THE BUSINESS TIMES S I N G A P O R E

THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2000

The department handles one-third of all trademark registrations in and has S’pore law Legal eagles a thriving patents practice. Singapore’s top law firms ♦In dispute resolution, A&G's Michael SECTOR FIRM Hwang, another former judicial firms Corporate Allen & Gledhill commissioner, is highly regarded and advises on a wide range of commercial Construction Chan Tan & Partners litigation including commodities and futures among Donaldson & Burkinshaw disputes, insurance and reinsurance, banking Khattar Wong & Partners and company law. Rajah & Tann ♦In real estate, although many firms here Asia’s best: Information Rajah & Tann claim capability in handling property and technology Rodyk & Davidson conveyancing work, Khattar Wong & Shook Lin & Bok Partners is regarded as the clear leader, report despite some attrition among its lawyers. The Intellectual Drew & Napier sector, which was badly affected by the property sharp downturn in property prices and UK's Legalese Ltd transactions over the last two years, is now Dispute Allen & Gledhill beginning to recover. picks Rajah & Tann as resolution Drew & Napier Rajah & Tann ♦Rajah & Tann tops the shipping sector well as Allen & with the movement of and his Real Estate Khattar Wong & Partners team from Drew & Napier enhancing its Gledhill as top in position. various categories Shipping Rajah & Tann ♦In construction, Chan Tan & Partners is Source: Asia Pacific Legal 500 said to be Singapore's only specialist practice with two engineers and a surveyor. Rajah & A&G's leadership, said the AP Legal 500, Tann's is also regarded to BTexclusive was even more pronounced in finance. A&G be among the top construction lawyers here. has both a corporate department and a financial services department with about a ♦As Singapore embraces the information By Conrad Raj dozen lawyers in each. revolution, local lawyers are beginning to [SINGAPORE] The second tier of corporate/finance develop a specialist capability in IT, the Here's a question that crosses the minds of lawyers include Arfat Selvam & survey notes. Rajah & Tann's capabilities many laymen and intrigues even lawyers Gunasingham, Colin Ng & Partners, Drew & were enhanced through the recruitment of themselves: Which are Singapore's top law Napier, Lee & Lee, Rajah & Tann, and Daniel Seng, formerly a senior lecturer in IT firms? Wong Partnership. Law at the National University of Singapore. And how do they compare with their Asian In terms of size, Singapore firms are counterparts? among the region's largest and with the most But there are also complaints that "quality While no comprehensive survey has been expertise. "Singapore is also replete with and turnaround times can be variable and conducted, Britain's Legalese Ltd has taken a smaller niche practices where some of the that too often you have to rely on getting a crack at providing the answers in the latest best corporate lawyers are to be found," the particular partner if you want something edition of its Asia Pacific Legal 500, a AP Legal 500 said. done properly". ranking of top law firms in the region. It also found that the best lawyers here That these shortcomings exist is a Based on interviews with law firms and "compared favourably to those anywhere in reflection of the changing nature of the many of their clients, the publication picks the world and there is a solid second tier to Singapore economy and the bar on foreign the top firms in each country in seven draw on that is more than adequate for the firms practising Singapore law, the AP Legal practice areas -- corporate, construction, vast majority of transactions". 500 said. information technology, intellectual Three firms have more than 100 lawyers -- This in turn has made it difficult for local property, dispute resolution, real estate, and A&G, Rajah & Tann, and Drew & Napier. lawyers to gain experience in top-flight shipping. About half a dozen have between 50 and 100 international and corporate practices, Emerging in the top tier in four categories lawyers, including Khattar Wong & Partners, especially in such financial areas as in Singapore was Rajah & Tann, while Allen Colin Ng & Partners, Lee & Lee, and Wong securitisation, project finance and structured & Gledhill (A&G) was tops in two. Partnership. finance. However, in the corporate field -- which The other practice areas yielded the The shortcomings, however, have been encompasses not only mergers, acquisitions following findings: recognised by the authorities, leading to the and joint ventures but also capital markets, proposed liberalisation of the sector and the banking and finance -- A&G was the ♦Drew & Napier remains Singapore's encouragement of joint ventures and undisputed leader, with managing partner leading intellectual property law practitioner alliances between local and foreign firms. regarded by many as here with its IP department headed by the Singapore's top corporate lawyer. respected former .