Tao Koon Chiam
Tao Koon Chiam

Tao Koon Chiam

Director, Ashurst ADTLaw

Singapore

+65 6923 3415 | +65 9839 9029
taokoon.chiam@ashurst-adtlaw.com

Introduction

Tao Koon is a negotiator and trusted M&A adviser across Southeast Asia, combining strong legal experience with sharp commercial instinct for sovereign wealth funds, PE, and family offices.

Tao Koon Chiam heads our M&A practice for Southeast Asia and is a director in the corporate transactions practice at Ashurst ADTLaw* and is a corporate transactions authority who focuses on private equity, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, including joint ventures and corporate restructuring.

His extensive experience spans a wide range of industries and he is well regarded for his legal knowledge, business acumen, negotiation skills and being a trusted adviser to his clients, including sovereign wealth funds, private equity funds and family offices.

Ranked highly regarded by IFLR1000 and recommended by Lexology Index (formerly Who's Who Legal) for M&A work, Tao Koon is also consistently recognized by leading international legal directories such as Chambers and The Legal 500. He has been described by clients as "a master negotiator" and "trusted M&A adviser" who is "very commercial and business-savvy". Prior to joining Ashurst ADTLaw, Tao Koon was a senior partner at a leading Southeast Asia-based law firm where he was co-head of the venture capital practice.

*Ashurst ADTLaw is a Formal Law Alliance in Singapore between Ashurst LLP and ADTLaw LLC.

  • A leading property developer on its acquisition of an industrial site in Singapore, establishment of JV with capital partners to develop land into industrial project, strata subdivision and forward sales, and bank financing.
  • CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust ("CICT") on the S$3.9 billion proposed acquisition of Paragon, a premier freehold integrated development comprising a retail podium and medical and office towers, from Cuscaden Peak - among the largest single-asset commercial property acquisitions in Singapore.
  • A leading construction firm in the acquisition of a 274-room award-winning heritage hotel in Singapore involving a back-to-back financing, asset management arrangements and advising on financing and regulatory issues.
  • A sovereign wealth fund | 2024 | As lead investor in the Series C fundraising round of a next-generation platform for data and AI governance.
  • Carousell (a unicorn startup and the leading online classifieds provider in Southeast Asia) | 2024 | On its acquisition of the business of LuxLexicon (the largest luxury resellers of designer handbags in Singapore).
  • Sun Venture | 2026 | On its investment in PSD Academy.
  • A sovereign wealth fund | 2023 | In the sale of its stake in warehouse assets in Indonesia.
  • AirCarbon | 2022 | ADGM Based Carbon Exchange in its fund raising from Mubadala.
  • A sovereign wealth fund | 2022 | In its joint venture with a real estate investment manager to invest into logistics assets in India. 
  • PrimeMovers Equity | 2023 | In its acquisition of a majority stake in Engtek Group, a die casting and precision machining components manufacturer with facilities in Malaysia and Philippines. 

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