Kai Ye Ang
Norton Rose FulbrightNorton Rose Fulbright has remained amongst the leading firms in banking and finance in Singapore, thanks to its commitment to the area and its breadth of expertise. Few firms cover such a wide range of areas, from asset finance to structured trade and commodity finance, acquisition and leveraged finance, Islamic finance and fund finance. It has deep relationships with major banks and the most active financial institutions in the region, and has further cemented its leading position in trade and commodity finance. Indonesia remains a core jurisdiction for the Singapore team, which was augmented by the arrival of Beelee Seah (‘proactive with problem-solving’) from Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow in April 2024; Seah adds fund finance and Vietnam expertise to the group, among other areas. Yu-En Ong (’extremely hands-on and responsive’) is head of the Singapore office and head of the structured lending and markets team; a leading figure in multiple areas, he is triple qualified in Singapore, England and Wales, and Hong Kong. Colin Rice is an experienced figure in derivatives and structured products. Kai Ye Ang impresses at senior associate level. Janelene Chen has left the firm.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘It is good that NRF Singapore’s banking and finance team covers a wide array of offerings including mainstream finance, transport finance and project finance. This allows the B&F team to leverage these diverse capabilities to provide comprehensive and innovative solutions.'
- 'Though based in Singapore, NRF B&F can advise on English law and Singapore law matters from their local office. This setup offers significant cost advantages and convenience for the client. The team also demonstrates efficient management and resource allocation across multiple jurisdictions.'
‘Beelee Seah is particularly adept at being proactive with problem-solving. He anticipates potential legal and commercial issues well, leveraging his substantial experience in financing within the Southeast Asian region. He provides honest and strategic guidance and I appreciate that he is not afraid of being bold and candid, where required and appropriate.'
- 'Beelee Seah’s services are inherently client-focused, and he demonstrates a deep understanding of the client’s commercial objectives. His advice caters to clients' specific needs and limitations and is well tailored to local practices and regulatory landscapes in which the client operates in. He employs a balanced approach in negotiations, with a strong emphasis on respect and mutual collaboration as opposed to confrontation.’
‘The lead partner Yu-En Ong is exceptionally strong in banking and finance for cross-border deals across Asia Pacific.’
‘Norton Rose Fulbright has a breadth of talent across its various offices and provides seamless support on cross-jurisdictional transactions. The collective wealth of experience and commitment to excellence, not to mention, their responsiveness and proactiveness, are hard to match. The banking and finance team provides sound, commercial and practical advice and is able to guide parties to reach outcomes which protect its clients' best interests. ’
‘Yu-En Ong is our go to partner. Not only is Yu-En extremely hands-on and responsive, but he is able to navigate through complex deals with ease and provide sound commercial advice.'
'Newly promoted senior associate Kai Ye Ang is one to watch. Knowledgeable and pragmatic, his ability to provide succinct, on-point advice is impressive and belies his youth.’
Key clients
- ANZ
- ABN AMRO
- Barclays Bank
- Citibank
- Credit Suisse
- DBS
- Deutsche Bank
- Frasers (Central House) Limited
- Frasers Property Treasury Pte. Ltd
- Hillington Park S.A R.L.
- HSBC
- ING Bank N.V.
- Maybank
- MUFG
- Olam Agri Holdings Pte. Ltd
- SMBC
- UOB
Lawyers
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Yu-En Ong