Partners

Nicholas Tan

Partner
Corporate / M&A
Capital Markets (Equity)

Key Practices

Qualifications

  • LL.B (Hons), University of Northumbria
  • Master of Commercial Law, University of Malaya
  • MBA, University of Nottingham
  • Barrister-at-Law, Lincoln’s Inn
  • Advocate & Solicitor, High Court of Malaya

Nicholas’ practice focuses on takeovers, mergers and acquisitions, foreign investments (both inbound and outbound), and corporate restructurings. He also advises clients on equity capital markets. His expertise spans a wide range of industries, including education, healthcare, energy and power, manufacturing, technology and telecommunications.

With close to 2 decades of experience in domestic and cross-border transactions, Nicholas is recognised for his strengths in drafting and advisory work. Recently, he has been advising Malaysian clients on their expansion into Asian countries, particularly in jurisdictions such as Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia. This has been part of the increasing outbound investment trend in Malaysia, and it demonstrates his capability to handle complex cross-border transactions and to adeptly navigate the legal and commercial dynamics of multiple jurisdictions.

Nicholas is actively involved in deal structuring and leading negotiations, ensuring alignment between clients’ strategic business objectives and the relevant legal framework. His ability to integrate legal expertise with a deep understanding of management and financial considerations – enhanced through his MBA – enables him to provide well-rounded advice that addresses both commercial and legal priorities to achieve optimal outcomes.

Nicholas has been ranked in several leading international legal directories for his Corporate / M&A expertise over the last 10 years. Client testimonials highlight Nicholas’ capabilities with comments such as:

  • “…has strong drafting skills and the ability to adapt to circumstances to ensure the success of a transaction.” (Chambers Asia-Pacific 2023)
  • “…he possesses the ability to provide good and practical solutions to ensure commercial objectives are achieved, by ensuring the smooth completion of transactions.” (Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024)
  • “He is highly responsive and provides incisive and concise advice.” – (Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025)

Nicholas advises a broad spectrum of clients, including Fortune 500 corporations and family-owned enterprises, on complex legal matters across domestic and international jurisdictions. Prominent clients include Saudi Aramco (oil and gas), Sony Interactive Entertainment (gaming), Monash University (education), and Scientex Berhad (manufacturing).

In addition to his practice, Nicholas serves as an officer of the International Bar Association (IBA) Asia Pacific Regional Forum Committee and acts as a key contact for the firm with the World Law Group (WLG). He is also a member of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN). He actively collaborates with legal practitioners globally, participating in webinars, conferences, and meetings to exchange insights on legal and industry developments.

Nicholas is fluent in English, Malay, and Mandarin, both spoken and written.

He is deeply passionate about corporate governance, particularly shareholder activism, and dedicates considerable time to researching its development within the corporate environment in Malaysia. Outside of his professional endeavors, Nicholas enjoys running as a personal hobby.

Mergers & Acquisitions

  • Acted as transaction counsel to M-DAQ Ptd Ltd for their acquisition of Easy Pay Transfers Sdn Bhd (a licensed B2B payments service provider) in 2024
  • Acted as Malaysian counsel to GRO Fund III through Roschier (Sweden) in its acquisition of the DigitalRoute This transaction involves Sweden, the USA and Malaysia, and was completed around June / July 2024.
  • Acted as Malaysian counsel to Victory Giant Technology on the acquisition of 100% shareholding of Pole Star Limited and its subsidiaries, including MFS Technology (M) Sdn Bhd for up to USD460 million in 2023.
  • Acted as Malaysian counsel to Marsh on the acquisition of shares in Honan Insurance Group and its subsidiaries, including its Malaysian subsidiaries Honan Group (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and MP Honan Insurance in 2023.
  • Acted as Malaysian counsel to the Bulten Group on acquisition of 100% shareholding of Exim & Mfr Holdings Pte Ltd and its subsidiaries in 2023.
  • Acted as transaction counsel to EIHL for their disposal of 100% shares in Gourmessa Sdn. Bhd, the warehouse and cold storage facility and related assets of Pok Brothers Sdn Bhd (EIHL’s wholly owned subsidiary) and some lands, all to a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnsonville Holding Inc. in 2023.
  • Acted for the shareholders of The Inside Scoop Sdn. Bhd. (TISSB) for the divestment of 53% shares and fresh issuance of 12% shares in TISSB to Farm Fresh Berhad in 2023.
  • Acted for China Railway Engineering Corporation (M) Sdn. Bhd. (CRECM), a shareholder in a consortium (i.e. IWH-CREC Sdn. Bhd.) in acquiring 60% shares in Bandar Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. from TRX City Sdn. Bhd. (a subsidiary of the Ministry of Finance, Malaysia) for RM7.41 billion in 2019. CRECM is a subsidiary of China Railway Group Limited which was ranked 50th in 2020’s Fortune Global 500.
  • Acted as Malaysian counsel for Saudi Aramco (through White & Case), in its investment and joint venture with Petronas in the Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development project in Pengerang, Malaysia in 2017/2018.
  • Acted as Malaysian counsel to Laureate Education, Inc., (listed on NASDAQ) (through DLA Piper) in its sale of INTI Education group to HOPE Education Group (Hong Kong) Company Limited (a wholly-owned subsidiary of HKEX-listed Hope Education Group Co., Ltd) for approximately USD140 million in 2019/2020.
  • Acted for Scientex Packaging Film Sdn. Bhd. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scientex Berhad) in its acquisition of 80.2% equity interest in Taisei Lamick Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. from Taisei Lamick Co., Ltd. (listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange) for approximately RM63.8 million in 2022.
  • Advised Vista Laser Eye Center on joining the Qualitas Health Integrated Network in 2022.
  • Acted as transaction counsel for a major acquisition of the shares in a private higher educational institution in Malaysia in 2018/2019.

Equity Capital Markets & Take-overs

  • Acted for Scientex Berhad in its privatization of Daibochi Berhad through its unconditional voluntary take-over offer to acquire the remaining shares and warrants in Daibochi Berhad in 2021.
  • Advised Scientex Berhad in its acquisition of approximately 42% shares in Daibochi Berhad for approximately RM222.5 million and a mandatory take-over offer following the completion of the acquisition in 2019.
  • Advised the joint offers in a conditional voluntary take-over offer to acquire the shares in LTKM Berhad (one of the leading chicken egg producers in Malaysia) in 2019.
  • Acted for Jentayu Sustainables Berhad on multiple corporate proposals, covering amongst others, bonus issue of shares and warrants; rights issue of shares; acquisition of hospital which involves payments in a combination of cash and shares issuance in 2021.

Chambers Asia-Pacific
Corporate / M&A 2025– Band 3 Lawyer (2024); Band 4 Lawyer for 3 consecutive years (2021 -
2023); Band 2 Lawyer (2025)
Corporate / M&A 2020 – Up and Coming

  • "An experience[d] M&A lawyer." – Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025
  • "He is highly responsive and provides incisive and concise advice." – Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025
  • "Nicholas is very astute and responsive. He is a well-recognised name amongst the relevant M&A players." – Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025
  • “…he possesses the ability to provide good and practical solutions to ensure commercial objectives are achieved, by ensuring the smooth completion of transactions.” – Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024
  • “Nicholas is extremely hard-working, has a good grasp of issues, and is experienced in merger and acquisition work. Also, he possesses the ability to provide good and practical solutions to ensure commercial objectives are achieved, by ensuring the smooth completion of transactions.” – Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024
  • “Nicholas is always responsive and lends a commercial perspective to the legal problem. He is able to work well and remain calm under pressure, which is much appreciated.” -Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024
  • A client describes him as “very responsive and responsible, focused and able to meet tight timelines. He has the ability to understand issues in play and provide practice solutions.” – Chambers Asia-Pacific 2022
  • A client notes that "he is able to provide strong legal support and, in giving legal advice, he also considers the commercial aspects of the transaction." - Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021
  • Active on deals across a variety of sectors, one interviewee appreciates that "he is very responsive." – Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021

Chambers Global
Corporate / M&A 2024 – Band 3 Lawyer (2024); Band 4 Lawyer (2021 – 2023)
Corporate / M&A 2020 – Up and Coming

  • A client notes that "he is able to provide strong legal support and, in giving legal advice, he also considers the commercial aspects of the transaction." - Chambers Global 2021
  • A client describes him as “very responsive and responsible, focused and able to meet tight timelines. He has the ability to understand issues in play and provide practice solutions.” – Chambers Global 2022

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
Corporate / M&A 2025 – Leading Individual (2024 – 2025); Other Key Lawyer for 2 consecutive
years (2022 - 2023); Recommended Lawyer (2019 - 2021)
Projects and Energy 2019 – Recommended Lawyer
Capital Markets 2024 – Recommended Lawyer (2023 – 2024)

  • “Nicholas Tan Choi Chuan is noted for his expertise in the education, healthcare, manufacturing, retail and telecoms sectors” - The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2024
  • “Nicholas Tan has risen through the ranks as a partner. He has repeatedly demonstrated that he is competent to deliver any assignments with excellent turnaround time and ability to provide practical solutions that will ensure that clients will know that their interests are taken care of and fully protected.” - The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2023
  • “Nicholas Tan is commercial and able to think out of the box for his clients.” - The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2023
  • “Stand out partner is Nicholas Tan Choi Chuan. Exemplary responsiveness to client’s requests and needs, and provision of timely and useful advice.” - The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2022
  • Described as giving 'solid commercial advice', the team includes education expert Nicholas Tan Choi Chuan… - The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2021
  • “Nicholas Tan Choi Chuan is relatively young, but still has a sufficient knowledge especially in the M&A area” - The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2020
  • Member, Malaysian Bar
  • Member, International Bar Association (IBA)
  • Member, World Law Group (WLG)
  • Member, China Enterprises Association in Malaysia (CENAM)
  • Member, Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM)
  • Member, Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN)
  • Chambers Global Practice Guide 2019 Malaysia Corporate M&A: Q&A [co-author]
  • Merits of shareholder activists in Malaysia: A legal perspective” [2019] 1 LNS(A)xli, by Current Law Journal
  • Contributed to World Bank, Doing Business 2019 and 2020 – Protecting Minority Investors - Malaysia, 16th Edition and 17th Edition respectively, published by The World Bank Group
  • Liberalisation of Distributive Trade Sector - Revised Guidelines by MDTCA on Retail Sector in Malaysia [2021] 1 MLJ cccxxx
  • “Shareholders’ right of inspection in private companies in Malaysia”, [2021] 1 LNS (A) xliii