Abdullah Chan

Senior Partner: Vincent Chan Siew Onn
Number of Partners: 5
Number of Lawyers: 5
Languages: English, Malay, Chinese

Firm Overview:
Abdullah Chan & Co is a leading Malaysian corporate law firm located in the central business and financial district of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with acknowledged expertise in the following areas of practice (1) Corporate Advisory, (2) Mergers & Acquisitions, (3) Capital Markets, (4) Corporate Finance, (5) Cross Border Transactions, (6) Islamic Finance, (7) Project Finance and (8) Infrastructure and Project Development as well as in the following industries (1) Oil & gas, (2) Energy, (3) Infrastructure and Projects, (3) Mining, (4) Aerospace and Aviation, (5) Plantations, (6) Financial Institutions, (7) Biotechnology, (8) Healthcare, (9) Private Equity and Venture Capital and (10) Fintech. The firm’s partners have been recognised in several key practice areas including Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions, Project Finance, Banking and Finance, Islamic Finance and Capital Markets and are ably supported by a strong team.

The firm’s partners have acted for a broad spectrum of clients and the firm is well received in the Malaysian and international markets, as can be seen by the number of notable foreign and domestic multinationals, major corporations, government-linked companies and investment banks that have become its clients. Most of Abdullah Chan & Co’s current clients were drawn in by the excellent reputation of its partners, who have been recognised as leading individuals by The Asia Pacific Legal 500 in previous years, including Vincent Chan Siew Onn who was ranked byThe Asia Pacific Legal 500 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 editions as a member of the elite list of Hall of Fame lawyers and a leading individual in corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets and by Chambers & Partners in its 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021,2021-2022 and 2022-2023 editions as a leading individual in corporate/M&A. Vincent Chan has also been ranked as a Highly Regarded Leading Individual for corporate / M&A by IFLR 1000 in 2022-2023. Our firm has also been recognised as a Leading Firm by The Asia Pacific Legal 500 as well as the Chambers & Partners and IFLR 1000 for many years.

The firm’s ability to handle complex ground-breaking legal work and provide strategic commercial solutions to its client’s businesses is what sets its partners apart. The firm’s partners are known for being at the cutting edge of the profession, and their opinions are valued and significant as they deal with current, often difficult issues in business and public policy. This influence is an advantage to its clients. To add maximum value, the firm takes every opportunity to demonstrate insight into its clients’ current issues and provides advice that is reliable and effective. The firm is dedicated to building a detailed understanding of its clients’ commercial agenda so that it can provide advice that is genuinely outcome-focused.

Practice Areas:
■ Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions
■ Corporate Advisory
■ Corporate Finance
■ Corporate Real Estate
■ Capital Markets
■ Aerospace and Aviation
■ Banking and Finance
■ Cross Border Transactions
■ Infrastructure and Project Development
■ Private Equity
■ Venture Capital

Main Areas of Practice:  

1.0 Mergers & Acquisitions 

2 partners; 10 fee earners based in Kuala Lumpur

• Advised a Malaysian Government Linked fund company on the proposed RM13.4 billion merger between the MIDF group of companies and MBSB Bank Malaysia banking group.

• Advised Qatar Islamic Bank, Financial Assets Bahrain WLL, RUSD Investment Bank Inc and Tadhamon International Islamic Bank on the RM650 million merger between Asian Finance Bank Berhad and Malaysia Building Society Berhad (IFN Deal of the Year).

• Advised two Malaysian GLCs on the proposed RM2.6 billion merger between a Malaysian GLC financial group of companies and a foreign banking group.

Main Contact: Vincent Chan Siew Onn
Tel: +603 2300 0610
Email: [email protected]

2.0 Aerospace and Aviation 

2 partners; 10 fee earners based in Kuala Lumpur

• Represented the Malaysia Aerospace Industry Association in its engagements with Government agencies pertaining to financial support (and proposed financial structures) for the aerospace manufacturing sector in Malaysia.

• Advised multiple Lessors and an Engine Lessor in relation to a proposed Scheme of Arrangement to be undertaken by a Malaysian air operator lessee.

• Advising a Malaysian Labuan company on the acquisition of Bombardier Global 5000 Aircraft and the related financing with a Malaysian Bank

Main Contact: Datin Shelina Razaly Wahi
Tel: +603 2300 0610
Email: [email protected]

3.0 Banking and Finance 

2 partners; 10 fee earners based in Kuala Lumpur

• Advised two consortiums of multinational companies and a Malaysia conglomerate on their applications for a Digital Banking Licence including on the requirements of Bank Negara Malaysia, the Central Bank of Malaysia policy documents and the application guidelines and their joint venture/shareholders agreements, business plans and other transaction agreements and liaison with the Central Bank of Malaysia. On 29 April 2022, the Central Bank of Malaysia had announced that one of the consortium is one out of the 5 successful applicants from a total of 29 applicants for the digital bank licenses as approved by the Minister of Finance Malaysia.

• Advisory work for a leading commercial bank in Malaysia in respect of parameters and limitations for mandatory disclosures to regulatory institutions.

• Advised the Central Bank of Malaysia on the setting up of The International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILM), an international institution established by central banks, monetary authorities and multilateral organisations namely the central banks and monetary agency of Indonesia, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Qatar, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Development Bank, to create and issue short-term Shari’ah-compliant financial instruments to facilitate effective cross-border Islamic liquidity management.

• Liaison with the Central Bank of Malaysia on the proposed RM2.6 billion merger between a Malaysian GLC financial group of companies and a foreign banking group.

Main Contact: Vincent Chan Siew Onn
Tel: +603 2300 0610
Email: [email protected]

Contact: Gopala Krishnan Sundaram
Tel: +603 2300 0610
Email: [email protected]

4.0 Corporate Advisory 

4 partners; 10 fee earners based in Kuala Lumpur

• Advisory work for a life insurance company in respect of fit and proper criteria for directors and senior management.

Main Contact: Vincent Chan Siew Onn
Tel: +603 2300 0610
Email: [email protected]

Contact: Gopala Krishnan Sundaram
Tel: +603 2300 0610
Email: [email protected]

5.0 Corporate Real Estate 

2 partners; 5 fee earners based in Kuala Lumpur

• Advised GuocoLand (Malaysia) Berhad on its joint venture companies’ disposals ofapproximately 700 hectares of plantation land to Putrajaya Properties Sdn. Bhd., prime CBD land to Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (Retirement Fund (Incorporated), andlands located in Melaka to Scientex Heights Sdn. Bhd. (549 hectares), Parkland Avenue Berhad (263.8 hectares), 3 individuals (32.14 hectares), and a state development authority.

• Advised Hana Daol Fund Management Co. Ltd. of Korea on its acquisition of the office towers known as NU Sentral 1 and NU Sentral 2 as well as stratified office units in the commercial development known as “Q-Sentral”, and its disposal of NU Sentral 1 and NU Sentral 2 to, respectively, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and the Social Security Organisation.

Main Contact: Yap Hui Lu
Tel: +603 2300 0610
Email: [email protected]

Contact: Vincent Chan Siew Onn
Tel: +603 2300 0610
Email: [email protected]

International:
Abdullah Chan & Co has a good working relationship with various top law firms worldwide. This relationship enables Abdullah Chan & Co by working closely with the partners from the various top law firms, to provide to its clients multi-jurisdictional expertise and valuable expert local legal advice as well as a seamless service, for any complex cross border transactions.

Values:
Abdullah Chan & Co. aims to provide exceptional legal solutions for its clients’ businesses. The firm is committed to understand its clients’ businesses, interests and operating environments in order to provide strategic, relevant, high-quality legal solutions. Each piece of work is handled by a team of lawyers and paralegals of the appropriate experience and seniority to ensure that our services are delivered in a timely, consistent and cost-effective manner.

Abdullah Chan & Co. would like to think that clients have retained them based on of their reputation of ‘thinking outside the box’ and being ‘leagues above other lawyers’, ‘focus’, ‘trouble shooting skills’ and ‘pragmatism’ all directed in providing timely advice in meeting their clients’ respective agenda.