The ‘well-rounded and experienced’ team at Allen & Gledhill LLP is at the forefront of the region’s most high-profile restructuring and insolvency matters, acting for creditors and lenders on the full range of domestic and cross-border mandates. The practice is led by Chong Yee Leong, a highly experienced lawyer with a strong track record in international arbitration, insolvencies and regulatory issues. Edward Tiong acts as deputy head and handles restructuring matters and commercial disputes, while Andrew Chan brings further expertise to the group in insolvency disputes.

Drew & Napier LLC is a prominent market player, acting in high-profile restructuring and insolvency matters throughout the region. The practice boasts a strong set of clients including major financial institutions, holding and investment groups, public boards, and sovereign wealth funds, with work including contentious and non-contentious mandates, alongside assisting clients in pursuit and recovery of assets and court protection cases. The ‘extremely impressive’ group is also noted for its experience working across from regulators. Sushil Nair jointly leads the team and has considerable expertise operating throughout Singapore, Indonesia, and China, while co-head Julian Kwek focuses on debt workouts and and corporate restructurings, including in defaults involving Singapore-listed PRC companies. Blossom Hing ‘is tenacious in her pursuit of client goals and is highly creative and solutions-oriented in the restructuring arena’. Mohan Gopalan is another key contact in the group.

With one of the region’s largest restructuring and insolvency practices, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP assists on the full spectrum of domestic and cross-border matters, contentious and non-contentious alike, and counts lenders and creditors, debtors, liquidators and judicial managers among its key roster of clients. In addition to commodities, consumer goods and financial services, the practice is noted for its expertise in the marine and offshore, energy and oil and gas sectors. Praised as ‘technically strong, practical and commercial’, Sim Kwan Kiat leads the team alongside Chua Beng Chye, who is ‘constantly exceeding expectations’ when advising on bankruptcy and corporate insolvency mandates, and Sheila Ng. Other key contacts include ‘technically strong’ Patrick Ang and Lee Eng Beng SC, who has considerable experience advising on debt enforcement matters and insolvency litigation.

The ‘powerhouse restructuring practice’ at WongPartnership LLP has demonstrable experience across the full gamut of restructuring and insolvency mandates, with additional expertise in the representation of debtors and special situation investors. Key work highlights include the liquidation of Three Arrows Capital, the restructuring of Pacific International Lines, in addition to advisory matters for the judicial managers of Xihe Holdings. ‘Brilliant strategists’ Manoj Pillay Sandrasegara and Smitha Menon, who are praised for their ‘tremendous intellect’, jointly lead team. Other key contacts in the group include Joel Chng, whose ‘analytical ability and years of experience enable him to provide thoughtful, thorough, and practical legal advice’, ‘generational talent’ Stephanie Yeo and ‘standout partner’ Clayton Chong.

BlackOak LLC makes a strong impression in the restructuring and insolvency arena, with considerable expertise in distressed and special situations, a core area of the boutique firm’s practice. The ‘talented, hardworking, commercial and thoughtful’ team acts on both sides of mandates, advising a range of clients including professionals, debtors, creditors, funds and white knights, handling multi-jurisdictional bankruptcies, restructurings and liquidation proceedings. The practice is prominent throughout South Asia, with recent mandates in Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as partnerships in India. The team is led by ‘grandmaster’ Ashok Kumar, who has ‘a wealth of knowledge and advocacy experience’, Darius Tay, who is praised as a ‘true star in restructuring and insolvency’, and associate director Derrick Teo.

Dentons Rodyk assists a broad range of creditors, debtors, receivers and liquidators on contentious and non-contentious matters, including debt restructurings, bankruptcies, insolvencies and surrounding disputes. Ajinderpal Singh, who regularly acts for liquidators, receivers, judicial managers and trustees, jointly leads the team alongside Kia Jeng Koh, who advises on restructurings, recovery and enforcement mandates, with additional expertise in construction-related mandates. Debby Lim is ‘exceptionally knowledgeable’ in the field of insolvency-related litigation and is another key contact in the group.

Morgan Lewis Stamford LLC’s team is proficient in corporate debt restructurings, alongside other contentious mandates, with additional expertise in special situations matters, ranging from rescue financings, workouts and distressed transactions to white knight situations. The team primarily represents creditors in court proceedings, including secured and unsecured creditors, subordinated creditors, equity sponsors, executory contract counter-parties and official creditors’ committees. The practice's expertise in the aviation and shipping sectors was further bolstered by the arrival of James Bradley from K&L Gates Straits Law LLC in October 2022. Corporate finance partner Bernard Lui and Wendy Tan jointly lead the team.

Shook Lin & Bok LLP’s well-established practice advises on the full range of matters, from distressed M&A, divestment of assets and debt restructurings to liquidations, bankruptcies, receiverships, judicial management and schemes of arrangement. Noted for its cross-border capability, the multi-disciplinary team has demonstrable experience advising lenders and creditors, and is well-placed to draw on the expertise of other departments in the firm. Highly-regarded Sarjit Singh Gill, SC jointly leads the team alongside David Chan, who stands out for his experience in domestic and cross-border insolvencies. ‘Fantastic operator’ Daniel Tan is another key contact in the group.

Harry Elias Partnership advises on corporate insolvency mandates, with clients including a wide range of companies, creditors, liquidators and judicial managers, among others. The team has a strong track record in handling non-contentious and contentious matters, boasting considerable expertise in the banking, construction and real estate sectors. Recently, the team has increasingly acted for creditors and landlords in sizeable restructurings and liquidation-related disputes. Practice leader Justin Chia was recently appointed to the Panel of Assessors for Covid-19 Temporary Relief. Tan Chau Yee is another key contact in the group.

Acting for both creditors and debtors, Providence Law Asia LLC advises on corporate insolvencies, restructurings and domestic and cross-border bankruptcy mandates. Praised for its ‘strong technical knowledge’, the team regularly handles matters arising out of the financial services, energy and shipping sectors, and regularly acts for insolvency professionals in their capacity as liquidators, judicial managers, financial advisers, restructuring officers, receivers and private trustees. Abraham Vergis SC and Kenny Lau jointly lead the team.

Counting commercial and investment banks, accounting firms and corporate enterprises among its key roster of clients, Tan Kok Quan Partnership handles a range of distressed cases, as demonstrated by its advice on the restructuring, judicial management and subsequent liquidation of Hyflux Group. Eddee Ng leads the team and has demonstrable experience in the restructuring and insolvency of distressed companies, including related investigations. Keith Tnee is another key contact in the group.

Noted for its expertise in restructurings, insolvencies, liquidations, enforcements and turnarounds, TSMP Law Corporation regularly acts for a blend of domestic and international corporate clients, including accounting firms and financial groups. Led by one of the firm's founding partners, Thio Shen Yi SC, the practice is recognised for its capability in insolvency litigation, as well as advising on creditor rights matters. Other key contacts include Kelvin Koh and Felicia Tan.

Boasting considerable experience in the transport, shipping and offshore sectors, Virtus Law LLP is well-placed to draw on the firm’s finance, transactional and litigation strengths to advise on a broad range of restructuring and refinancing matters. Other key areas of expertise include Chapter 11 insolvencies, enforcement cases, workouts and pre-pack schemes. Daryll Ng and Lauren Tang, who have demonstrable experience in maritime restructurings, jointly leads the team alongside Jason Yang, who acts for banking clients and other creditors on mandates concerning asset recovery, restructuring and enforcement strategy.

With a strong focus on private investments and financings, Withers KhattarWong LLP acts for private investors in the investment, acquisition and financing of distressed assets and companies in the region, including Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Other key areas of expertise include debt restructurings, as well as enforcement and workout mandates. Justin Yip leads the team and advises on debt restructurings, corporate rescues and special situation transactions. Other key contacts in the group include Erlene Tan and Zhen Yu Lam.