Reputation
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill
"This large team of 13 partners and 35 associates is lauded for the "close attention it pays to its clients" which interviewees say enables it to tailor advice to its clients' company culture and management style. Crucial to this reputation is the bench strength on offer here. Lead counsel D. P. Naban focuses on tax disputes and is "exceptionally astute and meticulous" while head of department Lambert Rasa-Ratnam "offers innovative yet efficient solutions to our legal issues", says clients. Naban and Rasa-Ratnam are currently representing Telekom Malaysia Berhad in a counterclaim for alleged conspiracy brought by Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli. Working closely with Rasa-Ratnam, Sean Yeow handles a range of corporate and commercial disputes. Commentators single out Nitin Nadkarni for his alternative dispute resolution work. He has worked on several high-value arbitrations involving the construction of a hospital, the construction and upgrading of a water treatment plant and the breach of a contract for ground services at an airport. Despite the team's size, it is "sound across the ranks," and sources stress that the junior lawyers are "efficient, well trained and closely guided" by the more senior partners."
~ Chambers Asia 2008-2009
Banking and Finance
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill is "excellent; the partners are responsive, quick to provide assistance when needed and very realiable". The group is led by Kumar Kanagasingam, and attracts leading names, such as Maybank Investment Bank Berhad and KPMG. Highlights for the past year include advising Malayan Banking Berhad on liability restructuring. The firm is also highly recommended for it experience in banking and finance litigation. Sean Yeow Huang Meng and Andrew Chiew Ean View are rated.
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2009-2010
"Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill continues to make waves in the Malaysian market. 2008 saw the group advising Bank of New York, Barings Private Equity Fund and Standard Bank Asia on an RM800m cross-border financing. Tay Weng Hwee is recommended."
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2008-2009
Capital Markets
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill offers "very professional guidance, with excellent response times and great value". Tay Weng Hwee leads the team, which is particularly skilled at debt restructuring work, having advised a number of local banks, including AmBank, CIMB Bank Berhad and Malayan Banking Berhad in a debt restructuring scheme involving two syndicated term loans of RM700m and $240m. Ooi Bee Hong is "the tops, has an accurate and practical mind, and is a lovely person'; an opinion "unanimously shared".
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2009-2010
"The firm's capital markets team" handled some quality work, highlights of which include advising MMC on the financing and sukuk issues relating to its takeover. Managing partner Ng Leong Huat is recommended, as is Tay Weng Hwee."
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2008-2009
Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions
The resulting group wins praise for its flexibility and responsiveness: “I can always reach the lawyers whenever I have a difficult problem, and they are willing to be innovative on fee structures.” Ng continues to represent MTD Capital in various matters, most recently in the privatisation of MTD InfraPerdana by way of a selective capital repayment. Ng also leads on numerous cross-border transactions, such as advising the Bukit Kiara Group on a joint venture with the Al-Batha Group of the UAE. Another key corporate partner is Iain Sedgley, whose “wealth of knowledge and experience means that he puts things in perspective and applies the law in context, not a vacuum.” He is currently involved in a large real estate development project.
~ Chambers Asia 2010
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill fields some impressive corporate practitioners, including head of practice and former managing partner Ng Leong Huat. Work handled has been impressive and varied, and includes advising MTD Capital on the privatization of MTD InfraPerdana by a selective capital repayment exercise. Other key work includes acting for Bukit Kiara on its joint venture with UAE-based Al-Batha group. Iain Sedgley and Ooi Bee Hong are recommended.
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2009-2010
"Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill’s client base is impressively wide ranging and features some enviable names. The firm continues to make waves in the market, having this year being involved in some of the country’s leading transactions. The well-respected Ng Leong Huat leads the four-partner group, which in 2008 acted for MMC Corporation Berhad on the high-profile RM9.3b acquisition of Malakoff Berhad. Work handled is frequently top-end and high-value, such as acting for IJM Corporation on the RM5.6b takeover of Road Builder Holdings. Iain Sedgley, who comes highly rated, is a leading individual within the group."
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2008-2009
"The merger between Lee Hishammuddin and Allen & Gledhill Malaysia in 2005 produced one of the largest firms in the country. With a "strong brand and an ambitious development plan," this practice has been involved in several sizeable deals in the past year: it advised Sapura Research on the MYR10 million privatization of a government integrated and unified nationwide secure digital trunk radio system and was Malaysian counsel to Pfizer on its USD16.6 billion worldwide disposal of Johnson & Johnson, its consumer health business. Senior partner at the transaction practice Iain Sedgley is rated for his "firm negotiation style." He led the group advising MMC Corporation on its MYR9.3 billion acquisition of Malakoff."
~ Chambers Asia 2008-2009
Dispute Resolution
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill's core business is dispute resolution. The firm has the 'seniority' and 'experience' to attract instructions on numerous large and complex disputes. The firm has a particularly fine standing in banking and insolvency litigation, often defending Malaysia's leading banks. Lambert Rasa-Ratnam heads the department which includes the 'approachable', 'responsive', and 'reliable' Sean Yeow Huang-Meng, Andrew Chiew Ean Vooi and Kumar Kanagasingam.
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2010-2011
One of the largest groups of litigators in the country, this department represents well-known names such as Malaysian Airlines, Mobikom, Philip Morris and ING Insurance Group....... Rasa-Ratnam is an effective litigator, who “prepares his submissions thoroughly and gets his arguments across effectively.” He continues to represent Telekom Malaysia in defence of a MYR13 billion claim for alleged conspiracy. He also worked with young partner Sean Yeow in representing Kumagi Gumi, a Japan-based company, regarding a MYR150 million claim for misrepresentation. Head of the construction group Nitin Nadkarni is a “sharp advocate who presents his cases decisively and convincingly.” He handles both litigation and arbitration, and recently worked on an arbitration in Switzerland involving disputes over an aircraft ground-handling services contract.
~ Chambers Asia 2010
Lambert Rasa-Ratnam leads Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill’s active disputes group, which brings top quality clients through the door. Work handled often had a strong cross-border element, with the team advising Malaysia Airlines System in an arbitration in Switzerland concerning the provision of ground handling services at German airport. The team is "thorough, able to meet tight deadlines, accessible at any time and very meticulous" say clients. Rosli Dahlan and Vijay Kumar Ganason are also recommended.
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2009-2010
"...Dispute resolution is one of Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill’s real mainstays, and the group features some star turns, such as Lambert Rasa-Ratnam, who leads the team, and Datuk D. P. Naban. The practice is broad, and focuses on seven main areas of expertise: banking and insolvency, construction, corporate, employment, insurance, property and tax disputes. The team proved its worth at the top of the market this year acting in one of the largest suits ever to have been brought in Malaysia -the firm advised Telekom Malaysia Berhad in a RM13bn conspiracy claim. Kumar Kanagasingam is also highly rated."
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2008-2009
Employment & Industrial Relations
For industrial relations work, senior advisory practitioner Lim Heng Seng was joined by Thavalingam Thavarajah from Zaid Ibrahim & Co in September 2010, to create a market-leading team.
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2010-2011
This compact team of "excellent labour lawyers" has been active recently on behalf of a number of major international companies regarding terminations and cases of misconduct. Its impressive client list features major names in the banking, insurance and petrochemicals sectors. Sources laud the team's "top-notch service, accuracy, speed of response and reliability." Lim Heng Seng is the heartbeat of the practice. One client enthused: "His advice is always legally sound whilst also practical. He is willing to work together with the client to explore different options and has the courage to venture into new or untested areas."
~ Chambers Asia 2010
"This practice is best known for its work on employment issues affected by cross-border corporate transactions and reorganizations, leading one employer client to comment: "With the firm’s help, we managed to reach the best possible position for the company and our employees." Over the past year the team advised on the transfer of management personnel following a joint venture, and on the transitioning of employees of a Malaysian corporation, which demerged from a foreign entity. Lim Heng Seng leads the group and is a former chairman of the Industrial Court; this "provides him with an insight into the thinking and inclination of the courts," say interviewees. He is extensively involved in training employers, and is extolled for his ability to "strike a delicate but sensible balance between the law and the realities of the corporate world."
~ Chambers Asia 2008-2009
Intellectual Property
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill has made significant headway in the IP environment, particularly in relation to litigious matters. Bahari Yeow Tien Hong is 'knowledgeable' and 'creative' in finding 'novel solutions'.
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2010-2011
Islamic Finance
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill has excellent connections to the banking and Islamic banking community. The firm is also immensely capable in relation to Islamic funds.
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2010-2011
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill offers “very hands-on and experienced lawyers”. The team handled some varied work this year, including working on the establishment of a Syariah compliant fund; and on a joint venture with an Islamic investment company. Highlights for Tay Weng Hwee's team include acting for Akarmas on the financial structure for a voluntary general offer for all shares in PK Resources. Ng Leong Huat and Abdul Hasib Ishak are also recommended.
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2009-2010
"Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill’s Islamic finance practice is increasingly adroit, and fields some very skilled practitioners. It stands out from its peers for its particular expertise in Islamic finance litigation, having over the past year defended a development bank on an RM1.5b Islamic financing facilities claim. Other highlights include advising on the first junior sukuk issue in the world."
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2008-2009
IT and Telecommunication
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill impressive connections to major Malaysian corporates extends to many fruitful engagements by the local IT and telecoms sectors. The firm's giant dispute resolution department handles a multitude of IT and telecoms cases, with Lambert Rasa-Ratnam and Vijay Kumar particularly noted for their expertise in this sector. Iain Sedgley is noted for his non-contentious expertise, most notably in relation to major development in projects
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2010-2011
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill has an impressive client base, acting for two major mobile phone networks, Maxis and Digi. It also notably advises Telekom Malaysian on contentious issues, and the team is recommended for its experience in high-speed broadband work. DP Naban, Lambert Rasa-Ratnam, and Vijay Kumar are noted on the contentious side, while Ng Leong Huat handles the corporate aspects. Iain Sedgley and Tay Weng Hwee are also rated.
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2009-2010
"Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill’s IT and telecoms group has had a very successful year, advising on two out of the three largest deals in the field in 2008. The team has been upping its visibility significantly in this area, and over the past year it acted for Sapura Research and CIMB Investment Bank on a PFI project to establish a nationwide digital trunk radio system. The group was also instructed to advice on an RM10b IT project for a leading listed company."
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2008-2009
Projects and Energy
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill has a tremendous record in the projects arena, thanks in part to the eminence of key partner Iain Sedgley. The firm recently acted for UEM Land Berhad (UEM) in respect of the design, construction and maintenance of the new Administration Centre for the Johor State Government. The firm continues to advise on further phases of the project
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2010-2011
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill is experienced in large-scale project work, having advised UEM Land Berhad on the development of an administration center for the Johor State Government. Iain Sedgley is the name of note.
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2009-2010
"...The projects team at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill has had an active year, largely focusing on IT and telecom matters. The group has particular experience advising on PFI issues."
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2008-2009
Real Estate and Construction
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill is widely acknowledged for its leading expertise in property and construction disputes, but its non-contentious real estate work also impresses. Nitin Nadkarni is recommended for construction with Rosli Dahlan leading on the property disputes side.
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2010-2011
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill is recommended for both transactional and contentious real estate work; with highlights for the past year including advice given to Kijal Resorts on a land acquisition dispute. Nitin Nadkarni and Rosli Dahlan are active in this area.
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2009-2010
"...Real estate is a solid area for Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill, which in 2008 got a number of good deals under its belt. It was a busy year for the two-partner team, which acted on the sale of well-known property across the country, including the RM450m sale of a development in Kuala Lumpur to Quill Retail. The firm also acts for CapitaLand, South East Asia’s largest real estate developer."
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2008-2009
"...Over the year the group has been active advising several leading international companies, including a Japanese multinational manufacturer and a US producer, on royalty and customs issues."
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2008-2009
Taxation
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill is recommended for tax litigation with clients commending the 'highly responsive' and 'excellent' service. D P Naban and senior associate Saravana Kumar are'committed','sound in knowledge','amiable' and always 'well prepared'. 'They listen, evaluate and take time to discuss the issues,' states one client.
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2010-2011
According to clients, its success stems from a committed team that is “willing to go beyond the call of duty to deliver considered, reliable advice.” The team is overseen by D P Naban, a multi-talented and experienced practitioner who can turn his hand to a wide range of matters. Naban is a seasoned litigator, who is now increasingly focused on non-contentious corporate and tax issues. He led on various matters over the past year, including transfer pricing, reinvestment allowance and real property gains tax mandates. In addition to a range of revenue-related matters, the team also advises on private client issues.
~ Chambers Asia 2010
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill is "thorough and comprehensive, possessing strong business sense and good listening skills". The team, led by D. P. Naban, handled some significant SDLT work over the year, and advised an international company on a tax-related judicial review.
~ The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2009-2010
"...The team serves numerous international clients, and recently advised a Swiss-based company and a prominent Australian university on various business structures to minimise tax incidence. It is also currently representing a US producer of denim apparel to determine whether royalty paid to a parent company may be adjusted for customs duty. D P Naban, a senior litigator and a "meticulous, exceptionally fine-tuned advocate,"is working on this dispute. He also regularly speaks at tax summits and conferences, and has been appointed as a tax examiner by a professional tax body."
~ Chambers Asia 2008-2009