intelligence Group, Xiaomi, M1 Telecommunications and Tesla.
Research period review:
33rd edition (2022/2023)
The banking team was active on a range of mandates including sustainability-linked financing, green financing, acquisition financing, fintech financing, property financing and secured financing.
In the capital markets area, the firm advised on debt and equity transactions. On the debt side it did a mix of issuer and arrangers side work on bond issues. On the equity side it worked for issuers on IPOs.
In M&A, the firm was active on strategic deals on both the buy and sell side. The deals were in the financial services, insurance, healthcare, technology and telecommunications and education sectors.
The restructuring team was active on several high-value mandates. The firm also notably advised HSBC, the single largest creditor of Hin Leong Trading, in the collapse of the Hin Leong group of companies.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
Changi Airport Group (Singapore)’s S$2 billion ($1.48 billion) sustainability-linked revolving credit facility.
Compass Venture’s TSXV IPO.
Perpetual (Asia)’s S$236 million 7% notes maiden issuance.
Prestige Biopharma’s KRX IPO.
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
Banking
“Detailed and thorough when working on a transaction with prompt and quick follow-ups to ensure that the transaction goes smoothly.”
“Understanding of the legal issues involved on a case-by-case basis. Alternative suggestions recommended for consideration.”
Capital markets
“Attentive and thoughtful.”
“Speed and advice.”
Insolvency
“Practical advice and competitive fees.”
“SLB covers the grounds on a holistic basis, involving not only legal views, but also commercial sense to approach the case.”
“SLB is able to advise on approaches for cases where we engage their services, which is win-win for parties and maximises our recoveries.”
Investment funds
“Knowledgeable, efficient and professional.”
“Timely turnarounds and practical escalations. Dedicated team that is always available to assist.”
M&A
“Dedicated, good knowledge and experienced.”
“Fantastic expertise and domain knowledge. Extremely strong consulting on cases or challenges with open discussion of pros and cons of each possible path forward. Very quick and efficient.”
“Technical prowess. Personal attention of partner. Attention to detail.”
“They are very on the ball, always responsive, consistently able to meet deadlines, very commercial. All done at very reasonable fees.”
“A very deep bench with good technical and regulatory knowledge overlaid with commercial solutions driven advice.”
Private equity
“Sound and prompt advice taking into account commercial considerations for win-win solutions.”
Restructuring
“Excellent commercial approach, quick response times, thinking outside the box.”
“Hard-working, smart, and gets to the point quickly.”
Shi Ying Chua
“Extremely client oriented and bright. Expect sensible and effective solutions which cut through complicated problems.”
Dayne Ho
“He sees the sticking points in any transaction earlier than others and solves them immediately. Clients are always ahead in the power curve because of his almost prescient analysis and brilliant negotiation skills.”
“Very responsive and my go-to Singapore M&A counsel.”
Stanley Lim
“Approachable, thorough, knowledgeable and prompt.”
“Understanding of the bank's requirements. Suggest alternative solutions that best suit the bank's position.”
“A very responsive and helpful lawyer who provides very useful advice which is relevant to the context.”
Yeow Khoon Ng
“Practical and sound legal advice. Provides solutions and options for every case.”
“He is a very experienced lawyer. Very personable and shares his knowledge with his client. Explains the concept clearly and provides very practical solutions/advice.”
“Knowledgeable, provides very good work and service.”
“Willing to listen to our problems and provide sound legal advice.”
Marilyn See
“Already mentioned in previous sections.”
Jamal Siddique
“Responsive and listens.”
Alicea Tan
“Efficient, quick response, knowledgeable.”
Daniel Tan
“Makes himself available, flexible commercial approach to problem-solving, innovative solutions to complex problems.”
“Personable, easy to access and always willing to have an opinion on the spot. Hard-working and has a great team who he treats very well.”
“Strong leader who wants to do the best for his clients.”
“Responsiveness. Approachability. Balances legal advice with commercial advice. Market connectivity. Clear confident advice.”
Woon Hum Tan
“Experienced, knowledgeable, puts client's interest first.”
“Extremely well-versed and tenured in this area.”
“Speed and advice.”
Mae Shaan Teo
“Excellent relationship management. Always going above and beyond to help. Great interpersonal skills. Technically strong in SG law.”
Suresh Viswanath
“Excellent junior lawyer, very responsive and a pleasure to work with.”
Gang Wong
“Speed and advice.”
“Dedicated, good knowledge and experienced.”
Pearlyn Xie
“Understands commercial deal complexities and able to come up with win-win solutions in timely fashion.”
