We are extremely proud that our Managing Director, Andrea Chee, has been shortlisted for Singapore Managing Partner of the Year, alongside legal luminaries from other prominent firms in Singapore.

Andrea is the sole female lawyer to make the list.

Our heartfelt thanks to clients and partners for the invaluable support!

1. What were some of the challenges you faced?

One main challenge I faced was not knowing what to look out for when reviewing agreements as I had no experience reading agreements. This made it hard for me to research and understand the transactions from the clients’ perspectives. However, Andrea, Zhi Tian and Yuho, were always ready and willing to help me improve my work – they entertained questions, explained foreign concepts, and gave lots of constructive feedback. 

2. What was the highlight of your internship experience?

The entire internship was very enriching and memorable, despite us having to work from home due to COVID-19.

One highlight of my internship was when Andrea gave the interns a crash course on the mechanics of a term sheet. She briefed us on the transaction before explaining what the client wants, how can we achieve it and why a term sheet is needed. She then went through the term sheet clause by clause, occasionally cueing Zhi Tian and Yuho to share their thoughts and making sure that we were following her. That was a valuable discussion not just because of the knowledge I gained, but also because I saw how the team worked seamlessly together.

Another highlight for me was attending clients’ meetings. The meetings allowed me to understand clients’ needs and the mechanics of the transactions. What also inspired me was how the lawyers proposed solutions to clients’ concerns and advised them effectively. This showed me that the lawyers really put a lot of thought into each transaction and wanted to provide the best advice to the clients. 

3. What did you learn?

I was fortunate to be involved in a variety of legal work during my short stint with AEI. I learnt a lot from drafting to research. While these skills were taught in school, applying them to each transaction did not come easy as every transaction is unique and we had to customise the drafting to each client’s needs. This made me realise that being a good corporate lawyer requires adaptability, wits and dedication. The lawyers at AEI possessed these qualities and more. Interacting with them also made me realise that their dedication stems from a love for what they do. This was different and inspiring as seeing them enjoy what they do encourages me to pursue my areas of interest.

4. What advice would you provide to future interns?

• Keep a daily log to maximise learning. This will help you to reflect on your work and avoid repeating the same mistakes.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek feedback.

• Read up and read often to keep abreast of new developments. This will help you to understand why certain regulations are in place and anticipate future needs and challenges.

5. Did you enjoy your time?

Definitely. Apart from being great mentors, the people at AEI are welcoming and helpful. I felt included and comfortable learning from everyone and really enjoyed the learning process. I am thankful that I got to experience AEI’s nurturing, collaborative and passionate culture and am sure the experience I gained will stay with me for a long time. 

AEI Legal is honoured to be a finalist again for Rising Law Firm and Transactional Boutique Law Firm of the Year in the Southeast Asia Law Awards 2020.

Many thanks to our clients and partners for their continued support; helping our clients reach their goals is our raison d’être. We are very heartened by the recognition, these nominations fuel our continued dedication to excellent work, and we will do our best to make all our stakeholders proud.

Insider, a Turkish marketing platform headquartered in Singapore and operating in 23 countries, closed a recent funding round that allegedly valued Insider at over US$200 million.

The Series C involved prominent investors Riverwood Capital, Sequoia Cpaital, Wamda Capital, and Endeavor Catalyst, amongst others.

AEI lawyers Andrea Chee and Zhitian Law were Singapore counsel to Riverwood Capital.

AEI Legal advised the Xfers Group as part of the US$53 million Series B round for Payfazz Financial Group. Other investors included B Capital, Insignia Venture Partners, Tiger Global, Y Combinator, and Ace & Company.

Payfazz offers a portfolio of mobile services that make it easier for Indonesians, even in rural areas without banks, to handle routine financial tasks. Payfazz has reported 10 million monthly active users, and has been named one of Indonesia's top 10 fintechs.

Read more on Techcrunch:
https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/06/payfazz-gets-53-million-to-give-more-indonesians-access-to-financial-services

AEI lawyers Andrea Chee & Yuho Bong advised the Xfers Group.