Asialaw Profiles
The Guide to the legal markets of the Asia-Pacific

Drew & Napier is Singapore’s standout firm for dispute resolution with seven senior lawyers. The firm is able to offer expertise across a wide range of matters, from banking and finance to real estate. Drew & Napier has been working a case that is dealing ... [more]

Drew & Napier is Singapore’s standout firm for dispute resolution with seven senior lawyers. The firm is able to offer expertise across a wide range of matters, from banking and finance to real estate. Drew & Napier has been working a case that is dealing with part of the fallout from the collapse of Lehman Brothers, advising the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on the cross-border insolvency of Lehman entities and potential claims from noteholders of such entities.

Another large case saw the firm defend Standard Chartered Bank from action by a former customer claiming damages of over S$500 million. The former customer claimed that the failure its business allegedly arose out of fraud, misrepresentation and conspiracy.

The firm is also working on a case representing various defendants in eight separate High Court suits relating to the development of a hotel in Sentosa Island. The total value of the cases amounts to S$150 million. Davinder Singh SC is one of the best known litigators in Singapore, but the firm has many other big names like Jimmy Yim SC, Harpreet Singh Nehal SC and Indranee Rajah SC.

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Allen & Geldhill has a significant dispute resolution offering, with a particular focus on disputes in projects and infrastructure, energy and transportation. The firm’s team in this practice area has 27 partners. One of the most high-profile cases this ... [more]

Allen & Geldhill has a significant dispute resolution offering, with a particular focus on disputes in projects and infrastructure, energy and transportation. The firm’s team in this practice area has 27 partners. One of the most high-profile cases this year was the firm’s representation of Raffles Town Club (RTC) in a suit against its former shareholders and directors for breaches of their fiduciary duties. The value of the settlement was S$130 million.

Another complex deal saw the firm represent Seagate Technology in a suit against Esys Technologies and former director Vikas Goel on his guarantee for the debts of the company. The claims amounted to S$72 million, with the Esys Technologies counter-claiming S$550 million which was struck out.

Allen & Gledhill also represented DBS Bank in a case against the listed Jurong Technologies Industrial Corporation and its subsidiary Jurong Hi-Tech Industries in a contested application brought against the two companies, in a deal valued at S$90 million. The firm boasts one senior counsel in the form of Ang Cheng Hock. Edwin Tong is another respected name.

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Rajah & Tann is a respected firm for dispute resolution work, derived in part from its bench that contains seven senior counsel. The firm is well known for defending corporate, banking and insurance companies and can call the Law Society of Singapore ... [more]

Rajah & Tann is a respected firm for dispute resolution work, derived in part from its bench that contains seven senior counsel. The firm is well known for defending corporate, banking and insurance companies and can call the Law Society of Singapore as a client. Rajah & Tann was forced to draw on all its financial legal nous representing a local securities house during the worst of the financial crisis in 2008. The cases related to losses by investors in notes from investment banks Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley.

HSBC employed Rajah & Tann’s services for a case filed by former customers relating to margin foreign exchange trading. The main claim brought by the plaintiffs was for US$2.9 million for the breach of an alleged oral collateral agreement in a FX transaction involving the purchase of US$22 million worth of Euros. The firm also represented BNP Paribas in a statutory demand on Jurong Shipyard for payments of amounts due to the termination of foreign exchange derivative transactions. Francis Xavier SC is head of the firm’s dispute resolution team and is a respected figure.

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WongPartnership’s dispute resolution team concentrates on banking and insolvency, commercial and corporate litigation, infrastructure, projects and construction and international arbitration. Although focused primarily on Singapore, the team also makes ... [more]

WongPartnership’s dispute resolution team concentrates on banking and insolvency, commercial and corporate litigation, infrastructure, projects and construction and international arbitration. Although focused primarily on Singapore, the team also makes good use of the firm’s Shanghai and Middle Eastern offices, and has handled an increasing amount of Chinese arbitration work and multi-jurisdictional disputes across the region. Senior partner Alvin Yeo SC handles large, complex litigation work, principally within the banking and corporate fields.

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Harry Elias Partnership offers a strong dispute resolution practice with a heavy emphasis on commercial and civil litigation. The firm successfully acted for a number of minority subsidiary proprietors who objected to the S$500 million collective sale ... [more]

Harry Elias Partnership offers a strong dispute resolution practice with a heavy emphasis on commercial and civil litigation. The firm successfully acted for a number of minority subsidiary proprietors who objected to the S$500 million collective sale of the Horizon Towers development. Other work has seen the firm act of the Republic of Philippines and the Philippine National Bank in an interpleader action instigated by the High Court of Singapore.

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KhattarWong has developed a reputation in civil and commercial cases, with respected partner Deborah Barker SC guiding the firm’s department in this practice area. Recent work has seen the firm act for the India International Insurance, who issued a ... [more]

KhattarWong has developed a reputation in civil and commercial cases, with respected partner Deborah Barker SC guiding the firm’s department in this practice area. Recent work has seen the firm act for the India International Insurance, who issued a performance bond, in a claim by the beneficiary.

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Rodyk & Davidson offers a comprehensive dispute resolution team that can call on two senior counsel, Philip Jeyaretnam and Vi Ming Lok, to defend its clients. Jeyaretnam was called into action to defend the Asian Wall Street Journal and three of its ... [more]

Rodyk & Davidson offers a comprehensive dispute resolution team that can call on two senior counsel, Philip Jeyaretnam and Vi Ming Lok, to defend its clients. Jeyaretnam was called into action to defend the Asian Wall Street Journal and three of its editors on charges brought by the Attorney General of Singapore. He won. The firm is defending the interests of K3 Capital Funds and Ministry of Sound International in two separate cases.

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