Editorial: Construction in Singapore
01 October 2007
The research identifies 18 lawyers from 11 firms. Areas of specialisation differ – some are known for their non-contentious deal and contract work, while many also make the list as experts in litigation and arbitration.
WongPartnership’s practice attracted glowing praise. The firm is known for both its contentious work – including acting as counsel on major arbitrations and High Court cases – as well as advisory work on all aspects of construction. WongPartnership is the only law firm on the Building and Construction Authority Working Committee, which drafts the public sector standard conditions of contract for government and statutory boards. The firm’s international work was also noted; it has advised clients on disputes involving projects in China, India and Indonesia, among others. Survey respondents voted to include three partners from the firm. Christopher Chuah co-heads the infrastructure, projects & construction practice and is a “very fine disputes lawyer”. Chuah is leading the team acting for Resorts World at Sentosa on the preparation of various infrastructure and construction-related documents for the integrated resort project at Sentosa, and has also acted for contractors in various arbitration disputes domestically and in China. A recent addition to the firm (he joined in July 2007), Tan Chee Meng SC has a first class degree in engineering, which informs his “outstanding work” in the construction sector. Particularly well known for his disputes work, he has acted for major firms and developers of projects in Singapore and Vietnam. His work in construction arbitrations and mediations was also noted. His work on behalf of Shimizu Corporation and Shanghai Tunnel Engineering in a number of multi-million dollar arbitrations was also commended to researchers. The third partner to feature from WongPartnership is Alvin Yeo SC. “One of the best around for disputes work”, Yeo won sufficient support to feature in the commercial litigation and arbitration chapters, in addition to earning a place among the top construction experts. Yeo’s expertise in civil engineering matters was also highlighted to researchers.
TSMP Law Corporation is the only other firm to match WongPartnership’s three nominations. Sources spoke very highly of Raymond Chan, with one saying that “over the years he has consistently been cited as being one of the best construction lawyers in Singapore.” Chan has been the honorary legal adviser to both the Singapore Real Estate Developers’ Association and the Singapore Institute of Architects for over 12 years, and is also counsel to the Board of Architects, Singapore. Alongside him, George Tan was particularly commended for his expertise in construction arbitrations as both counsel and arbitrator. His “illuminating and incisive writing” was also commented upon – he contributes a review of building and construction law for the Singapore Academy of Law Annual Review. The third partner to feature is Derek Loh. Recognised for the international scope of his practice, he has advised on projects throughout the region, as well as further afield in countries such as India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. An “excellent legal mind”, Loh has experience of a range of industries and has worked on projects such as ports, road networks, mass rapid transit systems, airports and petrochemical plants.
Drew & Napier LLC boasts two partners in the final list. Tan Liam Beng is a “superb lawyer” and heads the building and construction business group. A qualified engineer, he is known for both his contentious and noncontentious legal work, in Singapore and in Malaysia, where he advised on legal matters and drafting of contracts relating to the North-South Highway Project. Colleague Lawrence Tan, “one of the best around”, is known for his contentious work on behalf of boards, developers, contractors and consultants in both litigation and arbitration, as well as his “first-class” drafting of contracts and standard forms.
Rajah & Tann’s Choy Chee Yean is “particularly good” for this type of work. He has experience of major infrastructure projects for international clients in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong and China, and was previously a visiting lecturer in Construction Law at the National University of Singapore. Sundaresh Menon “stands out” in this field as he does in numerous others, also appearing in our commercial arbitration and litigation chapters). His experience extends to several jurisdictions, and his local profile was recently heightened by his one-year stint as judicial commissioner of the Supreme Court of Singapore, which ended in April 2007.
Philip Jeyaretnam SC of Rodyk & Davidson LLP is “one of the premier construction disputes lawyers in the region”, and leads the projects, construction and investment practice in Rodyk’s litigation and arbitration practice. A “very eminent figure”, he was the first chairman of the Society of Construction Law, Singapore from 2002 to 2004 and is currently president of The Law Society of Singapore. Alongside Jeyaretnam Paul Wong is a “top-notch individual” particularly well known for his expertise related to engineering issues, for clients such as developers, surveyors, architects, contractors and subcontractors. Among the high-profile cases he has been involved with are the MRT Circle Line, the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, the Marina Barrage and Marina South District Cooling Plant contracts.
Several other individuals were recommended to us. At Alban Tay Mahtani & de Silva, Christopher Lau SC is another individual who also has a high level of specialisation in commercial arbitration, and appears in that chapter too. A consultant to the firm, he has represented clients from around the world in construction disputes over projects in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
Ho Chien Mien at Allen & Gledhill LLP is known for his “formidable” litigation, arbitration and mediation experience, both at home and abroad. In recent years he has acted for developers of one of the largest office developments in Singapore, advising on claims from and counterclaims against the main contractors, which totalled more than S$130 million. He is also experienced as counsel in arbitrations: he acted for a prime contractor in defence of a claim brought by an international contractor in an ICC arbitration, relating to specialist works undertaken at a water treatment facility in Singapore.
Latiff Ibrahim at Harry Elias Partnership is “very well known for his impeccable drafting skills”, as well as for his dispute work in this field. The head of the firm’s construction, infrastructure and engineering projects practice group, he is known for his work both in Singapore and regionally for developers, contractors and statutory boards among others. Mohan Pillay of MPillay was very highly nominated during our research, and was described as “one of the top lawyers in the region for this type of work”. Karam Singh Parmar is a senior and founding partner of Tan Kok Quan Partnership, and leads the building and construction department. Well known for his contentious and non-contentious work, one source said that “I have always found him to be excellent.” Giam Chin Toon SC at Wee Swee Teow and Co is another highly rated individual. He was described as a “real force to be reckoned with” by one interviewee. Particularly well known for his disputes work, especially in arbitrations, he acted for a British contractor in one of the largest building contract arbitrations in Asia at the time, and has also acted for numerous Singapore and international clients in arbitration proceedings involving building, infrastructure and engineering projects in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region.