Malaysian law firm Christopher & Lee Ong, a member firm of Rajah & Tann Asia, has significantly strengthened its corporate team with the addition of five partners from local rival Adnan Sundra & Low.

The five partners are Adrian Chee, Jennifer Lee, Justin Chua, Jacyn Phuah, and Adrian Yap, and the move is part of the firm’s planned expansion to meet rising demand and growth in Malaysia, CLO said in a statement.

“Foreign investors eyeing Malaysia as a springboard to penetrate the Southeast Asian market, combined with the government’s various initiatives and stimulus packages, also point to there being sustained demand for top-tier premium legal services by highly skilled and seasoned legal professionals,” the firm said.

Chee, who joins CLO as head of its M&A practice, spent 27 years at ASL, making partner in 2003. He has expertise advising on the acquisition and disposal of strategic stakes in private and public companies in the consumer retail, education, energy, financial services, manufacturing, real estate and technology sectors.

“I was attracted to the firm being a member of the Rajah & Tann Asia network, which will allow my clients to have access to the best legal services in the region,” Chee said in a statement.

Phuah, who will also be joining the M&A practice, had been a partner at ASL since 2020. She earlier worked at Rahmat Lim & Partners and Shearn Delamore & Co.

Lee and Yap will join CLO’s banking and finance practice. They have experience advising clients on financings, debt capital market deals, coveting both conventional and Islamic banking. Lee had been a partner at ASL since 2016, with previous roles at ZICO Law and WongPartnership. Meanwhile, Yap was a managing associate at ASL, and joins CLO as a newly minted partner.

Chua joins CLO’s capital markets group, bringing significant equity capital market transaction experience. He has been a partner at ASL since 2019.