Founded in 1992 and led by Ng Wai King,
WongPartnership is one of the clear market leaders in the Singapore legal market and one of Singapore’s “big four" firms. The firm extends its presence throughout the region with the WPG network.
Focusses / specialisms
The banking team advises across the spectrum of financing mandates acting for clients such as corporates, banks and financial institutions.
The firm's financial services regulatory team caters to the regulatory compliance needs of international financial institutions and has a special focus on the fintech space.
The capital markets team has a wealth of experience in advising on public and private equity placements, as well as domestic and international debt offerings.
On the corporate side, the firm often acts on high-profile mergers and acquisitions throughout the region. The firm has also set up a venture capital practice to take advantage of Singapore's reputation as a venture capital/startup hub.
The projects team is experienced in advising a variety of stakeholders in sectors including infrastructure, oil and gas, power (conventional and renewable), utilities and construction.
Key clients
Key clients include United Overseas Bank, Mizuho Bank, Citibank, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Credit Suisse, Navis Capital, Blackstone, Shun Tak Holdings, Olam International
and Keppel Corporation.
Research period review:
33rd edition (2022/2023)
In addition to general financing work, the banking team notably acted on several acquisition financings and green financings, acting for both borrowers and lenders. In a landmark mandate, the firm advised a borrower in the refinancing of the acquisition and the green loan syndicated financing of the project development, which is the largest syndicated green loan financing in Singapore to date.
An equity capital markets highlight saw the firm advise on the IPO of NIO on the mainboard of the Singapore Exchange. On the debt side, it mostly acted for the issuer on bond issues.
In M&A, the firm was active in strategic deals on both the buy and sell side. The deals were in real estate, tourism, investment management, financial services and investment management.
In projects the team was active advising clients from sport, shipping, real estate, energy, oil and gas, and technology and telecommunications.
In restructuring and insolvency, the firm took on a host of roles for debtors, creditors and liquidators.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
CapitaLand Ascott Trust’s acquisition of nine serviced residences.
NIO’s SGX IPO.
Perennial Shenton Property’s S$3 billion green loan syndicated financing.
Sand SG Holdings’ S$95 million secured facility.
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
Banking and finance
“Ability to grasp extremely well the concerns and wants of both lenders and borrower, and to bridge them competently and professionally.”
“Fast response, long-term understanding of client requirements and commercial in advice. Also, one firm that can provide high-quality advice across multiple specialties e.g., M&A, banking, regulatory etc.”
“One of the market leaders and can always be relied upon to produce quality work.”
“The team understands what is required from the Bank and is able to deliver advice which provides the pros and cons of the decision required.”
“WP's team of advisers are thorough and fast in response time.”
Financial services regulatory
“Concise and commercially driven advice.”
“The team from WongPartnership is always very well prepared and knowledgeable.”
Insolvency
“Strong technically. Responsive. Client centric.”
“WongPartnership team was prompt on delivering advice and managed all the bank's stakeholders well.
They provided in-depth analysis and also provided commercial recommendations for the bank on the way forward.
When in need of a senior counsel, they were also able to provide options for the bank.”
M&A
“Commercial, speedy, knowledgeable.”
“Experienced in their field of work. Able to provide practical solutions.”
“Innovative in structuring; always seeking to tailor solutions to suit the client's objectives.”
“Responsive and experienced in regulatory aspects.”
“The team is very efficient and comprises multi-disciplinary experts to cover corporate work and infrastructure project work. The knowledge sharing among the various parties in the team is seamless and swift. While most team members attend most meetings, the costs incurred did not fall beyond expectations nor was there double billing.”
“Very responsive and practical in advice rendered.”
“Willing to take in feedback and provide alternative solutions for clients.”
“WongPartnership is very responsive, and they provide commercial and clear advice.”
Private equity
“They have a strong command of the local legal and regulatory requirements for fund management.”
“WP is an M&A powerhouse blessed with a deep bench of first-class transactional lawyers who know how to get the deal done efficiently and sensibly.”
“Wong Partnership has a deep bench of tier one practitioners across multiple disciplines. You know that you are getting practical, thoughtful and articulate advice to deal with complex transactions. For bet the farm work, I would choose no other.”
“The firm offers a comprehensive array of services, as evidenced by their ability to assist us on multiple fronts including multi-stage venture financing and M&A work for our portfolio companies.”
Project development
“Proactive and knowledgeable.”
“Fast, efficient, prompt, strategic and has good industry knowledge.”
Project finance
“They are truly "partners" and take care of your interests. They do not stop at what their work scope is but will go beyond that to make sure that the transaction is successfully completed.”
Restructuring
“Balance of legal and commercial advice.”
“The restructuring team is deep and wide. They work well as a team and bring a great mix of legal and business acumen.
They know the law but are very practical in terms of solving business problems.
They are a top firm in Singapore and SEA.”
“WongPartnership helped the bank to navigate the dichotomy of information and stakeholders to establish a clear legal view and strategy. The team was commercial, reliable and we were also comforted that there were a pair of steady hands that we could count on for counsel.”
Andrew Ang
“Commercial-minded, able to provide effective solutions, responsive and client-orientated.”
“One of the most innovative M&A lawyers in the country. Has earned the trust of the industry regulator and is therefore able to provide very cogent advice. Accessible, helpful and personable.”
Sing Yee Chan
“Sing Yee looks at the big picture. She is the real deal when it comes to multi-geography deals. She does not just delegate to local counsel. She knows all the issues in each geography and acts like a proper deal counsel, knowing all the issues. Very commercial and goes the extra mile for clients.”
“Very responsive, experienced and able to provide practical solutions to tricky situations. Able to handle complex deals.”
“Very responsive, practical in solutioning, handles negotiations well and is able to get client's requests across.”
Alvin Chia
“He is truly a partner with his client's interests at heart. He is very experienced and pragmatic. Although he is a very senior partner, he is hands-on with the work and very responsive.”
“Very detailed while remaining commercial so as to ensure transaction progresses in an expedited manner.”
Audrey Chng
“Excellent understanding of our business and the regulatory regime we operate within.”
“Very patient and willing to listen to suggestions and provide alternative solutions.”
“Very proactive and responsive to client's queries and issues. Always open to listening to suggestions and providing alternative solutions.”
Trevor Chuan
“Very professional. Able to provide professional advice in the best interest of client. Manages a team of professional legal associates.”
Deya Dubey
“Very knowledgeable and also very creative in his arguments towards issues that came across during meetings/hearings.”
Felix Lee
“Provides professional advice and acts in the best interests of clients. Able to meet deadlines. Manages a team of professional associates.”
Kyle Lee
“Kyle is an expert in venture capital deals in Singapore and has a wealth of experience working with various players in the industry. He is able to offer strategic insight into deals and can anticipate potential outcomes and consequences of specific deal mechanics. Furthermore, Kyle is able to balance his strategic approach with commercial acumen and sensitivity to the specific risk/reward preferences of his clients. He is able to provide concise and timely input on the most important issues, while also recognising when certain details can be overlooked.”
“Kyle is a very pleasant person to work with. He is an expert in his practice area. He is able to provide sound advice by taking into consideration the relevant elements.”
“Kyle’s reputation only grows from year to year. Having worked with Kyle for more than a decade, he consistently combines legal experience and commercial acumen across a broad variety of deals that he partners us on. Beyond a high degree of trust in Kyle’s opinions, we also look to him as a rational counterpart who not only delivers effective legal outcomes but can also bring both sides of a negotiation closer during difficult discussions.”
“Manages expectations and preempts problems and offers good solutions.”
“Solution-focussed, excellent client service, tons of experience.”
Christy Lim
“Good management, professional and knowledgeable.”
“Provides adequate supervision and personal involvement, ensures associates provide quality products and within deadlines and fee caps.”
Jolynn Lim
“Jolynn is a fine lawyer who has depth of experience and is one to watch.”
“Jolynn is highly detail oriented and a practical and effective counsel for our deals.”
“We have been working with Jolynn since she was a junior lawyer. We are very happy to see her grow in her career. At her seniority, she shows her capability to manage clients and issues professionally. She is also very responsible and responsive.”
Nicolette Lye
“Responsive and meticulous.”
Smitha Menon
“Great at building relationships and solving problems. Organises the team well and gets the right things done.”
Felicia Ng
“Strong subject-matter knowledge.”
Wai King Ng
“Super in terms of his legal knowledge and communication skills. He possesses a unique ability to reassure clients. Honest and realistic; he does not always try to mask bad news or try to paint it as good or neutral.”
“Tremendous legal insight; his considerable experience provides enormous comfort to clients when he is present in a transaction. Has trained a strong team of lawyers to lead M&A transactions.”
“Wai King is one of the best M&A lawyers in Singapore. He is very sharp, commercial and very user-friendly. Invaluable adviser to have on your side.”
Fi Ling Quak
“Commercial, problem-solver. Speedy.”
“Fi Ling is extremely commercial and always willing to offer practical solutions no matter what the issue is.”
“Fi Ling is very commercial; she is hands-on and understands our risk appetite and business.”
“She is very hard-working, commercial, thorough, and thinks from the client perspective.”
Manoj Sandrasegara
“Responsive. Knowledgeable. Clever.”
Anna Tan
“Anna is a first-class M&A lawyer who is very commercial, across all issues and user-friendly. She is highly capable and always delivers.”
Bernadette Tan
“A wealth of experience already as one of the top young banking lawyers in Singapore. Great at managing every aspect of complex matters and always goes above and beyond for clients.”
Kai Yun Tan
“Able to catch on to what is required from the bank and is able to manage expectations. Commercial recommendations.”
“Clear, confident advice.”
“Very responsive and managed all stakeholders within the bank well.”
Peng Cheng Tay
“Hands-on and able to come up with practical solutions. Handles the counterparty well.”
“Tay is a meticulous person and always very well prepared for meetings, etc.”
Sion Yoong Tian
“Commercially driven, responsive and very effective in communicating complex legal advice/problems in a simple and easily understood manner.”
Ian de Vaz
“Responsive, strategic, friendly, fast, knowledgeable.”
Susan Wong
“Attentive to firm's legal needs and responsive to client's demands.”
“Extremely competent and knowledgeable in her specialised field.”
“Top lawyer who has seen it all and continues to be at the forefront of the banking legal landscape in Singapore.”
Stephanie Yeo
“Deep legal mind, international experience, and ability to simplify complex matters and problem solve.
A joy to work with.”
“She grasped the complex subtlety of the restructuring case quickly and provided counsel and solutions to navigate the divergence of stakeholders to maximise recovery for us. She is the best in her class, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her.”
Annabelle Yip
“Very attentive and willing to go out of her way to help to resolve issues.”
