To mark International Women’s Day, the ION Analytics team, including reporters and analysts at Creditflux, Debtwire, Mergermarket, Dealreporter, Cybersecurity Law Report, Hedge Fund Law Report, Private Equity Law Report, and Anti-Corruption Report have interviewed outstanding women in their respective jurisdictions and fields. 

It is our honour to highlight these women and their accomplishments and contributions to their industries and share some of their insights and perspectives. These lawyers, advisors, and consultants from around the world specialize in private equity, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, hedge funds, anti-corruption, data privacy, and more. We hope these remarkable women inspire you as much as they do us. 

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Ashley Bell, Senior Legal Commentator at Debtwire APAC, profiles two of South East Asia’s leaders in the restructuring and insolvency space: (i) Jacqueline Chan, Partner, Milbank (Singapore); and (ii) Blossom Hing SC, Co-Head — Corporate Restructuring & Workouts, Drew & Napier (Singapore). 

Jacqueline Chan

Partner, Milbank (Singapore) 

Jacqueline Chan is a partner in Milbank’s Singapore office with extensive experience advising many of the largest private equity, sovereign wealth funds, corporations and investment banks on a wide range of complex international restructuring transactions. She is also highly active in the international corporate finance and M&A space. She has been actively involved in a number of international and local restructurings and has extensive experience representing various local and global clients including Jurong Aromatics Corporation, AG&P LNG, I Squared Capital, Ausgroup, Pacific Radiance, Ezion Holdings, Emas Chiyoda Subsea, Berlian Laju Tanker, Darma Henwa, Rubicon Offshore, GATE, UTAC, TMT Group and BUMA, among many others.

Jacqueline is consistently recognized by Chambers Asia, Chambers Global, The Legal 500, IFLR1000 as a top-tier lawyer for her excellence in the areas of Restructuring and Insolvency, Banking & Finance and Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions. Jacqueline is currently ranked Band 1 for Restructuring/Insolvency in Singapore by Chambers and is recognized as a Leading Partner by Legal 500.  Chambers described her as a “market-leading lawyer in Singapore with particular expertise acting for steering committees and lenders as well as companies in distress” and noted to be an “outstanding name in the market” who “work on a number of big-ticket restructurings, representing a range of debtors, creditors and bondholder committees.” 

Do you believe that gender has played a role, either negatively or positively, in your career path and opportunities? 

I believe my career has been shaped significantly by the extraordinary clients and colleagues I’ve had the privilege to work with. The unique perspectives I believe I bring to problem solving and relationship building have been instrumental in allowing me to connect effectively with clients and colleagues from diverse backgrounds. Regardless of gender, it is crucial to leverage our individual strengths to drive success in complex transactional negotiations and relationship management. I am optimistic that the continued support for women in law will create pathways for future generations of female professionals in the field. 

Is there a particular woman who has been an influence/inspiration to you in your career and what have you learned from her?

My mother, who dedicated her working life to a long and distinguished career as an educator and administrator in Singapore, has always been my clearest inspiration. Her professional journey was defined by an unwavering commitment to building deep-rooted relationships, upholding personal integrity, hard work and the art of principled advocacy, which are values that have shaped my own professional ethos. 

In the legal world, where situations are often high-stakes and layered with complexity, I strive to embody the lessons she lived: that integrity is our most reliable compass and that hard work with effective communication is the key to achieving truly meaningful outcomes. Her legacy is not just in the systems she helped build, but in the people she empowered and championed along the way. 

What leadership qualities do you think female restructuring/turnaround professionals bring to the table that are sometimes overlooked?

Female restructuring and turnaround professionals often excel in fostering a highly collaborative environment that prioritizes consensus-building, which is a vital asset when navigating the competing interests of a distressed situation. This approach complements traditional restructuring strategies by emphasizing empathetic engagement, which can strengthen trust with clients and stakeholders during periods of high uncertainty. Additionally, many women in this field demonstrate a remarkable aptitude for integrating diverse perspectives and managing multifaceted workstreams simultaneously. In high-stakes environments where swift, coordinated action is required, this ability to synthesize different viewpoints can unlock innovative, holistic solutions that benefit the entire restructuring ecosystem. 

If you had one piece of advice for investors unfamiliar with APAC’s stressed/distressed opportunities and restructuring practices (or even those with experience), what would it be?

My key piece of advice for investors is to conduct thorough due diligence not just on the financial aspects but also on the cultural and regulatory landscape of the APAC region. Understanding local nuances can significantly impact restructuring outcomes. Engage with local experts and advisors who can provide insights into the unique challenges and opportunities within specific jurisdictions. This approach ensures a holistic view that can lead to more informed decision-making and successful investment strategies. 

Blossom Hing SC

Co-Head, Corporate Restructuring & Workouts, Drew & Napier (Singapore) 

Blossom Hing, appointed Senior Counsel by the Chief Justice of Singapore in 2025, specialises in complex litigation, international arbitration, and cross-border restructuring and insolvency. She works extensively with international clients across Asia, the U.S., and Europe. 

Her practice spans corporate commercial disputes, shareholder and derivative actions, trust and crypto-related claims, and insolvency matters.  She appears before all levels of the Singapore courts and sits as arbitrator on the SIAC, HIAC, AAA-ICDR panels of arbitrators as well as on the SIAC Specialist Panel of Arbitrators for Restructuring and Insolvency Disputes. Blossom sits on the court of arbitration in Abu Dhabi and serves on the ICC Institute Council.  She is a Council member of the Law Society of Singapore.  Blossom is also a director on the boards of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) and the Insolvency Practitioners’ Association of Singapore (IPAS). 

Blossom was named Lexology’s 2024 Global R&I Lawyer of the Year and was recognised by ALB as one of Asia’s top 15 female lawyers for 2024 and 2025. She has won multiple awards including Southeast Asia Litigator of the Year (2021, 2023), and is consistently ranked by leading legal directories such as The Legal 500, Chambers, and IFLR1000. 

Do you believe that gender has played a role, either negatively or positively, in your career path and opportunities?

The reality is that in the legal and financial sectors, women are often scrutinised more closely.  In my view, there is no point beating our chests about double standards.  In complex trial work and high-stakes restructuring, it is better to regard gender as an advantage rather than a barrier to be overcome – your contributions are more visible because you are more visible.  My approach has been to ensure that my team and I consistently deliver on client mandates so that the results speak for themselves.  I believe that each mandate is an opportunity for me to build long-term relationships of trust with clients and partners. On that front, building trust in professional services is a complex and multifaceted process which isn’t dictated so much by gender but by integrity.  Both genders are capable of forging deep and enduring client partnership if you are genuine, competent and reliable. 

Is there a particular woman who has been an influence/inspiration to you in your career and what have your learned from her?

Justice Judith Prakash, Senior Judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore was a standout commercial and shipping litigator at Drew & Napier before she was elevated to the Bench.  She is widely credited with shaping Singapore’s International Arbitration Act and helping it to become a global dispute resolution hub.  Because of her formidable courtroom reputation and razor-sharp intellect, I remember being totally apprehensive when I first appeared before her.  Over time, I found her to be someone who proudly insisted on uncompromising standards while at the same time was kind, grounded and classy in how she interacted with members of the Bar.  She made me want to be a better lawyer and just stand up that bit straighter.  I hope that in my interactions with younger members of the profession, some of them might think the same of me. 

What leadership qualities do you think female restructuring/turnaround professionals bring to the table that are sometimes overlooked? 

This is tricky to answer as it requires generalisation but I have observed that women may be more willing to regularly take stock and listen to diverse views, re-apprise a decision and change course if necessary.  The willingness and ability to do so is important in distressed scenarios which are often fluid and dynamic.  Being constantly observant and being willing to take into account prevailing circumstances without being wedded to a position is a strength in my view. 

If you had one piece of advice for investors unfamiliar with APAC’s stressed/distressed opportunities and restructuring practices (or even those with experience), what would it be?

A vast portion of APAC’s major corporate landscape remains family-owned or driven by a highly influential or authoritarian founder.  The environment is thus quite different from Western jurisdictions where distressed situations may follow a standardised, board-led transition.  When it comes to APAC, it is important to take into account the “founder factor” and the cultural and political overlay where the success of the restructuring is inextricably linked to the company’s relationship with local regulators, state-linked lenders, or the prevailing political climate.  It is important to be aware of the social and political sensitivities of the local environment.  So my advice for investors is not to trust the data room alone and to conduct “human due diligence”, understanding the controlling mind and mapping the informal power structures before investing into APAC situations. 

Prior to joining Debtwire, Ashley was a Partner at DLA Piper in Hong Kong with a practice focused on cross-border restructuring and insolvency matters. Ashley’s team advised lenders, funds, officeholders and debtors on a range of high-profile distressed scenarios across APAC (including in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand) and worked closely with local counsel to coordinate related proceedings in the Caribbean, the UK, and the US. Ashley is a Fellow of INSOL International and is qualified in Australia, Hong Kong, and England & Wales. 

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