Civil and Commercial Disputes

• Assisting in a High Court asset-recovery claim of over S$47,000,000.00 obtained by 19 Defendants through complex and multi-jurisdictional fraudulent investment schemes involving the setting up of sham and façade companies used to induce investors with promises of guaranteed exorbitant interest returns of around 70% to 120%. A worldwide Mareva injunction order was successfully obtained against 18 of the Defendants in the Suit. The matter is still ongoing.
• Assisting in a High Court conspiracy claim by one of the largest logistics and petrochemical service providers in South East Asia against several ex-employees of a subsidiary. This action included an application for a prohibitory injunction against the said ex-employees. The matter is still ongoing.
• Assisting in a High Court claim commenced by a group of foreign investors against parties involved in the use of the investors’ monies to purchase shares in a publicly listed company on their behalf. The said investors are seeking, among other things, the return of their shares in the Singapore-listed company and delves into breaches of trust, potential breaches of the Securities and Futures Act and SGX Catalist Rules. The matter is still ongoing.
• Assisting in a High Court matter against a director of a filmmaking company which has produced several reputable movies. This action pertains to investments and purchase of shares through alleged misrepresentations made in respect of the company’s financial status. The matter is still ongoing.
• Assisted in an SICC matter brought by the Chairman of an Indian business group in the wellness, agricultural business, marine, and leisure & lifestyle sectors with a worldwide presence. The said action was commenced to set aside a Singapore arbitral award against the Chairman which found him liable for over INR 1,329,000,000. The setting aside application was made on the basis that the arbitration proceedings should have commenced in India. This action tackled, among other unique issues, the breach of natural justice.
• Assisted in a High Court action involving a US-listed company, its representatives and its shareholders, arising from a shareholder take-over and minority oppression, with causes of action including contractual and shareholding disputes, tort of deceit and misrepresentation.
• Assisted in a High Court dispute between owners of big local construction companies relating to indemnities and apportionment of blame, engaging the concept of non est factum, Quistclose trust and the extent to which the Court can order for production of documents. This matter also addressed the technical point of “change in circumstances” for setting aside a Mareva injunction as part of an array of interlocutory applications that included applications for summary judgment and striking out of pleadings.
• Assisted in defending a claim by a local food supplier against a prominent Malaysian and local group of companies in the industry of importing and supplying perishables, wherein a summary judgment application was resisted on a highly technical point of what is entailed in a by-consent order for conditional leave to file a Defence.

Shipping Litigation

• Assisted the Plaintiff in a High Court dispute against a Timor-Leste insurance company over gasoil cargo valued at approximately USD 1.5 million. The cargo was to be shipped from Singapore to Karabela Port, Timor-Leste. During the course of the voyage, the vessel carrying the cargo was hijacked by pirates in the waters off the coast of Tanjung Berakit, Indonesia. The action involved allegations of conspiracy and that the piracy act was staged, failure to comply with the Marine Insurance Act and lack of insurable interest. The Plaintiff successfully obtained judgment for the full claim amount. Post-Judgment, an application for pre-action discovery was interestingly made by the Plaintiff against the Defendant’s reinsurers’ brokers.
• Assisted in defending a High Court suit against a sub-contractor facing a claim from owners and engine manufacturers for damages in excess of US$1.5 million resulting from an engine room fire.

Corporate Practice

• Assisting in corporate matters for a Japanese in-house advertising agency for one of the largest automotive manufacturers.
• Assisted in several corporate transactions and dealings including drafting agreements for sale and purchase of shares and properties, shareholders’ agreements, joint venture agreements and employment agreements.