SNG & Partners goes international; Opens office in Singapore with Rahul Sud as Partner-In-Charge

SNG & Partners has opened an office in Singapore, with Associate Partner Rahul Sud relocating there to head operations at the new office. The requisite approval was obtained from the Attorney General of Singapore to set up a branch office..The firm will only advise on issues related to Indian law, focusing on corporate matters. Amit Aggarwal, Head of Corporate Practice will divide his time between Delhi and Singapore, assisting Rahul in setting up the office..Speaking to Bar & Bench on the decision to open an office in Singapore, Amit said, “We want to assist our clients between the India-Singapore and India-Hong Kong corridors.”.He added, “Many of the banks and financial institutions that are operating in India like Standard Chartered, Citibank and JP Morgan have their regional headquarters at Singapore and Hong Kong. Most of the important external commercial borrowings and related transactions are being looked at from Singapore and Hong Kong, since these cities remain the regional headquarters.”.In the second phase of growth, the firm intends to assist its clients who want to expand to international markets..“We want to assist our clients, who are interested in international acquisitions or want to have a footprint in the International market. For that purpose, the Indian corporates have a preference to start up their ventures through Singapore as the India-Singapore tax treaty is quite transparent and from a sentiment perspective, is well perceived”, added Amit..While this branch will be the firm’s first international office, it already has a pan India presence..Several Indian firms have already set up branch offices in Singapore, including Dua Associates, Lexygen, Nishith Desai, Wadia Ghandy and Kochhar & Co with the latest entrant being Singh & Singh.