Keynote Address
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Minister Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law Mr Edwin Tong SC was appointed Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law on 27 July 2020. Prior to this, he served as the Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Health from 1 July 2018 to 26 July 2020. As the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Tong chairs the National Integration Council, the Singapore Cares Steering Committee, the National Youth Council, and the National Steering Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony, driving efforts to build a caring, cohesive and confident society in Singapore. Since November 2020, he also chairs the Chinese Community Liaison Group, which was set up to strengthen Government’s relationship with Chinese community organisations and deepen the Government’s understanding of the Chinese community. At the Ministry of Law, he focuses on the development and promotion of Singapore’s legal and dispute resolution sector. He also handles wide-ranging aspects of law reform, including intellectual property, corporate restructuring and insolvency, and legal aid. When he was at the Ministry of Health, he was instrumental in implementing measures to enhance public health, and some examples include the enactment of tobacco-control legislation, and regulations to reduce sugar intake in Singapore, as well as improving the transparency, accountability and certainty of the disciplinary processes for registered medical practitioners, to uphold standards of practice and public confidence in the medical profession. Before taking office, Mr Tong spent his entire working life at Allen & Gledhill LLP, one of the largest law practices in Singapore, where he practised extensively in corporate and commercial disputes, restructuring and insolvency matters, and international arbitration. In that time, he was concurrently Head of the Restructuring and Corporate Insolvency Department, Co-Head of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department, and a member of the Exco. He was widely acknowledged to be a leading lawyer of the Singapore Bar, and was consistently cited and recommended for his expertise in dispute resolution and as a restructuring and insolvency practitioner in various leading international legal publications. In recognition of his advocacy skills, professional standing and extensive knowledge of the law, he was appointed Senior Counsel in 2015. Mr Tong was first elected into Parliament in 2011, and since 2015, has been the Member of Parliament for the Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (Joo Chiat Division). Between 2011 and July 2018, he was the Deputy Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Law and Home Affairs. In March 2018, he was selected to be part of a 10-member Select Committee tasked to look into ways to combat deliberate online falsehoods. He also served on the Board of the Land Transport Authority from 2017 to 2018. Mr Tong was educated at St Joseph’s Institution, Raffles Junior College and later read law at the National University of Singapore. |
Welcome Remarks
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Gregory Vijayendran, SC - President, The Law Society of Singapore Gregory graduated from the National University of Singapore and was one of the main speakers in the university’s mooting team that emerged world runners-up at the 1992 Jessup International Law Moot Competition in Washington D.C. Appointed Senior Counsel in 2019, he is presently practising in Rajah & Tann LLP in commercial litigation and dispute resolution. Gregory presently serves as President of the Law Society and Vice President of the Singapore Academy of Law. Appointed a Senior Moderator in Advocacy Training for Law Society, he has conducted local and international advocacy training (including Sabah and Korea). |
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Opening Remarks |
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Felicia Tan – Co-Chairperson, Civil Practice Committee, The Law Society of Singapore; Partner, TSMP Law Corporation Felicia is an experienced advocate who specialises in dispute resolution, with a particular focus in commercial, employment and insolvency disputes. Prior to joining TSMP, she spent several years in the dispute resolution department of one of the big four firms, before moving on to head up the China practice at another firm where she represented clients across industry sectors on a full range of legal issues and high-level cases. Felicia was named Recommended Lawyer (Restructuring and Insolvency) in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020. From Felicia’s dispute resolution background, her clients have come to expect nothing but direct, comprehensive and commercially-savvy advice and is often instructed to assist with negotiations and formulate risk mitigation strategies. She also spent years as a senior in-house counsel at a statutory board where she had a diverse portfolio advising senior management on project risks such as insolvency and other events of default, multi-billion divestment projects, construction and infrastructure disputes, regulatory compliance and collaborations with other government agencies. A firm believer in making the law work for everyone, she has been volunteering at legal clinics and the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme since 2010. As Co-Chairwoman of the Women in Practice Committee, Felicia believes that women can break the glass ceiling and have it ‘all’ where we appreciate that what that entails is unique to each female lawyer. In addition, Felicia is also a serving member of the Executive Committee of the Law Society of Singapore, and Co-Chairperson of the Civil Practice Committee. The former champion mooter and government scholar read law at the London School of Economics, writes and speaks fluent English and Mandarin (including the Hokkien and Cantonese dialects) and enjoys the occasional Japanese conversation. |
Speakers & Trainers’ Profiles (sorted according to last name, in alphabetical order)
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The Honourable Justice Ang Cheng Hock – Supreme Court of Singapore Justice Ang Cheng Hock was appointed Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court on 14 May 2018 and High Court Judge on 1 August 2019. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (1st Class Honours) from the National University of Singapore in 1995 and a Master of Laws from Yale Law School in 1998. He served as a Justices’ Law Clerk in the Supreme Court in 1996 and 1997. He was called to the Singapore Bar in 1996 and admitted as an Attorney & Counsellor at Law in the state of New York in 1999. Before his appointment as a Judicial Commissioner, Justice Ang was a partner in Allen & Gledhill, and a member of its Litigation and Dispute Resolution department. His main areas of practice included civil and commercial litigation, international arbitration and corporate-related disputes such as shareholders’ disputes, breaches of directors’ duties, securities-related and banking litigation, defamation and professional liability. He had also represented clients in insolvency related litigation, shipping disputes and intellectual property disputes. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2009. |
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Celeste Ang - Principal, Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow Celeste Ang’s practice encompasses corporate litigation and arbitration, both domestic and cross-border. Celeste has represented a broad range of multinational clients across various industries in domestic and international arbitrations administered under major institutional arbitral rules, and in court proceedings. She also has significant experience advising clients on compliance and regulatory issues in the context of cross-border investigations, and on a wide range of employment and employment-related issues, with a focus on contentious or potentially contentious issues including termination of employment, dismissal, retrenchment, breach of fiduciary duties and enforcement of restrictive covenants and confidentiality provisions. Celeste has represented employers on employment and employment-related disputes in the Singapore courts as well as in arbitrations and mediations. Celeste is ranked by Chambers Asia Pacific and Legal500 in the area of employment and listed as a recognised practitioners in Chambers Global in the area of litigation. She is described as "very smart, very innovative - a good example of someone who thinks outside the box" and "very technically competent, very thorough and very responsive" by clients. |
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Andrew Chan – Partner, Allen & Gledhill LLP Andrew’s practice encompasses commercial work, and he is a specialist in dispute resolution (especially arbitration), trusts, and insolvency (corporate and personal). In arbitration, he has acted as counsel, been appointed arbitrator and appointed to give expert evidence on Singapore law. He has also given expert evidence for use in foreign courts and in arbitration and has mediated insolvency disputes. Andrew has also represented the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as Singapore counsel in an investment treaty arbitration. Andrew has been consistently noted as a leading restructuring and insolvency lawyer inThe Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Chambers Global and Chambers Asia-Pacific,Who’s Who Legal and IFLR1000. In Chambers Asia-Pacific, he has been described as a “prominent figure in the market” and is praised for his “technical skills”, “knowledge and contribution to the profession”. He is “extremely good”, “successful and persuasive in negotiations”. Andrew has been inducted into The Legal 500 Hall of Fame for Restructuring and Insolvency. Andrew is a Fellow of both the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is on the panels of arbitrators of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, the Law Society Arbitration Scheme, the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and the Asian International Arbitration Centre. He is also a Fellow of the Insolvency Practitioners Association of Singapore, and a Director of the American Arbitration Association-ICDR Ltd. Andrew is the General Editor of the leading local practitioner’s book entitledLaw & Practice of Corporate Insolvency. Andrew has also co-authored two works on personal insolvency:Butterworths Annotations of The Singapore Bankruptcy Act and Law And Practice of Bankruptcy In Singapore and Malaysia. He is also Consultant Editor ofHalsbury’s Lawsof Singapore volume on Insolvency. On arbitration, he has co-authored the Singapore chapter of the publication Arbitration in Asia. Andrew’s writings have been cited in decisions of the Singapore Court of Appeal, High Court and District Court. Andrew read law at the National University of Singapore. He is fluent in English and Bahasa Malaysia. In October 2011, Andrew was presented the “Minister for Law Outstanding Volunteer Award”, the highest volunteer award for individuals given by the Ministry of Law Singapore, for providing expertise and helping shape insolvency practice in Singapore. |
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David Chan - Partner, Shook Lin & Bok LLP David is a Partner of Shook Lin & Bok LLP. He has wide experience in general commercial litigation with particular focus on domestic and cross-border finance-related litigation, fraud and insolvency matters. He is also involved in international commercial arbitrations and corporate and shareholders disputes. David is a member of the Valuation Review Board under the Ministry of Finance, Singapore. He has also been appointed as a member of the Complaints and Disciplinary Panel of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. He has been consistently recognised as a leading lawyer in restructuring and insolvency in a number of publications including IFLR1000, The Asia Pacific Legal 500, Chambers Asia Pacific and Who’s Who Legal: Restructuring & Insolvency. He is a Lexology Client Choice Award 2020 Winner for Restructuring in Singapore and is one of two lawyers selected for The Legal 500 Hall of Fame for Restructuring and Insolvency in Singapore. He is also listed as a leading lawyer for insolvency and reorganisation by Best Lawyers Singapore and recognised as a ‘local dispute resolution star’ in Singapore by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific, and a distinguished practitioner for dispute resolution and restructuring and insolvency in Asialaw Leading Lawyers. |
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Jason Chan, SC – Partner, Allen & Gledhill LLP Jason Chan, SC is a Senior Counsel in Allen & Gledhill LLP’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution department. His practice focuses on complex litigation, investigations and asset recovery. Jason is the Co-Head of Allen & Gledhill’s White Collar and Investigations Practice. Prior to joining the firm, Jason held various appointments in the Singapore Legal Service, serving as a Deputy Public Prosecutor, State Counsel, Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court and a Justice’s Law Clerk. As a former prosecutor and judicial officer, Jason often acts in regulatory and white-collar cases, such as market misconduct, regulatory breaches and cross-border fraud. Jason is a Council member and the Vice President of the Law Society of Singapore. He sits on the Singapore Academy of Law’s Law Reform Committee, the Criminal Legal Aid Steering Committee, and the Professional Values Chapter. Jason is also a National Committee member of the ASEAN Law Association (Singapore). Jason has been appointed to the Complaints and Disciplinary Panel of Singapore’s Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, the national regulator of business entities, public accountants and corporate service providers. He is a Board member of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre. He also serves as the Honorary Legal Counsel for the Singapore Bullion Markets Association. Jason was awarded an academic scholarship from the Singapore Public Service Commission to study law at the National University of Singapore, and graduated in 2002 with an LLB (Hons) Degree (First Class). Jason was awarded a Legal Service Commission scholarship to study at Columbia University in the City of New York, where he obtained an LLM in 2009. |
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Jeffrey Chan Wah Teck, SC – Senior Director, TSMP Law Corporation Mr Jeffrey CHAN Wah Teck, SC, PPA (P), PPS (E) joined the Singapore Legal Service in 1973 after graduating from the then University of Singapore. He retired in 2013 as the Deputy Solicitor-General but was re-employed on contract until 2018. He was re-designated Principal Senior Consultant to the Attorney-General’s Chambers in 2016. He held a wide variety of appointments during his career in the Legal Service during which he obtained his LL.M from Harvard Law School and completed the Advance Management Programme at Wharton Business School. His legal practice covered a wide area of law including constitutional and administrative law, criminal law, government procurement, military law and international law. He chaired and was a member of various boards and committees at various levels, including at the United Nations. Upon completion of this extended contract with the Legal Service, he was appointed an Adjunct Professor of the Faculty of Law of the National University of Singapore and also teaches at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Additionally, he is the Senior Director of TSMP Law Corporation, a major Singapore law firm. Mr Chan is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators as well as the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and is also a Principal Mediator of Singapore Mediation Centre |
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Melvin Chan – Partner, TSMP Law Corporation Melvin is a partner in TSMP’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. His main area of practice is in corporate and commercial litigation, where he has extensive experience in construction and engineering disputes, both in Court and arbitration. Melvin has successfully argued a number of landmark decisions in the High Court and Court of Appeal, including MCST Plan No 3322 v Mer Vue Developments Pte Ltd & Ors on the extension of the independent contractor defence to consultants and main contractors; Hasan Shofiqul v China Civil (Singapore) Pte Ltd, on the meaning of the term “executive” under the Employment Act and its application to site supervisors; and more recently Denka Advantech Pte Ltd v Seraya Energy Pte Ltd, where the Court of Appeal reaffirmed the Dunlop test for liquidated damages. Melvin is an Accredited Adjudicator with the Singapore Mediation Centre and a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators, and is consistently recognised as a key practitioner for his work in Construction and Engineering in leading legal publications, including the Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Asialaw Leading Lawyers, and Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific. |
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Chew Kei-Jin - Managing Director, Ascendant Legal LLC Kei-Jin’s principal areas of practice are commercial law, company law, insolvency, landlord and tenant law, employment law, contract-related issues and general litigation. In the area of commercial law, Kei-Jin has acted in matters for both foreign and local banks in claims relating to, amongst other things, banking transactions, documentary credit and insolvency related matters. He has also rendered advice to a foreign government on issues relating to Singapore banking law. In the area of contract related general litigation and arbitration, Kei-Jin’s experience includes multi-jurisdictional claims relating to matters ranging from infrastructure projects to the exploration of energy resources, and from the supply of commodities to the supply of telecommunications equipment. He has also given expert evidence on aspects of Singapore arbitration law in a foreign court proceeding Since 2010, Kei-Jin has been an ad hoc Magistrate adjudicating claims in the Small Claims Tribunal. Kei-Jin sat on the Law Society’s Advocacy Committee in 2005 and was an Advocacy Trainer for the Practice Law Course, conducted by the Singapore Institute of Legal Education. Kei-Jin was a contributor to "Singapore Precedents of Pleadings", Sweet & Maxwell, 2006, and has been a contributing editor of "Singapore Civil Procedure”; Sweet & Maxwell since 2003. |
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The Honourable Justice Vinodh Coomaraswamy - Supreme Court of Singapore Justice Vinodh Coomaraswamy was appointed to the High Court bench in 2012 He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Nottingham University in 1990, and a Bachelor of Civil Law from Oxford University in 1998. He is admitted to practice in England & Wales (1991), Singapore (1992), New South Wales (2005) and New York (2007). |
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Paul Darling OBE QC – 39 Essex Chambers Paul Darling OBE QC has established a formidable reputation as an advocate in all types and levels of tribunals all over the world. He specialises in complex cases which feature multiple parties, large teams, and high volumes of material, and is often brought in by clients at short notice, late in proceedings. An ability to work with colleagues from any jurisdiction, and to grasp detail, strategy, and tactics quickly has allowed Paul to develop a practice which has taken him to every major jurisdiction, appearing in a wide variety of construction, energy, and commercial matters. Adaptability and focus have contributed to Paul’s reputation as a gamechanger, brought in to direct some of the construction and commercial world’s most difficult cases. Paul has represented diverse clients in tribunals such as the Commercial Court, the Technology and Construction Court, and the Court of Appeal in London, the High Court and the Supreme Court in Dublin, the High Court in Northern Ireland and Arbitration Tribunals globally. Since the early 1990s he has conducted many arbitrations in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Middle East. He has acted in ICC, LCIA HKIAC, SIAC and DIAC Arbitrations. Paul is also called to the Northern Ireland Bar (2004). |
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Paul Downes QC – Quadrant Chambers Paul specialises in commercial law, and has specific expertise in banking and finance-related matters. Paul is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. Before coming to the Bar, Paul worked for Barclays Bank and was an assistant examiner in the Accountancy and Banking Law examinations for the Chartered Institute of Bankers. Paul lectured in Accountancy at Stourbridge College (1985-1987) preparing bank employees for their Associateship examinations and was a consultant to Barclays Bank (1988-1993) advising on the training of staff in Accountancy (and other subjects) also for the Associateship examinations. Paul’s practice has particular emphasis on disputes with a heavy accountancy element, including the manipulation of company accounts, departure from fundamental accounting concepts (especially prudence and accruals), the failure of company accounts to give a true and fair view, unlawful dividends, company valuations, shareholder disputes and commercial fraud. Paul has acted as an expert witness overseas in relation to banking regulation in the UK and letter of credit, and is lead contributor to Butterworths LexisNexis Encyclopaedia on Forms and Precedents. Paul also handles international trade, media and entertainment, and professional negligence. He acts as an arbitrator in LMAA shipping disputes, commercial disputes and insurance disputes. He is recommended as a leading silk for Banking and Commercial Dispute Resolution in Chambers & Partners UK Bar and for Banking & Finance, Commercial Litigation, Financial Services and Fraud Civil in Legal 500. |
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Steven Elliott QC – One Essex Court Steven Elliott QC is a barrister practising in the Chambers of Lord Grabiner QC, One Essex Court in London. He practises commercial law, concentrating on complex frauds and company disputes. Mr Elliott QC usually appears before the Commercial Court and Chancery Division in London, the higher appellate courts, as well as international arbitral tribunals, and he often works on litigation in offshore jurisdictions. Over the years he has been involved in several Singapore-centered disputes, both litigious and arbitral, and in 2015 he spent several months in Singapore contesting an arbitration concerning a £380 million Indian real estate investment. Mr Elliott QC is general editor of Snell’s Equity and joint author of The Law of Rescission. His writings are often cited in courts throughout the Commonwealth, for example Sim Poh Ping v Winsta Holdings Pte Ltd [2020] SGCA 35 (equitable compensation). Mr Elliott served as judicial assistant to the Lord Chief Justice and lectured at St Catherine’s College, Oxford. |
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Laurence Emmett QC – One Essex Court Laurence Emmett QC has an extensive practice as an advocate before the High Court and in arbitrations. He has particular expertise in and knowledge of the energy, pharmaceutical and financial services industries. His energy work covers both traditional oil and gas disputes as well as renewables. His recent work includes leading a team preparing to defend a high-value claim arising out of the trial of a pharmaceutical product; appearing in a trial relating to the installation of renewable heat generating equipment; representing an inter-dealer broker accused of dishonestly assisting in VAT fraud; and acting in a gas-price review claim. He is widely praised for the strength of his legal analysis and his ability as an oral and written advocate, as well as for his practical ability to work in a team with other lawyers. He is an experienced advocate, both at trials involving witness and expert evidence; and at interlocutory applications. He was appointed a QC in 2021. |
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Gan Kam Yuin – Assistant Registrar, Supreme Court of Singapore Kam Yuin graduated from the National University of Singapore and practised for more than 27 years before joining the Supreme Court as an Assistant Registrar in 2019. During her time at the Bar, Kam Yuin practised mainly in commercial litigation and civil dispute resolution. She was lead counsel in a wide range of matters at all levels of the Singapore judicial system, including the Court of Appeal and the Singapore International Commercial Court. In addition, she undertook advisory and drafting work for clients from diverse industries. Believing firmly in the importance of training for young lawyers, Kam Yuin tutored at the Practice Law Course from 1994 to 2010 and served as a facilitator at Part B from 2011 until now. |
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Giam Chin Toon, SC - Managing Partner, Wee Swee Teow LLP Giam Chin Toon, SC is the Managing Partner of Wee Swee Teow LLP. He has over 40 years of experience in law practice. He acted as Counsel in numerous major cases in court proceedings and before arbitral tribunals. He specialises in property, building construction, and commercial disputes. Giam was among the first group of lawyers to be appointed Senior Counsel in 1997. Giam is a former President of the Law Society of Singapore. He has previously served as Chairman of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, Chairman of the Inquiry Panel of the Law Society and Chairman of the Rules & Etiquette Committee of the Law Society. |
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Francis Goh - Partner, Harry Elias Partnership Singapore Francis is the Head of International Arbitration and Head of Private Client Advisory practice at Harry Elias Partnership Singapore. He has been in practice for 30 years doing disputes and advisory work. Francis has acted in international arbitrations under the SIAC, HKIAC, ICC and LMAA. As an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore, Francis won the B.A Mallal Mooting Competition in 1987. Today he continues his passion for advocacy, serving as senior trainer as well as co-vice chair of the Singapore Law Society’s Advocacy Committee. As an IMI certified mediator and mediation advocate, Francis understands how to use the mediation process to help parties manage their disputes to achieve win-win outcomes. Francis currently serves on the Council of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators as their Honorary Secretary. He is a Principal Mediator at Singapore Mediation Centre. He is also a Specialist Mediator and Ambassador of the Singapore International Mediation Centre. Francis serves as an Adjudicator of the Financial Industry Dispute Resolution Centre Ltd. |
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Henry Heng - Partner, Kennedys Legal Solutions Henry Heng is a partner of Kennedys Legal Solutions and principal shareholder and director of Legal Solutions LLC. He is an Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore, a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (FSIArb) and on the Panel of Arbitrators of the Law Society Arbitration Scheme as well as the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators. He also acts as a mediator and neutral evaluator, and is on the panels of the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC), the Law Society Mediation Scheme and the Law Society Neutral Evaluation and Determination Scheme. Henry is actively involved in trials and appeals at all levels of the Singapore Courts as well as alternative dispute resolution, in particular, arbitrations, adjudications and mediations. Henry has established an extensive practice in contentious and non-contentious work over the years. As noted in Legal 500 – "Henry Heng’s workload spans areas such as shipping, projects and energy, and construction. … legal knowledge is very sound … Insight into resolving matters out of court is invaluable …" His contentious practice includes commercial and corporate disputes, construction and property disputes, international trade and commodities, admiralty and shipping law, employment matters, disciplinary, tortious and equitable claims. His non-contentious practice includes corporate advisory work for commercial investments and deals, corporate restructuring, start-ups, tech companies involving AI and blockchain technology, shipbuilding contracts as well as oil and gas projects. Henry also acts as the legal assessor for disciplinary and inquiry proceedings for various statutory and professional bodies. |
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Dr Michael Hwang, SC - Sole Director, Michael Hwang Chambers LLC Dr. Michael Hwang SC was the Chief Justice of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts from 2010 - 2018. He won a scholarship by open competitive exam to gain admission to Oxford University and ultimately graduating with two law degrees. He was a former law teacher in the University of Sydney and University of Singapore. In 1997, he was appointed as one of the first 12 Senior Counsel (SC) of the Supreme Court of Singapore. His former appointments include being a Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court, President of the Law Society of Singapore, a United Nations Compensation Commissioner, a Vice Chairman of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), a Vice President of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), and a Court Member of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). He has also served as Singapore's non-resident Ambassador to Argentina and Switzerland. In 2014 he was conferred an Honorary Degree of LLD from the University of Sydney. |
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James Howells QC – Atkin Chambers James practises across a broad range of disputes in litigation, arbitration, adjudication and all methods of alternative dispute resolution. He has particular experience in energy and power-related disputes, and information technology disputes. Much of his work is international in nature and throughout his career he has advised on disputes in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and across Asia. James has wide experience in advisory, preparatory and advocacy work for international arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution (using ICC Rules and other recognised arbitration rules such as UNCITRAL, LCIA and Stockholm Chamber of Commerce as well as ad hoc arbitration). His experience of domestic disputes covers a wide range of technical disputes from construction and engineering to energy and power to telecommunications and computer systems and software. James has experience of all major (and many of the lesser used) construction and engineering standard forms of contract. Prior to and since taking Silk, James is recognised by the legal directories, Chambers and Partners (UK, Global and Asia Pacific) Guides to the Legal Profession and The Legal 500, in the fields of, Construction, International Arbitration, Information Technology and Professional Negligence. |
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Raeza Ibrahim – Director, Salem Ibrahim LLC Raeza’s main practice is in dispute resolution, with specialities in shareholder and corporate disputes, and private client matters. Prior to becoming a Director at Salem Ibrahim LLC, he practised as an Associate Director and Drew & Napier LLC with an eminent Senior Counsel. Raeza has experience in disputes over a range of sectors including construction, telecommunications, energy, infrastructure, shipping and real estate. This includes tackling complex and demanding proceedings such as freezing orders (Mareva Injunctions), search orders (Anton Piller orders) and adjudications under the Security of Payment Act. He has appeared as lead or co-counsel at every level of court in Singapore, as well as in international arbitration (ICC, SIAC, ad-hoc). He was also a contributing editor for Singapore Civil Procedure 2015. Raeza is the current Chairperson of Law Society of Singapore’s CPD Committee, and is also a member of the Advocacy and International Relations committees. He is also an executive committee member of the ASEAN Law Association (Singapore Chapter), and is certified as an Associate Mediator with the SMC. Outside of the law, he holds office as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Pangdemonium Theatre Company Ltd, a registered charity (Institution of Public Character). During the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, he volunteered under the Law Society’s Tech Support Facilitator Scheme and provided assistance to a number of practitioners who required support in setting-up communications hardware/software solutions to enable remote working of their law practices. |
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Sapna Jhangiani, QC - Partner, Clyde & Co Clasis Singapore Pte. Ltd. Sapna is a Partner based in the Singapore office of Clyde & Co. Sapna was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 1999 and admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor in Singapore in 2019. She is recognised as a leader in commercial dispute resolution, and was recently named as one of the best lawyers in Singapore for arbitration and mediation by Best Lawyers 2021. She was also recognised in the A List (Asia's Top Lawyers) published by the Asia Business Law Journal and has been ranked in all the main legal directories. Sapna practised in London, New York and Dubai before commencing practice in Singapore in 2011. She has managed litigation and arbitration disputes spanning a wide range of industries, and heard in numerous jurisdictions such as London, Singapore, Paris, Dubai, Mauritius, Hong Kong, China, and the Cayman Islands. She has substantial advocacy experience and has represented clients in trials and applications before arbitral tribunals, the UK Civil Courts (including the Supreme Court), and the Courts of the DIFC. In addition, Sapna has several appointments as an arbitrator. She is a member of the SIAC Users' Council and the Vice Chair of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators' Singapore branch. Sapna holds an undergraduate degree from Oxford University and a diploma in international commercial arbitration from Queen Mary University, in which she graduated with distinction. |
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Aurill Kam – Director, Legal Clinic LLC Aurill Kam is a Director at LEGAL CLINIC LLC. She is a senior litigator who has acted in a wide range of civil commercial and public law disputes, having argued numerous significant questions of law, both at first instance and appellate stages. She has also represented regulatory agencies, as well as corporates in investigations and regulatory proceedings. Aurill started her litigation career with Rajah & Tann in 1992 and headed its Banking & Financial Services Litigation Practice in 1999. She was headhunted to join the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in 2002 as MAS’ first Director of Enforcement. In this capacity, Aurill was responsible for securities market enforcement and personally worked on many of MAS’ early high- profile enforcement cases. Aurill returned to Rajah & Tann in 2007 to establish and co-lead its Appeals & Issues Practice. From 2012 - 2017, she spent a second stint in public service as Deputy Chief Counsel (Litigation) at the Attorney-General’s Chambers where she advised on a diverse range of public law matters and represented the Government and public agencies in Court proceedings. Aurill returned to private practice in 2018. Aurill is a member of the Singapore Rules of Court Working Party and also served as a member of the Civil Justice Commission appointed by the Supreme Court of Singapore. She is a Board Member of PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, a Civilian Panel Member of the Military Court of Appeal and a Member of the Appeal Advisory Panel of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Aurill is also a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and an Adjudicator with the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre Ltd (FIDReC). She volunteers with both the Legal Aid Bureau and Law Society Pro Bono Services. |
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Randolph Khoo - Deputy Managing Director (Dispute Resolution), Drew & Napier LLC Randolph is the Deputy Managing Director of the Dispute Resolution Department of Drew & Napier LLC. He also heads the dispute resolution practices of the Greater China, India and International Trade Desk and Private Client Disputes Group. He is keenly involved in arbitration and international disputes. Randolph has been recognised by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2018-2021 and various editions of Chambers Global between 2012 to 2021 as a leading practitioner in the area of dispute resolution and as an Expert Based Abroad for China in addition to being endorsed by Best Lawyers International for the last 8 years in international arbitration and last 4 years in arbitration & mediation in Singapore. He is also a recommended lawyer for dispute resolution and international arbitration in Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2017 – 2021 and a Benchmark Litigation Disputes Star from 2019. Randolph has been praised by legal publications and clients for being “especially experienced in China-related arbitrations, having advised numerous Chinese clients on high-stakes disputes, and acted as counsel in arbitrations held under CIETAC rules”; and as a “Leader of a ‘very accessible and efficient’ team, who is ’well versed in international arbitration, willing to listen and extremely business-oriented’.” (Chambers and Partners) Randolph joined Drew & Napier in 1990 after graduating with academic prizes and topping the final examination and public international law course at the National University of Singapore. He became a partner of the firm in 1995. |
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Harish Kumar - Partner, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP Harish has been in legal practice for more than 35 years and is one of the most senior litigators in the firm. He joined the firm in 2008 and brings with him a wealth of experience in complex commercial litigation. In his early years, Harish specialised in shipping and admiralty work with a particular emphasis on marine casualty work. He served attachments with various leading protection and indemnity clubs in London. Over time, Harish’s practice evolved into a broad based commercial practice and he has litigated cases both in court and in arbitral proceedings over a wide spectrum of areas including banking and finance, company law, company and partnership disputes, commodities, corporate fraud, equity and trust, employment and executive compensation, insolvency, intellectual property, landlord and tenancy, professional negligence and insurance. |
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Leong Kah Wah - Head (Dispute Resolution), Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP Leong Kah Wah specialises in Shipping & International Trade and has appeared as lead counsel in landmark Court of Appeal judgments of the STX Mumbai and the Bunga Melati 5. He was recently appointed Senior Accredited Specialist for this practice area by the Singapore Academy of Law. Kah Wah is ranked in Band 1 in Chambers and “is widely viewed as a prominent litigator in the market.” In Legal 500 Asia Pacific, he is acknowledged as a leading individual and is described as “an outstanding and experienced wet shipping lawyer and a good advocate who proposes solutions rather than disagreeing with opposing counsel for the sake of it.” Besides Shipping & International Trade, he has extensive experience in handling commercial disputes in Court litigation, arbitration and mediation. His perspective on commercial disputes is highly sought after as his expertise is developed from his regular appointments as counsel, arbitrator and mediator on diverse commercial areas and industries. He is most comfortable arguing from first principles, as can be seen from his win in Re: Attilan Group Ltd [2018] 3 SLR 898, where the Singapore High Court agreed with his arguments in a green field area on the requirements of super priority financing in a scheme of arrangement. His acute sense of commercial fairness can also be seen in the published decisions he has delivered on tribunals constituted by the Income Tax Board of Review to hear and decide tax appeals. |
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Lim Seng Siew – Director, OTP Law Corporation Lim Seng Siew, Director of OTP Law Corporation, has over 30 years practice experience in litigation and commercial transactions, concentrating mainly on data protection, cybersecurity and technology related matters. In addition to practice experience, the years when he was CEO of a technology start-up (2000-2003) and Senior Director of the Technology Cluster, Singapore Academy of Law (2008-2011) has also gained him practical experience managing technology projects as well as the daily operations of such entities. His combined experience translates to practical advice to clients who intend to start a new or run a technology business, manage their technology partners and/or develop technology projects. His litigation experience means that he had the ability to spot potential problem areas and suggest possible solutions. Seng Siew is part of the team that drafted the Law Society of Singapore’s Cybersecurity Guide. |
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KC Lye – Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright (Asia) LLP KC Lye heads the dispute resolution department in Norton Rose Fulbright (Asia) LLP. He has been involved in a variety of contested matters in Southeast Asia. KC handles high-value disputes across a range of industry sectors, with a focus on energy and aviation disputes and commercial fraud. He has represented clients in arbitration and mediation proceedings in London, Hong Kong and Singapore. KC is named in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific in its “Hall of Fame” for international arbitration. He publishes and lectures extensively on international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Accolades include "tactically astute", Chambers and Partners, 2019, and "commercially astute and an experienced tactician" The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2019. A solicitor in England and Wales and an advocate and solicitor in Singapore, KC is also a fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators, accepting appointments as arbitrator. |
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Roderick Edward Martin, SC - Partner, RHTLaw Asia Mr Roderick Martin, S.C. is head of RHTLaw Asia Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice. Roderick was appointed Senior Counsel in 2011. His practice encompasses civil litigation, loan and security documentation including conveyancing, liquidations and receiverships, admiralty and shipping. Roderick graduated from the University of Singapore and the University of Cambridge. Roderick has held at various times appointments as Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court, Registrar of the Supreme Court and Magistrate and Registrar of the Subordinate Courts. Roderick joined private practice as Senior Partner at Ramdas & Wong and then Martin & Partners. Roderick sits on the Panel of Disciplinary Tribunal Chairmen, Singapore Medical Council and the Panel of Presidents, Disciplinary Tribunal. He was a member of various Law Society Committees and the Committee on the Aged (Ministry of Community Development) and was Chairman of Senior Citizenship Week (1997). Roderick was also a part-time tutor and lecturer at the University of Singapore from 1976 to 1990, when Civil Procedure was an undergraduate subject. When Civil Procedure became a subject under the Practical Postgraduate Course, Roderick became a lecturer and consultant in Civil Litigation as well as the co-ordinator and lecturer in Civil Procedure. Roderick has also presented several papers. |
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M K Eusuff Ali - Partner (Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution), Tan Rajah & Cheah Eusuff has been in practice for more than 20 years in the areas of civil and commercial litigation at all levels of the Singapore Courts as well as in Alternative Dispute Resolution such as mediation and arbitration.
Eusuff is an active member of the Law Society of Singapore:
Other Memberships/Roles:
He also trains for the Advocacy Workshop segment of the Preparatory Course leading to Part B of the Singapore Bar Examination. |
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Suresh Nair - Co-Managing Director, PK Wong & Nair Suresh graduated from the National University of Singapore with an LLB (Hons) degree in 1993 and spent most of his first 23 years at Allen & Gledhill, the United Nations Compensation Commission and Straits Law Practice LLC. He established Nair & Co LLC with his team as a disputes and insolvency/restructuring boutique in October 2017. Nair & Co merged with PK Wong & Associates on 1 January 2020 to form PK Wong & Nair, where Suresh now serves as Co-Managing Director. Suresh teaches advocacy to students seeking admission to the Bar and holds a diploma in Advanced Trial Skills from the National Institute for Trial Advocacy in Washington DC. |
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Siraj Omar, SC – Director (Dispute Resolution), Drew & Napier LLC Mr Siraj Omar, S.C. is a Director at Drew & Napier LLP in the Dispute Resolution Practice. Siraj specialises in complex, high-value commercial litigation and international arbitration. He has an active trial and appellate practice at all levels of the Courts in Singapore and in international arbitrations. He is a civilian panel member on the Military Court of Appeal, and also sits as arbitrator in international arbitrations and as a mediator. Siraj began his career at Drew & Napier in 1997 before leaving in 2002 to join the corporate practice of an international law firm. In 2008, he co-founded Premier Law and headed its Dispute Resolution Practice. In 2016, Premier Law entered into a joint venture with the UK law firm RPC, and Siraj was concurrently a Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution at the joint venture firm, RPC Premier Law. He re-joined Drew & Napier as a Director in 2019. Siraj has been regularly ranked in leading legal directors and has been described as a “star” and “a formidable litigator”. He was named as a Leading Individual for Dispute Resolution by Asia-Pacific Legal 500 and a Disputes Star (Commercial & Transactions and Insolvency) by Benchmark Litigation. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2019. Siraj sits on the Working Group of the Professional Conduct Council chaired by the Chief Justice of Singapore and was a member of the Singapore International Commercial Court Rules Sub-Committee. He is also a past member of the Council of The Law Society of Singapore and has sat as a member of its Inquiry Panel since 2009. Siraj holds Fellowships at the Singapore Academy of Law, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators. He is also a member of the London Court of International Arbitration and the International Association of Defence Counsel. |
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Professor Dr Colin Ong, QC - Chartered Arbitrator and Counsel, Eldan Law LLP Queen's Counsel, 36 Stone (London) Dr Ong is the 1st ASEAN practising lawyer to be elected as Master of the Bench of the Inner Temple and to be appointed Queen’s Counsel. He has broad experiences as counsel in both court litigation as well as in commercial and investment arbitration, covering many commercial law areas. He is one of the few Asian lawyers listed as a top 30 elite arbitration practitioner by Expert Guides: Best of the Best 2017 & 2019 (Arbitration). Listed by Who's Who Legal ("WWL") as a Thought Leader in Arbitration, Construction and Litigation. Legal 500 English Bar (Asia-Pacific) Commercial 2021:-“A superb tactician with brilliant strategies who is exceptionally adept at thinking out of the box.” Legal 500 English Bar (Asia-Pacific) Construction 2021:- “able to quickly get on top of complex issues and marshall a highly effective case for his clients.” WWL Litigation 2020:- “an extremely good strategist, who is exceptionally good at thinking out of the box for his work on an array of disputes matters from mining and energy disputes to banking and finance mandates." WWL Litigation 2019:¬- "a distinguished litigator who garners wide praise for his experience in disputes spanning a broad range of industries and jurisdictions." Chambers & Partners Asia 2019:- "an extremely creative and charismatic lawyer... the best cross-examiner that I have seen...a star performer with a brilliant legal mind, and an excellent advocate with a compelling style." Author of advocacy; arbitration and law publications. 2 books listed as Endnote 1 references in separate CIArb Practice Guidelines. He is the first English Silk to be appointed to sit on the International Expert Committee of the China International Commercial Court. |
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David Pittaway QC – Hailsham Chambers David Pittaway QC was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1977 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2000. He is Head of Hailsham Chambers, London, a Deputy High Court Judge and was Treasurer of the Inner Temple in 2017. He is a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and an Accredited Mediator. The main focus of his practice is now as an arbitrator, mediator and neutral evaluator in professional, negligence, clinical negligence, and personal injury claims. He is a past Chairman of the Professional Negligence Bar Association. He sits as a Deputy High Court Judge in both QBD and administrative Court. His principal practice areas were medical law, public inquiries, regulatory and disciplinary, product liability, personal injury and professional negligence. He had an outstanding practice for healthcare and other regulators on the regulatory and disciplinary process. He was frequently instructed in cases defending high profile clients in healthcare and non-healthcare sectors against reputational damage. As a leading authority on public inquiries and inquests, he has substantial experience of large-scale inquiries, including The Shipman Inquiry and The Hillsborough Inquests. |
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Deputy Registrar Phang Hsiao Chung – Supreme Court of Singapore Mr Phang Hsiao Chung holds concurrent appointments as Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court, Divisional Registrar of the Singapore International Commercial Court, and District Judge. He joined the Singapore Legal Service in 1992, and served as a judicial officer (mainly in the Supreme Court) until June 2003. From July 2003 to December 2018, he served as a legislative drafter in the Attorney‑General’s Chambers, where he worked on legislation relating to the courts, civil procedure, criminal procedure, the legal profession, intellectual property matters, financial services and securities, and employment matters, among other things. He also chaired the committee responsible for the information technology system that integrates the drafting, publishing and consolidation of legislation in Singapore. He returned as a judicial officer in the Supreme Court in January 2019. He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2008, and the Long Service Medal in 2015. |
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Chelva Retnam Rajah, SC – Partner, Tan Rajah & Cheah Chelva has practised at Tan Rajah & Cheah since being called to the Singapore Bar in 1972 and has been the managing partner since returning from the Bench in 1997. Chelva helms the litigation and dispute resolution team at Tan Rajah & Cheah and practises litigation and arbitration, particularly in substantial commercial disputes, property-related matters and insolvency. He is a well-respected arbitrator and has worked on more than 80 domestic and/or international arbitrations. Appointed a Judicial Commissioner of the High Court of Singapore from July 1995 to June 1997. Appointed Senior Counsel on 10th January 1998.Appointed as Judge of the Qatar Financial Centre Civil and Commercial Court on 7th May 2012. |
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The Honourable Justice Anselmo Reyes – Singapore International Commercial Court Anselmo Reyes practices as an arbitrator. He was Professor of Legal Practice at Hong Kong University from October 2012 to September 2018. Before that, he was judge of the Hong Kong High Court from September 2003 to September 2012, when he was in charge of the Construction and Arbritation List (2004-8) and the Commercial and Admiralty Lists (2008-12). He was Representative of the Hague Conference on Private International Law’s Regional Office Asia Pacific from April 2013 to July 2017. He became an International Judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court in January 2015. |
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Mohammed Reza - Partner, Simmons & Simmons JWS Reza is a commercial dispute resolution specialist with extensive experience in complex commercial and banking disputes. Much of his work is international in scope and he has received recognition from legal directories for “his expertise on multi-jurisdictional financial and funds disputes”, his “extraordinary intellectual energy” and for being “user-friendly and brilliant”. The Asia Business Law Journal lists Reza as one of Singapore’s top 100 lawyers and observes that “Reza digests and analyzes voluminous amounts of complex information in a very short space of time, and his advice is always clear, concise and commercial.” |
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John Ross QC - 1 Chancery Lane John Ross QC specialises in professional liability and insurance related claims. He specializes in professional negligence and insurance-related claims, contract and commercial, public and regulatory law and personal injury claims. He also has considerable experience in commercial arbitration, Technology Court and construction adjudication hearings. His work also takes him overseas to appear and advise in other jurisdictions. |
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John Russell QC – Quadrant Chambers John is an experienced and determined commercial advocate and has acted as lead Counsel in numerous Commercial Court trials, international and marine arbitrations and appellate cases, including two successful appearances in the Supreme Court, including the landmark shipping decision in Volcafe v CSAV. He has also appeared as counsel in inquests and public enquiries. John has been named Shipping Silk of the Year for both the Legal 500 UK Awards 2020 and the Chambers & Partners Bar Awards 2020, having also been nominated in 2019. He was named the top maritime lawyer of 2020 by Lloyd's List. He is ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners in Shipping and Commodities He relishes both detailed legal argument and cross-examination of lay and expert witnesses. He will always ensure that a client's case is presented in the most persuasive manner possible, both in writing and orally. John provides advice to a wide range of clients. He combines first rate technical legal analysis with a pragmatic, commercial, problem solving approach to cases. John accepts instructions in many fields of commercial dispute resolution with a particular focus on shipping, commodities, international trade, marine insurance, aviation and travel. John also takes appointments as an arbitrator in the fields in which he practices. |
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Paul Seah – Senior Partner, Tan Kok Quan Partnership The recipient of Asialaw Asia-Pacific Dispute Resolution Awards’ Disputes Star of the Year 2017 award and numerous other awards, Paul has acted as lead counsel in some of the country’s most important and high-profile cases in recent years, a few of which have garnered international awards. Key highlights include the City Harvest Church matter which is one of the highest-profile and longest running white-collar crime trials in Singapore’s history, and the Bouvier, Yves Charles Edgar and anor v Accent Delight International and anors [2015] SGCA 45 matter which involved the purchase of numerous renowned masterpieces amounting to US$1 billion. Two landmark Singapore Court of Appeal judgments were released on the latter matter – one reshaping the law on worldwide freezing injunctions, and the other on forum non conveniens. Paul also writes on a wide variety of dispute resolution related topics and has contributed to important Singapore publications for litigators. Additionally, Paul has a speciality in insolvency and restructuring work, and has advised on a number of well-publicised insolvencies. |
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Adrian Tan – Partner, TSMP Law Corporation Adrian Tan is a litigator specialising in technology, intellectual property, real estate and shareholder disputes. Adrian’s background as former general counsel of CrimsonLogic (a Singapore government technology company providing network services in the legal, healthcare and trade sectors) enables him to understand the issues facing technology service providers. His degree in computer science and psychology gives him the foundation to address technology-related disputes. He has represented clients in a wide range of technology and intellectual property disputes, ranging from data centre construction, social media defamation, copyright infringement and passing-off in relation to consumer electronics, and patent infringement of vaccines. His real estate practice includes appearing for subsidiary proprietors involved in collective sales litigation, and he has acted in a number of en bloc proceedings, such as Gilstead Court, Thomson View, Shunfu Ville, Katong Mall, Goodluck Garden, Cairnhill Mansion, Citimac and Brookvale Park. |
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Kenneth Tan, SC - Partner, Kenneth Tan Partnership Kenneth Tan runs a niche dispute resolution firm. He graduated with an LLB, First Class Honours from the National University of Singapore. He was appointed Senior Counsel in January 1997, the youngest Senior Counsel when the first batch of Senior Counsel was named. His areas of practice are Civil and Commercial Litigation, Arbitration and Mediation. He has acted as an expert witness in several jurisdictions including England, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia on Singapore Law in respect of civil and commercial matters. |
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Engelin Teh Guek Ngor, SC - Managing Director, Engelin Teh Practice LLC Engelin Teh, SC was called to the Singapore bar in 1979 after graduating from the University of Singapore. She was appointed Senior Counsel in 1998 and admitted to the roll of solicitors of England and Wales in 2008. She heads her own law corporation of Engelin Teh Practice LLC. Engelin’s forte is litigation, arbitration and mediation work. With a wealth of experience of almost 4 decades in complex commercial litigation and family law, Engelin has conducted several trials and Court of Appeal hearings on claims relating to banking, construction, intellectual property, corporate and commercial litigation as well as family law, many of which involved cross-border issues. Engelin has also conducted seminars relating to corporate and commercial litigation and family law including issues relating to trusts and wills. Engelin is a qualified arbitrator and mediator and sits on the panel of SIAC and SMC. She is also a certified mediator with the International Mediation Institute (IMI) and is an accredited mediator with the Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI), Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR). Engelin also sits on the Disciplinary Tribunal (Supreme Court) Panel of Presidents and on the Panel of Disciplinary Tribunal Chairmen of the Singapore Medical Council and serves as vice-chairperson of the Family Law Practice Committee of the Singapore Law Society. Engelin has been trained as a Collaborative Family Practitioner and also as a Parenting Coordinator and was assigned the first pre-pilot Parenting Coordinator case. She currently serves on the Family Law Practice Committee of the Law Society of Singapore. Engelin also serves as a Patron of the Ayer Rajah Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) where her lawyers provide pro bono legal advice. |
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Tigran Ter-Martirosyan – Director, BRG (Singapore) Tigran Ter-Martirosyan is a director in BRG’s Singapore office and has eleven years of experience in financial consulting, focusing on valuation of businesses, shares and damages in international arbitration and litigation. He has valued assets in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States and North and South America regions. Mr. Ter-Martirosyan has been appointed as an expert witness and advisor, including by arbitral tribunals, and has been involved in arbitration matters under the LCIA, HKIAC, ICC, SCAI and UNCITRAL rules and litigation in Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK, Australia, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Isle of Man. His experience also includes valuations for the purposes of mediation, expert determination, mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting, restructuring, fairness opinions, management incentive schemes and tax. Mr. Ter-Martirosyan has been featured in Who’s Who Legal Litigation Expert Witnesses 2020, which describes him as “lauded for his ability to provide a ‘clear, concise and well-considered analysis of the issues’. He is ‘undoubtedly a value-add in high-stakes litigation’”. Mr. Ter-Martirosyan has performed valuations and damages assessments in sectors including financial services, metals and mining, telecommunications, aviation, oil and gas, semiconductors, manufacturing, agriculture, private equity, chemicals, consumer markets, healthcare, professional services, retail, and leisure and hospitality. Mr. Ter-Martirosyan holds degrees in Applied Mathematics and Finance from Moscow Engineering Physics Institute and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. He is a native Russian speaker and also speaks basic Korean. |
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Thio Shen Yi, SC – Joint Managing Partner, TSMP Law Corporation Shen Yi read law at St John’s College, Cambridge University, graduating in 1991. He topped the English Bar Examinations, and was called to the Singapore bar in 1993. Since then, he has practiced exclusively in dispute resolution, primarily as counsel, and occasionally as arbitrator. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2008 at 40 and elected a Master Bencher of The Middle Temple in 2016. He served as the President of the Law Society, and as Vice-President of the Senate of the Singapore Academy of Law from 2015-2016. Shen Yi has been consistently recognised in leading law journals, such as Chambers Global, Asialaw Profiles, Legal500 Asia Pacific and most recently identified as a Leading Individual (Dispute Resolution) in the Legal500 Asia Pacific 2020 as well as Elite Practitioner (Dispute Resolution) in the Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2020. He was also named Lawyer of the Year in the Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Awards 2020. |
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David Brynmor Thomas QC – 39 Essex Chambers David Brynmor Thomas QC is a globally recognised specialist in the conduct of complex, high-value, international commercial litigation and arbitration. He has extensive experience in handling disputes arising from long-term commercial relationships and construction projects across a range of industries, including energy and natural resources, transport and other infrastructure, manufacturing, ship-building and aviation. He has been counsel on cases involving projects and other assets in the United Kingdom, India, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. David also appears in arbitration applications for injunctive relief in support of arbitrations, on challenges to awards on jurisdictional and procedural grounds, and on the enforcement of international arbitration awards. David is an Honorary Professor in the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London, where he teaches International Construction Contracts and Arbitration. He is a co-editor (with Brekoulakis) of the Global Arbitration Review Guide to Construction Arbitration. He has been appointed as an arbitrator in institutional and ad hoc arbitrations on more than 50 occasions. David is a former Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, having represented the Chartered Institute at the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group on International Commercial Arbitration for its work on amendments to the UNCITRAL Model Law and the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. He is also a member of the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) Commission on Arbitration. David originally qualified and practised as a physician before changing to law. David was a law firm partner at Herbert Smith, specialising in International Arbitration and Construction disputes, before practising at the independent Bar. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2019, only 8 years after being called to the Bar. |
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Robert Thomas QC – Quadrant Chambers Robert's practice has moved from strength to strength since taking silk in 2011. He retains a strong presence in the traditional areas of his practice and has recently complemented this with substantial experience in commercial fraud and related relief. He is ranked as a Leading Silk in the latest editions of both directories, and has been praised in previous editions for having a "fantastically effective and intellectual style", for "consistently deliver[ing] a first-class service" and for his ability to handle "difficult cases on a tight timetable". He is a registered practitioner in the DIFC and is also receiving an increasing number of appointments as an arbitrator. Robert is frequently ranked as a leading barrister in Chambers & Partners as well as the Legal 500 directories for Shipping & Commodities. |
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Abraham Vergis, SC – Managing Director, Providence Law Asia Abraham is an experienced Singapore court advocate and counsel in international arbitrations across Asia. He is also an accredited arbitrator and mediator. Abraham established Providence Law Asia LLC in 2012 as a boutique international arbitration and litigation practice. |
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Giles Wheeler QC – Fountain Court Chambers Giles Wheeler has been described in Chambers & Partners as a “strong and forceful” advocate who is “top-notch. His drafting skills are excellent, he’s great on his feet, is very user-friendly and his advice is sound”. He is routinely instructed in a wide-range of substantial commercial disputes. His experience covers substantial banking disputes (including mis-selling cases, fintech disputes, derivatives and POCA matters), civil fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of director’s duty claims, regulatory matters, and professional negligence (with a particular emphasis on finance oriented professions). Giles is comfortable in handling technically complex matters and disputes involving expert evidence. Giles often works on cases with an international dimension and regularly advises on jurisdiction and foreign enforcement issues. He has experience of litigation governed by foreign law (including experience of arguing foreign law points in the Court of Appeal). Giles also has experience of being instructed as an expert witness in foreign litigation and has given oral evidence on English law and civil procedure in a jury trial in the US District Court. Giles has been recommended for professional negligence work by the The Legal 500 from 2009 to 2020 and for banking work by Chambers and Partners 2017 to 2020. |
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Paul Wong – Senior Partner, Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP Paul Wong is a senior partner in Dentons’ dispute resolution practice in Singapore. Paul's practice includes construction, banking, insolvency and general commercial litigation. He has acted as counsel in numerous construction disputes, both in arbitration and litigation, with a specific emphasis on engineering related issues. His clients include developers, quantity surveyors, architects, contractors and subcontractors. Apart from dispute resolution, Paul advises his clients on the drafting of construction related transactions, including numerous forms of construction contracts. He has acted for main contractors in major infrastructure projects in Singapore both in an advisory role and also as counsel. Paul's banking and insolvency experience includes recovery work with specific emphasis on facilities secured by land and guarantees, advising liquidators and receivers, and bankruptcy and liquidation cases. Paul has acted in shareholder disputes, insurance claims (general including all risks policies and professional indemnity), employee-employer disputes (including wrongful dismissal cases), employee fraud cases, international contract claims and sale of goods claims. |
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Andre Yeap, SC - Senior Partner, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP Senior Partner Andre Yeap SC, who oversees the Disputes Practice and heads the International Arbitration Practice, has been consistently named as a leading individual in numerous legal publications. Andre has represented state interest in investor-state arbitrations, acted in various multibillion-dollar international arbitration disputes, including cases involving steel plants, failed port ventures and gold mines and has led some of the region's largest insolvencies, including Lehman Brothers and MF Global. He also specialises in a broad range of cross-border corporate, commercial and insolvency-related litigation disputes work and has a significant property and construction related practice, with involvement in energy, hospitality and other projects. He also sits as an arbitrator and is currently a member of the Competition Appeal Board where he has chaired the appeal concerning one of S’pore’s most high-profile anti-trust mergers, as well as a director of the Energy Market Authority, responsible for regulating energy in Singapore. He was a member of the working committee for the Singapore International Commercial Court and a former Deputy Chairman of the Income Tax Board of Review. |
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Andrew Yeo – Partner, Allen & Gledhill LLP Andrew is the Co-Head of the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department. He has extensive experience in arbitration having been involved in several large international arbitrations centring on transport, infrastructure, information technology, industrial plants and construction projects. Andrew also has a broad litigation practice that encompasses a wide range of areas. Andrew joined Allen & Gledhill’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department in 1992 and was made a Partner in 1998. He became the Co-Head of the Department in 2008. Andrew is also a Fellow of both the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). He is an accredited assessor and lecturer in Arbitration courses run by the CIArb. He is the vicechair of the International Chamber of Commerce Singapore Arbitration Group. Andrew has been recommended for his expertise in litigation and international arbitration in Chambers Asia-Pacific, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Who's Who Legal: Asset Recovery and Benchmark Asia-Pacific. In Chambers Asia-Pacific, it is reported that clients described him as a “very seasoned lawyer” who is “always honest and upfront”. Andrew is also praised for his “sagacity and ability to keep things on an even keel”. In The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Andrew is noted to be “a big name in the sector.” |