Jeff Leong

Jeff is a highly regarded corporate lawyer with 38 years of experience practising across Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. He has deep expertise on IPOs, M&A, and complex cross-border transactions in sectors such as banking & finance, oil & gas, shipping & logistics, and technology.

His illustrious career includes pioneering work as part of Singapore’s first cross-border legal team in a large Singapore law firm (1993–1999), where he played a key role in establishing affiliate firms in Hong Kong and Malaysia. Today, Jeff leads Messrs Jeff Leong, Poon & Wong, a premier full-service Malaysian law firm celebrating its 26th anniversary this year. With offices in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Singapore Special Economic Zone, the firm is a testament to his leadership and vision.

Recognized as one of Malaysia’s Top 100 Lawyers (Asia Business Law Journal’s A-List), he is also listed in The Legal 500’s Hall of Fame for Corporate and M&A and the Private Practice Powerlist 2024 (M&A Asia Pacific). His contributions to Malaysia’s capital markets include designing the due diligence framework in 1999, a system that remains influential today.

Beyond practice, Jeff holds prominent roles in international legal bodies: 

• Co-Chair, Corporate, Securities & Investment Law Committee, LAWASIA
• Co-Chair, Belt and Road Initiative Standing Committee, LAWASIA
• Council Member, Belt and Road International Legal Services Association (China)
• President, RCEP Business Leaders Forum
• Accredited Mediator, Malaysia International Mediation Centre & leading Chinese mediation institutions
• Arbitrator, Borneo International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation, Nanning Arbitration Commission, and others

An educator at heart, Jeff serves as a part-time lecturer at Kobe University and heads crossborder Japan and China services groups serving the ASEAN market.

His accolades include the LegalOne Stellar Accolade 2024 (Southeast Asia), further cementing his reputation as a trusted adviser in heavily regulated industries.