Member Voices: Nicholas Tan

Nicholas Tan

Key Contact Partner 
Shearn Delamore & Co. (Malaysia) 
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Briefly describe your practice.

I am the Deputy Head of the Corporate / M&A Practice Group at Shearn Delamore & Co., with two decades of experience advising on mergers and acquisitions, foreign investments, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, and other cross-border transactions. I regularly advise multinational corporations, listed companies, private equity investors, and state-owned enterprises on domestic and cross-border transactions across a wide range of industries, including technology, healthcare, manufacturing, education, and infrastructure.

No two transactions are ever the same. Every client has different commercial objectives, so my role goes beyond identifying legal issues – I enjoy helping clients find practical ways to get the deal across the line.

Malaysia is seeing an influx of cross-border investment. How are these regional dynamics shaping the types of M&A transactions and joint ventures landing on your desk?

We have certainly seen increased interest from foreign investors over the past few years, particularly in sectors such as data centers, semiconductors, renewable energy, and manufacturing. Malaysia continues to be an attractive investment destination, and that has translated into a healthy pipeline of cross-border transactions.

Personally, I’ve noticed the nature of these deals shifting. Where a few years ago I’d be handling more straightforward acquisitions, I’m now spending much more time on strategic joint ventures, minority investments, and regional expansion structures. Clients are asking me to spend more time looking at regulatory issues, operational risks, and long-term partnership dynamics before they’re comfortable committing to a transaction.

At the same time, I’m seeing some caution in the market given the current economic environment and geopolitical developments. Deal activity remains healthy, but investors are taking a more measured approach, which means my job increasingly involves giving advice that’s not just legally sound but commercially practical.

Given your unique background holding both an LL.M. and an MBA, how does having that business-minded perspective change how you approach deal structuring and high-stakes negotiations? 

I think my Master of Commercial Law and MBA complement each other quite well. The Master’s strengthened my legal training and technical foundation, while the MBA gave me a better appreciation of the commercial and financial considerations behind a transaction – I still find myself drawing on both all the time.

Over the years, I have come to realize that my clients are not looking for me to simply tell them what the legal risks are. They are looking for advice to help them achieve their commercial objectives while managing those risks appropriately, and this has shaped how I approach every transaction I work on.

Before I even look at the legal issues, I try to understand what my client is trying to achieve – what is driving the deal and where their real commercial priorities lie. That perspective also shapes how I negotiate. I don’t believe every point needs to be fought over. More often than not, my job is to identify the issues that genuinely matter to my clients and find practical solutions that let both parties move the transaction forward. At the end of the day, I see my role as helping clients get deals done, not making the process more complicated than it needs to be.

What is something you have watched, listened to, or read lately that left an impression on you?

I recently caught up with a mentor who has witnessed my professional journey over the past two decades. As we reflected on my career - from my early years in practice to my current role as Deputy Head of the Corporate / M&A Practice Group – he left me with a simple but profound reminder through the Chinese proverb, "When drinking water, remember the source" (饮水思源).

It brought me back to something I'd almost forgotten - a proverb I first learned in school but had not consciously thought about since. Hearing it again after so many years was both humbling and timely, a reminder to carry with me throughout my career.

His message was clear: while milestones and leadership roles are worth celebrating, success is rarely achieved alone. It is built on the guidance of mentors, the trust of clients, the support of colleagues, and the encouragement of family and friends – a timely reminder to remain grateful and never forget where the journey began.