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Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance

Singapore

We opened our Singapore office in 1981 to service South and South East Asia, making it one of the longest established international law firms in the region.

Our teams work on inbound and outbound deals across and beyond the region and these teams often include colleagues from our other Asia Pacific offices and lawyers from carefully chosen local law firms. This gives clients the right mix of local-language and local-law capability and the expertise of specialist lawyers from across the firm.

Our experience means we are familiar with the culture, market and legal intricacies in each jurisdiction, which is why we are regularly recognised by Chambers Asia Pacific as international experts in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

One platform for international and Singapore law capability

In Singapore, we have a strong team of more than 120 lawyers combining local and international talent across all key areas of our practice.

In 2008, the Singapore Government awarded one of only six new Qualifying Foreign Law Practice licences to Clifford Chance, as part of its plans to further liberalise the legal sector. This licence allows us to practice and advise on a wide range of international law, and Singapore law in the permitted practice areas. The licence was renewed in 2014 and again in 2020.          

In 2012, Cavenagh Law LLP and Clifford Chance Pte Ltd registered as a Formal Law Alliance in Singapore under the name Clifford Chance Asia. The Formal Law Alliance allows the two firms to provide the broadest range of Singapore and international law services from one platform with Singapore litigation representation provided through Cavenagh Law LLP.

Learn more about the milestones that shaped Clifford Chance and Cavenagh Law in Singapore:

Recent highlights

Directory and client comments

Chambers Asia Pacific 2023, Singapore

  • Band 1 in Aviation: Finance
  • Band 1 in Capital Markets: Securitisation & Derivatives (International)
  • Band 1 in Construction: International
  • Band 1 in Corporate and M&A: International: Elite
  • Band 1 in Investment Funds: International
  • Band 1 in Restructuring & Insolvency: International

IFLR 1000 Asia Pacific, 32nd edition (2021/ 2022), Singapore

  • Tier 1 in Banking - Foreign
  • Tier 1 in Capital markets: Debt - Foreign
  • Tier 1 in M&A - Foreign
  • Tier 1 in Project Finance - Foreign
  • Tier 1 in Restructuring and insolvency - Foreign

Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023, Singapore

  • Tier 1 in Capital Markets: structured finance, derivatives and securitisation: foreign firms
  • Tier 1 in Corporate and M&A: foreign firms
  • Tier 1 in Fintech and financial services regulatory: foreign firms
  • Tier 1 in International arbitration: foreign firms
  • Tier 1 in Investment funds: foreign firms
  • Tier 1 in Labour and employment: foreign firms
  • Tier 1 in Projects and energy: foreign firms
  • Tier 1 in Restructuring & Insolvency: foreign firms

 Client comments

  • "Clifford Chance, Singapore is simply the best law firm in Asia-Pacific, in terms of experience, human resources, network and quality of execution."
  • "It hasgood working habits and finds a way to solve your problem."

Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Aviation Finance, 2023

  • "The team is prompt and reliable. It is able to work through issues and come up with appropriate solutions."
  • "The lawyers are technically sound and are familiar with complex matters."

Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Banking & Finance: International, 2023

  • "The Clifford Chance team in Singapore is very responsive, turns around matters fast and is very commercially minded." 
  • "Clifford Chance have managed to co-ordinate advice across the region in an efficient and expeditious manner, managing local law firms and ensuring quality control to deliver advice that is clear."

Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Banking & Finance: Regulatory, 2023

  • "Clifford Chance have helped us with a complex IPO and we are happy with them."

Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Capital Markets: International, 2023

  • "Clifford Chance manages to coordinateadvice across the region in an efficient and expeditious manner."
  • "Their ability to break down complicated and interconnected documentation as well as highlight points mostrelevant to our firm is extremely helpful."

Chambres and Partners, Singapore, Capital Markets: Securitisation & Derivatives: Domestic, 2023

  • "Clifford Chance has a reliable and strong team. They are very client-centric."
  • "Clifford Chance is a convenient choice for multi-jurisdictional workas they have their own firms in different locations. They also function as a full-service firm."

Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Capital Markets: Securitisation & Derivatives: International, 2023

  • "The attorneys at Clifford Chance demonstrate sound judgement and are willing to roll up their sleeves and build with us as their client."
  • "With their excellent legal literacy and rich experience, the lawyers can thoroughly analyse thorny legal issues."

Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Construction, International, 2023

  • "Clifford Chance are fantastic when it comes to their responsiveness, depth of experience and their abilityto support during complex M&A transactions."
  • "The team'sdepth of experience and breadth of deals worked on are evident."

Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Corporate/ M&A: International: Elite, 2023

  • "We feel like each issue has been thoroughly considered, researched and analysed beforeoptions are brought to us by Clifford Chance. We have been glad to have the firm on our matters."
  • "The team are experienced in the commercial requirements with a great understanding of the dispute pain points. They are able to guide us to ease the process. "

Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration: Elite, 2023

  • "We have had the opportunity to be introduced to many subject matter experts and everyone at Clifford Chance has been world-class. They are very attuned to commercial sensitivities and timely in their advice." 
  • "They are highly responsive with a great depth and breadth of experience to provide a seamless service for clients, which is appreciated."

Chambers and Partners, Singapore Energy & Natural. Resources: International, 2023

  • "The partners in charge are very knowledgeable and helpful in providing alternatives to consider."
  • "These deals are inherently complex and Clifford Chance have provided us with thoughtful advice."

Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Investment Funds: International, 2023

  • "They are simply outstanding in the entire life cycle of any project from development, investment, financing, buy-ins and sell-downs, to disputes."
  • "Clifford Chance is uniquely qualified to handle complex and sophisticated matters, presenting to clients in a simple and non-sophisticated manner."

Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Projects & Infrastructure: International, 2023

  • "Clifford Chance has done an excellent job of navigating, explaining and advising on what was a very complex situation. " 
  • "Their whole team is very impressive."

Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Restructuring and Insolvency: International, 2023

Awards

  • Asia-Pacific Law Firm of the Year
    Chambers Asia Pacific and Greater China Region Awards 2023
  • Innovative Law Firm (headquartered outside of Asia Pacific)
    FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia 2023
  • Innovative Lawyers in Transforming Industries
    FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia 2023
  • Debt And Equity-Linked Capital Markets Team of the Year
    IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2023
  • Specialist Award for Financial Services Regulatory – International
    IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2023
  • International Firm of the Year
    IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2022
  • Singapore Corporate & Finance International Law Advisers
    Chambers Asia Pacific Awards 2021

Resources

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