Corporate Advisory

Our Corporate & Commercial practice has depth of knowledge and breadth of experience, regularly handling a comprehensive range of corporate and commercial matters across a wide spectrum of domestic and cross-border transactions.

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We tailor expertise to suit your business needs, whether it involves completing a major transaction, starting a new venture, negotiating an important contract or expanding operations in a new region.

From initial establishment, licensing and industrial relations issues, occupational safety and health requirements, through to reorganisations and restructuring, our lawyers have the experience to support every legal aspect of operating a business in Malaysia.

Over the years, we have represented a distinguished list of corporate and institutional clients in establishing a presence and harnessing opportunities in Malaysia and in the region.  Our clients range from small start-up businesses to global commercial giants, and include government and multinational entities.

Energy, Infrastructure & Projects

Our Energy, Infrastructure & Projects Practice is composed of a fully integrated multi-disciplinary team with experience across the whole life cycle of large, complex projects. From inception to commissioning, including financing, supply chain infrastructure, and plant operations and maintenance, we work to ensure seamless delivery at every stage.

Our team has extensive advisory experience in various industry sectors, including the power, water, oil and gas, petrochemical, transportation (including roads, rail systems, and tunnels), and telecommunication sectors. We have acted for governments, sponsors, financiers, project companies, contractors, and consultants and are able to advise on all aspects of project development - from inception, procurement and construction, through to testing, commissioning and the operational phase, including the establishment of supply chain infrastructure and production processes.

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Our clients include leading players in the petrochemical, gas, energy, water, and utilities sectors. We also work alongside governments, government-linked entities, banks, and multinational corporations. Our team is frequently invited to act as project counsel, as well as lenders’ counsel, in some of the largest and most significant projects in the region, including industry restructuring and market-defining projects.

Startups & SMEs

HAEME LEW represents high-growth startup companies, founders, angel investors, incubators, accelerators, venture capital, and private equity investors in Malaysia and Asia Pacific region.

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We work closely with our early-stage company clients in their capital-raising efforts and structuring seed and angel financing rounds. Because of our deep experience, we are able to counsel our clients in structuring seed and angel financings in a manner that works for both the company and its potential investors and can be achieved in a timely and financially conservative manner. We also have strong relationships with the angel investment community that we leverage for our clients’ capital-raising efforts by making introductions, supporting the process and counseling the founding teams on preparation and execution of seed and angel financing rounds. Our attorneys are at the cutting edge of evolving models of early-stage seed financings, including convertible promissory note financings, SAFE financings, and series seed equity financings.

Private Equity & Venture Capital

We help our private equity clients and their portfolio companies maximize value and returns.

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We bring together strength in fund formation, private equity finance, M&A, and capital markets to deliver seamless and responsive support to private equity clients at every stage of a fund’s life cycle.

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Our team approach dedicates the same lawyers to the entire transaction lifecycle, from running the debt commitment papers to coordinating the finance-related provisions of the purchase agreement to leading both the bank and bond financings to advising the portfolio company post-closing and through the exit.

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We have worked with many of our private equity clients, growing together and innovating as a team. Whether industry-focused, growth equity, large-cap, or middle market, we work to fully understand each fund’s strategy and anticipate the needs of our clients. This experience also affords us a broad view of the market and the trends that we help shape through the breadth of our work.

Technology, Multimedia & Telecommunications

Our Technology, Media & Telecommunications Practice advises across a wide range of commercial agreements relating to outsourcing, data centres, e-commerce, cloud computing and the Internet, IT and software licensing, research and development, biotechnology and life sciences, telecommunications networks and services, media, entertainment and publishing, sports, events and gaming, and manufacturing, distribution and supply. In particular, our team often conducts due diligence relating to these arrangements.

We also frequently advise our clients on data protection and privacy issues, and our telecommunications and media clients on regulatory and licensing matters.

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Even though media production and the provision of telecommunication services are highly regulated, technological evolution regularly results in new commercial or service models. Advising on the roll-out of such developments, and drafting the appropriate agreements, often require us to push traditional boundaries across several legal fields, apply new ways of thinking and demonstrate multifaceted technical knowledge.

Franchise, Licensing & Distribution

HAEME LEW offers our franchise and licensing clients a team of lawyers strategically located across the country and resident in the cities with the largest franchise activity. These lawyers assist franchise companies of all sizes as they confront numerous legal challenges from federal, state, and international laws and regulations, to the protection of trademarks and other intellectual property, to changes in the areas of brand standards, product safety, joint employer, officer and vicarious liability, cybersecurity, encroachment, antitrust, and unfair competition.

HAEME LEW assists clients with all phases of franchising, licensing, and distribution in Malaysia, and in association with law firms in other countries, around the world.

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We work with franchisors of all sizes, from start-ups to national and international systems, in every sector of the franchise industry. Our franchise clients include some of Malaysia's largest franchisors, and cover industries such as food and beverage, quick service restaurants, hotels, resorts and hospitality, retail sales, automotive sales, parts and service, fitness and personal training, sports, outdoor recreation, health care, early childhood education, building cleaning and maintenance, and commercial services.

Corporate Governance

HAEME LEW Corporate & Commercial Practice advises directors, boards, and senior executives on the full range of corporate governance matters that confront companies and their leadership, from board structuring and succession planning to shareholder activism and Bursa Securities and Securities Commission regulations.

Drawing on our experience, we keep clients abreast of evolving trends and best practices to stay ahead of compliance issues. When crises do arise, we call on HAEME LEW's bench of corporate governance advisors, Bursa Securities and Securities Commission experts, and our own experienced litigators to guide clients through the storm and reach a safe landing. While fending off a hostile takeover attempt, navigating a corrupt practices investigation, or negotiating a key transaction with related-party issues may present novel challenges to many companies, our lawyers have seen it all and offer steady guidance.