John Woo

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John Woo is our exclusively recommended Audit Services expert in Singapore on the Advisory Excellence website. If you need assistance in this area, please contact John directly using the contact details listed above.

John is the founder of AG Singapore with more than 10 years of accounting and audit experience in various industries. He previously worked with a top accounting group listed in SGX.

John  Woo is a Public Accountant registered with ACRA, CA Singapore, member of ACCA, Accredited Tax Practitioner,  ASEAN CPA.

Firm Overview:

AG is our group brand name. We are a group of award-winning mid-tier accounting firms, headquartered in Singapore with a presence in Malaysia.

Our name, Ackenting means the combination of innovation and accounting. We actively integrate technology into our process to break through traditional accounting and be more value added.

Jan Bellens

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As the EY Global Banking & Capital Markets Sector Leader, Jan Bellens counsels banks in defining their strategies and supports their implementation with investments, acquisitions and ambitious organic growth initiatives.

He has been supporting leading banks’ executive teams with their growth opportunities and multi-year business transformations for the last two decades. He has worked with clients in over 20 countries.

Before joining EY, Jan Bellens was in management consulting for 17 years. He has an MBA from INSEAD.

Our Purpose:

At EY, our purpose is Building a better working world. The insights and quality services we provide help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

In a world that’s changing faster than ever, our purpose acts as our ‘North Star’ guiding our more than 280,000 people — providing the context and meaning for the work we do every day. We help digital pioneers fight data piracy; guide governments through cash-flow crises; unlock new medical treatments with data analytics; and pursue high quality audits to build trust in financial markets and business. In other words, working with entrepreneurs, companies, and entire countries to solve their most pressing challenges.

Through our four integrated service lines — Assurance, Advisory, Tax and Transaction Advisory Services — and our deep sector knowledge, we help our clients to capitalize on new opportunities and assess and manage risk to deliver responsible growth. Our high-performing, multidisciplinary teams help them fulfill regulatory requirements, keep investors informed and meet stakeholder needs.

We believe a better working world is one where economic growth is sustainable and inclusive. We work continuously to improve the quality of all of our services, investing in our people and innovation. And we’re proud to work with others – from our clients to wider stakeholders – to use our knowledge, skills and experience to help fulfill our purpose and create positive change.

Loh Chun Kiat

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Chun Kiat is a Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyer with extensive experience in public and private mergers and acquisitions, including takeovers of public listed companies, share and asset sale and purchase, investments into mature corporations and start-ups, joint ventures and restructuring.

Chun Kiat represented clients on both buy-side and sell-side transactions across a variety of industries, in particular advising on complex, cross-border transactions that involved targets or acquirers from different geographies. Chun Kiat also represented investors and startups in connection with venture capital and other emerging company transactions.

Chun Kiat has substantial experience working in the real estate, internet, technology, engineering, services, energy and resource sectors. In particular, Chun Kiat has advised on the following key transactions:

  • Acted for Tencent (a leading internet company listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited) in its US$1 billion investment in Flipkart Limited (an e-commerce company)
  • Acted for CapitaLand (a real estate company listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (“SGX-ST”)) in its divestment of 20 retail malls in the People’s Republic of China for approximately S$1.71 billion
  • Acted for ams AG (a sensor solutions company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange) in its approximately SS$1.22 billion acquisition of Heptagon Advanced Micro-Optics Pte. Ltd. (a micro-optics and sensing solutions provider)
  • Acted for City Developments Limited (a real estate company listed on the SGX-ST) in its approximately S$977.6 million divestment of Nouvel 18 condominium
  • Acted for United Industrial Corporation Limited in its approximately S$761 million voluntary unconditional cash offer for Singapore Land Limited (a property developer listed on the SGX-ST)
  • Acted for Tata Communications International Pte. Ltd. in its sale to Singapore Technologies Telemedia Pte. Ltd of a 74% stake in its data centre business in India and Singapore worth approximately US$640 million
  • Acted for China International Marine Containers (Group) Co., Ltd (a company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited) in its approximately S$137.6 million reverse takeover of Pteris Global Limited (an airport equipment manufacturing company listed on the SGX-ST)
  • Acted for L Capital Asia (the private equity arm of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A) in its approximately US$100 million acquisition of Crystal Jade Culinary Concepts Group of Companies (a food and beverage group)
  • Acted for Dymon Asia in its approximately S$74 million voluntary conditional cash offer for the shares of Select Group Limited (a food and beverage company listed on the SGX-ST)
  • Acted for RGE Group (a resource-based industrial group) in its acquisition of Lwarcel Celulose E Papel S.a’s assets in São Paulo, Brazil, including its 250,000 ton pulp mill

Firm Overview:

Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP is a law firm headquartered in Singapore, with affiliate offices in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Founded in 1976, it is a member firm of Rajah & Tann Asia, which is the largest network of law firms in Southeast Asia with over 700 lawyers and fee-earners.

Rajah & Tann has practices in banking, competition, corporate governance, corporate finance, dispute resolution, information technology, infrastructure, insolvency, insurance, mergers and acquisitions, shipping, telecommunications and trade. The firm is additionally known for its China, Japan and South Asia specific practice groups. Its network also includes R&T Asia Resources that procures project-specific in-house lawyers to support the firm’s clients, and R&T Technologies, a consulting firm that is focused on cybersecurity, data breach readiness and response, a virtual law academy and other legaltech services.

Rajah & Tann is regarded as one of the “Big Four” law firms in Singapore. Its clientele ranges from multinational and Fortune 500 corporations to emerging high-tech enterprises and start-ups. The firm is also a sole member from Singapore at Lex Mundi, an international professional services network.

The firm’s well known alumni include V.K. Rajah, Steven Chong and Sundaresh Menon. Eng Beng Lee was the managing partner from 2010 to 2019. Patrick Ang succeeded Eng Beng Lee as the managing partner in 2019 while Rebecca Chew is the deputy managing partner of the firm.

Phil Lazarus

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Phil Lazarus is an American Architect with over 20 years of experience in the design, documentation and delivery of large projects around the globe. Immersed in 3d process from the start of his career, he has leveraged the power of BIM on the behalf of architects, engineers, contractors and clients. Involved with Singapore’s largest development projects since 2006, Phil has been leading the charge in establishing BIM and promoting technology based innovation throughout Asia.

Working tirelessly to advance BIM adoption, Phil is a faculty member in the Singapore BCA’s BIM Specialist Diploma Program, building fundamental understanding of the process. Simultaneously, he has founded the “Forum for Advanced Revit Training in Singapore” to assist in developing core modelling skills amongst eager Revit users. He continues to be involved in grassroots support of technological evangelism through regional involvement with The Digital Built Environment Institute.

In his current role as Aurecon’s Digital Practice Leader for Asia, Phil is overseeing the activities of over 200 staff focused upon digital engineering, and applied technology in practice. He leads Aurecon’s Singapore-based Centre of Digital Excellence; exporting best practices for information management and implementation methodology to operations in Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia.

Phil’s core belief is that experienced knowledgeable people with access to the highest levels of technology & training results in enterprise efficiency and improved project delivery.

Education:

University of Southern California
Bachelor of Architecture, Architecture
1991 – 1997

University of Missouri-Kansas City
Master of Business Administration, Entrepreneurship
2004 – 2006

About Us:

Aurecon is an engineering, management, design, planning, project management and consulting company based in Australia and South Africa.

Major Projects In Asia:

– Waigani National Courts Complex, Papua New Guinea
– City of Dreams Casino, Macau
– Chek Lap Kok, Passenger Terminal Building Hong Kong Airport, Hong Kong
– Fusionopolis, Singapore
– Pha Lai 2 Power Station, Vietnam
– Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Program, East Timor
– The Sail at Marina Bay, Singapore

Major Projects In Australia/New Zealand:

– Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law, Brisbane
– Sunshine Coast University Hospital
– West Gate Tunnel, Victoria, Australia
– Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project, Victoria, Australia
– Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal, Queensland, Australia
– Eden Park Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
– Eureka Tower, Victoria, Australia
– Bendigo Bank Headquarters, Victoria, Australia
– Huntly e3p Combined Cycle Power Station, Huntly, New Zealand
– Luggage Point Water Treatment Plant, Queensland, Australia
– Melbourne Cricket Ground, Victoria, Australia
– Northern Busway, Auckland, New Zealand
– Optus Earth Satellite Station, Australia
– Adelaide Entertainment Centre redevelopment
– Adelaide Festival Centre Expansion
– Kogan Creek Solar Boost Project
– Te Puni Village, Victoria University of Wellington

Major Projects In The Middle East:

– Madinat Jumeirah Arabian Leisure Resort Development, United Arab Emirates
– The Palm Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
– Qatar Science and Technology Park, Qatar

Major Projects In Africa:

– Berg Water Project, South Africa
– Department of International Relations and Cooperation Building, South Africa
– Maguga Dam and Maguga Hydroelectric Project, Swaziland
– N2 Garden Route, South Africa
– Nova Vida Housing Development, Angola
– O R Tambo International Airport, South Africa
– Peter Mokaba Stadium, South Africa
– Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, South Africa
– New Bugesera International Airport, Rwanda

The company delivers project design and management across twelve markets. They are built environment, construction, data and telecommunications, defence, energy, government, international development assistance, manufacturing, resources, transport and water.

Grace Kwek Joo Lee

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Cornerstone Law LLP (“the LLP”) was incorporated on 16 April 2009 and commenced practice on 1 May 2009. The LLP is a boutique practice comprising of 5 senior lawyers who bring their respective wealth of experience and expertise to the LLP.

The LLP has won several awards since 2015 from Global Law Experts, Corporate International, ACQ Global Awards for inter alia the Boutique Banking & Financial Services Law Firm of the Year and Property Law Firm of the Year. The LLP has received notification in February 2020 from Global Law Experts that it has won awards for “Banking & Finance Law Firm of the Year in Singapore- 2020” and “Property Law Firm of the Year in Singapore 2020”. Also, the LLP has received an invitation from Advisory Excellence in January 2020 to join them as its recommended Banking & Finance Law expert in Singapore.

2 Partners: (i) Ms Grace Kwek Joo Lee; (ii) Mr Paul Tan Tzu Kwang; and

3 Consultants: (i) Mr Chandran s/o S Ayathurai; (ii) Mr Suresh Gupta; and (iii) Ms Tian Geok Peng.

The LLP offers a complete range of legal services, including banking , conveyancing including fractional sales and purchases and decoupling matters, civil and commercial litigation, company, corporate, family law including matrimonial matters, business relocation and immigration, employment law, insurance, wills, trust and estate matters etc.

The Lawyers:

Ms Grace Kwek Joo Lee (“Grace Kwek”) (Partner) : LL.B. (Hons) Singapore Advocate & Solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths & Notary Public

Grace Kwek was called to the Singapore Bar in 1982. She has been in practice now for 38 years. She was a Legal Assistant with M/s Teoh & Co for about six years and practised as a sole-proprietor under the name and style of M/s Grace Kwek & Company from 1988 – 1991.

She then merged her practice with Messrs Ong Tan & Nair in October 1991 to form Messrs Ong Tan Nair & Kwek.

On 1 May 1996, she started the LLP, Chan Kwek & Chong together with two other partners, Mr Chan Weng Kee and Mr Patrick Chong and on 30 September 2007, she dissolved the partnership and joined Colin Ng & Partners LLP as a Consultant. On 1 May 2009, she started the LLP together with Ms Donne Marie Aeria (who has since retired from the LLP on 31 March 2013) and the late Mr Balasingham Ganeshamoorthy (who had passed away on 20 May 2011).

Her main areas of practice are presently civil and commercial practice dealing particularly with conveyancing and corporate matters. Over her 38 years of practice, she has many clients including foreign clientele and has acted for her clients in their purchases, sales and financing of residential and/or commercial/industrial properties as well as for the many banks in Singapore in the Mortgages etc. She was also involved in the successful purchase of a hotel cum service apartment outside of Singapore in Phnom Penh. Her other areas of practice include banking, company, corporate, immigration matters and family matters. Grace Kwek continues to handle civil litigation but she handles mainly banking, conveyancing and corporate matters.

Mr Paul Tan Tzu Kwang (“Paul Tan”) (Partner) LL.B. (Hons) Singapore Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore, Commissioner for Oaths

Paul Tan joined the LLP as Partner on 21 July 2011. Prior to joining the LLP, he was practising as a Director of Samuel Seow Law Corporation and headed its Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group and prior to Samuel Seow Law Corporation, he was practicing in M/s Colin Ng & Partners LLP as a salaried partner.

Paul Tan completed his solicitors’ traineeship in London and was admitted to the England and Wales’ solicitors’ rolls in October 1995. He was admitted to the Singapore Bar in February 1997.

Since then, Paul Tan has gained extensive experience in all levels of counts, arbitration and mediation in a diverse range of matters including banking, building construction dispute, company and commercial law, intellectual property law, employment law, matrimonial law, landlord and tenant disputes. Paul Tan is equally conversant with company law, conveyancing and banking work.

Some notable cases in which Paul Tan had been involved in the past are as follows:

(i) successfully represented a developer in a claim made by an encroachment party claiming that she had acquired title to a significant strip of land by adverse possession in the Court of Appeal; (ii) successfully set aside an Anton Piller order made against a software company for alleged copyright infringement in the High Court; (iii) successfully represented an elderly claimant for personal injuries resulting from an accident caused by a taxi-driver in the Subordinate Courts.

Paul Tan had advised and represented inter alia:

(i) subsidiary proprietors in their claims against the MCST and Managing Agent for breach of by-laws; (ii) a plumbing and sanitary sub-contractor in their multiple claims against several main contractors relating to various commercial projects; (iii) majority shareholders in an action commenced by minority shareholders for minority oppression under the Companies Act in the High Court; (iv) a multinational food products company in contentious winding up proceedings against a food catering company in the High Court; (v) clients in a High Court dispute on an alleged defect on title in relation to an immovable property in Thailand; (vi) a collective sale committee in a dispute involving two marketing consultants contesting a claim in respect of commission payable for a completed collective sale etc.

As part of his efforts at social outreach, Paul Tan also volunteers frequently at the Pro-Bono Community Legal Clinics organized by the Law Society of Singapore.

Mr Chandran s/o S Ayathurai (“Chandran”) (Consultant) LL.B. (Hons) Singapore Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore

Chandran graduated with a LLB (Hons) Degree from the University of Singapore in 1975 and was admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore on 28 January 1976.

Prior Work Experience:

  • 1976 to 1981 – Legal Assistant at Allen & Gledhill in the Real Estate Department.
  • 1982 to 1998 – Partner at Allen & Gledhill in the Real Estate Department.
  • September 1999 to – Legal Consultant at Allen & Gledhill. January 2000
  • January 2000 to – Associate Director at Yeo-Leong & Peh LLC in the Property August 2001 Department.
  • October 2001 to – Partner at B T Tan & Co. 14 September 2011
  • 15 September 2011 to – Subra TT. LLC. 3 June 2013

Chandran has been practising as a property and conveyancing lawyer for the past 44 years. He has been acting for individuals and corporate clients in the sale and purchase of residential properties, HDB and JTC commercial and industrial properties. He had also acted for clients in mortgagee’s sales, auction sales, sales by tender and en-bloc sales.

Chandran had also acted for licensed and unlicensed housing developers for sales of residential properties under the Housing Developers Act and commercial building projects under the Sale of Commercial Properties Act involving submitting applications to the controller of Housing and obtaining the Housing Developers’ licences, preparation of Options to Purchase, Sale and Purchase Agreement and ancillary documents pertinent to the residential and commercial properties. Some of the properties handled by him were Rocca Balestier (56 units) and Mataban (46 units) being mixed developments. While he was at YeoLeong & Peh LLC sometime around June 2008 to April 2009, he handled housing projects of Keppel Group i.e. Reflections at Keppel Bay and other projects.

He has also acted for several banks: OCBC, SCB, UOB, HSBC, CIMB, RHB and finance companies: Singapura Finance, Hong Leong Finance in respect of Mortgages, Debentures and other security documents. Between 1985 to 1986, Chandran was a consultant/tutor for Conveyancing Practice, a Practical Law Course conducted by the Board of Legal Education for Law Graduates and in 1998, Chandran was awarded “Service to Education Award” by the Ministry of Education for serving as a Member of the Advisory Committee of Siglap Secondary School for 18 years.

Mr Suresh Gupta (“Suresh Gupta”) (Consultant) LL.B. (Hons) Singapore Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore

Suresh Gupta graduated from the University of Singapore in 1976 with LLB (Hons). While in Law School, Suresh Gupta was one of 3 law students, who represented the Law Faculty in 1975 at the Philip C Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition held in Washington D.C., U.S.A. 2. Suresh Gupta was also admitted in Western Australian Bar.

After graduation, Suresh Gupta underwent his pupillage at the LLP of M/s Lee & Lee and after being admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor commenced his legal career as a Legal Assistant at M/s Lee & Lee. From 1979 till September 1992, Suresh Gupta was a partner in the law LLPs of M/s Charles Tan & Gupta, M/s Gupta & Sam and M/s Gupta Sam & Wijaya and between October 1992 and September 2007 he was a Consultant initially in the law LLP of M/s Ong Tan Nair & Kwek and thereafter in the law LLP of M/s Chan Kwek & Chong. He joined Edmond Pereira & Partners as a Consultant in October 2007.

In his legal career spanning 44 years, Suresh Gupta has had wide experience over a broad spectrum of the law as an Advocate in civil litigation and a Solicitor rendering legal advice to clients and performing solicitor’s work. Areas of law in which Suresh Gupta is conversant and familiar with include the law relating to commercial transactions, corporate law, banking law, law of tort, conveyancing and property law, law relating to land titles strata matters, wills, bankruptcy and winding-up matters and matrimonial matters.

During his legal career Suresh Gupta has appeared before the Select Committee of Parliament in 1986 after he made written representations regarding proposed amendments to the Land Title (Strata) Act. He has also been a tutor with the Board of Legal Education.

Ms Tian Geok Peng (“Tian Geok Peng”) (Consultant) LLB (Hons) Singapore Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore

Tian Geok Peng graduated from the University of Singapore with an LL.B (Hons) in 1988 and was admitted to the Singapore Bar in 1989. Tian Geok Peng started her practice as a legal assistant with several law LLPs. She was with Colin Ng & Partners as their partner and assisted in overseeing the conveyancing department. She left Colin Ng & Partners in early 2009 to join Engelin Teh LLC and thereafter to PKWA Law Practice LLC.

Tian Geok Peng’s property practice involves the full range of conveyancing transactions including acting for the Central Provident Board, local and foreign banks, finance companies, individual vendors and purchasers in retails loans.

Her corporate loan experience includes acting for developers in the purchase of land for redevelopment, applying for housing developer’s licences and sale of its developments, advising on land and construction loans involving both industrial and residential property and all accompanying security documentation, acting for corporate clients in reviewing and advising on leases of residential and commercial units, including Housing and Development Board (HDB) and Jurong Town Council (JTC) leases, supplemental agreements, variations of leases etc.

Her real estate-related experience includes acting for the landlord in the leasing of office and commercial units in and acting for owners in their en-bloc/collective sale of the developments.

The LLP’s Clients:

Throughout the respective Partners’ and the Consultants’ years of practice and experience, they have developed a good clientele ranging from foreign, local banks and financial institutions to private companies and individuals.

If you should have any queries whatsoever, please do not hesitate to contact Ms Grace Kwek (6499 0632), Tel 96366058, email: [email protected], who will gladly assist.

Thank you.

Grace Kwek Partner

Max Ng

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Max Ng is the Managing Director of Gateway, and is an acclaimed legal expert in the field of Intellectual Property & Technology Law. He is also a member associate of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators, and an accredited mediator as well with the Singapore Mediation Centre. Max is also listed as a leading lawyer in his field in the Asia Pacific Legal 500, Chambers Asia-Pacific, AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers, Legal Who’s Who, the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers and the Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers. He is also the lead author of the book “Intellectual Property”, under the Butterworths Law for Business Series.

Max’s practice involves patent and other firms of intellectual property litigation, dispute resolution, general counselling and preparation of specific contracts and documents in relation to technology law, licensing, franchising and in the areas of fintech, amongst others.

Throughout his years in practice, Max has also had the opportunity to assist his clients in some of their real estate transactions, which includes sale and purchase, mortgage, leases and tenancy agreements.

Max now speaks frequently at various forums on law-related topics.

Publications:

  • Lead author of Ng, Lim and Loke, “Intellectual Property, Butterworths Law for Business Series”, 2nd Edition, 2010.
  • Max Ng, “Dispute Resolution in Cyberspace”, Singapore Law Gazette, August 2001.

Papers In Conference Proceedings:

  • Max Ng, “Impact of Competition Law, IPR and Technology on International Trade”, presented at the Singapore-Colombo Plan Third Country Training Programme, 11 December 2002, Singapore.
  • Max Ng, “Database Protection, Myth or Reality”, presented at the annual IT conference organised by the presented Malaysian Bar Council, Law Asia and the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association, 1 August 2002, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Max Ng, “Arbitration – moving from the Traditional, to Cyber-Arbitration”, presented at a seminar on Arbitration organised by THC Conferences, September 2000, Singapore.
  • Max Ng, “Nuts & Bolts of Online Contracts”, presented at the 7th Annual Company Secretaries Conference organised by The Asia Business Forum, May 2000, Singapore.

Qualifications:

  • Advocate & Solicitor, Supreme Court of Singapore
  • Advocate & Solicitor, High Court of Malaya
  • Solicitor, England & Wales

Memberships:

  • International Trade Marks Association (“INTA”), Panel of Trademark Mediators
  • Licensing Executives Society (Singapore) (“LES”)
  • International Bar Association (“IBA”)
  • Singapore Institute Of Arbitrators (“MSIArb”)
  • Associate Mediator, Singapore Mediation Centre (“SMC”)
  • International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (“AIPPI”), Singapore Chapter
  • Association of Singapore Patent Agents (“ASPA”)
  • Asian Patent Attorneys Association (“APAA”)

Firm Overview:

Gateway law is an Asia- Pacific regional full service legal practice with strengths in the areas of intellectual property, franchising, technology, media (and entertainment) and telecommunications and employment (and immigration). In addition to our specialisms, Gateway also provides services in the general areas of litigation and dispute resolution, corporate and commercial law, real estate conveyancing and advisory, medical law and family law.

We serve a varied clientele across a wide range of industries and businesses. We have in-depth experience working with individuals, entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises, multinational corporations, institutions of higher learning, financial institutions, social enterprise organisations, foreign counsels, government agencies and government regulatory bodies.

Drawing upon our qualifications and wealth of experiences, we take pride in our capabilities in understanding your commercial legal needs. The breadth and depth of our collective experience enable us to excel at formulating and delivering both practical and strategic legal and business solutions for you.

Headquartered in Singapore, our connections extend to key cities in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, having established ties with associates in Europe. Owing to this, not only are your global legal needs taken care of, we serve as a most convenient single point of contact.