We opened our Singapore office in 1981 to service South and South East Asia, making it one of the longest established international law firms in the region.
Our teams work on inbound and outbound deals across and beyond the region and these teams often include colleagues from our other Asia Pacific offices and lawyers from carefully chosen local law firms. This gives clients the right mix of local-language and local-law capability and the expertise of specialist lawyers from across the firm.
Our experience means we are familiar with the culture, market and legal intricacies in each jurisdiction, which is why we are regularly recognised by Chambers Asia Pacific as international experts in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
One platform for international and Singapore law capability
In Singapore, we have a strong team of more than 120 lawyers combining local and international talent across all key areas of our practice.
In 2008, the Singapore Government awarded one of only six new Qualifying Foreign Law Practice licences to Clifford Chance, as part of its plans to further liberalise the legal sector. This licence allows us to practice and advise on a wide range of international law, and Singapore law in the permitted practice areas. The licence was renewed in 2014 and again in 2020.
In 2012, Cavenagh Law LLP and Clifford Chance Pte Ltd registered as a Formal Law Alliance in Singapore under the name Clifford Chance Asia. The Formal Law Alliance allows the two firms to provide the broadest range of Singapore and international law services from one platform with Singapore litigation representation provided through Cavenagh Law LLP.
Learn more about the milestones that shaped Clifford Chance and Cavenagh Law in Singapore:
Recent highlights
- Clifford Chance and Cavenagh Law advises Singapore water treatment company, Hyflux Ltd, and its subsidiaries in a high profile financial reorganisation exercise under the supervision of the Singapore High Court. (Feb 2020)
- Clifford Chance advises pro bono on the world’s first Orange Bond by Impact Investment Exchange
- Clifford Chance advises RCBC on investment by SMBC into RCBC in the Philippines
- Clifford Chance advises on Singapore's first industry pilot for cross-currency transactions on tokenised deposits
- Clifford Chance advises on Bayfront Infrastructure’s US$402 million securitisation of project and infrastructure debt
- Clifford Chance advises on Farm Fresh's US$238.8 million IPO and Listing on Bursa Malaysia
- Clifford Chance advises HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank on innovative pre-listing liability management transaction by Olam
- Clifford Chance advises Navis Capital Partners on disposal of its entire interest in QIMA
- Clifford Chance advises Actis on landmark acquisition and refinancing of Bhola IPP in Bangladesh
- Clifford Chance advises on Republic of Indonesia's US$4.3B Global Bonds
- Clifford Chance advises on Gimi floating LNG vessel project located offshore Mauritania and Senegal, West Africa
- Clifford Chance advises Vena Energy on its inaugural US$325 million green bond
- Clifford Chance advises Stirling Square on raising €950 million in relation to its Fourth Fund
- Clifford Chance advises Macquarie Capital and Swancor Renewable as the lead sponsors on the NT$62.4 billion (US$2 billion) financing of the development and construction of the Formosa 2 offshore wind farm in Taiwan
Directory and client comments
Chambers Asia Pacific 2025, Singapore
- Band 1 in Aviation: Finance
- Band 1 in Construction: International
- Band 1 in Corporate Investigations/ Anti-Corruption: International
- Band 1 in Corporate and M&A: International: Elite
- Band 1 in Investment Funds: International
- Band 1 in Restructuring & Insolvency: International
Chambers FinTech 2025, Singapore, Band 1
IFLR 1000 Rankings, Asia Pacific, Singapore
- Tier 1 in Banking - Foreign
- Tier 1 in Capital markets: Debt - Foreign
- Tier 1 in M&A - Foreign
- Tier 1 in Project Finance - Foreign
- Tier 1 in Restructuring and insolvency - Foreign
Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Singapore
- Tier 1 in Capital Markets: structured finance, derivatives and securitisation: foreign firms
- Tier 1 in Construction: Foreign firms
- Tier 1 in Corporate and M&A: foreign firms
- Tier 1 in Energy: foreign firms
- Tier 1 in Fintech and financial services regulatory: foreign firms
- Tier 1 in International arbitration: foreign firms
- Tier 1 in Investment funds: foreign firms
- Tier 1 in Labour and employment: foreign firms
- Tier 1 in Projects: foreign firms
- Tier 1 in Restructuring & Insolvency: foreign firms
- Tier 1 in TMT: foreign firms
Client comments
- "The partners are among the most experienced and knowledgeable in the industry and are surrounded by mostly homegrown talents who provide fast and efficient advice."
- "There is no other firm I'd rather have on my team."
Chambers and Partners, Asia Pacific, Singapore, Aviation Finance, 2025
- "Clifford Chance always deliver the optimal outcome for their clients and demonstrate outstanding technical knowledge with a personal touch."
Chambers and Partners, Asia Pacific, Singapore, Banking & Finance: International, 2025
- "They are connected to and understand how the financial industry is approaching certain regulations and where there are ambiguities."
- "Clifford Chance is our preferred counsel in a number of jurisdictions, not least because they are able to offer integrated solutions and have a deep understanding of our business across geographies."
Chambers and Partners, Asia Pacific, Singapore, Banking & Finance: Regulatory, 2025
- "They are experienced and well-established professionals who understand the market."
- "The team are easy to work with and helpful."
Chambers and Partners, Asia Pacific, Singapore, Capital Markets: International, 2025
- "They have a great bench and they can do everything."
- "Clifford Chance has more breadth and depth, especially for cross-border transactions, with teams in all of our main jurisdictions."
Chambres and Partners, Asia Pacific, Singapore, Capital Markets: Securitisation & Derivatives: International, 2025
- "Their ability to assimilate technical and commercial information and use it to inform their legal opinion results in effective outcomes. They also understand the industry very well."
- "The firm is well versed in large, complex projects and structuring integrated contracting forms.They give timely, practical advice that is responsive to project needs and tailored to the client."
Chambers and Partners, Asia Pacific, Singapore, Construction, International, 2025
- "They have very good analytical skills and they know their materials, so they have a very strong ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters."
- "The leading partner and the team are competent in comprehending complex technical issues."
Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration: Elite, 2025
- "The team is exemplary in their responsiveness and understanding of our needs, especially when facing crucial milestones."
Chambers and Partners, Singapore Energy & Natural. Resources: International, 2025
- "They are very highly regarded and the firm has gone from strength to strength. We see consistently good quality work. The depth of team is good and their client base is impressive."
- "The team was excellent at handling highly complicated structural issues and driving to a positive outcome for all parties."
Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Investment Funds: International, 2025
- "The team has good coverage and is able to work seamlessly so that I can get my questions and issues solved promptly."
- "The breadth of expertise available to Clifford Chance was absolutely essential for a complex deal and greatly contributed to its success."
Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Projects & Infrastructure: International, 2025
- "Complications were well-handled. Its multi-discipline team was always available."
Chambers and Partners, Singapore, Restructuring and Insolvency: International, 2025
Awards
- International Firm of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024 - M&A Team of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024 - Securitisation and Structured Finance Team of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024 - Specialist Award: Financial Services Regulatory – International
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024 - Asia-Pacific Law Firm of the Year
Chambers Asia Pacific and Greater China Region Awards 2023 - Innovative Law Firm (headquartered outside of Asia Pacific)
FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia 2023 - Innovative Lawyers in Transforming Industries
FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia 2023 - Debt And Equity-Linked Capital Markets Team of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2023
- Specialist Award: Financial Services Regulatory – International
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2023 - International Firm of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2022 - Singapore Corporate & Finance International Law Advisers
Chambers Asia Pacific Awards 2021