4 March, 2019
Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow, the member firm of Baker McKenzie International in Singapore, has strengthened its Regional Capital Markets Practice and Dispute Resolution Practice with the appointments of Kenny Kwan and Ashish Chugh respectively.
Kenny Kwan, who joins the Firm from Drew & Napier, is admitted in Singapore, England & Wales, and New York. He specialises in capital markets transactions with a wealth of significant experience acting as both issuers' and underwriters’ counsel on Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia capital market transactions as well as US-registered and Rule 144A/Regulation S offerings.
Kenny's practice also includes mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters. He also advises fund managers and issuers on the structuring and establishment of investment funds domiciled in Singapore as well as on regulatory aspects of managing investment funds outside of Singapore.
With over 20 years of experience in these areas, his practice has a broad sector focus including industrials, manufacturing, transportation (IMT), energy, mining, infrastructure (EMI), technology, media, telecommunications (TMT) and real estate.
Kenny has been recognised as a 'Highly Regarded' lawyer in IFLR's Capital Markets section in 2018, and has obtained individual endorsement as a leading capital markets lawyer for 10 years running in Best Lawyers International. He has also been recognised as a leading lawyer by both Chambers & Partners and Asia Pacific Legal 500.
Ashish Chugh, who joins the Firm from K&L Gates, has close to 15 years experience in dispute resolution. He is admitted in Singapore, India, England & Wales and New York. His practice focusses on international commercial arbitration, investment treaty and cross-border commercial disputes with an emphasis on disputes in the IMT and EMI sectors. Ashish has broad experience in the conduct of international arbitrations with seats in India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, New York and Dubai, under a variety of ad hoc and institutional arbitration rules. He joins from the Singapore office of a major international law firm.
Ashish has been recognised in Legal 500 as a key practitioner for international arbitration in Singapore, named as one of India’s Most Trusted Corporate Lawyers by the Indian Corporate Counsel Association, and recently received the "Under 40 Rising Star Award" at the 2018 Indian Legal Awards.
Managing Principal of Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow Andy Leck, said: "We are delighted to welcome Kenny and Ashish to the Firm. Their deep sector knowledge, market profile and track record will further strengthen our service offering.”
Commenting on Kenny’s appointment, Ai Ai Wong, Asia Pacific Chair of Baker McKenzie, said: "We continue to strengthen our global transactional team organically and through key lateral hires. As banks that run Singapore and Southeast Asia focussed ECM deals demand seamless international, Singapore and local counsel advice, Kenny’s ASEAN experience will dovetail well with our team’s capabilities to deliver integrated cross-border transactional solutions.”
The Firm continues to build global transactional capabilities across financial centres. Most recently, three partners from White & Case joined the Firm's London office, namely David Becker and Rob Matthews joined the Capital Markets Practice while Peter Lu joined the M&A Practice; in New York, Mark Mandel, formerly of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, and Randall "Randy" Sunberg and Denis Segota – both formerly of Morgan Lewis – have also recently joined the North America Corporate & Securities Practice.
Nandakumar Ponniya, Asia Pacific Chair of Baker McKenzie’s International Arbitration Practice, added: "As parties continue to look to International Arbitration as their preferred means to settle disputes arising from investments, Ashish’s significant experience in representing parties in proceedings seated in virtually every major arbitral body, strengthens our ability to help clients navigate and succeed in the increasingly complex business environment.”
