Real
Estate

Our Real Estate Practice is at the cutting edge of the property world.

Our team has overseen numerous novel, high value and complex property transactions and is recognised as one of the leading real estate practices in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines. Our lawyers are able to structure and pioneer the best ways to acquire or divest real estate efficiently while mitigating the risks, even before others know of any.

As one of the most experienced real estate practices in the region, we simplify bureaucracy and adopt a straightforward commercial and pragmatic approach. Our lawyers offer personal yet professional service. The domestic and international clients served by us rank us amongst the top players in the industry. We represent leading developers, conglomerates, statutory boards, embassies, major local and offshore property funds, major investment companies and financial institutions in real estate transactions involving residential, commercial and industrial properties including agricultural land.

With our deep knowledge and experience, we deliver comprehensive advice on legal, compliance and regulatory issues. We provide a dedicated, first class service to our clients, who also benefit from the expertise offered by the group’s many other specialists.

Our practice areas include:

  • Conveyancing
  • Corporate Real Estate
  • Build-and-Lease Arrangements
  • Land Rights and Easements
  • Land Acquisitions
  • Leasing (Commercial and Industrial)
  • Project Development and Sales
  • Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS)
  • Real Estate Finance

Key Partners

Ho Soo Lih

Co-Head, Real Estate and Corporate Real Estate
Read more

Lau Sok Hiang

Co-Head, Real Estate and Corporate Real Estate / Director, Corporate & Finance
Read more

Rahayu Ningsih Hoed

Partner / Real Estate / Mining and Energy / Mergers and Acquisitions / Litigation and Dispute Resolution / Competition Law / Employment / Construction / Infrastructure and Major Project / Hotel, Resort and Tourism...
Read more

Norma Mutalib

Partner / Franchising & Licensing / Intellectual Property / Hotels, Resort & Tourism / Foreign Investment / Corporate & Commercials
Read more

Datin Anita Balakrishnan

Partner / Real Estate
Read more

Rosalia S. Bartolome-Alejo

Partner / Head, Business Formation & Foreign Investment Practice Group / Head, Real Estate and Construction / Co-Head, Banking & Finance / Co-Head, Tax
Read more

Janice L. Co

Partner / Co-Head, Real Estate & Construction / Co-Head, Corporate Services
Read more

Chaiwat Keratisuthisathorn

Partner, Corporate & Commercial
Read more

Long Gia Nguyen

Partner, Real Estate
Read more

Accolades

Singapore | Drew & Napier LLC

Asian Legal Business S.E. Asia Law Awards 
Real Estate Law Firm of the Year for the third time (2022)

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
Real Estate 2024 – Top Tier for 24 consecutive years

Lau Sok Hiang – Leading Individual
Ho Soo Lih – Recommended lawyer for 5 consecutive years
April Mak – Recommended lawyer for 3 consecutive years

  • “Drew & Napier LLC has a team of very robust and competent lawyers to handle conveyancing matters. They are thorough and meticulous in their work.”
  • “Lau Sok Hiang is very meticulous and careful.”
  • Sources say that Drew’s Real Estate team are “extremely dedicated, and practical, willing to go the extra mile.”
  • “Ho Soo Lih and his team are experienced and caring. They are willing to go extra mile to help their clients.”
  • “The team is very responsive to all queries, big or small. they respond quickly and efficiently to emails and phone calls. The service is top notch.”
  • “I have been dealing with Ms. Lau Sok Hiang for about 20 years. Excellent work with extremely high professional knowledge and expertise. The service rendered by Sok Hiang to our organisation is always very professional, reliable and prompt.”
  • “I worked with Lau Sok Hiang as co-head corporate real estate in several cross borders real estate projects and she has the ability to explain complicated structure or legal issues to the clients in simple manner so that the clients can understand quickly.”
  • “Ms Lau Sok Hiang and her team reply swiftly and I find them very creative and productive when handling matters.”
    “The lawyers are very professional and careful; providing advice and in-depth opinions when complicated problems arise. Prompt responses with efficient work, having good understanding of our business.”
  • “Drew and Napier LLC are professional and their legal work is up to mark. In fact, they sometimes go above and beyond the routine to ensure that the legal matters are satisfactorily resolved for the client, even when it seems that the matter is a bit grey. They actually called up a contact in the government to clarify certain matters that were not in black and white. They are also responsive and will call the client back to update the progress.“
  • “The Drew team looks after the client’s best interests, very efficient and depth of knowledge in real estate transactions due to their experience in wide and varied types of transactions.”
  • “The real estate team is very thorough in their review of legal documents and able to distil key risks for the client. In a class of their own where it comes to looking after client interests and are also able to tap on other areas of practice to help clients where necessary.”
  • “Efficient and strong in their knowledge of conveyancing and real estate legal contracts. Get things done fast.”
  • Sources say that Drew’s Real Estate team “delivers on time and propose practical solutions”.
  • “… the ‘very commercially minded’ real estate team at Drew & Napier LLC handles transactions involving commercial, residential and industrial properties for clients such as developers and corporates”
  • "Drew & Napier LLC has broad and deep expertise in both contentious and non-contentious real estate and construction matters.”
  • “Ho Soo Lih is outstanding. He does very detailed work, leaves no gap in the entire process, 24/7 prompt response on any issue, allows the client to get total confidence. A pleasure to work with him and their fees are quite reasonable.”
  • “Lau Sok Hiang listens to the client and takes time to explain the issues clearly. She is a joy to work with. Complex negotiations move along better with Sok Hiang around.”
  • “Lau Sok Hiang is very friendly and provided good legal advice on the matter at hand.”
  • Lau Sok Hiang is praised for her “depth of knowledge, customer engagement, and timely updates. Able to explain things clearly.”

Chambers Asia Pacific
Real Estate 2024 – Band 2; Band 3 for 3 consecutive years (2021-2023); Noted Practitioner for 4 consecutive years (2017-2020)

Lau Sok Hiang – Band 3

  • “Drew & Napier has a strong and well-resourced team with multiple contact points. They are always timely and responsive with their work.”
  • "They are very knowledgeable in their field of expertise and able to handle themselves well in negotiations."
  • Lau Sok Hiang is "certainly a very experienced and knowledgeable lawyer and a very interactive person to work with."
  • Lau Sok Hiang is "an expert in the real estate field with strong client management skills."
  • Drew & Napier's "services are consistently good and reliable".
  • A client admires the team's "prompt response and client care".
  • “The team takes a very commercial approach."

Malaysia | Shearn Delamore & Co.

Chambers Asia-Pacific
Real Estate 2022 – Band 2 for 2 consecutive years; Spotlight Table (2020)

Sar Sau Yee – Band 2 for 2 consecutive years; Spotlight Table (2020)

  • A client comments that "they always respond quickly and have shown their expertise to solve our questions."

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
Real Estate 2022 – Top Tier for 13 consecutive years

Sar Sau Yee – Recommended Lawyer for 14 consecutive years

  • “Their advice and solutions have been brilliant and enabled us in making decisions for complex situations”

Asialaw Profiles
Real Estate 2022 – Outstanding for 5 consecutive years

Sar Sau Yee – Distinguished Practitioner for 3 consecutive years; Market Leading Lawyer for 3 consecutive years (2017-2019); Leading Lawyer for 3 consecutive years (2014-2016)

  • “in-depth knowledge and expertise on real estate laws including technical knowledge, professionalism, attention to details and prompt attention and excellent service including timely delivery”

Indonesia | Makarim & Taira S.

Chambers Asia-Pacific
Real Estate 2024 – Top Rank Firm for Real Estate for 12 consecutive years

Rahayu Ningsih Hoed – Band 2 

  • "Makarim & Taira, apart from providing legal advice, also makes considerations from a profitable business perspective."
  • "Their advice is very comprehensive and they are very responsive to our questions."
  • Rahayu Ningsih Hoed:"She has full understanding of the matter and provides comprehensive solutions" & "She has extensive experience in various fields."

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
Real Estate 2024 – Tier 2 for 4 consecutive years; Previously Tier 1 for 7 consecutive years

Rahayu Ningsih Hoed – Leading Individual 
Harris Toengkagie – Recommended Individual

Asialaw
Real Estate 2023 – Highly Recommended for 10 consecutive years

Philippines | MVGS

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Real Estate and Construction 2021 – Top Tier firm for 2 consecutive years; Tier 2 in 2019

Mark Vergara – Recommended Lawyer
Erika Paulino – Recommended Lawyer

  • “A go-to name in the real estate sector, Martinez Vergara Gonzalez & Serrano is particularly strong in the capital markets field, advising large property companies and developers on bond and note issuances. The group also assists with various issues related to property conveyancing, including the property titling, easements, land use reclassification and conversion, and commercial leasing. Mark Vergara, who leads the banking and finance team, advises on project finance issues relating to the construction of toll roads. Erika Paulino has advised on the funding of projects to construct hotels and casinos, and is also instructed by major banks to handle real asset portfolio divestments.”
  • “The team simplifies difficult legal concepts and provides comprehensive solutions to problems. Guidance is key. They get the job done.”
  • “Atty. Rosalia Alejo is very focused and sincerely cares about finding out the best solutions for our concerns. Its [sic] more than a job for her and her team.”
  • “Opinions provided are very thorough in a very efficient turnaround time. Very responsive in urgent matters.”
  • “Rosalia B. Alejo: The way she provides opinion and contracts covers not only the legal aspect but  also the commercial side.”

IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms
Project Development 2022 – Notable firm for 3 consecutive years

Thailand | Tilleke & Gibbins

Chambers Asia-Pacific
Real Estate 2023 - Band 3 for 14 consecutive years

  • "Tilleke & Gibbins is able to advise us on complex matters.”
  • “They have given timely and accurate advice.”

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
Real Estate & Construction 2023 - Tier 2

Chaiwat Keratisuthisathorn – Leading Individual

Asialaw Profiles
Real Estate 2023 – Highly Recommended for 2 consecutive years

Vietnam | Tilleke & Gibbins

Chambers Asia-Pacific
Real Estate 2023 - Band 4

Long Gia Nguyen – Up and Coming for 3 consecutive years

  • “A well-regarded real estate practitioner who regularly assists clients with a range of hotel management agreements, land acquisitions and joint ventures”

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
Real Estate and Construction 2023 

Long Gia Nguyen – Next Generation Partner for 3 consecutive years

Asialaw Profiles
Real Estate 2023 - Recommended for 8 consecutive years

Cambodia | Tilleke & Gibbins

Chambers Asia-Pacific
General Business Law 2023 - Band 2 for 3 consecutive years

Jay Cohen - Band 2 for 5 consecutive years
David Mol - Associate to Watch

  • "The quality of the advice produced by the Tilleke & Gibbins lawyers demonstrates an in-depth understanding of Cambodian law and practices as well as contract drafting and interpretation.”
  • “They are very professional and very easy to work with.”
  • “The value for money is excellent. They are very flexible and don't mind the small things when we need help quickly.”

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
General Business Law 2023 - Tier 2 for 6 consecutive years

Jay Cohen – Leading Individual for 3 consecutive years
David Mol – Next Generation Partner for 6 consecutive years

  • “They have a deep understanding of the legal and policy environment in Cambodia. Very responsive to questions and inquiries.”

IFLR 1000
Project Development 2023 - Tier 2 for 3 consecutive years

Laos | Tilleke & Gibbins

Chambers Asia-Pacific
General Business Law 2023 - Band 2 for 2 consecutive years

Dino Santaniello - Band 2 for 5 consecutive years

  • “Tilleke & Gibbins' follow-up is very professional, and they are available and timely to respond.”
  • “Their quality of service is high. Their main strengths are legal knowledge and professional service in providing legal opinions.”
  • “Tilleke & Gibbins provide excellent standards of service and responsiveness. They never fail to deliver a consistently good standard of input.”

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
General Business Law - Tier 1 for 6 consecutive years

Dino Santaniello - Leading Individual for 5 consecutive years

  • “I have worked with Tilleke & Gibbins on various client matters over the course of 10 years. I have always found the group to be responsive and willing to take on unique challenges. They take steps to learn about the client’s needs and provide a flexible response to suit such needs.”
  • “Highly responsive, with good coverage of technology in the Southeast Asia region.”
  • “Good on the ground, local law knowledge of regulation and enforcement matters.”

IFLR 1000
Project Development 2024 - Tier 2 for

Saithong Rattana - Notable Practitioner for 2 consecutive years

Myanmar | Tilleke & Gibbins

Chambers Asia-Pacific
General Business Law 2023 - Band 4 for 4 consecutive years

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
Projects 2023 - Tier 2

IFLR 1000
Project Development 2024 - Tier 3

Nwe Oo - Rising Star for 2 consecutive years