Editorial: Commercial Litigation in Singapore
01 October 2007
Singapore’s common law background makes it a perfect bridge between West and East, able to relate to foreign legal systems and keep abreast of changes in international legislation. The city-state’s litigation lawyers have created a strong tradition of excellence in the field and they are often called to participate in complex cross-border actions all over Asia and the rest of the world.
Rajah & Tann has a “dedicated and competent” team that attracted flattering remarks from their peers. In 2007 the firm’s lawyers were engaged in two large trials: Beckkett Pte Ltd and Asia Pacific Breweries (Singapore) Pte Ltd. The “strategic and sharp” Steven Chong SC is managing partner and renowned for his “quick thinking and skilful cross-examining techniques”. He acted for Beckkett against Deutsche Bank in a dispute involving a 40 per cent stake in Indonesia’s largest coalmine. Quentin Loh SC is a “very visible practitioner”, with “great depth of knowledge and a broad practice”. Loh acted for a shipbuilding yard in disputes with Esso over a gas platform. Andre Yeap SC is “well informed”. He successfully represented Centre Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd (a member of the Zurich insurance group) in judicial management proceedings instigated by Deutsche Bank against Asia Pulp & Paper, in relation to a US$220 million securitisation. Senior partner Sundaresh Menon has litigated cases throughout Asia during his 20-year career. Lauded by his peers as “a highly intelligent and perceptive counsel”, he recently completed a one-year stint at the Supreme Court of Singapore as judicial commissioner.
A Singapore stalwart since 1859, Drew & Napier LLC’s “history of excellence in litigation” was extolled by sources, who praised the “consummate professionalism and depth of knowledge” of its lawyers. The firm is also “well known for its proficiency in cross-border matters”, which make up the majority of its caseload. The firm acted for Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, in separate defamation actions against Far Eastern Economic Review, and the Singapore Democratic Party and eight members of its central executive committee. Davinder Singh SC is a “formidable litigator, capable of handling the most complex cases” and praised by his peers for his “immediate grasp of the facts” in a wide variety of areas. He acted for Asia Pacific Breweries in litigation brought by four foreign banks, in which the banks were denied access to draft reports prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers working with Drew & Napier. Our sources found Cavinder Bull to be “very deserving” of mention and dubbed him “one of the rising stars of his generation”. Bull handles a wide range of disputes, including one where he obtained a decision concerning a US$44 million claim brought by the discoverers and salvagers of a seventh-century cargo of Tang Dynasty artefacts from a wreck in Indonesian waters. Indranee Rajah SC is an “esteemed litigating talent”, “well-known to the Singapore community”. She advertised the majority shareholders of a company in an investment dispute over the construction of a monument valued at over S$200 million. Jimmy Yim SC is managing director of the litigation and dispute resolution department; well-known entities such as Sony, Hennessy, TDK, JVC and Warner Music have sought his counsel. He has acted in a complex estate litigation for one of the beneficiaries, which involved assets worth over S$200 million.
Allen & Gledhill LLP also fields four practitioners in this chapter. The practice handles both local and cross-border cases and is “sought after for high-end complex work”, but also “able to give good advice in order to avoid court proceedings”. Ang Cheng Hock “gets results” for clients in many fields. He recently represented a listed hotel group in a claim brought by a foreign broker for alleged breach of a brokerage agreement. Muthu Arusu also gained a large amount of praise from survey respondents. His cross-border litigation work in India, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and elsewhere impressed his peers. Edwin Tong completes the firm’s showing. An “articulate practitioner”, his client list includes a number of major names. He acted for the committee of inquiry set up by the National Healthcare Group looking into clinical and ethical breaches occurring during a research trial carried out by the National Neuroscience Institute.
WongPartnership’s commercial and corporate litigation practice handles civil and contractual claims such as minority oppression actions, torts and professional negligence, and corporate and shareholders’ disputes. The firm’s lawyers were described as “excellent” for multiple claim cases and complex questions of law. Alvin Yeo SC is the firm’s “massively capable” senior partner. Yeo represented two international banks in proceedings against Asia Pacific Breweries (Singapore) Pte Ltd in relation to a fraud amounting to S$120 million. Founder and consultant Meng Meng Wong SC was called a “trusted and respected name, a dean of the Singapore litigation bar” by respondents.
Rodyk & Davidson LLP “deals with important cases”. The firm secured a victory for the minority shareholders of Borden in a dispute against the majority shareholders. Lawrence Teh gained recognition for his “flexible approach”, while Philip Jeyaretnam SC was praised for his expertise in project disputes.
Sole practitioner Michael Hwang SC received huge acclaim. An “excellent lawyer with a big following”, he has tried cases in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. M/S Tan Rajah & Cheah is a full-service firm with a strong focus on litigation. Former judge Chelva Rajah SC is considered “very senior and one of the most respected practitioners in Singapore”. Kenneth Tan SC is the name partner of Kenneth Tan Partnership. Contributors named him “one of the leading advocates” in the area and praised him as a “consummate professional”. Shook Lin & Bok LLP’s litigation portfolio encompasses areas such as corporate disputes, claims in contract and tort and commercial disputes. The firm handles Singapore issues for clients such as Unilever and Procter & Gamble as well as local and regional corporations. Sarjit Singh Gill SC heads the litigation practice and “is a well-known face on the litigation circuit”.