Partners

Susan de Silva
Susan is a founding partner of the Singapore law firm of Alban Tay Mahtani & de Silva LLP (ATMD) and heads the firm’s Corporate and Commercial Group.

Experience
Susan has 23 years experience as a corporate and commercial lawyer. Susan has been named as a leading individual for Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions in The Asia Pacific Legal 500 (2002/2003, 2003/2004, 2004/2005, 2005/2006 & 2006/2007 editions), and AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 editions) as well as for General Corporate Practice in AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers (2005, 2006, 2007 editions).

She has also been named as a leading individual in employment law in the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2008 editions) and The International Who’s Who of Management Labour & Employment Lawyers (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 editions).

Susan is also one of the few recognised environmental lawyers in Singapore having been named as a leading individual in this category in the AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers 2003 as well as The International Who’s Who of Environment Lawyers (2004 & 2006 editions) and The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers (Environment) 2004/2005 & 2006 editions.

She was also named as a leading individual for Public Law in AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers 2003.

Susan has also been cited as being among the world’s pre-eminent Franchise lawyers in The International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers 2008.

Notable projects
Projects include:

• Advised a Singapore listed company on its subsidiary’s joint venture in India relating to the privatised freight rail link services sector.
• Acted for a Canadian listed biotechnology company in the transfer of certain technology to its Singapore subsidiaries.
• Advised Sanmina SCI Corporation (Nasdaqlisted) in its US$78 million takeover of Singapore-listed Pentex-Schweizer Circuits Singapore Limited & group.
• Advised an Australian private equity investor in its acquisition of a majority stake in a hotel amenities manufacturer with regional facilities.
• Advised an equity fund in its restructuring of its investment in a retail company in Australia.
• Advised a big 5 consulting firm in the acquisition of the consulting business and assets of another big 5 consultant firm.
• Advised a Singapore listed company in its material disposal of a business in the United States.
• Advised the purchasers in a S$480 million acquisition of retail and office premises.

• Advised a US biotechnology company in its Series D investment term sheet from a Singapore Government agency, on terms of Singapore tax incentives granted to it, and on establishing its manufacturing facility in Singapore.
• Acted for a major US pharmaceuticals company in its construction contract and employment contracts for its new Singapore facility.
• Acted for a major US pharmaceuticals and nutritionals corporation in establishing its manufacturing facility in Singapore, and advising on tax incentives, its industrial lease, construction contract and environmental issues.
• Acted for a major US pharmaceutical company in its establishment of a bioscience/bioinformatics research and development centre in Singapore.

Professional background
Susan de Silva graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Hons) in 1983.

She was admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 1984 and as an Advocate & Solicitor in Malaysia in 1994.

Between 1987 and 1989, Susan worked in the London office of an international law firm, handling mainly public and private mergers and acquisitions. In 1998, Susan was also admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England & Wales.

Susan is a Notary Public and Commissioner for Oaths, Singapore and a member of a number of committees including:

• Member, Inquiry Panel, The Law Society of Singapore
• Member, Competition Roundtable, Competition Commission of Singapore
• Council Member, BioSingapore
• Director and Company Secretary, Singapore Environmental Council
• Executive Council Member, Singapore Association for Environmental Occupational Health & Safety Companies (SAFECo)
• Executive Council Member, Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS)
• Member, The Inter-Pacific Bar Association
• Member, International Bar Association
• Member, The International Association of Gaming Advisors
  (IAGA).