Jennifer Chia

“I see in my associates, my daughters, each one to be nurtured and grown to be the best lawyer he or she can be.”

Jennifer Chia

LL.B. (HONS) (NUS)
PARTNER

NEXT PROFILE

Money never sleeps, perhaps to keep up with Jennifer, who answers 5AM emails almost immediately. Naturally, she heads the Banking & Finance and Corporate Real Estate practices, and co-heads the Private Wealth & Trust Advisory desk. Jennifer’s clients include banks, financial institutions, multinational corporates and high net-worth individuals. They value her for how she embraces every transactional brief and makes their problems her own.

Even more remarkable than Jennifer’s ability to function in two timezones is her ability to be at two places at once, driving out to feed her kids at lunch, while remaining dedicated and thorough with all her clients. Now that her kids have grown, she applies her motherly instincts to young associates at TSMP, splitting that with time spent volunteering at Boys Town and IC2 PrepHouse, both deserving children’s charities.

“Jennifer Chia is knowledgeable, responsive, meticulous and efficient.”

— The Legal 500 Asia Pacific

"She is very commercially minded and customer-oriented"

— Chambers Asia-Pacific

“She is very detailed, responsive and knowledgeable.”

— IFLR1000

“Very responsive, intelligent, and diligent attorney”

— Asialaw Profiles

ACCOLADES

Recommended Lawyer (Banking & Finance), Chambers Global & Asia-Pacific 2021-2023
Recommended Lawyer (Banking & Finance), The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018-2023
Leading Lawyer (Banking), Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2014
Highly Regarded (Banking), IFLR1000 2019-2022
Notable Practitioner (Banking), IFLR1000 2018
Recommended Lawyer (Corporate and M&A), The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020-2021
Recognized Lawyer (Real Estate), Best Lawyers in Singapore 2023

NOTABLE BRIEFS

Acted for a unit of Indian conglomerate Hinduja group, Gulf Oil Asia in its purchase from bankrupt Hin Leong Trading’s shipping arm Ocean Tankers a lubricant blending plant with wharf access; a storage tank farm; and a terminal facility in Tuas on a going concern basis. This transaction involved advising on the assignment of the JTC lease, transfer of employees and business contracts
Acted for Singapore port operator Jurong Port in its take over of shares in Universal Terminal, a major oil storage terminal on Singapore’s Jurong Island, from the Lim Family of collapsed oil trader, Hin Leong, which involved assisting the client on the assignment of the JTC lease, transfer of employees and novation of operational contracts and licences
Acted for Mooreast Asia in its purchase of a property at Shipyard Road from a subsidiary of the embattled, Ezra Holdings group. The property includes both a land lot and foreshore lot/seabed with a long term lease from the JTC. Advised the purchaser on the various JTC assignment requirements
Advising and acting for the Singapore subsidiaries and related entities of the Australia-based property development group LOGOS in (i) an acquisition of 21 Tuas West Drive, a building and JTC land in Tuas, Singapore and (ii) a joint venture with a major player in the food production, import and distribution sectors, to jointly acquire and develop a S$79-million modern food processing and warehouse facility on the property.
Acting as Singapore counsel to YTL Power International Berhad on the proposed acquisition of the power plant and associated assets of Tuaspring Pte Ltd by its subsidiary, Taser Power Pte. Ltd as part of the PowerSeraya group. The power plant land is leased from the PUB and assisting the purchaser with the relevant PUB and SLA approvals
Acting as Singapore counsel for the NTS group in the acquisition and transfer of a JTC property located at 32 Tuas Avenue 4, including the business at the Singapore plant. NTS Group acquired Amega West Services, a market leader in the manufacture, repair and rental of legacy and specialised drilling equipment used in offshore and land-based oil & gas extraction applications, from Carpenter Technology Corporation. Amega West has production and service plants in the United States, Canada and Singapore
Acted for a Mitsubishi Estate Co-CLSA fund managed by Pan Asia Realty Advisors (as purchaser and borrower) in the S$260 million acquisition financing of Chinatown Point granted by OCBC and DBS
Acted for CGIF, a trust fund of the Asian Development Bank, as Singapore counsels (on instructions on Ashurst ADTLaw) in the real estate aspects of the issuance of bonds by an international school, Nexus International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. which are guaranteed by CGIF, which includes a mortgage executed by Nexus international (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. over 1 Aljunied Walk
SUN Venture, a real estate investment company with a focus on commercial real estate in Singapore, through its subsidiary, entered into a green club loan of S$455 million for the acquisition of 71 Robinson Road from Germany’s Commerzbank, a 15-storey office tower in the Central Business District. The green loan was delivered in partnership by OCBC Bank and DBS. We acted as Lenders' counsel in the drafting and negotiation of the loan documents, coordinating drawdown of oan facilities, and issuing report on title and legal opinions to the Banks

INTERVIEW

Associates at TSMP say that they turn to you when they need help. Because you make their problems yours. And because nobody else attacks their problem with the same degree of doggedness and commitment. How did you end up being the firm’s Aunt Agony?

(Laughs) I suspect since I became a mother, I understand that nobody is born with the ability to be the best without somebody nurturing them and teaching them the ropes. Like children, if your associates are taught well, you will be sure that they can be the best. I see it as a way of preparing and training the next generation of lawyers to have the qualities of what is required of a top professional. I’ve been accused of spouting motherhood statements. But given my motherhood personality, I think I can be excused.

Does that same tenacity carry onto your professional work?

I believe in producing the best work for the client, not just legally but also from a commercial point of view. I have a razor-sharp eye for detail and legal completeness yet I can blend that with commercial mindedness to ensure that at the end of the day client’s business objectives can be met without compromising the legality of the transaction. I will give the best to a transaction and ensure that the client’s interests are always well-protected. I go to bed and wake up thinking of solutions for clients. And I never forget anything. Some say I am “big data”!

And I suppose that’s why you are also heavily involved in education, as part of your pro bono work at TSMP and also in your personal time?

That’s correct. I believe that once we have been blessed and have certain specialist knowledge, we should bless others in return. I sit on the board or am the secretary of a number of charities and educational institutions. Volunteering in these organisations helps me to be closer to children and youth. It is fulfilling to see them being nurtured.