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Derrick Khoo

Partner

Biography

Derrick Khoo is a partner and key member of the firm’s regional corporate and commercial team, as well as the co-head of the firm’s China desk.

He has amassed close to two decades of cross-border transactional experience as a private-practice lawyer with top international firms while based in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, and Dubai. Prior to joining Tilleke & Gibbins, Derrick was general counsel for an international group with investments in real estate, telecommunications, F&B, and other sectors, where he oversaw all legal and regulatory matters in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Myanmar.

Derrick’s regional practice focuses on a range of areas, including cross-border M&A, growth equity investments, real estate, foreign direct investment, joint ventures, and other corporate and commercial transactions. He has represented a diverse client base, including sovereign wealth funds, private equity funds, investment banks, state-owned enterprises, and Fortune 500 corporations.

Over the course of his career, Derrick has advised on numerous prolific M&A, private equity, and capital markets transactions, including high-value transactions that have garnered recognition by IFLR as Middle East M&A Deal of the Year (2010) and by Asian Legal Business as Equity Market Deal of the Year for Southeast Asia (2007). Owing to his legal expertise and client service, Derrick is recognized as a “Rising Star Partner” by IFLR 1000 (2022-2024) and a “Notable Practitioner” by Asialaw Leading Lawyers (2024).

Derrick is qualified as a Solicitor of the High Court of Hong Kong SAR, an Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore, and a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales.

Experience

  • Advised a U.S. private equity client in its competitive auction bid and US$700 million pre-IPO investment in a major PRC state-owned enterprise, which subsequently launched one of the largest IPOs on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
  • Advised a private investment firm on its US$370 million public takeover of a leading hotel and resort acquisition and development company listed on the NASDAQ Dubai (Winner of IFLR Middle East M&A Deal of the Year (2010)).
  • Advised on the S$192 million IPO of a pure-play Indonesian REIT on the Singapore Stock Exchange (Winner of Asian Legal Business (Southeast Asia) Equity Market Deal of the Year Award 2007).
  • Advised a major PRC state-owned enterprise (which is also a Fortune 500 company) in its €150 million acquisition of the industrial business of a renowned German conglomerate.
  • Actively advising on growth equity investments, involving structuring the acquisition of stakes in various portfolio companies in different industries at early-stage, Series A, B and C levels.
ABOUT Derrick

Industries

Consumer Products

Fintech

Life Sciences

Technology

Practices

Capital Markets

Corporate/M&A

Real Estate

Locations

Languages

    English

    Chinese (Mandarin)

Education

    LLB, National University of Singapore

Insights

December 15, 2023
As part of its membership in Lex Mundi, Tilleke & Gibbins has published an updated edition of its Guide to Doing Business in Thailand for 2023. This guide outlines the key factors for starting and operating a business in the Thai market. Issues covered include: Investment incentives Financial facilities Exchange controls Import and export regulations Structures for doing business Requirements for the Establishment of a Business Operation of the Business Cessation or Termination of the Business Labor legislation, relations, and supply Tax Immigration requirements This publication is part of Lex Mundi’s Country Guides series prepared by member firms in more than 100 jurisdictions worldwide. The guides serve as a useful resource for planning international business strategy and researching new markets. The full Guide to Doing Business in Thailand is available through the button below.
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May 16, 2023
On April 25, 2023, Myanmar’s Ministry of Planning and Finance issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) requiring entities and individuals remitting foreign currency equivalent to more than USD 10,000 out of Myanmar to clear their tax payments prior to the remittance. The SOP took effect on May 1, 2023. This is the latest development since Myanmar began imposing restrictions in April 2022 on the remittance of foreign currency out of the country, implemented by the Central Bank of Myanmar and the Foreign Currency Supervisory Committee. The SOP requires the remitters described above to obtain certain documents evidencing payment of all requisite taxes and duties, and to submit them to their licensed authorized dealer (AD) bank as part of the remittance process. The documents required as evidence differ depending on the purpose of the remittance. The SOP details three main categories, as summarized below. Payments for Interest, Royalties, Trademarks, Copyrights, or Services A remitter of foreign currency for payment of interest, royalties, trademarks, copyrights, or services, must first apply to the Internal Revenue Department (IRD) for evidence that all applicable withholding tax has been paid. In addition, if the country to which the payments are being remitted is party to an avoidance of double taxation agreement with Myanmar, evidence of the recipient’s tax residency must also be submitted to the AD bank. Payments for Goods A remitter of foreign currency to pay for goods must submit the necessary IRD forms along with evidence that corporate income tax and other applicable taxes have been paid. Evidence may include a tax clearance certificate for the fiscal year, the company name, the taxpayer name, and the taxpayer identification number (TIN). Salary Payments A person remitting, in foreign currency, salary earned in Myanmar must submit the required form showing that they paid income tax
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March 14, 2023
Tilleke & Gibbins is proud to be one of the founding member firms for the newly launched Sino International Professional Advisory Council (SIPAC) platform. SIPAC is a global network of law firms that offer legal services tailored to the Chinese legal market. Legal advisors partnering with SIPAC provide Chinese companies with expert advice and guidance that enable them to conduct business in key jurisdictions around the world. SIPAC aims to create a platform that connects in-house counsel at Chinese companies with a wide range of legal services, to ensure that Chinese companies can conduct business overseas with maximum efficiency. By bringing together leading firms from different countries and industries, SIPAC offers a comprehensive solution for businesses seeking expert advice on doing business in different regions of the world. As a founding member firm of SIPAC, Tilleke & Gibbins brings a wealth of expertise and experience advising clients on complex legal matters across the region. The firm has been operating in Southeast Asia for over 130 years and has a team of over 220 lawyers, making it one of the largest in the region. With the launch of SIPAC, Tilleke & Gibbins and its fellow founding member firms are well-positioned to offer customized legal and regulatory recommendations that provide Chinese businesses with increased access to overseas markets.
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April 1, 2022
Thailand Legal Basics, a valuable primer for foreign investors, explores all aspects of living and doing business in Thailand. Written by specialists at Tilleke & Gibbins in Bangkok, it is the only comprehensive English-language guide to the Thai legal system with a focus on the concerns of foreign business and investment.
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Awards & Rankings

September 30, 2024
Tilleke & Gibbins has once again been recognized in the 2024 Asian Legal Business M&A rankings, retaining its Tier 2 position for both Thailand and Vietnam. This marks the 11th consecutive year that the firm has been acknowledged in the publication, reflecting its sustained strength in the M&A market across the region. The magazine’s M&A rankings evaluate firms based on several key metrics, including the volume, complexity, and size of transactions handled, as well as the firm’s presence across Asia. The rankings also take into account key personnel hires and the overall growth of each practice group. The evaluation period for the 2024 edition spanned from August 2023 to July 2024. Tilleke & Gibbins’ representation in the Thailand and Vietnam rankings reflects the firm’s reputation for consistently strong support of corporate transactions across Southeast Asia. Asian Legal Business, owned by Thomson Reuters, is a leading source of information for legal professionals active in the region. To learn more about the M&A rankings, and to browse the full rankings, please see the Asian Legal Business website.
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September 13, 2024
The 2024 edition of the IFLR1000 Asia-Pacific rankings, released by International Financial Law Review (IFLR), highlights Tilleke & Gibbins’ continued excellence in financial and corporate transactional work. The firm has retained its strong rankings across multiple jurisdictions and practice areas, reaffirming its position as a leading firm in the Asia-Pacific region. This year, Tilleke & Gibbins received firmwide rankings in key jurisdictions, including: Thailand Banking & Finance – Tier 3 Capital Markets: Debt – Tier 3 Capital Markets: Equity – Tier 3 M&A – Tier 2 Project Development – Tier 2 Restructuring & Insolvency – Tier 3 Vietnam Banking & Finance – Other Notable M&A – Tier 3 Project Development – Tier 3 Cambodia Financial & Corporate – Tier 2 Project Development – Tier 2 Laos Financial & Corporate – Tier 2 In addition to these firmwide rankings, Tilleke & Gibbins had several standout individual recognitions, with 10 lawyers honored in the 2024 individual rankings, including new entries for John Frangos, Niti Muangkote, Santhapat Periera, and Tram Ngoc Bich Nguyen. The full list is as follows: Charunun Sathitsuksomboon – Highly Regarded, M&A, Thailand Charuwan Charoonchitsathian – Rising Star, M&A, Thailand David Mol – Rising Star, Corporate and M&A, Cambodia Jay Cohen – Highly Regarded, Banking, Cambodia John Frangos – Notable Practitioner, Restructuring & Insolvency, Thailand (new ranking) Niti Muangkote – Rising Star, Financial & Corporate, Laos; Highly Regarded, Banking & Finance, Thailand (new ranking) Saithong Rattana – Notable Practitioner, Project Development and M&A, Laos Santhapat Periera – Highly Regarded, Banking, M&A, Laos; Highly Regarded, Banking & Finance, Thailand (new ranking) Supasit Boonsanong – Highly Regarded, Project Development, Thailand Tram Ngoc Bich Nguyen – Highly Regarded, M&A, Vietnam (new ranking) To see the full set of IFLR1000 rankings for Tilleke & Gibbins’ jurisdictions, please see the Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and
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September 12, 2024
Tilleke & Gibbins has once again secured impressive rankings in the recently released Asialaw 2024 rankings. The firm has maintained its position as a top legal service provider across multiple jurisdictions, earning a total of 39 rankings in practice and industry groups, 19 of which are in the highest tiers. The firm’s performance continues to reflect its exceptional client service and legal expertise across Southeast Asia. Tilleke & Gibbins is recognized in all available categories for Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, demonstrating the firm’s strong presence across the region. In the individual rankings, 22 of the firm’s practitioners have been recognized, including three notable promotions and three new entries: Charunun Sathitsuksomboon (Thailand), newly ranked as a Notable Practitioner for Corporate and M&A. Linh Thi Mai Nguyen (Vietnam), promoted to Distinguished Practitioner for Intellectual Property. Loc Xuan Le (Vietnam), promoted to Elite Practitioner for Intellectual Property. Niti Muangkote (Laos), a new entry as a Rising Star for Banking and Finance. Prisna Sungwanna (Laos), newly ranked as a Distinguished Practitioner for Corporate and M&A and Banking & Finance. Suebsiri Taweepon (Thailand), promoted to Distinguished Practitioner for Intellectual Property and Technology and Telecommunications. Client feedback remains a key component of the Asialaw rankings, with Tilleke & Gibbins earning high praise for its responsiveness and commercial awareness. The firm’s sector-specific knowledge also continues to stand out, with clients expressing their appreciation of the firm’s understanding of their businesses’ operational contexts. For more details and to browse the full rankings, please visit the Asialaw website.
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July 19, 2024
Tilleke & Gibbins has been shortlisted for six awards at the Asialaw Awards 2024. The nominations highlight the firm’s outstanding performance and leadership in Southeast Asia’s legal landscape. The firm has received the following nominations: Regional Corporate/M&A Firm of the Year Cambodia Firm of the Year Laos Firm of the Year Thailand Firm of the Year In addition to the firm nominations, two individuals from Tilleke & Gibbins have been recognized for their exceptional contributions: Prisna Sungwanna – Laos Female Lawyer of the Year Charunun Sathitsuksomboon – Thailand Female Lawyer of the Year The Asialaw Awards celebrate the leading law firms and legal professionals across the region, recognizing excellence in practice and service. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on September 26. For more information on the Asialaw Awards 2024 and to browse a full list of the winners, please visit the Asialaw website.
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