Legal

Reed Smith appoints Dr. Gregory Xu as banking and finance partner in Singapore

Xu advises on high-value, cross-border transactions across a wide range of sectors, including transportation — shipping, aviation, and logistics — trade, life sciences, energy, and technology.

Published

7 months ago

January 6, 2026

Admin

Reed Smith appoints Dr. Gregory Xu as banking and finance partner in Singapore

Global law firm Reed Smith on Monday (5 January) announced the appointment of banking and finance partner Dr. Gregory Xu to its Singapore office.

Xu, who joins from Stephenson Harwood, where he led the general banking and project finance offering in Southeast Asia and served on the firm’s Supervisory Council, its executive committee, will join Reed Smith’s Transportation Industry Group.

With over 15 years of experience, Xu advises on high-value, cross-border transactions across a wide range of sectors, including transportation — shipping, aviation, and logistics — trade, life sciences, energy, and technology. He regularly acts for financial institutions, funds, export credit agencies, leasing houses, asset owners, and Fortune 500 companies on complex financing, restructuring, and enforcement matters.

Xu has a strong track record in green and sustainability-linked lending and advises on multi-jurisdictional insolvency-related enforcement and restructuring matters. He also brings extensive experience in general corporate and commercial matters.

Richard Hakes, chair of Reed Smith’s Transportation Industry Group, said: “Gregory is an outstanding addition to our team, bringing deep knowledge of ship finance, aviation finance, and banking throughout Southeast Asia.

“His arrival further strengthens our capabilities in Singapore and reinforces our commitment to the maritime, aviation, and broader transportation sectors across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

“Working closely with our shipping teams in Hong Kong and Shanghai and our aviation team in Singapore as part of our global Transportation Industry Group, Gregory will enhance our ability to provide seamless, cross-border support to clients operating in one of the world’s most dynamic industries.”

Xu commented: “Reed Smith’s global platform, sector focus, and collaborative culture are hugely impressive. The firm’s market-leading finance practice and its long-standing reputation in general banking, asset finance, and project finance were major draws for me. I’m delighted to be joining such a highly collegiate team with a clear strategy for growth in the region and look forward to contributing to the continued expansion of the firm’s finance offering across Asia-Pacific.”

Praj Samant, Reed Smith’s Asia-Pacific managing partner, said: “We are delighted to welcome Gregory to the Singapore team. His arrival further strengthens our offering in one of the region’s most strategically important sectors. We look forward to the valuable contributions he will bring to the firm locally and globally.”

Xu is recognised as a leading practitioner by multiple legal directories. Chambers Asia-Pacific ranks him as a “Leading Individual” for Banking & Finance (India), while The Legal 500 identifies him as a “Leading Partner,” “Next Generation Partner,” and “Recommended” lawyer across Banking & Finance, Asset Finance, Projects, and Shipping in Singapore and in the foreign jurisdictions of India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. He is also recognised by IFLR1000 for banking and project finance.

Photo credit: Reed Smith
Published: 6 January, 2026

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Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

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18 hours ago

July 21, 2026

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Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Published

18 hours ago

July 21, 2026

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Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Singapore: Liquidator of Nan Shan Maritime Pte Ltd issues notice of dividend

Third interim dividend to admitted unsecured claims of Nan Shan Maritime is payable from 15 July, according to Government Gazette notice.

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6 days ago

July 16, 2026

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A notice of dividend for Nan Shan Maritime Pte Ltd, which is currently in creditors’ voluntary liquidation, was published on the Government Gazette on Wednesday (15 July).

The following are the details of the notice:

Name of Company : Nan Shan Maritime (Pte.) Ltd.(In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No. : 201701967H
Address of Registered Office : 10 Anson Road, #10-10, International Plaza, Singapore 079903
Amount per centum : 5.00 Per Centum of all admitted unsecured, claims
First and Final or Otherwise : Third Interim
When Payable : 15 July 2026
Where Payable : Entitlements will be made by way of cheque.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 16 July, 2026