Brunei's growing economy attracts Singapore law firm

PROMINENT Singaporean law firm Harry Elias Partnership (HEP) has set up an office in Brunei in order to reap the benefits of a "growing demand for legal services" in the investment and real estate sectors, said its managing partner.

In an exclusive interview, Phillip Fong said Brunei was "on the cusp of a paradigm shift" in terms of economic development and HEP's physical presence in the Sultanate would offer a portal for its legal services.

"(There is) growing interest in foreign investment in oil exploration. This has a spin-off in terms of housing, infrastructural developments and projects, not to mention mergers and acquisitions," he said at their Kiulap office yesterday.

"This will lead to more demand for legal services, such as advice on complex transactions and interpretation of new legislations."

HEP already represents several Bruneian clients with business interests in Singapore, and the establishment of HEP Law Office Brunei was a natural extension of this, Fong explained.

Some of its previous clients include the Singapore Land Authority and Indian chemical giant Tata Chemicals. HEP was also involved in construction projects for Marina Bay Sands and the F1 Night Race Pit Building in Singapore.

Fong said HEP Brunei has already attracted a number of corporations and government-linked companies into its client base, including a local company that wants to pursue public listing in Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

"The firm also advises outbound investors who have business interests in Singapore and the region. At the same time, we are working with inbound clients from Singapore who are making an entry into Brunei," he said, adding that they are advising on a number of complex IT contracts and insurance matters in the Sultanate.

"We are a full service law firm... We hope that our wider experience in international and domestic commercial transactions as well dispute resolutions will provide an insight into similar situations and scenarios in Brunei."

HEP Brunei was established back in February in collaboration with local lawyer Nani Hj Ismi, Standard Chartered Banks' former head of Legal and Compliance.

One of the firm's objectives is to identify new growth areas in legal services such as public-private partnership and syariah law.

"Nani is keen to develop a strong syariah law practice. That's a very important component for us. In Singapore we have three lawyers practising syariah law, among them is a professor who has advised on Islamic finance and trusts as well as criminal law," said Fong.

In the long-term, HEP Brunei aims collaborate with local lawyers to grow their team to a size of 10 to 15 attorneys.

Training would include a stint in the firm's Singapore office, giving them more access to the international stage, said Fong.

"We do not think we should send lawyers (from Singapore) on one-off missions to Brunei. To provide sound legal advice in Brunei, we need to be immersed in the culture and ethos and understanding of the local landscape," he said.

"I don't think any lawyer should be advising on a remote control basis. So we are invested in that sense we believe in buying in to be a local."The Brunei Times