Quahe Woo & Palmer LLC

Senior Partners: Lawrence Quahe, Christopher Woo, Michael Palmer

Number of partners: 14 (directors) 5 (associate directors)

Number of lawyers: 1 (consultant) 4 (senior associates) 14 (associates)

Languages: English, Mandarin 

Firm Overview: 

QWP is a multi-disciplinary law practice led by a team of experienced lawyers with varying specialist expertise, capable of handling complex modern-day legal disputes and corporate transactions. More than just a provider of legal services, the firm see themselves as their clients’ trusted partner as they navigate them through an increasingly challenging legal landscape brought on by ever-changing global economic and geo-political trends.

The firm is also a member of a leading global network, Multilaw, where independent law firms work together worldwide to offer the most effective way of fulfilling clients’ international needs.

At QWP, they distinguish themselves by staying ahead of the game and being a client-driven practice with a strong ethos for consistent delivery of practical and effective legal solutions.

Combined with the quality, breadth and depth of their legal expertise, they are able to serve and secure the trust of a broad range of client groups, including private high net-worth family offices, multi-national corporations, private equity funds and other institutional clients.

With offices in the key financial centres of Singapore and London, and most recently having become part of Multilaw, a strong dependable and independent network of reputable firms within ASEAN, and most parts of the world through Multilaw, puts the firm in a unique position to support cross-border investment or business activities.

Main Areas of Practice: 

Aviation

Banking, Finance & Security

China Practice

Clubs & Societies

Corporate & Commercial Law

Corporate Governance & Compliance

Criminal Law

Defamation

Divorce & Family Matters

Employment

FinTech

Immigration

Infrastructure, Construction & Engineering

Insolvency & Restructuring

Intellectual Property

Landlord & Tenant

Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

Mediation

Mergers & Acquisitions

Private Clients & Family Office

Property & Real Estate

Regulatory & Funds

Start-up / Venture Capital Practice

Sustainability

Wills, Trusts & Probate

Banking, Finance & Security: 

The banking, finance and security team regularly handles financing work relating to acquisitions, term loans and also asset-based financing. The team serves a wide array of corporate and high net-worth clients and across a variety of businesses and jurisdictions. The team’s work ranges from high-value cross-jurisdictional secured financing transactions with international or established financial institutions to loans between corporate entities. The firm’s lawyers have also advised and acted in various aircraft-financing transactions with international financial institutions.

Contact: Yeo Khung Chye

Tel: +65 6622 0380

Email:[email protected] 

Corporate Governance & Compliance: 

Our firm advises our clients on stakeholder trust, risk management, long-term sustainability and regulatory adherence. We advise on the preparation and implementation of compliance policies, anti-money laundering concerns, anti-bribery due diligence, confidentiality, adherence to applicable Singapore legislation and Monetary Authority of Singapore regulations, disclosure of shareholding interests in listed corporations, and prevention of insider trading.

Contact: Michael Palmer

Tel: +65 6622 0356

Email:[email protected]

Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions: 

The corporate/mergers and acquisitions team handles a wide range of corporate and commercial law matters that a business entity may encounter throughout its life cycle, from initial establishment work such as incorporation, regulatory advice and employment issues to supporting a company on its operational and growth plans including capital fund-raising, joint ventures, franchise and other commercial arrangements. The team also assist with corporate restructuring exercises such as capital reductions and amalgamations. They also have a vast experience in handling both local and international M&A transactions across a broad spectrum of industries, and are able to structure and execute complex high value transactions that are traditionally the domain of larger firms.

Contact: Lee Wei-Jin

Tel: +65 6622 0217

Email:[email protected]

Contact: Tay Liam Kheng

Tel: +65 6622 0233

Email:[email protected]

Funds & Regulatory:  

We assist our clients with the drafting and submission of licence applications to the relevant regulatory authorities for approval. In particular, we handle licence applications relating to payment services licences, fund management and other capital markets licences, which are regulated by and/or subject to the approval of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. We also advise our clients on the structuring and formation of funds and investment management vehicles, including in respect of variable capital companies (VCCs) and single family offices. Our clients include fund managers of private equity, venture capital, real estate and hedge funds, as well as institutional and private wealth investors into such assets.

Contact: Lau Kiat Wee

Tel: +65 6622 0235

Email:[email protected]

Infrastructure, Construction & Engineering: 

The firm’s dedicated infrastructure, construction and engineering practice has been involved in a number of significant infrastructure projects in Singapore and the region. With in-depth knowledge and understanding of the legal and commercial issues that can arise in the life of any project, the firm’s clients value its expertise and capabilities in advising on tender and contract documentation, project risk management and dispute avoidance. The specialist team also represents clients in all forms of dispute resolution including litigation, arbitration, adjudication, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, and has acted in some of the most complex and high-value disputes in the infrastructure, construction, and engineering sectors in the region.

Contact: Keith Lim

Tel: +65 6622 0368

Email:[email protected]

Intellectual Property:  

The intellectual property team assists, acts for and advises a diverse range of clients including multinational corporations on intellectual property matters. With expertise in a broad spectrum of industries ranging from sports to food and beverage, lifestyle to entertainment and many more, the team is equipped to meet clients’ IP needs. In addition to advising and assisting clients with IP registrations and litigation matters, the team also manages IP portfolios around the world dealing with a myriad range of issues and challenges. The team’s associates around the world give clients access to a network of trusted advisors able to provide legal services at the highest level in the most time and cost-efficient manner. The team consists of lawyers with litigation, corporate and commercial backgrounds, ably assisted by experienced senior legal executives including a former patent examiner.

Contact: Christopher Woo

Tel: +65 6622 0383

Email:[email protected]

Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution: 

The firm’s litigation department is led by three leading dispute practitioners with decades of combined litigation experience, and is supported by a team of skilled Associate Directors and Associates. It handles cases across a broad spectrum of areas, both internationally and in Singapore. Its areas of practice include complex commercial disputes, banking and securities disputes, shareholder disputes and oppression actions, insolvency and restructuring litigation, high value debt recovery, probate litigation, defamation actions and employment disputes. The lawyers have handled complex and multi-jurisdictional matters before all levels of the Singapore Courts as well as international tribunals that come under the auspices of various arbitral centres. These include the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, UNCITRAL, International Chamber of Commerce, International Centre for Dispute Resolution, and the American Arbitration Association.

Contact: Michael Palmer

Tel: +65 6622 0356

Email:[email protected]

Contact: Melvin Lum

Tel: +65 6622 0385

Email:[email protected]

Private Clients & Family Office: 

Our firm regularly advises and represent high net worth individuals and families on a broad range of issues, including estate planning and private investment structures, philanthropy and on regulatory laws affecting business transactions and personal assets. We also have assisted private clients in setting up family offices and where applicable, fund structures (including utilising the versatile variable capital company (VCC) structure) in Singapore and other jurisdictions in Asia. Our practice is particularly experienced in advising clients in the administration and distribution of family wealth. We work alongside tax specialists and private wealth professionals to ensure that proper structures are put in place. Our strong and extensive international network further enables us to readily assist clients in mobilising offshore structures for their international ventures.

Contact: Yeo Khung Chye

Tel: +65 6622 0380

Email:[email protected] 

Start-up/Venture Capital: 

Our dynamic team is up to date with the latest developments for start-ups and venture capital investments with capability of providing comprehensive advice from both buy-side and sell-side perspectives. We also have significant experience advising on applicable regulatory requirements and assisting with preparing operational contracts for growth stage companies. We believe that investments into growth stage companies with sound fundamentals and/or value propositions can never be concluded on a win-win basis purely based on a suite of template transaction documents without strategic consideration and advice. Our team has the knowledge, experience and commercial nous to efficiently guide investors and founders towards a mutually beneficial position for all parties.

Contact: Keith Oh

Tel: +65 6622 0366

Email:[email protected]