Global law firm Latham & Watkins was founded in 1934 and established its Singapore office in 1997. It boasts more than 3000 lawyers spread across its global offices. The firm’s Asia practice is led by Michael Sturrock, who serves as Asia managing partner. 

Focusses / specialisms

The firm is ranked among the market leaders for its capital markets, project finance, project development and corporate and M&A work.

The banking team is known for its project finance expertise and has experience representing banks, financial advisors, private equity firms, hedge funds, borrowers, sponsors, syndicates and government institutions. 

The capital markets team advises on the full spectrum of debt and equity mandates, acting for clients such as issuers, underwriters, and initial purchasers. The firm is well known for advising on cross border IPOs, particularly in India, Singapore and the US.

The corporate team is widely recognised for its strength in advising on cross border mandates in jurisdictions including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. 

Key sectors of focus include energy, telecommunications, mining, manufacturing, oil and gas, and banking.

Key clients

Key recent clients include Asian Development Bank, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Mizuho Bank, Tokyo Gas, Pertamina, San Miguel Corporation, Warburg Pincus, Fullerton Healthcare Corporation and Asset World Corp.

Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)

The banking team was recently active for both borrowers and lenders across several financing transactions. One noteworthy project financing deal saw the firm advise the sponsors on the financing of one of the largest upstream oil and gas projects to reach financial close in Indonesia in the past decade.

A recent capital markets highlight saw the firm advise the issuer on the largest ever corporate IPO in Thailand and the largest real estate company IPO in the world since 2014. The firm also advised the issuer on the second ever, and later on the third, co-issuance of notes by an Indian company. The firm also acted for the issuer on Thailand’s second-largest IPO by market capitalisation in 2019.

On the corporate side, the firm recently advised the acquirer in the largest M&A transaction to date in the Philippine cement industry. One high-value deal saw the firm advise HLT Healthcare on acquiring Columbia Asia Healthcare.

The firm recently added Mark Cooper as a partner from Hogan Lovells to its corporate team.

Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)

Asset World Corp SET IPO

Bangkok Commercial Asset Management SET IPO

Bojonegoro Regency gas processing facility and pipelines

Ctrip.com International $1.4 billion acquisition of a stake in MakeMyTrip

HLT Healthcare Holdings $1 billion acquisition of Columbia Asia Healthcare

Mong Duong 2 thermal power plant

San Miguel Corporation $2.15 billion acquisition of an 85.7% stake in Holcim Philippines  

San Miguel Corporation $2.15 billion financing