Kelvin Aw Partner & Co-Head of the Infrastructure and Construction practice at CMS Singapore Kelvin Aw is a Partner in CMS Singapore, and a Director in CMS Holborn Asia, the Formal Law Alliance between CMS Singapore and Singapore law practice, Holborn Law LLC. He is Co-Head of the Infrastructure and Construction practice in Singapore. He brings almost 3 decades of court room and board room experiences to champion clients’ interests not only in contentious but also transactional matters, with particular specialisation in the construction, engineering, and infrastructure sector. On contentious briefs, he appears before all levels of the Singapore Courts, and also before tribunals in statutory adjudications under Singapore’s Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act (Cap. 30B), and in international and domestic arbitrations under various arbitral institutions including the Asian International Arbitration Centre (Malaysia) (AIAC), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), and China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC). He delivers consistently with an impressive track record in all matters, particularly on high-stakes disputes in which his specialist knowledge of international building and construction law sets him apart. On transactional matters, he is often engaged on high-value infrastructure projects from procurement through to delivery, operations and maintenance. In these engagements, his expertise is sought for structuring, drafting, and strategic advice for the avoidance of disputes, where possible. Together with co-head of the practice Lynette Chew, they are regularly engaged by clients on large-scale, landmark development matters not only in Malaysia, but also in Singapore, China, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Middle East. These range from infrastructure projects such as power plants, particularly dealing with renewables such as wind farms and hydro-electric installations, to buildings for residences, commerce and the tech industries such as data centres and pharmaceutical manufacturing plants. Among key representations, Kelvin was one of the project counsels to the Marina Bay Sands (Singapore) for its iconic integrated resort project from tender to completion valued at S$6 billion. Kelvin is consistently ranked as a leading individual by various legal ranking directories for his expertise in construction, projects & energy, as well as dispute resolution. These include Chambers Asia-Pacific: Leading Lawyers for Business, Legal 500, AsiaLaw, Best Lawyers and Benchmark Litigation. Kelvin is regularly invited to participate in key industry and sector conferences as a speaker, and to deliver trainings to his clients on key legal updates that are essential to their business, including conferences and events organised by the Society of Construction Law, FIDIC and the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) in the ASEAN region. He is also a Senior Accredited Specialist for Building and Construction recognised by the Singapore Academy of Law. He is a fellow of the Singapore and Chartered Institutes of Arbitrators, and an accredited Senior Adjudicator with the Singapore Mediation Centre. In addition, he has served on the Council of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and has taught construction law modules at the National University of Singapore. Kelvin also serves on the board of the Caregiving Welfare Association, having formerly been appointed as its President from 2016 to 2019.
Lynette Chew Partner & Co-Head of the Infrastructure and Construction practice at CMS Singapore
Lynette Chew Partner & Co-Head of the Infrastructure and Construction practice at CMS Singapore Lynette Chew is a Partner in CMS Singapore and a Director of CMS Holborn Asia, the Formal Law Alliance with CMS Singapore and Singapore law practice, Holborn Law LLC. She is Co-Head of the Infrastructure and Construction practice in Singapore. Lynette’s area of practice encompasses a wide range of contentious and non-contentious work in the infrastructure, construction and energy sectors in Asia. She specialises in high-value and complex projects in Singapore and Asia. On the contentious side, Lynette acts as lead counsel in complex domestic and cross border disputes at the highest levels of the Singapore Courts, in institutional arbitrations including under the arbitration rules of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (Malaysia) (AIAC), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), before adjudication tribunals under Singapore’s Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2004, and has extensive experience of mediation both as counsel and as mediator. With more than 25 years of experience, Lynette assists clients to identify and realise effective and commercial outcomes – she is recognised for her “insightful and honest” advice, and those who work with her have described her being "always well prepped on the issues and informed on what was happening at all times”. On the non-contentious side, Lynette has been involved in building and infrastructure projects in Singapore and the Asia Pacific region, including greenfield developments of data centres, power plants, luxury hotels and integrated resorts, manufacturing facilities and commercial developments. Lynette is well versed in project and risk management issues that occur throughout the project cycle – including workplace safety, project insurance coverage and claims in builders and contractors risk policies – and regularly advises on tender and project documentation in domestic and regional construction, engineering and infrastructure projects. Lynette has been a recommended “Global Leader” for Hospitality in Who’s Who Legal since 2020. Among key representations, Lynette was project counsel to the Marina Bay Sands (Singapore) for its iconic integrated resort project from tender to completion, and in that role advised and drafted over 150 contract packages valued at S$6 billion. Lynette is recommended in legal directories for her expertise in construction, projects and energy work, including Chambers Asia-Pacific, Legal 500, asialaw and Asian Legal Business. She is the sole woman lawyer among 29 ranked individuals recognised for both contentious and non-contentious matters in the Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific 2022 Guide for Construction in Singapore, and only 1 of 2 woman lawyers ranked for front-end work. She is also the only woman lawyer to be accredited by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) as a Senior Accredited Specialist for Building and Construction Law. As Co-Head of the Infrastructure and Construction practice in Singapore, Lynette has been recognised as leading a “skilled, well managed team” that “has the ability to get things done” (Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific) and as “part of a formidable global team, frequently landing major local and international engagements on front-end and contentious matters” (The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific).
Gerald Licnachan Partner at CMS Singapore Gerald advises on a broad range of corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate finance transactions, business and investment structures, commercial contracts and corporate governance. Originally from Southeast Asia, Gerald has extensive experience advising on the full life cycle of cross-border inbound and outbound deals across Asia including in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. He advises a diverse range of financial and strategic investors including family offices, private equity and venture capital firms and conglomerates with a particular focus on the energy, natural resources, infrastructure and transportation sectors. Gerald also handles regulatory and business conduct matters and he supports his clients with preparing and implementing their compliance and governance policies. Prior to joining CMS, Gerald was a Partner at a global law firm in Singapore and, before that, was Group General Counsel at a Singapore based private investment group and single family office. Gerald’s work is recognised in leading legal directories, including in the Chambers Asia Pacific and Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022 guides, where clients have commended him for being "a first rate lawyer" who has "a fantastic client base" who he "is very close to" and for his "great quality advice and hands-on, prompt and reliable service". Clients recommend him for his "eagerness", "open-mindedness" and for being "very personable" and "a pleasure to deal with".
Marc Rathbone Partner & Head of Energy Transition (APAC) at CMS Singapore Marc is a Partner in our Singapore office and has more than 34 years’ experience in law (in both enforcement and as a barrister/solicitor). As part of his practice he is actively involved in advising clients both globally and within APAC including in relation to business strategy in developing economies and acting for clients in the Pacific and Island Nations. Marc is a corporate/commercial lawyer specialising in acting for all manner of clients in relation to the energy and projects sectors. He has extensive experience in projects, energy transition, oil and gas sector (upstream, midstream and downstream, LNG and Petrochemicals). Marc is praised by clients for being diligent and producing quality work. With more than 450 energy and climate change lawyers, including over 100 partners, the CMS Energy and Climate Change practice is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Led from its centres of excellence such as London and Aberdeen, the practice works across 75 offices globally. Building on 40 years of experience advising on power, oil & gas and renewables through to energy disputes, emerging areas and Energy Transition, CMS is uniquely placed to ensure clients receive advice best suited to their commercial needs and to our collective future.
James Snape Partner & Co-Head of CMS Projects Group at CMS UK James is a partner in the Energy, Projects and Construction Group. He specialises in complex infrastructure and energy projects, public procurement, outsourcing, joint ventures and strategic partnerships.. He has worked on major infrastructure, energy and PPP projects for over 15 years in the UK, mainland Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia acting for sponsors, funders and public authority clients. He has advised on over 30 closed PPP/PFI Projects in sectors including transport, education, health, custodial, waste and renewable energy. James and the team also provides specialist support on secondary market and M&A transactions in the infrastructure, energy and PPP sectors to our clients including leading infrastructure, pension and sovereign wealth funds. He is recognised by clients and peers as one of the leading commercial lawyers in the waste and biomass sectors where he has advised clients on the construction, financing and operation of numerous waste to energy and biomass facilities in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Singapore, Malaysia, Jordan, the Caribbean and the UAE together with disputes related to the design and construction of these types of facility. James Snape is "very sharp, very creative and has incredible technical knowledge," notes a source, who adds: "His input and impact was tremendous." He has a focus on waste and renewables PPP work. - Chambers and Partners. "He is a heavyweight when it comes to dealing with local authorities on waste issues. He finds win-win solutions for the contractor and the local authority." Chambers & Partners
Asya Jamaludin Counsel at CMS Singapore Asya is a Counsel with CMS Singapore. Her main practice areas are in the construction and energy sectors, where she advises across the value chain – from providing front-end advice on energy and engineering, procurement and construction projects, to providing dispute avoidance and resolution advice. Asya also practices in the general commercial, international trade and commodities sectors. Asya advises and acts for clients in international commercial arbitrations subject to various arbitral rules, including ICC, SIAC, LMAA, UNCITRAL, LCIA and SCMA. She also sits as an arbitrator and is a member of the KLRCA panel of arbitrators. Asya has served as the Chairperson of the Law Society of Singapore Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee since 2022. Asya is admitted in Malaysia and Singapore. She is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Rheinny Wiraatmadja Of Counsel at CMS Singapore Rheinny is a qualified lawyer in Western Australia and England & Wales with 20 years’ experience in the areas of projects, banking & finance, corporate, commercial in Asia Pacific and, most recently, in the Middle East. Primarily Rheinny concentrates on project development in the energy space, banking and finance, as well as general corporate and commercial work. Her clients include investment holding companies, private banks, and government entities.
Irawati Hermawan Managing Partner at Hermawan Juniarto & Partners
Irawati Hermawan Managing Partner at Hermawan Juniarto & Partners Ms. Irawati Hermawan is the Managing Partner of Hermawan Juniarto and has more than 25 years experience practicing law. She is recognised as one of the leading lawyers in infrastructure and project finance. Irawati’s clients include international banking and financial institutions, multinational companies, state owned enterprises, and national companies. Irawati is one of the few lawyers in Indonesia who are experienced in public-private partnerships (PPP) in infrastructure. She has assisted central and local governments in tendering major infrastructure projects. Her experiences vary from assisting the Government of Indonesia (Ministry of Finance, National Planning Agency and Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs), to contributing to the regulatory framework on infrastructure. She also assisted with the formulation of Indonesia Infrastructure Finance and the establishment of the Indonesia PPP Unit within the Ministry of Finance in Indonesia. Irawati is currently active in several organisations such as the Indonesia Chambers of Commerce (as the Head of Committee for International Organisation for Middle East and OIC countries), the Indonesia Transport Society (as vice Secretary General), and the Indonesia Advocates Association (as part of the Foreign Counsel Assessment Committee).
Etienne Laumonier Partner at APFL & Partners Legal Vietnam LLC Etienne is a partner based in Ho Chi Minh City. He graduated in international law from Cergy-Pontoise University and holds a Post-Graduate Degree in Asian Business. He is currently preparing a PhD on competition policy in South East Asia. After working in Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia for both private and public entities, he worked in Gide Loyrette Nouel’s Hanoi office from 2006 to 2008. His expertise mainly covers competition law and policy, capital market transactions, international trade, WTO, legal cooperation and technical assistance related to economic integration and legal reform. He notably assisted Vietnam’s National Committee for International Economic Cooperation in preparing key trade negotiations. Etienne also specialises in corporate acquisitions and has been involved in landmark transactions in Vietnam involving listed and unlisted entities and in various market segments from utilities and manufacturing to healthcare and hospitality. He is also a recognised competition law practitioner and has advised clients in all aspects of competition law and policy. Recently, Etienne has been recognized for his ingenuity in structuring and financing transactions involving listed entities on Vietnam’s capital market.
Zaheer Minhas Partner at Accuracy Zaheer is a partner with over twenty years’ experience working in different phases of infrastructure projects in Europe and Asia. He has worked on engagements both pre- and post-financial close, from business case developments and procurement advisory through to construction and infrastructure asset operations across sectors such as leisure (Stadia), transport, healthcare, power (combined heat and power) and utilities (wastewater treatment). He has worked for both government and private sector clients.
Lim Wen Bin Partner, Infrastructure Advisory, ASEAN Decarbonisation Hub at KPMG Singapore
Lim Wen Bin Partner, Infrastructure Advisory, ASEAN Decarbonisation Hub at KPMG Singapore Wen Bin is a Partner in KPMG Singapore and ASPAC regional leader for renewable energy network drawing over 15 years of advisory experience working extensively across power generation, energy transition and decarbonisation. He brings extensive experience leading commercial and financial advisory services to private, governments and multilateral clients on project feasibility, policy and regulation, and structuring and preparation of IPP transactions, as well as assisting private sector clients on investment appraisal and capital raising across a range of technology including solar, wind, geothermal, hydro-power, green hydrogen, energy storage and conventional plants.