1. Bloomberg 2010 MALAYSIA League Tables (January 2011)

In In the Bloomberg annual Malaysian League Tables year-end survey for 2010, Albar & Partners edged out all other local Malaysian law firms, in the following League Tables:

a) Malaysia Equity & Rights Offerings League Table (ranked by Volume)
Albar & Partners emerged as the TOP local Malaysian law firm, having advised in Equity Capital deals exceeding a volume of MYR 7.392 billion, representing 33.8% share of the Malaysian Equity Capital market. The top performance was largely due to the firm’s involvement in the Petronas Chemicals IPO, which was the largest IPO of the year 2010 and also South East Asia’s largest IPO in history. Bloomberg's research revealed that the Petronas Chemicals IPO successfully sold MYR 14.8 billion worth of shares, including the green shoe exercise.

b) Malaysia Domestic Bonds Manager Advisers League Table (ranked by Deal count)
Albar & Partners emerged as the TOP law firm, surpassing all local and international law firms, for the year 2010 in this League Table. According to Bloomberg's independent research, the firm had advised in over 80 domestic bonds issuances, exceeding a volume of MYR 7.555 billion, representing 16.6% share of the Malaysian domestic bonds market.

c) Malaysia Islamic Bonds Manager Advisers League Table (ranked by Deal count)
Once again, Albar & Partners emerged as the TOP law firm, surpassing all local and international law firms, for the year 2010 in the Islamic Bonds Manager Advisers arena. According to Bloomberg's database, the firm had advised in over 44 Islamic bonds issuances, exceeding a volume of MYR 5.620 billion, representing 20.9% share of the local Islamic bonds market.

2. Islamic Finance News : Equity Deal of the Year 2010 Award (February 2011)

The Islamic Finance News Awards was established in 2006 and honours the best in the Islamic financial industry. Each year end, a panel of experts from non-competing organizations sieve through all submissions received from financial institutions and intermediaries covering deals advised over the previous 12 months during the elimination process, until just one transaction in each category remains and is thus awarded the winner of that category.

Out of the 17 categories of awards recently polled at the “Islamic Finance News Deals of the Year 2010” Awards held at the Shangri-la Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on 26 February 2011, the Petronas Chemicals USD$4.2 billion IPO (RM12.8 billion) clinched the “Equity Deal of the Year 2010” award. Albar & Partners provided legal counsel to PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG) and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), who were both the promoters and selling shareholders. Senior Partner (Ms. Lily Tan Chea Li) led in this transaction, assisted by Corporate Partners (Ms. Natalie Peh & Ms. Cassandra Hogg Samuel).

In describing why the Petronas Chemicals USD$4.2 billion IPO was chosen for the top spot, the IFN panel of experts commented that this was the most groundbreaking transaction as it was “a pure equity deal with the most significant volume and listed means for Shariah compliant investors to participate in the Malaysian hydrocarbon sector.”

3. IFLR Asia Awards 2011: “Malaysia National Firm of the Year for 2010” award (March 2011)

At the IFLR Asia Awards 2011 held at the Island Shangri-la hotel, Hong Kong on 3 March 2011, Albar & Partners won the “Malaysia National Firm of the Year for 2010” award.

The annual IFLR Asia Awards recognise the best performing law firm in each of the Asian jurisdictions that IFLR covers, with a particular focus on cross border capital markets, finance and M&A work. These Awards are widely considered as one of the industry’s most prestigious acknowledgements.

.In this year’s IFLR Asia Awards 2011, the Petronas Chemicals USD 4.2 billion IPO, in which Albar & Partners acted as counsel, was also short-listed for special recognition as a finalist for the “IFLR Equity Deal of the Year” award.

4. Asialaw’s Leading Lawyers Survey 2011

For a 2nd consecutive year, Managing Partner, Syed Zaid Albar, was nominated by in-house counsel and peers as one of the region's pre-eminent Islamic Finance lawyers in the 2011 Asialaw’s Leading Lawyers survey.

Additionally, after being named as one of Asialaw’s Leading Lawyer in the practice area of Banking for 3 consecutive years in 2008, 2009 & 2010, our Senior Partner Mr. Chung Swee Loong has been nominated in 2011 as one of the region's pre-eminent Capital Markets lawyers in the 2011 Asialaw’s Leading Lawyers survey.

5. ALB SEA Law Awards 2011: “Malaysia Deal Firm of the Year for 2010” award

At the ALB South East Asia (SEA) Law Awards 2011 held in Singapore on 27 May 2011, Albar & Partners triumphed as the winner of the “Malaysia Deal Firm of the Year for 2010” award. This was the 2nd time that Albar & Partners aced this prestigious award.

The ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2011 recognises the excellence and outstanding achievements of SE Asia's leading law firms and in-house legal teams, as well as the top deals and dealmakers of 2010.

6. Corporate INTL Global Awards 2011

For a 2nd consecutive year, Albar & Partners was awarded the “Capital Markets Law Firm of the Year Award 2011 (Malaysia)” at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2011. The award gives recognition to the firm’s success as a leading firm in Malaysia in the area of Capital Markets.

The Corporate INTL Global Awards commemorates those who have shown excellence not only in legal expertise, but also in client service on annual basis. To be selected as the national winner for this prestigious award for two successive years is a tremendous accolade.

7. Global Law Experts Practice Area Awards 2011

At the Global Law Experts Practice Area Awards 2011, Albar & Partners received definitive accolades as winners of both the “Securities Law Firm of the Year (Malaysia)” and “Capital Markets Law Firm of the Year (Malaysia)”.

Global Law Experts is one of the foremost guide to leading lawyers throughout the globe. Selection by the awards panel was made after an evaluation of approximately 14,000 recommendations from various contributors. The shortlisted firms were judged on client testimonials, legal rankings, overall reputation, publication contribution and the performance and standing of the firm’s individual lawyers. This year, the Securities Law award for Malaysia was a close race but due to the firm’s sterling performance in a number of record breaking transactions in 2010 & 2011, Albar & Partners was awarded the title.

8. IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law firms (2012 edition)

For yet another year, Albar & Partners scored a top Tier 1 ranking in the areas of Banking & Finance and Capital Market with IFLR1000. Through client feedback to its researchers, IFLR 1000 commended Senior Partner, Mr. Chung Swee Loong as being highly regarded by banking clients for his exceptional skills and clear and focused advice, while Senior Partner, Ms. Lily Tan Chea Li was a particular highlight to her clients due to her vast experience in both financing and corporate advisory work.

According to the IFLR1000, Albar & Partners is regarded as “…the cream of the crop in their fields of expertise as most firms look to them as a measuring stick” as the firm “…provides a high level of dedication and commitment, while providing sound technical and problem solving capabilities”.

9. The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2012 ed)

In the latest edition of the Legal 500 Asia Pacific publication, Albar & Partners ranked supreme as a leading player in the areas of Banking & Finance and Islamic Finance and was awarded with a Tier 1 ranking respectively for its achievements.

Client feedback indicated that Albar & Partners was “proactive and responsive to clients’ needs” and “adopts a prudent yet practical approach to resolving issues”. In addition the firm has a prominent presence in representing issuers and arrangers on headline deals, thanks to its strong connections and highly regarded team of specialists which include Managing Partner, Syed Zaid Albar and Senior Partners, Ms. Lily Tan Chea Li and Mr. Chung Swee Loong. In 2010, the team advised on the Petronas’ RM14.8bn IPO – the biggest sharia-compliant equity listing to date.

10. Asialaw Profiles 2012 Edition

Albar & Partners continues to be recognized for its work in the field of Banking & Finance. It was awarded yet again with a Tier 1 ranking by Asialaw Profiles in their 2012 publication. The publication considers Albar & Partners to be an integral member of the elite at the top of the rankings.

Among its clients, Albar & Partners garnered praises for their work, with one client complimenting that: “The firm provided a high level of dedication and commitment, while providing sound technical and problem solving capabilities”. Another client commented that, “The firm has an experienced leadership team with capable staff. The lawyers there have the ability to go beyond the standard services and provide true added value.”