Restructuring and insolvency: local firms

WongPartnership LLP

The ‘powerhouse restructuring practice’ at WongPartnership LLP has demonstrable experience across the full gamut of restructuring and insolvency mandates, with additional expertise in the representation of debtors and special situation investors. Key work highlights include the liquidation of Three Arrows Capital, the restructuring of Pacific International Lines, in addition to advisory matters for the judicial managers of Xihe Holdings. ’Brilliant strategists’ Manoj Pillay Sandrasegara and Smitha Menon, who are praised for their ‘tremendous intellect’, jointly lead team. Other key contacts in the group include Joel Chng, whose ’analytical ability and years of experience enable him to provide thoughtful, thorough, and practical legal advice’, ‘generational talent’ Stephanie Yeo and ’standout partner’ Clayton Chong.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘No doubt the best in the business. No other firm in Singapore can handle matters with their rarest combination of commercial nous, technical excellence and panache.’
‘Smitha Menon is a first-class restructuring lawyer. She is hardworking, collaborative and creative.’
‘The team has demonstrated a deep and strong understanding of the restructuring and insolvency law in Singapore. The team is very professional, knowledgeable and prompt in providing legal advice.’
‘Clayton Chong is a standout partner, with market leading knowledge and a very pleasant personality.’
‘Joel Chng is an outstanding lawyer. His analytical ability and years of experience enable him to provide thoughtful, thorough, and practical legal advice.’
‘This is a powerhouse restructuring practice. Technical expertise with commercial savvy. Deep bench of talent.’
‘Manoj Sandrasegara and Smitha Menon are both brilliant strategists; always looking to push the envelope on what is possible in a restructuring. Tremendous intellect.'
‘Stephanie Yeo is a generational talent in the restructuring arena in Singapore. A sharp mind capable of digesting the legal concepts as well as the numbers that go with restructuring, she has a unique ability to blend technical expertise with commercial realities.'

Key clients

Pacific International Lines (Private) Limited
Grant Thornton
Ernst & Young
PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting (S) Pte. Ltd
Teneo Advisory
Evercore
DBS Bank
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC Bank)
Deloitte & Touche
FTI Consulting Singapore

Work highlights

Advised the joint liquidators of Three Arrows Capital Limited, Teneo Advisory, in the liquidation of the US$10 billion cryptocurrency hedge fund that went bankrupt, in various proceedings and applications, including successfully obtaining provisional relief and recognition of the BVI liquidation proceedings as foreign main proceedings in Singapore.
Advised Pacific International Lines Private Limited in the restructuring of the approximately US$3.3 billion in aggregate of debts and liabilities of the shipping group via a consensual debt re-profiling exercise in Singapore.
Advising the judicial managers of Xihe Holdings, Grant Thornton Singapore LLP, and over 40 of its subsidiaries, which are laden with debt and claims as against its assets in excess of S$1 billion.

Lawyers

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