Profile
Jake Robson is the Co-Managing Shareholder of the Singapore office and head of M&A for South and Southeast Asia. His practice focuses on advising both strategic and private capital clients on complex cross-border deals throughout the region. In addition to M&A, Jake advises clients on venture capital fundraisings and financial services distribution transactions.
Jake represents clients across a wide range of sectors, with a particular focus on technology and telecommunications, infrastructure (in particular digital infrastructure), financial services, fintech, real estate and logistics.
Capabilities
Experience
- Advised EBOS Group Limited on its acquisition of health care products distributor LifeHealthcare Group Ltd. (valued at A$1.17b). Also advised on the ~A$642m placement, up to A$100m share purchase plan and A$540m new term debt facilities. This strategic transaction supports EBOS expansion into Southeast Asia. This required significant legal due diligence and structuring work across 6 jurisdictions in Southeast Asia plus Hong Kong.°
- Advised MUFG and its affiliated group companies
- on its ~US$700m investment into Grab and associated regional distribution JV as well as the proposed landmark de-SPAC of Grab with a US$40b valuation for Grab, which set a record for the largest de-SPAC merger in history.°
- on its US$200m investment in and strategic collaboration with Southeast Asia FinTech unicorn Akulaku.°
- Advised International PE backed data centre platform on the US$300m+ acquisition of four data centres from Indosat-Ooredoo-Hutchison in Indonesia.°
- Advised a confidential client on a US$1b digital infrastructure development in North Asia.°
- Advised REA Group
- on an agreement to increase its ownership interest in Elara Technologies. Elara Technologies is India’s fastest growing digital real estate business by audience reach. The transaction opens up significant long-term growth opportunities in the Indian market and will add to REA Groups’ already significant footprint in Asia and Australia.°
- on the divestment of its Malaysia and Thai businesses to PropertyGuru and its investment into the Property Guru IPO on the NYSE, which is to be executed through a "de-SPAC" transaction with an equity value of US$1.78b.°
- Advised Axiata Group Berhad on the proposed acquisition of a minority equity stake in a Vietnamese telecoms operator through the latter’s equitization.°
- Advised HSBC on its acquisition of PT Bank Ekonomi Raharja Tbk, one of the 20 largest banks in Indonesia determined by assets, for a consideration of US$607.5m.°
- Advised a confidential Chinese client on a large battery metals supply chain investment in Indonesia including multiple joint venture, project and offtake agreements.°
- Advised a leading Fintech company on the sale of its stake in an international payments company and acquisition of a minority stake in a peer-to-peer currency exchange.°
- Advised an international real estate fund on greenfield/brownfield data centre developments in Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines.°
- Advised Softbank Vision Fund on several rounds of its investment into Grab, and its businesses in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Myanmar, amounting to over US$2b in total.°
- Advised Spinnaker Emerging Markets funds
- on their acquisition of convertible notes in Rustan Supercentres, one of the largest supermarket chains in the Philippines, the subsequent restructuring and sale of those convertible notes to the family holding the majority stake in the company.°
- on their acquisition of warrants in Atlas Mining, one of the largest mining companies in the Philippines.°
- Advised AXA SA on its acquisition of certain Asian businesses (valued at A$9.8b) in connection with AMP Limited’s takeover of AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Limited. This transaction involved structuring advice and the coordination of complex regulatory advice in 10 jurisdictions. This transaction was shortlisted for Asian Legal Business’s Southeast Asia M&A Deal of the year.°
- Advised Climate Change Capital on its proposed investment of controlling stakes in two wind power projects in the Philippines together with associated joint venture arrangements with the local partner.°
- Boost Holdings Sdn Bhd and RHB: advised Axiata’s FinTech unit, Boost Holdings Sdn Bhd and RHB on their joint bid for a digital bank license in Malaysia.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Robson prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig Singapore LLP.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Chambers Asia Pacific
- Leading Individual, Corporate/M&A: International - Singapore, 2009-2024
- Recognized Practitioner, Insurance – Singapore
- Listed, Chambers Global, Corporate/M&A: International, 2009-2024
- Listed, IFLR1000, Corporate/M&A 2009-2024
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in Singapore, M&A
- Corporate Law, 2014-2025
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2013-2022
- INTL Global Awards, 2022
- Selected, FinTech Sector Lawyer of the Year in Singapore
- Selected, Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year in Singapore
- Selected, Lawyer Network Annual Awards, Lawyer of the Year in Singapore, Mergers & Acquisitions, FinTech and Venture Capital, 2022
- Listed, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Singapore > Corporate and M&A: Foreign Firms, Leading Individuals, 2009-2023
- Member, UK Solicitors Regulation Authority, 2000-Present
Credentials
Education
- GDL, College of Law London, 1996
- B.A., University of Exeter, 1995
Admissions
- England and Wales
- Singapore, foreign lawyer
Languages
- English, Native
- French, Fluent
- Italian, Fluent