A&O Shearman stands out for its its substantial banking and finance team in Singapore, and its commitment to Southeast Asia and India. Singapore, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Thailand are amongst its primary markets, with the Singapore team working closely with colleagues throughout the ASEAN region and beyond. Clients highlight the firm’s expertise in structured lending and leveraged finance. The Singapore office has also made its mark in private equity-driven finance and is rated for energy and infrastructure financings, real estate finance and share-backed finance. The firm is widely recognised for its bank side engagements, representing some of the most influential financial institutions in the region. Qualified in Singapore, India, England and New York, Gautam Narasimhan is a giant of the market with close connections to international banks, private equity funds and credit funds.  Prakash Raja Segaran provides Singapore law expertise in real estate finance and acquisition finance. Jason Humphreys and Scott Lovell are key figures in energy and infrastructure finance. Matt Del Rosso and William Pickersgill are influential at counsel level, especially in acquisition finance, leveraged finance and private credit transactions. Following its merger with Shearman & Sterling, the team now includes Bill McCormack and Claude Jiang.

Linklaters continues to lead the market in acquisition finance, leveraged finance, structured credit and fund-related financings. The firm is increasingly active in supporting special situations funds, credit funds and bespoke structured lending. India, Indonesia and Vietnam are amongst its primary markets; the firm has a number of dual English and India qualified lawyers and has a former association with Widyawan & Partners in Indonesia. ‘The APAC guru in leveraged finance‘ Philip Badge is a longstanding leader in the market with close links to major banks and alternative lenders. Fiona Gray continues to earn recognition for private credit transactions, acquisition financings and fund-related finance. Dior Lin has made a further impression, since becoming a partner in 2022. Rahul Chatterji joined the Singapore office from Shearman & Sterling LLP in 2023 to reinforce the team’s standing in leveraged and acquisition finance, particularly in relation to India and Southeast Asia. Former Singapore managing partner and banking specialist Christopher Bradley retired in 2022 and former counsel Weiling Lee has joined Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow.

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow‘s mix of international and local expertise, along with its close links to key lenders in the market, provides a foundation for a thriving banking and finance practice. The firm maintains an active presence in acquisition finance, syndicated lending, real estate finance, and fund finance, and has made a further impression in sustainability-linked loans and green financings. Emmanuel Hadjidakis is chair of the Asia Pacific banking and finance group, and is global head of the acquisition finance team, and has played a key role in developing the firm’s standing in sustainability-linked loans and green financings, along with real estate finance and subscription line facilities. Kah Chin Chu is an emerging talent in the market, notably in syndicated and bilateral loans, and is another key partner in green facilities and sustainability-linked loans. Ian Roebuck provides further expertise and experience in leveraged and acquisition finance, along with subscription credit facilities. Kunal Katre is another key partner.

Latham & Watkins LLP has maintained a steady pipeline of leveraged finance, acquisition financings and bank/bond deals. It has worked on a series of high-value acquisition financings across the Southeast Asia and South Asia regions. Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia are amongst its primary markets, and the team is a growing force in India, where it has advised on a number of headline acquisition financings. The finance team frequently works alongside colleagues in the capital markets, M&A, and private equity practices. Timothy Hia is an experienced banking and finance partner with an excellent record in headline and high-value financings, particularly in the acquisition finance segment. Chair of the Asia finance group, Andrew Bishop splits his time between Hong Kong and Singapore.

Milbank continues to stand out for its experience in energy and infrastructure finance, along with being at the forefront of leveraged finance, particularly in financings of $1bn or more. Structured finance and bank/bond financings are additional strong areas for the Singapore team, which has successfully targeted the private credit segment in recent years. The firm is also noted for special situations and distressed transactions. Along with its broad range of financial institution clients, the team acts for a number of private equity sponsors and other investment funds, along with a series of corporate borrowers. On top of energy and infrastructure, key areas include retail, fintech, shipping and real estate. Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines are amongst its key jurisdictions. Singapore managing partner David Zemans is a hugely experienced and versatile practitioner with a rich history in banking and finance transactions, most notably in Indonesia. Jacqueline Chan is another outstanding practitioner and a growing force in private credit deals. James Murray and James Orme are also rated for energy and infrastructure financings.

Norton Rose Fulbright has an impressive record in trade and commodity finance, landing it an illustrious client list of regional and international banks, alternative financiers, commodity traders, export credit agencies and others. Acquisition and leveraged finance, asset finance, project finance and securitisation are also fortes for the Singapore team, which has a particularly extensive experience in Indonesia. Moreover, the firm is making a further impression in sustainability-linked loans. Qualified in Singapore, Hong Kong and England, Yu-En Ong heads the Singapore office and the structured lending and markets team. Janelene Chen left in January 2024.

White & Case Pte. Ltd. has an experienced senior bench, including partners that have been located in Singapore for over a decade. The team is noted for representing major institutional lenders, private equity sponsors, and corporates, and works closely with colleagues from around the Asia Pacific region. The group has extensive experience in acquisition and leveraged finance, fund financings and structured finance. In recent times, the team has remained especially active in sponsor-side financings, including debt facilities to support acquisitions. It also has wide-ranging geographic coverage from India to Indonesia. Alexander McMyn is a senior practitioner with a superb reputation, while Charles McConnell, who was promoted to international partner status in 2022, has emerged as a prominent figure in acquisition finance, fund finance and structured financings.

Ashurst LLP has a well rounded banking and finance practice in Singapore and has achieved prominence in fund finance, acquisition and leveraged finance, real estate portfolio financings and fintech financings. The firm is particularly recognised for mid-market financings and has earned further market share in ESG and green fund finance. It advises an impressive range of lenders and borrowers. Jean Woo is the Singapore managing partner, leads the Singapore banking team and is a growing force in green loans and securitisations. Chin Chuan Chen leads the project finance practice in Greater China and has close links to Chinese banks and financial institutions. Alfred Ng is another experienced figure in project finance. Counsel Cara Stevens has transferred to the Melbourne office.

Gibson Dunn has a fine reputation in the banking and finance field, in part thanks to the presence of Jamie Thomas, who is co-chair of the global finance practice group. The firm is noted for acquisition financings, restructurings and distressed transactions; the firm has an outstanding position in restructurings, especially in Indonesia. It is also noted for direct lending, project finance, financings involving alternative capital providers and prepayment financings. The team is most active in the energy and infrastructure sectors, has a growing presence in fund financings and tech-related loans, and is increasingly active in the crypto space. The team represents a number of Indonesian borrowers and sponsors, special situations team and private equity houses. Of counsel U-Shaun Lim is another key member of the team.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP has an established banking and finance practice in the mining, energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors. The Singapore team has a particularly strong reputation for oil and gas financings, including reserve-based lending. It is known for its bank-side engagements, though has a broader client base of borrowers and private capital providers. The office is developing its standing in project finance, especially following the arrival of Rupert Baker in 2022; Baker is the former senior counsel and head of legal, project finance and energy, at SoftBank Group. Adrian Cheng is head of finance in Asia and is rated for his expertise in energy and natural resources financings, especially in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Philippines.

Jones Day has a strong and stable senior bench in Singapore, which has a fine record in representing borrowers such as corporates, private equity houses and investment funds. It is also making an impression in the alternative lender space. Acquisition finance, syndicated lending, structured finance, trade finance, real estate finance, commodity finance and project finance are key areas of focus. Sustainability linked loans is a growing forte for the team. Sushma Jobanputra heads the Singapore office and is a prominent banking and finance specialist. Vinay Kurien is an emerging talent.

King & Spalding LLP has a considerable market presence, in large part thanks to the standing of market leader Andrew Brereton. Although known for his record in bulge-bracket mainstream financings, such as acquisition and leveraged finance, term loans, and project finance, Brereton and his team have carved out a sizeable market share of private credit and special situations transactions. The team is also recognised for its expertise in sustainability-linked loans. Soumya Bhagavatula and U-Glen Lim are key associates.

Morrison Foerster (Singapore) is a burgeoning force in real estate finance, acquisition and leveraged finance and private equity financings. The firm is also making a further impression in subscription line financings and margin loans, along with sustainability-linked loans and ESG performance-linked financings. The Singapore team represents a mix of borrowers and lenders (including alternative lenders and credit funds). It frequently works alongside colleagues in Tokyo to advise Japanese senior and mezzanine lenders on auction bids by private equity sponsors. It also advises private equity sponsors across the region on fund and portfolio level financings. Yemi Tépé continues to earn accolades from the market, particularly in relation to acquisition and leveraged financings across the APAC region. Of counsel Hong Cheong Wong provides further senior level expertise and operates in both English and Mandarin languages. Charlyn Lim impresses at associate level.

Simmons & Simmons has a rich history in trade and commodities finance, and is a growing force in digital banking and fintech, and in funds finance. It has close links to regional and international lenders, including BNP Paribas, Societe Generale and HSBC. Angelia Chia joined the Singapore team in April 2023 from Mayer Brown to reinforce the department’s expertise in trade and supply chain finance. Calvin Tan leads the Singapore banking and finance team and is immensely experienced in structured lending, including commodities finance, fund finance and margin lending. Former Beijing-based partner Yongmei Cai is dual-qualified in England and the People's Republic of China (PRC), and is noted for China cross-border financings, including commodities transactions and foreign exchange regulatory issues.

Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee has extensive experience in the consumer, agribusiness, real estate and digital banking sectors, as well as energy and renewables. The firm has seen further growth in sustainability and ESG-linked financings. It has close links to regional and international banks and development banks. Vietnam and Indonesia are key markets for the team. Kaveeta Sandhu was promoted to the partnership in January 2023 and has become head of the banking and loans group in Singapore. Samantha Campbell left the firm for an in-house position.

King & Wood Mallesons‘ Singapore banking and finance practice has a strong focus on project and infrastructure financings in Southeast Asia, often linked to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The team is also gaining recognition for its work in green, social and sustainable financings. Fund finance, real estate finance, share backed financings, and trade and commodity finance are further elements of the practice. Thanks to the presence of John Shum, who previously practised in Hong Kong, London and New York, the team has developed close links to international banks (including Chinese lenders) and borrowers.

Mayer Brown‘s banking and finance team has experienced some changes in recent years with lateral hires, departures and retirements. It remains prominent in Singapore, not least because of its sheer size in Asia, and the leading partners that are pushing its standing in fund finance, leveraged and acquisition finance, and general corporate lending. It continues to represent numerous regional and international banks and financial institutions. Doos Choi is an experienced banking and finance specialist with a focus on the Southeast Asia markets, along with Greater China, having recently relocated to Singapore from Hong Kong. Soumitro Mukerji has impressed in fund finance and subscription-line financings. Angelia Chia left in April 2023, while Janelene Chen joined from Norton Rose Fulbright in January 2024.

Reed Smith LLP has a fine global reputation for trade and commodities financings, which is replicated in Singapore, where the firm also has a presence in asset finance, fintech and project finance. The Singapore team represents a range of banks, multilaterals, alternative lenders, traders, funds and producers. It has an extensive record in prepayment financings, pre-export financings and borrowing base financings. It is also recognised for its experience with emerging markets in the Southeast Asia region. Omar Al-Ali is driving forward the Singapore office’s trade and commodities finance practice, having joined it in 2020. Simon Spells is a senior figure in aviation finance and Hui Ling Teo was promoted to the partnership in November 2022, having recently joined the firm from Milbank.

Sidley Austin LLP has built its standing in leveraged finance and general lending, following the arrival of Daniel Lindsey from Goodwin‘s Hong Kong office in July 2022. Lindsey has a background in representing private equity sponsors and private credit funds in leveraged and acquisition finance, growth capital financings, structured lending, fund-level financings and margin loans. His core team is now spread across the Hong Kong and Singapore offices. Former counsel Jeremy Chase moved to an in-house position in August 2022.

Squire Patton Boggs‘ Singapore office is another to have made an impression in trade and commodities finance, along with ship finance. The firm is now frequently engaged in structured trade financings, and pre-export, prepayment, receivables and limited recourse structures. The team is noted for representing banks, alternative lenders and traders. Jessica Kenworthy has extensive experience in trade and commodity finance. Kate Sherrard provides further expertise in maritime and offshore oil and gas financings, while Lian Yok Tan has brought additional project finance expertise to the group having joined the firm from K&L Gates Straits Law LLC in April 2023.

Stephenson Harwood LLP‘s primary strengths lie in the asset finance sphere and it has built further prominence in corporate loans in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and India. The Singapore office’s heritage in asset finance has afforded the wider banking and finance team with a mighty regional and international bank client base. This has led to a range of engagements including sustainability and ESG-linked loans. Key markets include Singapore, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and Malaysia. Of particular note, the Singapore team advised the State Bank of India on a $1bn credit facility to the Government of Sri Lanka for the purposes of importing food, medicine, and other essential items. Gregory Xu has a fine reputation for ship finance and the broader banking and finance area.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP has built out its wide-ranging banking and finance practice from its foundations in asset finance. The Singapore office has deep expertise in maritime, transport, natural resources, and energy. It has close links to major banks, export credit agencies (ECAs), private equity sponsors, funds and intermediaries. Madeline Leong is hugely experienced.