Our Global Network

Malaysia Desk

The economies of Singapore and Malaysia have always had a high degree of interdependence.  Bilateral trade between the two neighbours have accounted for more than 10% of all foreign trade in both countries, and Singapore remains one of the largest foreign investors in Malaysia.

We have excellent connectivity in Malaysia through our directors Mr. Peter Lee Siew Choong , Mr. Liew Tek Huat and Mr. Yohan Ananda Rajan.

The launch of “Iskandar Malaysia”, an ambitious 5.5 million acre development corridor in Johor, has attracted large investments from Singapore as well as international businesses, intensifying the flow of investments and business deals between both countries. Building upon this momentum, the governments of both countries have jointly announced plans to enhance the infrastructural links between the two countries. Under this backdrop, bilateral trade across the causeway has increased nearly 15% in just one year, reaching S$70 billion dollars in 2012.

We have forged a strategic alliance with Malaysian law firm Shahrizat Rashid & Lee which provides a full range of legal services including in corporate banking and finance, capital markets, real estate, construction and dispute resolution. This alliance now enables us to offer our clients seamless service from professionals with experienced on-the-ground knowledge of the legal and cultural paradigms necessary to succeed in Singapore and Malaysia including the Iskandar development region where we are currently acting for a major Singapore developer.

For more information regarding Shahrizat Rashid and Lee please visit their website at http://www.srl-law.com.my/

India Desk

India, due to its strong GDP growth and expanding middle class, is an attractive destination for many international firms. Yet, despite all its economic strength, India can be a challenging place to do business without the proper knowledge and experience. After all, many different Indias exist within the subcontinent. There are vivid differences in languages, literacy, income and geography all within the same country.

At Global Law Alliance we have the right combination of cultural sensitivity, years of business experience in India, and legal knowledge required to successfully partner with clients in their Indian endeavours. Our India practice is actively engaged with an extensive client network comprising of global Indian companies that extends from New Delhi in the North to Bangalore and Chennai in the South, from Mumbai in the West to Kolkata in the East. We have worked with a number of Singapore corporations with Indian interests and have experience in projects as diverse as property development projects, forays by hospital groups, and a major IT park. Over many years, we have established strong relationships with top tier Indian law firms as well as governmental and regulatory agencies, including the Reserve Bank of India and the Foreign Investment Promotion Board.

Sri Lanka Desk

After decades of civil strife, law and order has been restored in Sri Lanka.  As a result, the economy has taken flight, with in-bound foreign investment growing by leaps and bounds in industries as varied as infrastructure and ports to travel and tourism.  The country’s stock market was ranked as the leading market in the world in both 2009 and 2010 for returns generated during a 12 month period.   Since 2005, Sri Lanka’s GDP per capita has doubled and the poverty and unemployment rates have been cut in half. 

Through our Managing Director Ms. Sharmila Gunasingham, we have two decades of experience helping companies enter this dynamic and rapidly growing market.   We have acted on behalf of a number of clients in Sri Lanka, including Singapore Airlines, Parkway Holdings, Ong Beng Seng’s Hotel Properties, Raffles Hotel, DBS Bank and Prima Group among others. 

We have strong connectivity in Sri Lanka through our many years of relationship with professional, regulatory and governmental bodies and the business communities in Sri Lanka which have been built up over a number of years. We also share a close working relationship with Julius and Creasy, a major law firm in Colombo.

For more information regarding Julius and Creasy please visit their website at http://www.juliusandcreasy.com

Vietnam Desk

As the ‘traditional’ emerging market economies become more developed and saturated, many investors are turning their eyes to the ‘second wave’ of emerging countries, often dubbed frontier markets. Prime amongst the countries in this wave is Vietnam.  Vietnam’s economy has progressed significantly in a short amount of time.  GDP growth rates are consistently strong, although higher than expected inflation is still a cause for concern. Nevertheless, the country’s relations with the outside world continue to thaw and a number of international companies are investing in Vietnam and establishing significant manufacturing operations there. The government’s latest Socio-Economic Development Strategy for this decade identifies creating world class infrastructure, building a skilled labour force and strengthening market based institutions as priorities.

Given Vietnam’s emergence as a foreign investment hub, GLA has entered into an alliance with Luat Viet, a premier local law firm with offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.  Luat Viet counts many Fortune 500 companies amongst its client roster and is experienced in a wide range of legal services. 

For further information regarding Luat Viet, please visit their website at www.luatviet.com.

Middle East Desk

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has long been considered a prosperous country.  Its open economy, high GDP per capita, special free trade zones and highly developed infrastructure make the UAE an attractive destination for companies across the globe.  While the country did suffer from the global financial crisis, most sectors have now recovered and the economy is once again growing.

We have represented Singapore consortiums in their acquisitions and joint ventures in the Middle East, including RSP Singapore. We have also acted for Middle Eastern corporations in their Singapore transactions in a wide range of sectors.  The Middle Eastern financial institutions that we have acted for include First Gulf Bank, Emirates Bank, Qatari Diar, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Al-Maskari Holdings.

Our Managing Director, Ms. Sharmila Gunasingham, was a founding member of the Middle East Expert Panel Singapore, formed by the trade body, International Enterprise, to develop links with the Middle East.  She has also been invited as a featured speaker at Singapore’s International Enterprise Forum focusing on the Middle East.