Leon Yap

Leon Yap

Counsel Corporate & Finance

Singapore

+65 6302 2425

leon.yap@hoganlovells.com

Languages

English, Chinese

Leon Yap

Overview
Experience
Credentials
Insights and events

Leon is a Counsel with the International Debt Capital Markets practice at Hogan Lovells. He has over fifteen years of experience on DCM matters, advising both Issuers, DFIs and Dealers/Bookrunners on Reg S and Rule 144A Standalone Debt Offerings, Equity-Linked (Convertible and Exchangeable Bond) issuances, Green, Social and Sustainability bonds, Medium Term Note (MTN) and Euro-Commercial Paper (ECP)/Certificates of Deposit (CD) programmes, regulatory capital instruments and liability management exercises. He is a member of the global ESG board at Hogan Lovells and the Sustainable Finance practice in Asia-Pacific.

Leon has practised with international law firms in the UK and Europe, and has also worked at a number of leading investment banks across Europe on debt capital markets legal matters. He is a solicitor of England and Wales.

Leon has been identified as a “Rising Star” in DCM by the Legal 500 and by Euromoney/IFLR (Asia-Pacific) and has been ranked as a “Notable Practitioner for Capital Markets: Debt (Singapore)” in the IFLR1000 directory (2024/25). He has been cited as “a strong lawyer who is highly skilled at navigating legal risk in advising clients and does so in an approachable and comforting manner”. Several of his deals have won industry awards, including the IFLR Europe 2019 “Debt and Equity-Linked Deal of the Year”.

Representative experience

Advising International Finance Corporation (member of the World Bank Group) on its JPY16.5bn investment in a sustainability-linked bond issued by CapitaLand Ascott Trust.

Advising International Finance Corporation on its investment in a US$250 million green bond issued by Bank of the Philippine Islands to finance eligible green assets in the Philippines.

Advising BOC Aviation Limited on its US$15bn GMTN Programme and numerous issuances thereunder.

Advising Ausgrid Finance on its US$3bn Secured EMTN Programme.

Advising Transurban Finance on its US$10bn Secured EMTN Programme and issue of €650m Notes due 2033 thereunder.

Advising Agricultural Bank of China (DIFC Branch) on its US$5bn Certificate of Deposit Programme.

Advising J.P. Morgan, BNP Paribas and BofA Securities as Joint Lead Managers on the standalone issuance of €500m 60NC5.25 guaranteed subordinated hybrid notes by APA Infrastructure Limited.

Advising Xero Limited on the issue of US$925,000,000 1.625 per cent. Guaranteed Senior Unsecured Convertible Notes.

Advising Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited on the issue of AS450,000,000 2.875 per cent. Senior Convertible Notes.

Advising New Hope Corporation Limited on the issue of A$300,000,000 4.25 per cent. Senior Convertible Notes.

Advising Citi, Jefferies and J.P. Morgan on National Storage Finance Pty Ltd's issue of A$300,000,000 3.625 per cent. Guaranteed Exchangeable Notes.

Establishing over 40 Euro-Commercial Paper Programmes for key UK and European corporates in 2020 and 2021 (including for the Bank of England CCFF), acting for both Issuers and Dealers.*

*Matter handled prior to joining Hogan Lovells.

Credentials

Education

Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, The College of Law, London, 2008
Bachelor of Laws with Honours (LLB), The London School of Economics and Political Science, 2007

Bar admissions and qualifications