Partner
Gregory is a specialist in banking, project finance, corporate law, restructuring, asset finance, shipping, aviation, energy, tech, and trade—delivering innovative solutions for complex global deals.
Languages - English, Mandarin
Jurisdictions - New York, England & Wales, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand
Dr Gregory Xu is a highly accomplished partner and Commissioner for Oaths at Stephenson Harwood, Singapore. He leads the firm’s general banking and project finance practice for Southeast Asia and is a member of the firm’s Supervisory Council. With over 15 years of experience, Dr Xu is renowned for structuring, documenting, restructuring, and enforcing high-value, complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions.
His expertise spans a wide range of sectors, including transportation (shipping, aviation, logistics), trade, life sciences, energy, and technology. He is also experienced in green loans and sustainability-linked loans. Dr Xu’s client base includes financial institutions, funds, export credit agencies, leasing houses, asset owners, and Fortune 500 companies. He regularly advises on corporate and commercial law, as well as on multi-jurisdictional security enforcement actions and restructurings, particularly in insolvency and distressed situations.
He is admitted to practice law in New York, England & Wales, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. Dr Xu is active in the legal community, chairing the Foreign Lawyers Advisory Panel of the Law Society of Singapore, serving on the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association (APLMA) committee, and participating in initiatives with the Singapore Institute of Legal Education and Pro Bono SG. He is also a member of the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (FIDReC) Panel of Neutrals and is a regular speaker at industry conferences.
Dr Xu’s notable work includes advising on multi-million and billion-dollar transactions, such as project financings for airports and floating production units, major restructurings for shipping groups, significant acquisition financings, and sustainability-linked loans. His cross-border experience covers Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and beyond, working with leading banks, corporates, and investment funds.
State Bank of India
Advised the State Bank of India on a US$1 billion credit facility to the Government of Sri Lanka for the purposes of importing food, medicine and other essential items. Further advised State Bank of India on a US$1 billion loan financing secured from Japan Bank for International Cooperation, a policy-based financial institution, wholly owned by the Japanese government.
Consortium financing
Advised Bank of Communications Financial Leasing in respect of the groundbreaking transaction in connection with the US$900 million lease financing by a syndicate of PRC lessors of the cruiseship ‘Genting Dream’. The structure is unique in the PRC leasing market as it marks the first time a consortium of co-lessors has come together to finance an asset.
FPSO financing
Advised OCP Asia, a premier Asia-focused investment manager, on a secured credit facility enabling its Indonesian borrower to acquire a 50,000 dwt gas-producing FPSO for offshore operations in Indonesia.
Healthcare financing
Guided MUFG Bank through a suite of high-value financings, including a US$300 million convertible bridge loan for a global pharmaceutical leader, an US$85 million facility for a top biopharma company, and S$120 million in acquisition financing for a prominent Philippines-based personal care manufacturer.
Bioenergy project financing
Advised BECIS Group on securing a US$50 million loan facility from Dutch entrepreneurial development bank FMO, and British International Investment, the UK's development finance institution and impact investor. The funds will be used to expand its energy solutions offering throughout Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and India.
ESG-related infrastructure financing
Advised the State Bank of India on a construction finance loan to Radial IT Park, a CapitaLand group company.
Plantation forestry joint venture in Laos
Advised New Forests on Tropical Asia Forest Fund 2's investment in Burapha Agro-Forestry, a leading timber plantation forestry company in Laos with a Verra-compliant carbon credit project. Mirova co-invested through its Sustainable Land Use strategy.
Aircraft repossession and airline reorganisation
Advised ICBC Aviation Leasing on a range of aircraft repossession and airline reorganisation deals, involving more than 17 airlines across 11 jurisdictions. This includes advising in relation to AirAsia X's scheme of arrangement in Malaysia, the rehabilitation negotiations of Thai Airways, and issues regarding the repossession of engines, on lease to Tigerair Australia but located in Singapore.
Golden Equator restructuring
Advised the creditors of Agritrade International in the judicial management of Agritrade International, with a total debt of about US$1.55 billion, one of the largest insolvencies in Singapore. Also advising the creditors on the restructuring of Agritrade Resources.
Maritime joint venture and acquisition
Advised Yangzijiang Financial (YZJFH) on its maritime fund’s joint venture with Singapore-based equity investment vehicle Alpha Omega Marine and the acquisition of two vessels. The acquired dry bulk vessels are MV As One which is an Ultramax Bulker followed by MV One and Only. MV One and Only is a 40,000 deadweight tonne Handymax Bulker with a Carbon Intensity Indicator of 'A' which indicates superior energy efficiency.