With a fine record in securing big-ticket engagements from Malaysia’s largest banks, as well as an array of international corporations, the practice at Zul Rafique & Partners showcases expertise in cross-border financing, asset-based securitisation transactions, Islamic financing, and offshore lending. The firm boasts a wealth of experience in advising on debt capital raising exercises, securitisation, and continues to work on medium term note programmes. Loh Mei Mei leads the team and is regularly consulted by regulatory authorities and corporations to provide insight on innovative products, policy guidelines, and financing structures. Celine Rangithan is well-versed in investment banking matters and Sukuk issuances. Chan Kwan Hoe, Ashela Ramaya, and Kung Suan Im are key members of the department.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The team is easy to work with and able to deliver on their part.'
  • 'Ashela Ramaya is very organised in her work.'
  • 'A well-resourced and talented team. Responsive, commercial, and a pleasure to deal with.'
  • 'Celine Rangithan is excellent. Commercial and diligent, she makes navigating the entry into Malaysia for our offshore clients easy.'

Key clients

  • Maxis Berhad
  • Standard Chartered Bank Group (Standard Chartered Bank (Malaysia) Berhad, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad)
  • Maybank Group (Maybank Investment Bank Berhad, Maybank Islamic Berhad, Malayan Banking Berhad, Maybank International (L) Ltd, other Malayan Banking Berhad branches, ie China, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi)
  • Bank of China (Malaysia) Berhad
  • Affin Group (Affin Bank Berhad, Affin Hwang Investment Bank Berhad, Affin Islamic Bank Berhad)
  • HSBC Group (HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad, HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad)
  • CIMB Bank Group (CIMB Bank Berhad, CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad, CIMB Investment Bank Berhad, CIMB Bank (L) Ltd)
  • OCBC Group (OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad, OCBC Al-Amin Berhad, Oversea-Chinese Banking Limited Corporation, Labuan Branch)
  • Genting Berhad
  • RHB Group (RHB Bank Berhad, RHB Investment Bank Berhad, RHB Islamic Bank Berhad, RHB Bank (L) Ltd)
  • MIDF Group (MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Berhad, MIDF Investment Bank Berhad)
  • Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad
  • Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia
  • Cathay United Bank
  • MUFG Bank (Malaysia) Berhad
  • Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Malaysia Berhad
  • United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Berhad

Work highlights

  • Advised HSBC Bank Malaysia on the establishment of a RM1bn Sukuk Wakalah Programme and Sustainability-Linked Sukuk Wakalah by Yinson Holdings.
  • Advised AmInvestment Bank on an Islamic medium term notes programme of up to RM500m established by JB Cocoa.
  • Advised Maybank Investment Bank and OCBC Al-Amin Bank on an Islamic medium term notes programme of up to RM3bn established by Edotco (Malaysia).

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Loh Mei Mei is the Head of the Banking & Finance practice group. She has over 30 years’ experience advising on a full range of financing transactions. She is a specialist in both domestic and international finance covering all types of financings including complex structured financing, acquisition financing, limited recourse financing, project financing, Islamic financing, bonds/notes issuance, Sukuk issuance and asset-backed securitisation. She has advised on some of the largest and most complex landmark financing transactions in Malaysia, both conventional and Islamic financing. Mei Mei is highly regarded for her ability to provide practical sound advice and solutions to address complex legal and structural issues. She believes that listening and understanding her clients’ needs are foremost in providing effective legal advice.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Celine Rangithan is a partner in the Banking & Finance practice group. Celine’s legal practice covers all areas of banking and finance transactions focusing on debt capital market financing, syndications, project financing, acquisition financing, and cross-border transactions, both conventional and Islamic. She is frequently involved in cross-border financing transactions. She advises a wide variety of clients, namely financial institutions (both local and foreign), trust companies, financial advisers, and corporate clients (both local and foreign), on the legal aspects of banking and finance and debt capital market, which includes on numerous occasions, advising financial institutions on their proposed structure of the transactions. Celine has advised on numerous award-winning transactions. She has also been ranked in Chambers Asia Pacific 2021 and has been noted as Recommended Lawyer in Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021 under Banking and Finance for Malaysia.  

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Loh Mei Mei, Kung Suan Im, Ashela Ramaya, Celine Rangithan, Chan Kwan Hoe