International law firm Withers has been joined by leading hotels and hospitality partner Koh Tien Gui in its Singapore office.
Before joining Withers, Tien Gui was a partner in the Singapore office of an international law firm. As a hotels & hospitality specialist, he has previously worked in-house as Asia Pacific General Counsel at the Jumeriah and Marriott hotel groups. He is also currently an independent director of the fast-growing hotel chain Travelodge (Asia), owned by Singapore listed company ICP Ltd.
Tien Gui represents hotel operators, developers and owners of hotel developments and serviced apartments. He advises on hotel management, franchise and leasing agreements, joint ventures and real-property acquisitions, providing on-site consulting related to hotel operations, and advising on disputes and arbitration matters. He has extensive experience advising clients on cross-border transactions across Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia and Thailand.
In addition to working with hotel clients, Tien Gui also has a strong network of clients in the hospitality and fashion sectors.
Jeremy Wakeham, CEO of Withers’ business division, comments: “Tien Gui is truly a hotel and hospitality industry insider. He offers a unique perspective on the sector as he has experience as a legal advisor and as a hospitality entrepreneur, investor, operator, and in-house lawyer with major hotel groups. We’re delighted to have him join us, particularly at this time when the hotels and hospitality market in Asia is poised for a strong recovery post-pandemic.”
Tien Gui adds: “I am excited to be joining Withers and look forward to working with everyone in the international hotels and hospitality practice. Withers has a strong track record working with real estate developers, owners and investors, particularly in hotels and hospitality. In Asia, the firm’s wide range of expertise across family offices, finance, investment funds, real estate, corporate tax and dispute resolution provides an integrated platform for my clients’ commercial and legal needs.”
