“Just as there was an “old boys’ club”, there is sometimes a place for an “old girls club”, where we can help empower other women in the corporate marketplace,” says Sandy Foo. In the fast-paced world of M&A, few names stand out like Sandy’s. As the Deputy Head of Rajah & Tann Singapore’s Corporate & Transactional Group and Head of its M&A practice, Sandy has built a legacy of success and expertise.
Beyond technical prowess, Sandy is also a leader who advocates for diversity and inclusivity, and not just blindly meeting quotas. “It is about genuine richness of ideas and dialogues, not tokenism or entitlement,” she says. And when it comes to empowering women, Sandy is a firm believer in paying it forward: “Just as my seniors coached me, I can coach others.”
The Art of Closing Deals
M&A work is a constant learning curve. She shares, “Every target is different—you get to learn about the business, the industry, the sector, the value drivers, and how legal/regulatory considerations impact those drivers. You have to protect your clients’ interests in a nuanced manner, you learn to see round the bend, to anticipate, consider matters holistically and to calibrate risks accordingly.”
Sandy’s work on OCBC Bank’s acquisition of ING Private Bank Asia (now Bank of Singapore) during the global financial crisis stands out as a landmark deal. This transaction was fraught with challenges, including a competitive bidding process, extensive due diligence, and the need for regulatory clearances across multiple jurisdictions. As a lead negotiator, she had to collaborate closely with all workstreams. Having a firm grasp of and mastering the critical issues to be addressed in the suite of documents was key: “I am proud to have been part of that journey that has led to BOS as we now know it.”
Adapting to Digital Era
With AI and automation reshaping M&A, Sandy believes that while tech can handle data-heavy tasks, it’s the lawyer’s role to distill what it really means for the client and the deal.
“AI tools can already review, summarise, write due diligence reports… in far less time than a human lawyer ,” she explains. “M&A lawyers need to bring value judgment and insights to the table.”
A Recognised Leader
Sandy’s expertise has earned her top accolades in legal rankings like Chambers Asia Pacific and The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (Hall of Fame). In 2023, she was named by Asian Legal Business as one of Asia’s Top 15 M&A lawyers and Woman Lawyer of the Year. Clients praise her for her “technical, tactical, and strategic” brilliance.
Sandy has certainly cemented her place at the top in the M&A arena.
Hear more from Sandy Foo
Sandy joins a distinguished panel including Mah Kah Loon, Raymond Tong and Chua Koh Peng to speak on In-house Counsel’s Role in M&A Transactions at the SCCA APAC Legal Congress 2025. This event is complimentary to in-house counsel only. Submit your interest in attending this event via this link.