Mayer Brown has been ranked among a select group of top 10 "Most Innovative Law Firms" in Asia Pacific in 2019 by The Financial Times, earning recognition for high scores in the publication’s “Legal Expertise” category.
Significantly, the firm outranked a competitive field of over 50 law firm submissions to take the prize for the “Most Innovative Dispute Resolution” firm. These rankings validate the firm’s ability to provide clients with creative, market-leading solutions in challenging matters.
The Mayer Brown international arbitration team in Singapore behind the winning submission was recognized for "invoking new rules introduced by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre” in a novel way that “represents a shift in the funding and conduct of arbitrations.” The team, led by partner Yu-Jin Tay, not only achieved a winning outcome for its clients, but also set a global precedent for similar cases around the world.
"I am very pleased that FT has recognized our work,” said Mr. Tay, who was personally commended in the research. “At Mayer Brown, we work particularly hard to win cases for clients by constantly seeking out solutions that are pragmatic, creative and not cookie-cutter.”
Mayer Brown was also “Commended” for providing innovative solutions in three additional matters.
Mayer Brown's representation of Bank of China in its provision of US$850 million in syndicated loans, where credit is provided by more than one lender to the buyers of Sirtex Medical Limited, was recognized in the category of "Enabling Business Growth and Transformation."
The firm's success in structuring Virtus Medical Group's shareholder agreements to allow senior doctors to have a share in the business while allowing investors to retain sufficient control was recognized in the category of "Accessing New Markets and Capital." The team was led by partner David Ellis.
Finally, Mayer Brown's advice to start-up WeSurance to apply an insurance agent license in Hong Kong, enabling the company to market insurance products directly to consumers on mobile apps, was recognized in the "Creating a New Standard" category. The matter was led by partner Tow Lu Lim, in collaboration with partner Gabriela Kennedy.
The FT Innovative Lawyers program was established in Europe in 2006 and inaugurated in Asia-Pacific in 2014. The publication assesses lawyers on their innovation for clients and in their own businesses, ranking them for delivering exceptional value to business and society.