WHO AM I?
Michael Walter
Michael studied law at the University of Cambridge and graduated BA in 1978 and MA in 1982. He has an MBA from Singapore Management University (SMU) and is currently studying part-time at INSEAD in Fontainebleau for a Master’s in Consulting and Coaching for Change (MCCC).
Until his retirement from full-time legal practice in September 2015, Michael was a senior partner and consultant at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP (HSF), one of the world’s largest international law firms, based in its Singapore office from 2012.
Michael was an executive member of the HSF Partnership Council, and the Global Head of the firm’s Corporate Division for five years from 2005 to 2010; he was the firm’s Managing Partner for South East Asia from 2012 until his retirement from the firm in 2015.
Michael’s 36-year career as a corporate lawyer in private practice involved him in numerous high profile transactions across a range of company and commercial work. This included takeovers (both friendly and hostile), mergers, acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, demergers and corporate reconstructions, privatisations, equity and debt offerings, corporate governance, and stock exchange and takeover panel cases.
Michael’s principal career focus was on building a practice as the “go to” trusted adviser to Chairmen, CEOs, CFOs and other C-suite executives, senior board directors and business leaders. Michael had extensive involvement advising them on M&A, capital raising, strategic planning, governance, risk avoidance and crisis management.
Since Michael’s retirement from full-time legal practice, he has established a Singapore consultancy company which aims to provide services to clients, acting in the capacity of a non-executive director, trustee, project manager, consultant or coach to assist in areas of leadership, governance, strategy, planning, training or development.
Michael is a Member of the Singapore Institute of Directors (MSID).
MY SERVICES
Michael’s principal career focus was on his role as the “go-to” trusted advisor to Chairmen, CEOs, CFOs and other C-suite executives, senior executives and non-executive board directors and other global business leaders. This included advising on takeovers, mergers, acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, demergers and corporate reconstructions, privatisations, equity and debt offerings, corporate governance, and stock exchange and takeover panel cases.
EXPERIENCE
Michael’s career for over 30 years as a corporate lawyer in private practice involved him in numerous high profile transactions across a broad range of company and commercial work.
STRATEGIC ADVICE
Michael is able to provide services to his clients, acting in the capacity of a non-executive director, trustee, project manager or consultant to assist with areas of leadership, governance, strategy or planning.
LEADER
Michael will provide leadership, expertise and support to business organizations and institutions requiring assistance in matters of corporate strategy, governance or commercial planning.
SEA & ASIA PAC
Michael is focused on Singapore, but also is able to become actively involved in businesses and interests elsewhere within the ASEAN region and the Asia-Pacific region more generally.
SOME OF MY TRANSACTIONAL EXPERIENCE
FAQ’s
Michael has had extensive involvement in business and strategic planning, corporate governance, risk avoidance and crisis management initiatives and has master’s degree qualifications in business administration and consulting.
Michael’s involvement in the financial services sector has featured heavily in his career, both on the transactional side and also in relation to difficult issues arising from the 2007/2008 global financial crisis – for example Michael led the team at Herbert Smith Freehills in London which was retained to advise Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) in relation to its Financial Stability and Special Resolution Taskforce. Other sectors in which Michael has had particular experience have included mining and resources (where clients have included the UK’s Lonmin PLC, one of the world’s “Big 3” primary producers of platinum group metals) and technology, media and telecoms (TMT) (where clients have included TV and radio stations in the UK, Bharti Airtel in India, and Jiangsu Changjiang Electronics Technology Ltd (JCET) in China). Africa has also been a big focus for Michael throughout his legal career.
Leading the team at Herbert Smith Freehills which advised Shanghai-listed Jiangsu Changjiang Electronics Technology Ltd (JCET) as international counsel on its S$1 billion takeover bid for Singapore-listed STATS ChipPAC Ltd, one of the biggest public deals in Singapore in 2015 and the most complex.
Michael is available for roles as non-executive director (NED), trustee, project manager or consultant. He can help to provide leadership, expertise and support to business organisations and institutions requiring assistance in matters of corporate strategy, governance or commercial planning. Michael is based in Singapore, but is also available to help businesses elsewhere within ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region generally.
Michael has established MW Consultancy Services Pte. Ltd. (“MWCS”) which is a private limited company incorporated in Singapore. Michael’s services to clients will be provided through MWCS. The company’s registered office is at 47 Kallang Pudding Road, #11-09 The Crescent @ Kallang, Singapore 349318.