Soo Chye LEE

About the LawyerExperienceLee Soo Chye is the Managing Director of Oaks Legal LLC, a Singapore-based law firm specialising in corporate law and mergers and acquisitions. He was called to the Singapore Bar in 1990, demonstrating over three decades of legal experience. At Oaks Legal, he and his team have managed complex cross-border transactions across the ASEAN region, including markets such as China, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. One notable example of his firm's expertise includes facilitating the sale of a majority stake in a company with operations spanning multiple jurisdictions, requiring a thorough understanding of diverse legal frameworks and cultural nuances.SpecialtyLee Soo Chye specialises in corporate and commercial law, with particular focus on mergers and acquisitions.Beyond his leadership role at Oaks Legal LLC, Lee Soo Chye has built a longstanding career in corporate and M&A practice, serving a broad spectrum of clients including start-ups, small and medium enterprises, listed companies, financial institutions, statutory bodies and individual business owners. His work consistently centres on structuring, negotiating and implementing acquisitions and disposals, with an emphasis on cross-border transactions within ASEAN and other key Asian markets.ExperienceLee Soo Chye was called to the Singapore Bar in 1990, and has amassed more than three decades of experience in corporate and M&A practice. Over the course of his career, he has advised on numerous share and business acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures, often involving multi-jurisdictional elements and complex regulatory considerations.As Managing Director of Oaks Legal LLC, he leads a team focusing on corporate law and mergers and acquisitions, steering the firm’s involvement in sophisticated cross-border deals across the ASEAN region and beyond. His experience includes:

• Advising on the sale and purchase of shares in companies operating in multiple ASEAN jurisdictions, including China, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
• Leading the facilitation of the sale of a majority stake in a firm with operations spanning several countries, requiring coordination of transaction structures, due diligence and regulatory compliance across diverse legal systems.
• Working extensively with foreign counsel in multi-jurisdictional matters, ensuring that Singapore-based clients achieve commercially sound outcomes while remaining compliant with local laws in target jurisdictions.

Prior to his current role at Oaks Legal LLC, he served as Managing Partner at Wee Swee Teow LLP, further demonstrating long-standing leadership in prominent Singapore law firms and sustained involvement in corporate and transactional work. Over the years, he has developed particular familiarity with the practical challenges of cross-border M&A, including timing, regulatory approvals, and integration of differing legal and cultural expectations.In addition to his transactional practice, he contributes to the broader corporate and M&A community by sharing insights through interviews and roundtable discussions focused on cross-border mergers and acquisitions in Asia, where he discusses deal processes, due diligence and strategic considerations for investors entering regional markets.SpecialtyLee Soo Chye’s practice is concentrated on mergers and acquisitions within the broader field of corporate and commercial law. His core focus areas include:

• Cross-border M&A transactionsHe regularly advises on acquisitions and disposals involving entities across ASEAN and Asian markets, including China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Vietnam. His work covers the full transaction life cycle: initial structuring, term sheet negotiation, drafting and negotiating share purchase agreements, coordinating legal due diligence across jurisdictions, managing closing mechanics and post-completion obligations.
• Private company share sales and purchasesHe has significant experience in advising buyers and sellers on the sale and purchase of shares in privately held companies, often involving complex shareholder arrangements, earn-out structures, and bespoke protections for minority and majority stakeholders.
• Multi-jurisdictional transaction managementA key aspect of his specialty is navigating differing corporate, regulatory and cultural frameworks across multiple countries. He coordinates with foreign counsel and local advisers to harmonise documentation, ensure regulatory filings are properly handled, and align deal terms with the requirements of each jurisdiction.
• Corporate structuring for M&AHis M&A work frequently involves advising on holding structures, investment vehicles and tax‑efficient configurations for acquisitions and divestments, especially where business operations or asset bases are spread over several countries.
• Risk management and due diligence in M&AHe places strong emphasis on thorough legal due diligence, complemented where necessary by financial, tax and operational reviews. This approach is particularly important in emerging markets and complex cross-border deals, where identifying and allocating risks early in the process is critical to successful closing.
• Advisory work for a diverse client baseHis M&A practice spans a wide range of clients, from start-ups and family-owned businesses seeking strategic investors, to listed companies and financial institutions undertaking acquisitions, joint ventures or business reorganisations. This diversity allows him to tailor transaction strategies to the specific commercial objectives and regulatory profiles of each client.

In addition to his transactional work, he contributes to legal publications and practical guidance in areas closely related to corporate and M&A practice, including “Doing Business in Singapore,” “Data protection in Singapore,” and “Privacy in Singapore,” as well as articles on data protection and privacy in the Personal Data Protection Digest from 2017 to 2022. These contributions reflect his understanding of the regulatory and data governance landscape that increasingly intersects with modern M&A transactions.He also serves and advises various non-profit and welfare organisations as a board member and legal advisor, bringing his corporate and M&A perspective to governance, restructuring and strategic partnerships in the non-profit sector.EducationLee Soo Chye holds an LLB (Hons) in Law from the National University of Singapore, completed in 1989. He later pursued postgraduate studies in taxation, obtaining a Masters of Taxation from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). This combination of legal and tax training enhances his ability to advise on the structuring and execution of mergers and acquisitions, particularly where cross-border tax considerations and deal efficiency are central to the transaction.

• Achievements and Recognition
  • Gold recognition / profile in Global Law Experts for M&A: Lee Soo Chye of Oaks Legal LLC is described as “recognised for his extensive experience in cross-border M&A across the ASEAN region, advising on complex multi-jurisdictional transactions.”
  • Managing Director of Oaks Legal LLC: the Global Law Experts profile identifies Lee Soo Chye as Managing Director, indicating a senior leadership role at the firm.
  • Best M&A Law Firm 2026: Oaks Legal LLC was named “Best M&A Law Firm 2026” in the Singapore Business Awards by APAC Insider; this is firm-level recognition, and the result directly names the firm associated with Soo Chye Lee.