Gwee Chai Lian (Ashley)
Partner
Ms. Gwee Chai Lian (Ashley) is a Partner of the firm. Her practice covers a broad spectrum of corporate and commercial work.
She has extensive experience in advising corporations, including public listed and government-linked companies, on corporate and commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate structuring and restructuring, equity crowdfunding, franchising, licensing, complex contractual drafting, and corporate compliance matters. She also advises on cross-border investments and complex corporate financing transactions, and has been actively involved in strategic fundraising exercises such as rights issues and private placements.
Apart from her conventional corporate and commercial legal practice, Ashley has experience in providing advice on Malaysian aviation related matters, such as aviation financing transactions and the due conveyance and registration of aircrafts on the local civil aviation register. She also regularly advises on real estate transactions, including real estate sale and purchase and commercial leasing transactions.
Ashley regularly acts for high-profile clients across various industries, including technology, media and entertainment, healthcare, automotive, and food and beverage sectors. Her recent work includes advising on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, IPO-related corporate restructuring, debt restructuring of up to RM100 million, and strategic joint ventures involving listed companies. She also advises foreign investors on regulatory compliance and market entry into Malaysia.
Fluent in English, Mandarin, and Malay, Ashley plays an active role in the firm’s China Desk, assisting Chinese-speaking clients with inbound investments, joint ventures, and legal compliance in Malaysia.
In recognition of her contributions, Ashley was named a finalist in the Asian Legal Business (ALB) Malaysia Law Awards 2025 under the category of “Woman Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm)”. Under her leadership, the firm’s Corporate and Commercial Practice was also nominated in the category of “Transactional Boutique Law Firm of the Year” at the ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2025.
Ashley graduated with a First-Class Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degree from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom in 2012. She subsequently sat for and obtained the Certificate in Legal Practice from the Malaysian Legal Profession Qualifying Board. For her efforts in the Certificate in Legal Practice, she was awarded the Tun Hamid Omar Foundation Award for National Top CLP Student in the country.
Prior to joining Messrs Yeoh Shim Siow & Lay Kuan, Ashley practised at several large firms including Messrs. Raja Darryl and Loh and Messrs. Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill.
- Corporate & Commercial
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Corporate Structuring and Restructuring
- Private Equity and Venture Capital
- Foreign Direct Investment and China Desk Advisory
- LLB (Hons) University of Liverpool (1st Class)
- Certificate in Legal Practice (Tun Hamid Omar Foundation Award)
- Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya
- Company Secretary
- Advised on the RM15 million acquisition of a minority equity stake in a licensed money services business in Malaysia, including full legal due diligence, regulatory liaison with Bank Negara Malaysia, and preparation of the subscription and shareholders’ agreements.
- Advised Malaysia’s second-largest pension fund on its proposed acquisition of substantial equity interests in two foreign-owned insurance companies in Malaysia, including local legal due diligence and regulatory mapping.
- Represented a SGX-listed corporate group in multiple Malaysian acquisitions, including full-scope legal due diligence, regulatory and licensing review, and drafting and negotiation of the share purchase agreements, shareholder arrangements, and transitional documentation.
- Advised a Chinese-listed conglomerate on its proposed acquisition of equity interest in a Malaysian G7-registered construction company, including corporate structuring, legal and land due diligence, and negotiation of transaction documents.
- Advised on the equity subscription by one of China’s largest corporate groups into a Malaysian company specialising in durian processing and export, including company-level and asset-level due diligence and investment documentation.
- Lead counsel in a RM100 million debt restructuring for a Malaysian holding company and its subsidiaries, involving negotiation of restructuring agreements, security releases, and stakeholder coordination.
- Advised a Singapore-based lender on the structuring and documentation of a secured financing transaction involving Malaysian industrial property.
- Advised on the issuance of redeemable preference shares (RPS) and intercompany shareholder arrangements for internal group funding purposes.
- Drafted commercial contracts for a renewable energy company’s solar plant installation projects in Malaysia.
- Advised on a joint venture with a Tanzanian partner to develop and operate a chlor-alkali chemical manufacturing plant, including EPC and subcontract arrangements via a UAE holding vehicle.
- Assisted an aquaculture group in drafting contracts for the construction of inland farming and processing facilities.
- Represented a resort development company in negotiating long-term tenancy and land conversion agreements with a public-listed landlord.
- Advised foreign lenders and leasing companies on Malaysian aviation laws in relation to aircraft purchase, lease, and financing, including securitisation structures.
- Advised on the RM31.5 million acquisition of an agricultural lease in Malaysia, including land due diligence and regulatory issues.
- Provided regulatory and licensing advice to a Malaysian public-listed beverage company on domestic compliance and marketing practices.
- Drafted and negotiated high-value corporate agreements for one of the world’s largest multinational conglomerates with Malaysian operations.
- Advised on a government-retrofitting project for public hospitals and healthcare institutions across Malaysia.
- Advised a state-owned company on its proposed acquisition of an entire tower block in a mixed-use development in Kuala Lumpur.
- Represented a state-owned corporation in the negotiation of a concession involving the redevelopment of government land into sporting and leisure facilities in Johor.
- Advised on the RM15.3 million acquisition of a long-term lease from the Federal Lands Commissioner.
- Advised a Malaysian listed issuer on the issuance of new equity to a Taiwanese strategic investor exceeding USD15 million in value.
- Acted for a Malaysian F&B group on licensing, brand ownership, and operational structuring across multiple entities.
- Acted for a major Malaysian event organiser in structuring and documenting a regional joint venture for international concert production and rights exploitation.
- Frequently advises Chinese-speaking clients from mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore on inbound investments and business expansion into Malaysia.
- Assisted Chinese investors in negotiating joint venture and shareholder arrangements for entry into the Malaysian healthcare, automotive, and retail sectors.
- Regularly drafts and translates bilingual (English–Mandarin) legal documents, including shareholders’ agreements, subscription agreements, licensing contracts, tenancy agreements, and option instruments.
- Supports the firm’s China Desk in regulatory mapping, investment structuring, land ownership compliance, and business licensing for PRC and Taiwan-based investors.