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Allens Arthur Robinson

Allens Arthur Robinson and TSMP form Singapore Joint Law Venture

24 April 2007

International law firm Allens Arthur Robinson (AAR) and Singapore-based law firm TSMP Law Corporation (TSMP) announced today they will enter into a joint law venture (JLV) in Singapore, to be known as Allens Arthur Robinson TSMP, from 1 June 2007.

The new 50-lawyer JLV will provide its clients with seamless access to leading international and Singapore legal expertise. The formation of the JLV, one of the two types of associations permitted between foreign and local law firms in Singapore, received approval from the Singapore Attorney General last week.

The creation of Allens Arthur Robinson TSMP further deepens AAR's capabilities in the Asia Pacific region, following on from AAR's acquisition of two new offices in Vietnam earlier this year.

Jim Dunstan, Executive Partner for Asia at AAR, said: 'We are delighted to be in a JLV with lawyers of the calibre and experience of the TSMP team.'

'Through six AAR offices and joint venture arrangements, our clients now have access to a legal team of over 150 lawyers in South East Asia.'

Dr Thio Su Mien, Senior Executive Director at TSMP, said: 'We are very excited about our JLV as it enables us to offer a broader suite of services to our clients. As Singapore companies move into the Asia Pacific more aggressively, Allens Arthur Robinson TSMP will be able to support our clients in their expansion initiatives.'

'AAR is the premier legal firm in Australia, and has grown very successfully in Singapore and in Asia. TSMP looks forward to building a dynamic and first-class JLV legal team with them and a long and successful relationship.'

The arrangement allows the JLV to provide Singapore law legal advice and the capability to provide clients with seamless legal service on international transactions involving multiple jurisdictions.

Key areas of practice will include:

  • Banking & finance
  • Funds management/REITs
  • Resources, projects & energy
  • Derivatives
  • M&A
  • International/regional arbitration
  • Capital markets

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Notes for editors.

Allens Arthur Robinson is one of the largest international law firms operating in Asia. AAR has been providing legal services to clients in Australia for 185 years and in Asia for over 30 years. AAR has been in Singapore since 1981, the longest of any foreign law firm currently operating. It has staff in 14 offices in eight countries in the Asia Pacific region: Australia, Cambodia, China and Hong Kong, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

TSMP Law Corporation

TSMP Law Corporation (TSMP) was founded in January 1998 by Dr Thio Su Mien who had previously been the Senior Partner at Drew and Napier and Dean of the Law Faculty in Singapore. She has also served on the Administrative Tribunal of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

TSMP is one of the 25 largest firms in Singapore, with a well-regarded corporate and commercial practice (both in transactional and dispute resolution work).

In the field of transactional work, headed by Stefanie Yuen Thio, TSMP is active in banking and finance (including real estate related financing), mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, general and cross-border corporate transactions and advisory work.

TSMP also has an active and well-regarded dispute resolution team, especially in the areas of banking and commercial litigation; construction, engineering and projects disputes; information technology and arbitration. The dispute resolution team is led by Thio Shen Yi.

TSMP's work has consistently been recognised in independent legal publications:

  • Recommended Firm - Capital Markets (IFLR 1000, 2007 Edition)
  • Recommended Firm - Insolvency and Restructuring (IFLR 1000, 2007 Edition)
  • Recommended Firm - Mergers and Acquisitions (IFLR 1000, 2007 Edition)
  • Leading Firm - Corporate/M&A (Chambers Global 2007)

Dr Thio Su Mien (Senior Executive Director)

  • Leading Individual-Corporate/M&A in the Asia Pacific Legal 500 (2006/2007 Ed)
  • Leading Individual-Banking & Finance in the Chambers Global 2007 Edition

Thio Shen Yi (Head of the Litigation Department)

  • AsiaLaw Profiles 2007 - Key Practitioner (Dispute Resolution)

Stefanie Yuen Thio (Head of the Corporate Department)

  • Asialaw Leading Lawyer 2006 - Corporate Commercial
  • Asia Pacific Legal 500 2006/2007 - Leading Individual (Capital Markets)
  • Legal Who's Who Singapore 2003/2004 - Corporate Commercial
  • Chambers Global 2007 Edition - Leading Individual (Corporate/M&A)
  • AsiaLaw Profiles 2007 - Key Practitioner ((i) Capital Markets and Corporate Finance, (ii) M&A)

Collin Seah (Executive Director)

  • AsiaLaw Profiles 2007 - Key Practitioner (Dispute Resolution)
  • Leading shipping lawyer in the Euromoney Guide to the World's Leading Shipping & Maritime Lawyers 1999
  • Leading shipping lawyer in Chambers Global - The Directory of the World's Leading Lawyers 2000 - 2001 and 2001 - 2002
  • Since 2001, consistently been named a leading individual in shipping in The Asia Pacific Legal 500
  • Legal staff: 10 Directors and 30 legal staff in total
  • Total staff: 54

Joint Law Ventures

There are two kinds of associations permitted between foreign law firms and local firms in Singapore: the Formal Law Alliance and the Joint Law Venture. The Joint Law Venture involves joint ownership (whereas parties to a formal law alliance retain their independent legal identities).

Joint Law Ventures are permitted to practice Singapore law.

There are currently six Joint Law Ventures in Singapore, with one due to close at the end of April 2007.