Accolades
The quality of our service is recognised by these recent awards:
- Asia Business Law Journal’s Malaysia Law Firm Awards 2024: Outbound Investment.
- IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2023: National Law Firm of the Year (Malaysia).
- ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2023: Equity Market Deal of the Year.
- ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2023: M&A Deal of the Year.
- Asia Business Law Journal’s Malaysia Law Firm Awards 2022: Capital Markets.
- 2022 Global Law Experts Annual Awards: Most Respected Law Firm of the Year in Malaysia.
- IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2021: National Law Firm of the Year (Malaysia).
- In-House Community: Malaysian Firm of the Year 2021.
- ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2019: Malaysia Deal Firm of the Year.
- ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2019: Debt Market Deal of the Year.
- ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2019: Dealmaker of the Year (Samuel Hong).
- ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2018: Equity Market Deal of the Year.
- ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2018: Overseas Practice Law Firm of the Year.
- ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2018: M&A Deal of the Year (Midsize).
- IFLR Asia Awards 2018: Most Innovative National Law Firm of the Year (Malaysia).
- IFN Awards Deals of the Year 2017: Malaysia Deal of the Year.
- In House Community’s Asian MENA Counsel Firm of The Year 2017: Banking & Finance, Corporate and M&A, Insurance and Restructuring & Insolvency.
- ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2015 Equity Market Deal of the Year: Privatisation and delisting of Al-Hadharah Boustead REIT and Boustead Plantations IPO.
- In House Community’s Asian MENA Counsel Firm of The Year 2014: Capital Markets, Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions, and Most Responsive Domestic Firm.
Rankings
KAAP is acknowledged as an industry leader by
respected legal directories and publications:
Asia Business Law Journal’s Top 100 lawyers in Malaysia 2025:
- Abdul Kadir Kassim
- Andri Aidham Badri
- Tan Kong Yam
- Samuel Hong
IFLR1000 2025 – Top Tier Firm
Ranked in:
- M&A
- Capital markets: Equity
- Project development: Infrastructure
- Banking and finance
- Project development: Energy
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2025 – Leading Partner
Ranked in:
- Corporate and M&A
IFLR1000 2024 – Top Tier Firm
Ranked as Tier 1 in:
- Capital Markets (Equity)
asialaw Awards 2024 – Highly Recommended Firm
Ranked in:
- Corporate and M&A
- Capital Markets
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2024 – Leading Individual
Ranked in:
- Corporate and M&A
IFLR1000 2023 – Top Tier Firm
Ranked as Tier 1 in:
- Capital Markets (Debt)
- Capital Markets (Equity)
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2023 – Top Tier
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2023 – Leading Firm
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2023 – Leading Individual
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2023 – Recommended Lawyer
Ranked in:
- Capital Markets
- Corporate and M&A
IFLR1000 2022 – Top Tier Firm
IFLR1000 31ˢᵗ Edition – Top Tier Firm
Ranked as Tier 1 in:
- Capital Markets (Debt)
- Capital Markets (Equity)
Chambers Asia Pacific 2021 – Top Ranked
Ranked in:
- Banking & Finance
- Banking & Finance (Debt Capital Markets)
- Corporate/Commercial (Equity Capital Markets)
- Corporate and M&A
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2021 – Leading Firm
Ranked in:
- Islamic Finance
- Corporate and M&A
- Capital Markets
Banking & Finance
Firm of the Year in:
- Capital Markets
- Restructuring & Insolvency
Honourable Mention in:
- Corporate and M&A
Chambers Asia Pacific 2020 – Top Ranked
Ranked in:
- Islamic Finance
- Banking & Finance (Islamic)
- Banking & Finance (Debt Capital Markets)
- Corporate & Commercial (Equity Capital Markets)
- Corporate and M&A
IFLR 1000 30ᵗʰ Edition – Top Tier Firm
Ranked as Tier 1 in:
- Capital Markets (Debt)
- Capital Markets (Equity)
KAAP is also ranked in:
Chambers and Partners: Asia-Pacific
- 2025 – Banking & Finance, Corporate/Commercial: Equity Capital Markets, Corporate/M&A
- 2024 – Corporate & Commercial (Equity Capital Markets), Corporate and M&A
- 2023 – Corporate & Commercial (Equity Capital Markets), Corporate and M&A
- 2022 – Islamic Finance, Corporate & Commercial (Equity Capital Markets), Corporate and M&A
Key Firsts & Landmark Transactions
These are some of KAAP’s landmark transactions and first-of-its-kind deals, showcasing the innovation and depth of experience of our expert teams:
- UOB Malaysia’s Acquisition of Citibank Consumer Banking. Winner of the “M&A Deal of the Year” at the ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2023.
- IPO of Farm Fresh Berhad – the largest IPO in Malaysia since July 2021. Winner of the “Equity Market Deal of the Year” at the ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2023.
- IPO of Leong Hup International Berhad – the largest IPO in Malaysia in 2019.
- MBSB Bank Berhad’s Structured Covered Murabahah Facility – Winner of the “Debt Market Deal of the Year” at the ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2019.
- The demerger of Sime Darby Berhad into 3 separate listed companies – the largest corporate transaction in Malaysia in 2017. Winner of the “Equity Market Deal of the Year” at the ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2018.
- IPO of Lotte Chemical Holding Berhad – the biggest IPO in Malaysia in 2017.
- Acquisition of GHL Systems Berhad by Actis Capital – recognised by The Edge publication as the best M&A deal for 2017
- Sime Darby Berhad’s RM2.5 billion share placement – the largest equity capital market deal in Malaysia for 2016.
- The privatisation of Nirvana Asia Ltd. – the second-biggest M&A transaction in Malaysia for 2016.
- Merger of Celebrity Fitness and Fitness First in Asia – Winner of the “M&A Deal of the Year (Midsize)” at the ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2018.
- Privatisation and delisting of Al-Hadharah Boustead REIT and Boustead Plantations IPO – the first privatisation of a REIT in Malaysia.
- Reverse Take-Over of MRCB Quill REIT – the first reverse take-over of a REIT in Malaysia.
- IPO of IHH Healthcare Berhad – the first concurrent dual listing in Malaysia and Singapore. Recognised as best IPO/capital markets deal, Malaysia in 2012 by IFR Asia and Finance Asia.
- Synergy Drive merger – one of the most complex and the first merger of 3 large diversified groups with 8 listed companies emerging as the enlarged Sime Darby • Group. Won Deal of the Year at the National Mergers and Acquisitions Awards 2008.
- Takeover of Southern Bank Berhad by Bumiputra-Commerce Holding Berhad (now the CIMB Group). The largest bank merger exercise in Malaysia and the first time that the business and asset route coupled with a voluntary general offer was used for a takeover.
- Recognised by Finance Asia as Deal of the Year – Malaysia for 2006.
- Legoland Malaysia – Malaysia’s first international standard theme park situated in the Iskandar Malaysia region.
- IPO of Astro – the first listing of a foreign corporation in Malaysia.