Asia Business Law Journal names the country’s top law firms. Byung Jin Park and Miran Lim report
As Malaysia’s political and economic significance grows, the role of Malaysian law firms is becoming increasingly important. When Malaysia became the chair country of Asean in 2025, the country’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, stated in early April that he is “co-ordinating a collective response with Asean member states to the issue of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US”.
Although US President Donald Trump’s protectionist measures, including the imposition of tariffs, could present challenges for Malaysia, experts remain broadly optimistic about the country’s economic outlook in 2025. In particular, the manufacturing sector is anticipated to accelerate following the rollout of bold policy initiatives such as the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), which was launched in May 2024.
The NSS, designed to establish Malaysia as a pivotal player in the global semiconductor value chain, is expected to open up opportunities for Malaysian law firms, particularly in relation to inbound investment.
Malaysia’s data centre market has experienced rapid growth in recent years and is increasingly recognised as a prime investment target as well, particularly in the Asia-Pacific. Most notably, Chinese conglomerate ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, has announced plans to invest up to MYR10 billion (USD2.2 billion) in the country to set up an artificial intelligence hub. Several non-Chinese companies including Google and AWS have also announced their plans to invest in Malaysia.
Amid the semiconductor and data centre sectors, the southern state of Johor – which borders Singapore – is attracting considerable interest due to its plentiful land and low electricity costs.
In response, the Malaysian government is establishing the Johor‑Singapore Special Economic Zone to entice advanced industries such as AI and data centres. The emergence of these special economic zones is expected to drive a new growth engine for the Malaysian economy, while concurrently presenting opportunities for law firms.
As Malaysia establishes itself as the centre of economic growth in Southeast Asia, Asia Business Law Journal proudly presents the Malaysia Law Firm Awards 2025 to recognise the nation’s best law firms. We have given awards in categories including Law Firm of the Year, Best Overall Law Firms, Best Boutique Law Firm and Best New Law Firm, in addition to recognising winners in 27 practice area categories.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
As a full-service law firm under the Rajah & Tann Asia network, which spans 10 Southeast Asian countries and beyond, Christopher & Lee Ong earned the prestigious Law Firm of the Year award by securing significant domestic and international work in Malaysia throughout the year.
One of the firm’s most notable accomplishments in the past 12 months was providing advisory services to Telekom Malaysia on its joint venture with Nxera, the regional data centre arm of Singapore’s largest mobile network operator, Singtel, in developing a sustainable data centre campus in Johor.
The total committed equity funding for the joint venture is MYR1.2 billion. This is a prime example of a Malaysian law firm’s assistance in the above-mentioned construction of data centres in Johor.
Another notable example of Christopher & Lee Ong’s expertise – particularly in capital markets – was its involvement in Malaysia’s largest initial public offering (IPO) since 2017, during which 99 Speed Mart Retail Holdings raised about MYR2.4 billion. The firm provided advisory services to CIMB Investment Bank, the underwriter for the IPO, and also to Affin Hwang Investment Bank and RHB Investment Bank as the joint underwriters.
These advisory services involved significant diligence efforts, given the scale of 99 Speed Mart’s operations, particularly in assessing operational and legal risks across its extensive retail network. At the point of listing, the issuer had 2,651 outlets spread across most states and federal territories in Malaysia.
Vinay Thakur, the chief legal officer at AirAsia Aviation Group, engages Christopher & Lee Ong for various matters ranging from intricate cross-border transactions to everyday legal advice.
“What sets Christopher & Lee Ong apart is not only their technical excellence but also their responsiveness and ability to deliver practical, solution-oriented advice under tight timelines,” says Thakur. “Their support has been instrumental in navigating intricate regulatory landscapes and executing deals that were both novel and strategically significant for us.”
BEST OVERALL LAW FIRMS
- ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- RAHMAT LIM & PARTNERS
- SHEARN DELAMORE & CO
- SKRINE
Along with Christopher & Lee Ong, law firms Adnan Sundra & Low, Rahmat Lim & Partners, Skrine and Shearn Delamore & Co were selected Best Overall Law Firms in the country. While Christopher & Lee Ong clinched the crown of the Law Firm of the Year by receiving awards in 17 categories, Adnan Sundra & Low received awards in 13 categories, Shearn Delamore & Co in 12, and Rahmat Lim & Partners and Skrine received awards in 10 categories, securing their respective places among the Best Overall Law Firms.
As one of Malaysia’s largest law firms, having executed numerous complex and challenging transactions in the Malaysian market in the past 12 months, Adnan Sundra & Low (ASL) has rightfully earned its place among the Best Overall Law Firms.
The firm actively engaged in matters related to UEM Lestra, Malaysia’s state-owned infrastructure development investment company. First, ASL advised Blueleaf Energy in its collaboration with UEM Lestra to develop 500MW hybrid solar power plant projects under the National Energy Transition Roadmap.
Blueleaf Energy is an independent power producer owned by a Macquarie Asset Management managed fund. This collaboration between domestic and foreign entities allowed the parties to generate the required momentum to drive forward Malaysia’s energy transition agenda.
ASL also advised on the 51% investment by UEM Lestra in Dulang Ekuiti Sdn Bhd (DESB). DESB is the holding company of Nur Power, the nation’s first independent power utility, which holds the exclusive rights to provide power generation, grid management, and distribution services in Kulim Hi-Tech Park.
Located in Kedah, Kulim Hi-Tech Park is an industrial area and a cornerstone of Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem, housing capital-intensive manufacturing and advanced R&D facilities. ASL played a pivotal role in advising UEM Lestra from inception to successful completion of this investment, while it required careful navigation in a highly regulated industry, extensive stakeholder management and skilful execution with the many subsidiaries under DESB.
Mediha Mahmood, CEO of the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum in Kuala Lumpur, speaks in high praise of the firm. “We appreciate a firm that doesn’t just keep up with the times but seems to anticipate them. Responsive, forward-thinking and with a thoughtful approach that provides us steady guidance.”
Rahmat Lim & Partners saw notable transactions involving data centres recently. The firm advised Nxera as its Malaysian counsel on its ioint venture with Telekom Malaysia to develop a sustainable data centre campus in Johor. The firm’s M&A partner, Chan Weili, led the transaction.
Additionally, Rahmat Lim & Partners advised Yondr Group to acquire a hyperscale data centre campus in Sedenak Tech Park, marking Yondr’s inaugural project in Malaysia. The data centre campus in Johor will offer up to 340MW at full build-out, making it the largest hyperscale facility in Southeast Asia. This development marks a significant milestone in Yondr’s rapid APAC expansion, and positions the campus as a key interconnection hub in the region.
Finally, the firm advised Vantage Data Centres (VDC) on its agreements with Cyberview for the development of a data centre campus in Cyberjaya, which is set to offer hyperscale services to its customers. VDC broke ground on the campus in August 2024, and on completion, it is expected to provide 256MW of IT capacity to support cloud adoption and drive the growth of AI. This transaction was led by partner Lee Yee Ling.
Shearn Delamore & Co’s competition and antitrust practice is recognised as a leading practice in Malaysia for conducting extensive compliance reviews and for assisting numerous clients from a wide range of industries in achieving their compliance objectives.
The firm served as Malaysian counsel in securing regulatory approval for Korean Air’s USD1.3 billion acquisition of Asiana Airlines, a transaction that required compliance across multiple jurisdictions including South Korea, the UK, US, EU, Singapore and Malaysia.
Led by partner Anand Raj, Shearn Delamore & Co handled the filing of the merger notification in Malaysia, working closely with clients and foreign counsel. The Malaysian Aviation Commission approved the merger and concluded that the merger would not infringe the prohibition in section 54 of the Malaysia Aviation Commission Act 2015.
In the TMT sector, the firm advised clients on matters related to media content, gaming, advertising and online services. The Shearn Delamore & Co team offers support on industry-specific legal issues such as ensuring compliance with communications regulations and addressing the legal implications of digital platforms.
The firm assisted a leading Chinese unicorn in meeting compliance requirements for children’s content and advertising laws during the launch of a metaverse game. It has also provided guidance to prominent firms navigating complex media production and gaming projects, with a particular emphasis on content intended for minors.
Skrine played a role in some of the nation’s most significant transactions, securing its place among the Best Overall Law Firms. Notably, the firm acted as Malaysian counsel for Innovation Network Corporation of Japan in its sale of a 21.14% stake in EDOTCO Group to a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional.
EDOTCO Group is a regional, integrated telecoms infrastructure services company that offers end-to-end solutions in the tower services sector across Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh and other markets. The deal was co-led by partners To’ Puan, Janet Looi and Tan Wei Xian.
The firm advised KJTS Group’s wholly owned subsidiary, KJTS Technical Services, on its joint venture with Stonepeak Kelvin Holdings, an affiliate of US Fund Stonepeak Partners, to invest in cooling energy projects in Malaysia, which are estimated to be worth MYR1.5 billion. Under the joint venture agreement, KJTS Technical Services will acquire a 10% stake in the venture, and it will also be appointed as the procurement and construction contractor.
Skrine also advised Malaysian government-owned private equity firm Ekuiti Nasional on its successful exit from pharmaceutical distributor Medispec, which was sold to a leading local pharmaceutical company.
BEST BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM
- BASKARAN
Baskaran is a law firm specialising in construction, energy and technology, serving clients both domestically and internationally. The firm has captured the attention of the ABLJ team through its involvement in some of the country’s most significant construction projects.
“Baskaran have in-depth knowledge of construction law in Malaysia that makes them an ideal choice to work with on international projects where the governing law is that of Malaysia,” says Claire King, a partner at Fenwick Elliott based in London. “They are excellent to work with, commercial and user-friendly, making them an ideal firm to co-counsel with.”
Baskaran has acted for several multinational contractors, including the world’s largest refining company, in arbitral and civil proceedings related to the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC). Located in Johor, PIPC is one of the world’s largest integrated petrochemical facilities, not just in the country, with an estimated value of USD27 billion.
In addition, Baskaran is acting for a major contractor in arbitral proceedings arising from the final phase of the electrified double-track project, which spans the length of Peninsular Malaysia, and is valued in excess of USD2 billion.
Khoo Phong Han, the legal manager at TSR Bina in Kuala Lumpur, tells ABLJ about his experience with Baskaran in an arbitration case involving construction disputes. “Baskaran identified critical issues that had been overlooked not only by us as the client, but also by our previous advisers,” he says.
“The firm’s deep understanding of both legal and technical aspects of construction makes them stand out in complex matters. Their ability to combine legal precision with technical insight is truly impressive.”
BEST NEW LAW FIRM
- ONG EU JIN PARTNERSHIP
Ong Eu Jin, who co-founded Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership, started Ong Eu Jin Partnership in June 2024. He has more than 25 years’ experience in IPOs, bond and sukuk issuances, and M&A transactions, working with both local and international companies and markets.
Since its inception, the firm has advised on several successful IPOs including Elridge Energy Holdings, Metro Healthcare, Sumisaujana Group, Chemlite Innovation, Techstore and Colform Group – all of which are now listed on the ACE market of Bursa Malaysia Securities.
Edward Koh, the executive director of Polymer Link Group – a client of the firm – in Kuala Lumpur, says that Ong Eu Jin Partnership has extensive expertise in equity capital markets, with a particular focus on IPOs. “The team is responsive, commercially minded and always willing to go the extra mile to support clients through complex transactions,” says Koh.
“I have no doubt that they will continue to be a key player in the Malaysian legal market and I believe that the recognition as Best New Law Firm is well deserved,” he adds.
Asyraf Azlam, a senior manager in corporate governance and compliance at Sumisaujana Group in Kuala Lumpur, agrees with Koh. “From the early stages of legal due diligence to the final submission to Bursa Malaysia, their team provided timely and practical advice that helped us navigate complex regulatory requirements.”
Zeth Lim, managing director at Verdant Solar Holdings in Kuala Lumpur, says working with the firm has been a strategic advantage for his company. “The team consistently provides timely, commercially sound advice, backed by a deep understanding of both legal and business landscapes.”
OTHER AWARD HIGHLIGHTS
As Malaysia’s native labour laws and regulations continue to prosper, this year witnessed intense competition among law firms striving to be the best in the category of Labour and employment.
Among the leading law firms was Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill. The firm successfully represented ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia, one of the largest publicly traded petroleum and petrochemical enterprises, at the Court of Appeal in a complaint filed by an aggrieved employee who claimed he was forced to resign. The Court of Appeal affirmed the High Court’s decision, concluding that the appellant, who was poorly performing, had failed to establish that he had been forced to resign from his employment.
Muhammad Razif Mahaboob, head of industrial relations at the Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia (SME Bank) in Kuala Lumpur, provided testimony to ABLJ regarding the longstanding connection between the bank and Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill. “The firm always held the highest level of professionalism and ensured adherence to proper procedures,” says Mahaboob.
“Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill showed its legal prowess by supporting the SME Bank in handling high profile cases, and we have always won; on behalf of the bank all the employment disputes cases referred will be handled by them, thus elevating and preserving the bank from any reputational risk and incurring irrelevant damages.”
Gan Partnership has also been active in the Labour and employment category, earning an award this year. For more than the past 12 months, the firm has been busy defending a leading multinational oil and gas company in several labour disputes.
In the first case, the firm successfully defended the company against an unjust dismissal claim filed by a former employee who was retrenched due to redundancy, following a full trial. In June 2024, the Industrial Court ruled in favour of the company.
In the second case, Gan Partnership defended a claim of unjust dismissal brought by a former employee who was terminated due to misconduct. This case involved determining who the actual employer was when the employee had been seconded to another entity within the same group of companies.
In the third case, the firm again successfully defended the company in an unjust dismissal claim brought by a former employee terminated for exposing confidential information, after a full trial.
In the Taxation category, Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership (RDS Partnership) stood out among competitors. RDS Partnership represented an investment holding company in a tax dispute over the taxability of capital distributions from a REIT before the Court of Appeal.
The High Court backed the Special Commissioners of Income Tax’s ruling that the taxpayer’s “return of capital” was taxable as it found no evidence of contribution to the REIT’s qualifying assets or asset withdrawal.
However, the Court of Appeal overturned the decision. A review of the sale and purchase agreement and the REIT’s trust deed revealed no evidence linking the taxpayer to an industrial building allowance claim, so the court rejected the High Court’s ruling.
Soh Wan Ru, head of group corporate planning and development at Suria Capital Holdings in Kota Kinabalu, provides positive feedback on the firm’s services. “The tax advisory services rendered by RDS Partnership demonstrated the team’s deep expertise and up-to-date knowledge of tax law,” she says. “From navigating complex tax matters to delivering tailored solutions in tax structuring, their guidance has been invaluable.”
Another category winner of note was in Banking and finance. Zul Rafique & Partners’ banking and finance group acted as Malaysian counsel for the finance parties in connection with a financing arrangement led by a consortium of international lenders in a notable transaction, earning a prestigious award.
The consortium included DBS Bank, Deutsche Bank (Singapore and New York branches), the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (offshore banking unit, Labuan), ING Bank (Singapore branch), International Finance Corporation and Natixis (Singapore branch), which provided financing to Yellowwood Financing, a Malaysian subsidiary of Yondr Group. Yondr is a global leader in developing, owning and operating hyperscale data centres.
The financing supports the construction and operation of a new 98MW data centre facility in Johor as part of a larger campus project in Sedenak Tech Park. Once completed, the campus will have a total capacity of 340MW, making it the largest hyperscale data centre campus in Southeast Asia. This noteworthy landmark deal was led by Mei Mei Loh, head of Zul Rafique’s banking and finance group, and partner Celine Rangithan.
In the category of IP litigation, Cheang & Ariff won an award with its defence in the past year of Asustek, a leading Taiwanese technology company, in a landmark patent infringement case involving three patents relating to data compression technology for video streaming.
The key legal question was whether these patents qualified as standard essential patents (SEPs), an issue never before judicially addressed in Malaysia. The High Court’s ruling in favour of Asustek not only dismissed the plaintiff’s claim but also established a precedent for assessing SEPs and their infringement within Malaysian law, significantly influencing industry practices and patent enforcement.
Cheang & Ariff also represented a prominent Malaysian architectural firm in a trademark invalidation suit against a Singaporean firm that registered two trademarks without proper authorisation.
The High Court’s decision invalidated the defendant’s trademarks and led to the withdrawal of their appeal, reinforcing the territorial nature of trademark rights in Malaysia.
These developments have clarified standards, ensuring registration processes and trademark enforcement adhere to established jurisdictional limits.
In the Fintech category, Halim Hong & Quek’s technology practice group, led by Ong Johnson and Lo Khai Yi, captured an award by specialising in tailored services for the technology sector, with an emphasis on fintech.
The group is advising Geno Group – a blockchain-as-a-service provider in the UK – on maintaining regulatory compliance, optimising tokenomics and developing smart contracts and staking systems that ensure legal enforceability and sound governance.
Geno Group is launching its inaugural real-world asset tokenisation project in Malaysia, where electric vehicle loyalty points are converted into digital tokens on its proprietary GenoChain. This allows customers to earn tokens through activities such as purchasing electric vehicles, utilising charging stations and scheduling maintenance.
Halim Hong & Quek is also advising BLOX, a Malaysian Web 3.0 blockchain company that has launched MYRC, the first stablecoin denominated in Malaysian ringgit. BLOX retained the group to structure the stablecoin issuance protocol and prepare legal documentation for regulatory compliance. Despite legal ambiguities under Bank Negara Malaysia and the Financial Services Act 2013, the advisory team is working diligently to ensure MYRC operates strictly within legal boundaries.
Throughout the year, Lee Choon Wan & Co ■ LCWCo made a winning impact in the Capital markets category. The firm acted as the principal adviser to 99 Speed Mart Retail Holdings on its IPO, which, as mentioned earlier, was Malaysia’s largest IPO since 2017.
LCWCo played a crucial role in regulatory compliance, drafting and managing the IPO process. The firm ensured a seamless listing by addressing operational challenges, conducting comprehensive due diligence, and ensuring all submissions were completed on time, securing regulatory approvals within two months.
The firm also served as legal counsel for TMK’s MYR385 million IPO. TMK is a leading player in Malaysia’s inorganic chemicals sector.
LCWCo managed complex cross-border legal and regulatory requirements across Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam by co-ordinating due diligence with local legal teams.
Given TMK’s operations in chemical manufacturing and terminal services, the firm ensured strict adherence to environmental compliance and effectively tackled business licensing challenges.
Shin Associates was an active winner in the Entertainment and sports category, providing a comprehensive suite of services to its entertainment and sports clients, including creative professionals.
Shin Associates’ client portfolio includes Lil Critter Workshop (LCW), a Malaysian animation studio renowned for productions such as Hogie The Globehopper and Outlaw Dark. LCW partnered with Kadokawa Gempak Starz to transform the comic series, Lawak Kampus, into an animated webisode series.
Shin Associates advised LCW on the transaction, handling the preparation and review of documentation while also offering strategic counsel on intellectual property rights, licensing and brand partnerships. The series is scheduled for distribution on platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
The law firm was also engaged by Act 2 Pictures for legal services related to the biopic, Gold, which tells the story of Paralympic badminton champion Cheah Liek Hou. Shin Associates developed investment structures, co-ordinated with the International Paralympic Committee, scrutinised production documentation and supported regulatory approvals.
Released on 23 May 2024, Gold generated MYR10 million in revenue within 10 days, achieving both critical acclaim and commercial success through its strong production values and strategic marketing.
Teng Sheng & Fatima had a busy year representing prominent Entertainment and sports category clients, including Singaporean singer-songwriter Regina Song. The firm was responsible for negotiating and drafting key commercial agreements such as music publishing, marketing and licensing contracts, designed to safeguard her intellectual property and secure her creative and financial interests.
Teng Sheng & Fatima also provided strategic advice on composition rights, sound recordings, performance royalties and digital distribution, ensuring that Song retained control over her works while navigating the complex legal landscape of the modern music industry.
Teng Sheng & Fatima also assisted Breaking Music, a Malaysian indie label, in establishing its core legal framework and documentation. The firm prepared a series of essential agreements, including recording, licensing and distribution deals, along with a template for artist management.
Teng Sheng & Fatima also provided strategic guidance on industry standards, risk allocation and rights management. The agreements were carefully drafted not only to be fit for purpose, but also to align with an artist-first philosophy and long-term growth objectives, incorporating clauses that allow the sharing of ownership and rights between the artist and the music label.
In the Shipping and maritime category, TS Oon & Partners distinguished itself from its competitors. Representing the Dubai-based Black Swan Petroleum DMCC, the firm is managing a dispute over the wrongful conversion of fuel oil for the vessel Oceania, with a total claim of about USD41.37 million. As the vessel’s owner, Black Swan Petroleum DMCC alleges that Euronav Shipping misappropriated the cargo.
The court dismissed Euronav Shipping’s application to stay the proceedings, awarding costs, while Black Swan Petroleum DMCC’s request for an anti-arbitration injunction was granted, also with costs. The matter is set to proceed to trial in August 2025.
TS Oon was also in charge of a dispute involving China’s first ultra-deepwater drillship, Dalian Developer, with a combined claim sum of about USD650 million. The firm successfully acted for COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry and Dalian Developer Drilling, a major Chinese international shipyard company and shipowner.
TS Oon won in Kuala Lumpur’s High Court, which ruled in favour of the Chinese companies over fraudulent and unlawful registration for the transfer of ownership.
Ariff Rozhan & Co, a dispute resolution-focused law firm, has demonstrated strong engagement in the Arbitration and ADR category, meriting an award. The firm successfully defended one of Malaysia’s leading construction companies against a claim in which the plaintiff sought nearly MYR6.4 million for alleged unpaid contract work, variations, acceleration costs, increased material prices and additional relief.
The High Court decisively confirmed the validity and enforceability of the arbitration agreement and dismissed the plaintiff’s procedural arguments, including the claim that the absence of a letter of completion rendered the agreement inoperative. This decision highlights the importance of adhering to contractually agreed-on arbitration clauses, which are very common in construction contracts.
Ariff Rozhan & Co also successfully represented Zelan Holdings, a subsidiary of a Bursa Malaysia-listed company, in defending an application to enforce and recognise a foreign arbitral award for the sum of about MYR40 million.
Another Malaysian law firm with a specific focus on arbitration & ADR is Cecil Abraham & Partners, which has acted for foreign and domestic multinationals, financial institutions, regulators and high-net-worth individuals. The firm also has experience in investment treaty-related disputes, having acted for the Malaysian government and foreign investors in such claims.
Currently, the firm is acting as counsel in several matters, including: (1) construction-related disputes within the hospitality sector in the Iskandar region; (2) disputes involving information technology and cloud competition; (3) securities financing disputes relating to investments in the property sector; and (4) cross-border proceedings concerning the registration and enforcement of international arbitration awards. Cecil Abraham & Partners also boasts a number of internationally recognised arbitrators who are regularly appointed by renowned regional arbitral institutions.
MahWengKwai & Associates’ dynamic team took out an award in the category of Corporate and commercial. The firm assisted its client, Diolko Logistics Malaysia, during lengthy negotiations with a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia – a government-owned entity responsible for the nation’s public transportation system and services.
Diolko Logistics’ services enable the minimisation of fleet requirements, improved efficiency, reduced road traffic, the utilisation of electric vehicle technology along station-focused routes, enhanced sustainability, and a cleaner urban environment. These complex negotiations concluded with the signing of a strategic collaboration agreement.
MahWengKwai & Associates also helped their client, Ikhsan Jaya Estate Contractor, in a contract with several Orang Asli villages to develop, operate and manage a palm oil plantation estate on a profit-sharing basis.
The firm’s corporate and commercial team helped the client draft an agreement that encapsulated the key terms and conditions of the collaboration between the company and the Orang Asli villages. The collaboration aims to unlock the potential of the lands owned by the Orang Asli villages, which will increase the yield of palm oil fruits and, in turn, enhance the profitability of the plantation estate.
Zaid Ibrahim & Co won an award in the Compliance and corporate governance category, advising federal government agencies in Malaysia. The firm is advising a federal government agency responsible for early-stage startup development in relation to the advancement of a compliance and regulatory framework for startups across Malaysia.
This advisory service includes reviewing various existing laws and policies as well as working with multiple stakeholders in determining the most fit-for-purpose compliance regulatory framework for startups at the present time, and the startup ecosystem in Malaysia.
Zaid Ibrahim & Co is also advising another federal government statutory body responsible for productivity on its transformation into a commission. This involves reviewing a Malaysian incorporation act that had not been examined or amended for more than 50 years.
The goal for the firm is to ensure that the legislation aligns with the client’s current operations and the mandate for becoming a commission-level statutory body, with an emphasis on governance functions that are in compliance with Malaysia’s applicable laws and the federal government’s requirements for the body.
- Law Firm of the Year
- Best Overall Law Firms
- Best Boutique Law Firm
- Best New Law Firm
- Arbitration & ADR
- Aviation
- Banking & finance
- Capital markets
- Competition & antitrust
- Compliance & corporate governance
- Corporate & commercial
- Data compliance & cybersecurity
- Energy & natural resources
- Entertainment & sports
- Fintech
- Inbound investment
- Infrastructure & project finance
- Insolvency & restructuring
- Insurance & reinsurance
- IP litigation
- IP prosecution
- Islamic finance
- Labour & employment
- Litigation
- Mergers & acquisitions
- Private equity & venture capital
- Real estate
- Shipping & maritime
- Structured finance & securitisation
- Taxation
- Technology, media & telecoms
- ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- RAHMAT LIM & PARTNERS
- SHEARN DELAMORE & CO
- SKRINE
- BASKARAN
- ONG EU JIN PARTNERSHIP
- ARIFF ROZHAN & CO
- CECIL ABRAHAM & PARTNERS
- LEE HISHAMMUDDIN ALLEN & GLEDHILL
- SHEARN DELAMORE & CO
- ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- Lee Choon Wan & Co ■ LCWCo
- RDS PARTNERSHIP
- ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW
- ALBAR & PARTNERS
- RAHMAT LIM & PARTNERS
- ZUL RAFIQUE & PARTNERS
- ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW
- ALBAR & PARTNERS
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- Lee Choon Wan & Co ■ LCWCo
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- RAHMAT LIM & PARTNERS
- SHEARN DELAMORE & CO
- SKRINE
- ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- RDS PARTNERSHIP
- ZAID IBRAHIM & CO
- ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- MAHWENGKWAI & ASSOCIATES
- SHEARN DELAMORE & CO
- ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- SKRINE
- ZUL RAFIQUE & PARTNERS
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- LEE HISHAMMUDDIN ALLEN & GLEDHILL
- RAHMAT LIM & PARTNERS
- SKRINE
- ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW
- RICHARD WEE CHAMBERS
- TENG SHENG & FATIMA
- SHIN ASSOCIATES
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- HALIM HONG & QUEK
- SHEARN DELAMORE & CO
- WONG & PARTNERS
- ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW
- ALBAR & PARTNERS
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- RAHMAT LIM & PARTNERS
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- RAHMAT LIM & PARTNERS
- SKRINE
- WONG & PARTNERS
- LEE HISHAMMUDDIN ALLEN & GLEDHILL
- LIM CHEE WEE PARTNERSHIP
- SHEARN DELAMORE & CO
- SKRINE
- ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW
- AZIM TUNKU FARIK & WONG
- SHOOK LIN & BOK
- TS OON & PARTNERS
- ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW
- CHEANG & ARIFF
- SHEARN DELAMORE & CO
- SKRINE
- ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW
- CHEANG & ARIFF
- SHEARN DELAMORE & CO
- WONG JIN NEE & TEO
- ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW
- ALBAR & PARTNERS
- RAHMAT LIM & PARTNERS
- ZUL RAFIQUE & PARTNERS
- GAN PARTNERSHIP
- LEE HISHAMMUDDIN ALLEN & GLEDHILL
- SHEARN DELAMORE & CO
- ZUL RAFIQUE & PARTNERS
- LEE HISHAMMUDDIN ALLEN & GLEDHILL
- LIM CHEE WEE PARTNERSHIP
- RDS PARTNERSHIP
- SHEARN DELAMORE & CO
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- RAHMAT LIM & PARTNERS
- SKRINE
- WONG & PARTNERS
- AZMI & ASSOCIATES
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- RAHMAT LIM & PARTNERS
- WONG & PARTNERS
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- LEE HISHAMMUDDIN ALLEN & GLEDHILL
- RAHMAT LIM & PARTNERS
- ZUL RAFIQUE & PARTNERS
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- SATIVALE MATHEW ARUN
- SHEARN DELAMORE & CO
- TS OON & PARTNERS
- HALIM HONG & QUEK
- RAJA DARRYL & LOH
- SHOOK LIN & BOK
- SKRINE
- LEE HISHAMMUDDIN ALLEN & GLEDHILL
- RAJA DARRYL & LOH
- RDS PARTNERSHIP
- SHEARN DELAMORE & CO
- CHRISTOPHER & LEE ONG
- SHIN ASSOCIATES
- SKRINE
- WONG & PARTNERS
THE JUDGING PROCESS
Winners of Asia Business Law Journal’s Malaysia Law Firm Awards 2025 were selected based on the votes, references and qualitative information received from in-house counsel and other legal professionals in Malaysia and around the world.
A voting form was posted on our website, inviting thousands of in-house counsel, lawyers at international law firms and other Malaysia-focused professionals to vote. At the same time, Malaysian law firms were asked to make submissions in support of their candidacy for the awards.
These submissions, combined with research by Asia Business Law Journal’s editorial team, played a supporting role in the judging process. All Malaysian law firms were automatically eligible for inclusion in the awards process. As always, there were no fees or any other requirements for entry.
