At Neo & Co., our Partners combine expertise and teamwork to deliver tailored, practical and effective legal advice and solutions. We are committed to excellence and dedicated to serving each client with care and professionalism.
Barrister‐at‐Law in the Honourable Society of Middle Temple
Advocate & Solicitor, High Court of Malaya
BRIEF OVERVIEW
Neo is the managing partner of the firm and heads the Corporate and Real Estate department of the firm. His main area of practice is real estate and corporate transactions such as acquisitions and disposal of real properties, leases, tenancies, and financing transactions, joint venture, shareholders’ agreements and sale and purchase of shares in private companies. Neo also advises on commercial transactions such as quarry related transactions and sale and purchase of business and assets.
Neo holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Reading, England. He was called to the Bar of England & Wales and is a Barrister-at-Law in the Honourable Society of Middle Temple. He was subsequently admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 2014. Neo then started his practice with the Corporate Real Estate department of a prominent law firm, Messrs Zul Rafique & Partners where he gained valuable experience and honed his expertise in corporate and real estate related transactions.
NOTABLE EXPERIENCE
Advised and acted for TRX City Sdn. Bhd., the master developer of the new international financial district in Kuala Lumpur known as Tun Razak Exchange, in the following transactions :
the joint venture arrangement with Lendlease Group of Australia to develop and complete a mixed development comprising retail, residential and hotel components within Tun Razak Exchange (including the disposal of lands within Tun Razak Exchange to the joint venture vehicle incorporated for the purpose of the joint venture).
the disposal of a parcel of freehold land measuring approximately 54,266 square metres to Affin Bank Berhad for its development of its new office building as its new headquarters within Tun Razak Exchange.
the disposal of a parcel of freehold land within Tun Razak Exchange in favour of HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad for its development of its new HSBC Malaysia TRX headquarters.
the disposal of a parcel of freehold land within Tun Razak Exchange pursuant to a share sale and purchase transaction between TRXC’s wholly owned subsidiary, KLIFD Sdn Bhd (“KLIFD”) and IJM RE Commercial Sdn Bhd (“IJM”), a wholly owned subsidiary of IJM Corporation Berhad for the disposal of 100% equity interest in Fairview Valley Sdn Bhd (“FVSB”) by KLIFD in favour of IJM. FVSB will build a 27-storey purpose built office tower in Tun Razak Exchange to be leased by the Prudential Group for use as its new Malaysian headquarters.
Advised and acted for a wholly-owned subsidiary of a technology corporation from the United States of America to secure a lease over a leasehold land in Johor to construct and complete a data centre on the said land.
Advised and acted for an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a company which is principally engaged in the provision of integrated freight forwarding and related services, logistics centre and related services and the shares of which are listed on the main board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, in its acquisition of two (2) parcels of leasehold lands in Klang, Negeri Selangor together with the warehouses, buildings, facilities and other structures erected thereon for a total consideration of RM46 mil.
Advised and acted for a client in its acquisition of a single storey factory building and double storey office building erected on a piece of leasehold land in Barat Daya, Pulau Pinang for a total consideration of RM38 mil.
Advised and acted for Feytech Holdings Bhd, a public listed company on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia, in its most recent completed transaction involving a joint venture with Wuhu Ruitai Auto Parts Co Ltd., officially announced in December 2024.
Advised and acted for Feytech Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Feytech Holdings Bhd, a public listed company on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia, in its recent acquisition of a 9.76 acres freehold industrial land in Perak for RM19.98mil.
Barrister‐at‐Law in the Honourable Society of Middle Temple
Advocate & Solicitor, High Court of Malaya
BRIEF OVERVIEW
Leo is a partner in the Corporate and Real Estate Group. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Manchester. He was called to the Bar of England & Wales and is a Barrister-at-Law in the Honourable Society of Middle Temple and subsequently admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 2018.
Prior to joining the firm, Leo gained valuable experience as a legal associate in the Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions and the Capital Markets practice groups at the esteemed law firm, Messrs Zul Rafique & Partners where he refined his expertise in domestic mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, takeovers, restructuring and other complex corporate transactions across a diverse range of industries.
NOTABLE EXPERIENCE
Assisted in advising an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a Hong Kong-listed corporation in its acquisition of 50.4% equity interest in a listed company principally involved in manufacturing of fibre-based products and conducted legal due diligence on the target group of companies.
Advised a listed company on the feasibility to list its wholly-owned subsidiary on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad and led the legal due diligence review on the subsidiary’s group of companies.
Advised the purchaser in its acquisition of 30% equity interest in a Malaysian company providing port operation and maintenance services and conducted legal due diligence review on the target company. Acted as Malaysian counsel to the underwriters on a rights issues exercise undertaken by a listed company.
Advised and issued a memorandum of opinion to an indirect subsidiary of a listed company on legal issues relating to the proposed redemption of redeemable preference shares through payment in kind.
Assisted in advising a shareholder in its disposal of equity interest in a listed company to a Chinese investor and prepared the share sale agreement in Mandarin.
Advised the vendor in its disposal of 99% equity interest in a Malaysian company operating the business for production and retailing of quality beverage.
Bailey is a partner in the Dispute Resolution Department. She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Northumbria and was admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 2012.
Prior to joining Messrs Neo & Co., Bailey served as a partner in the Litigation Practice Group of the renowned firm, Messrs Zul Rafique & Partners.
Bailey’s primary expertise lies in corporate and commercial litigation, where she represents clients in disputes arising from business transactions, corporate governance issues and contractual disagreements. She is also highly experienced in civil litigation, successfully handling matters such as tenancy disputes, defamation claims, probate and estate conflicts and tort-related cases. Furthermore, Bailey has extensive experience managing construction disputes where she advises and represents clients in resolving conflicts related to construction projects, contracts and associated legal complexities.
In addition to her litigation portfolio, Bailey regularly handles employment disputes, including wrongful termination claims and breaches of non-compete agreements, and provides guidance on regulatory compliance. She also represents clients in intellectual property claims, addressing issues such as trademark infringement, copyright disputes and the protection of proprietary rights.
NOTABLE EXPERIENCE
Advised and acted for a subsidiary of a public listed company in an application to vary or revoke a freezing order issued under Section 44 of Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
Advised and acted for Ace Dynamic Team Sdn. Bhd. (the holding company of a public listed company known as Go Innovate Asia Berhad) and its majority shareholder in defending against a minority oppression claim filed by one of its minority shareholders.
Advised and acted for a public listed company and its directors in defending against a claim filed by its former managing director in respect of the validity of a board of directors meeting convened and the resolutions passed therein.
Representing one of the directors (who is also a majority shareholder in the company) in a winding up proceeding commenced by the minority shareholder of the company. The grounds for winding up would include allegation that the director has acted in an unfair and/or unjust manner to the members and that it is just and equitable for the company to be dissolved.
Advised and acted for Zalam Corporation Sdn. Bhd., the main contractor, in construction matters and claims arising from or in connection with a project in Gopeng.
Advised and acted for Jotun Paints (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. in debt recovery and intellectual property related claims.
Representing an individual in a contentious probate proceeding involving an estate valued by the applicants/plaintiffs at over RM10 million.
Advised and acted for a well-known shopping mall operator in numerous tenancy disputes in particular during the period of pandemic where a number of tenants had raised the arguments of force majeure, frustration and statutory protection conferred upon by the Temporary Measures for Reducing the Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Act 2020 as means to escape their contractual obligations.
Advised and acted for a public listed company in defending against a claim filed by its former employee involving an alleged collateral contract which was made at the time the mutual separation scheme was offered.
Advised and acted for a private limited company in a land reference proceeding where it was contended that the amount of compensation granted by the Land Administrator was inadequate.
NOTABLE REPORTED CASES
Gogung Fusion Restaurant (KLCC) Sdn Bhd & Ors v Suria KLCC Sdn. Bhd. [2021] MLJU 2345
PBJV Group Sdn. Bhd & Anor v PRPC Utilities and Facilities Sdn. Bhd. [2021] 8 MLJ 448
