With respected litigators and senior counsels such as Jimmy Yim, Cavinder Bull, Randolph Khoo and Siraj Omar in its ranks, Drew & Napier is easily one of Singapore’s premier litigation practices and takes a significant share of arbitration-related litigation work in the city-state. It is highly experienced in billion-dollar, complex international commercial arbitrations and landmark investor-state and investment treaty disputes. Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, foreign governments, multinational corporations and state-owned entities frequently instruct the team. The firm’s specialist dispute resolution lawyers are well versed in a diverse range of sectors such as construction and infrastructure, finance, energy and utilities, finance, commodities and technology. In the past 12 months, the cumulative value of the firm’s litigation and arbitration matters exceeded $16 billion.
Four years ago, Drew & Napier formed an alliance with two other top domestic firms in the region to form legal network Drew Network Asia. This partnership includes Shearn Delamore & Co in Malaysia and Makarim & Taira S in Indonesia, and will enable clients to obtain integrated, collaborative and seamless legal services across the region.
Other key litigators and disputes practitioners include family law veteran Randolph Khoo, IP head Tony Yeo and eminent insolvency lawyers Sushil Nair and Blossom Hing. White-collar focused Wendell Wong and Gary Low, and construction specialist Christopher Chong are also among the prominent lawyers. Directors Benedict Teo, Mahesh Rai, Shu Mei Hoon, Kelvin Tan, Meryl Koh and Foo Yuet Min are rising stars in their fields. The number of directors in the disputes practice has grown by 10% in the past year.
Key active clients include AIA Singapore, CapitaLand, JP Morgan, Johnson & Johnson, JP Morgan, Marina Bay Sands, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Nike, Razer, Singapore Airlines and UBS.
Client feedback
“Presentation of facts and arguments.” – Aviation
“Thorough and knowledgeable team.” – Banking and financial services
“Very experienced partners – especially Blossom Hing, who is my go-to partner at the firm. Blossom is hugely experienced, dedicated and hardworking and has built an excellent team who are equipped to handle complex disputes.” – Bankruptcy
“Very good and thorough in corporate litigation work.” – Commercial and transactions
“Everything.” – Commercial and transactions
“D&N have served us well.” – Commercial and transactions
“Prompt, responsive and focused advice. Excellent advocacy.” – Commercial and transactions
“Very efficient and very responsive. Clearly explaining legal terms.” – Commercial and transactions
“We appreciate the fact that See Chern Yang takes a very commercial based resolution approach versus going legal as the first step. His extremely sharp and analytical forward-looking mindset gives him the ability to break down concepts into easy bites for his clients. His pleasant disposition makes him a pleasure to work with.” – Commercial and transactions
“Clear direction and advice.” – Commercial and transactions
“Litigation.... the go-to firm in Singapore for contentious work.” – Commercial and transactions
“Meticulous, efficient and professional. Absolutely no complaints.” – Commercial and transactions
“They understand the client’s business and commercial concerns, and they are experts at litigation.” – Commercial and transactions
“Drew & Napier is aggressive in its defence and conduct of its client’s case and interests.” – Commercial and transactions
"They are perfect.” – Commercial and transactions
“For my case, I engaged with lawyer Ms Larisa Cheng from the Drew & Napier LLC in Singapore. During the entire process, I had very positive experience with regard to the administrative support from the firm. It was timely, efficient and accommodating.” – Commercial and transactions
“All litigation is excellent.” – Commercial and transactions
“Very responsive. Very commercial approach, rather than aggressively pursuing confrontational moves.” – Commercial arbitration
“Quality and timeliness of advice. Also, on request, willing to provide a very quick overview of their initial read of the issue ahead of more formal advice.” – Commercial arbitration
“They think outside the box and understand the commercial aspects pretty well.” – Commercial arbitration
“Provides the best option in dealing with a dispute. They have the ability to draw reasonable and logical conclusions. Evaluative skills to choose the most suitable. Remarkable communicative skills.” – Commercial arbitration
“In-depth analysis in a timely way.” – Commercial arbitration
“Drew’s lawyers are very professional, highly competent and knowledgeable, commercial and responsive to its clients’ needs.” – Commercial arbitration
“We have been involved in seven years of litigation. I have never had a moment of regret.” – Commercial arbitration
“Drew & Napier were instructing lawyers on an international arbitration and HKA provided expert services. The interaction with HKA was very smooth and they were very responsive to questions and worked well as instructing lawyer.” – Construction
“They are extremely professional, knowledgeable and patient. The team comprising Blossom, Joshua and Claire from Drew always go the extra mile in the preparation of our case. They are trustworthy and honourable in their dealings while innovative in their legal strategy.” – Family and matrimonial
“Great at what they do in terms of service standards. Quality representation for their clients. Very collaborative for non-contentious matters like prenuptial agreements where sensitivity is required.” – Family and matrimonial
“Client service is exceptionally strong and is backed up by top-tier work products. I always feel confident when recommending Drew & Napier to clients that they will be well looked after.” – Family and matrimonial
“The same legal team handled my divorce case from 2010 to 2014. They are highly competent and are incredibly good at what they do.” – Family and matrimonial
“Highly efficient as a team. Resourceful and knowledgeable. Impactful writing skills. Providing meaningful outcomes for clients.” – Family and matrimonial
“Highest quality of legal advice, excellent interpretation of combination of legal principles in multiple jurisdictions.” – Family and matrimonial
"Clear and concise communication and dedicated strategy using the truth to achieve our goal of winning the case based on merit and hard work.” – Insurance
"Drew & Napier has handled and argued the dispute resolution issues very well.” –
Intellectual property
“The legal team demonstrated an impressive mastery of intellectual property law, offering insightful analyses and arguments that underscored the distinctiveness and significance of our logo. Their meticulous approach to evaluating the validity of the trademark and assessing the potential infringement with Twitter showcased a thorough understanding of the legal landscape. Moreover, the team’s adept handling of negotiations and potential settlement discussions highlighted their commitment to exploring all avenues for resolution. Their ability to navigate the complexities of the case, coupled with a proactive approach to addressing challenges, undoubtedly played a pivotal role in presenting our case. In addition to their legal prowess, the team exhibited excellent communication skills, keeping us well informed at every stage of the process. Their transparency and responsiveness fostered a sense of confidence and trust, making the legal journey more manageable for all parties involved. Overall, Drew & Napier’s legal team has set a high standard for professionalism, expertise, and client service. We are immensely grateful for their efforts and commend them for their outstanding representation.” – Intellectual property
“Very detailed analysis of the law, with very practical application of the legal principles to address the client’s issues.” – International arbitration
“Excellent people who are at the top of the legal field.” – International arbitration
“Careful analysis of the case and robust case strategy.” – International arbitration
“In-depth technical knowledge blended with good commercial awareness. This is reflected in the legal advice dispensed.” – Labour and employment
“Partner Wendell Wong and his team provided strong and clear advice. Very committed and professional. Excellent analysis of the case that result in the best possible outcome.” – Labour and employment
“Drew & Napier takes a holistic view of the different aspects of the matter and develops a comprehensive strategy to defend the case with robust arguments.” – Real estate
“Business-savvy advice and customisable legal services with flexibility.” – Technology and telecommunications
“Drew teams, particularly disputes teams headed by Mahesh Rai and tax teams headed by Shi Yong Yang, have great attention to detail, are extremely commercial and practical, and absorb the nuances of technology very rapidly. Even day-to-day e-mails from them are always impeccably written and have all necessary details set out and clearly outlined. Even the junior on the team can be asked for a small detail and they can immediately respond (and they are very responsive even at 11pm). They also frame advice in clear commercial and practical aspects, and do not shy from giving a recommendation beyond merely listing a number of options. They also readily absorb the technology when briefed by my team and can ensure that their advice is both feasible and practical in the context of the technology involved. They pick up where the technology involved makes a big difference, and the technology is extremely new and esoteric – there are few real specialist lawyers who understand these contexts.” – Technology and telecommunications
"The team provides timely, practical and on-point legal solutions and advice.” – Technology and telecommunications
“Excellent at taking instructions, drafting and, presenting the case.” – Trusts and estates
Daniel Cai
“Extremely driven and a very intelligent thinker.”
“Verypleasant with an excellent and firm legal background. Extremely responsive to the client’s needs.”
Larisa Cheng
“Approachable, responsive and attentive, effective.”
“I engaged with Larisa for my matter. Shewas making an extra effort to make sure that her client was aware of the big picture of the case. She advised me to approach the matter wisely and in a cost-efficient manner. She explained the strategy and practical issues in detail and set up the best reasonable goals for the proceedings. She delivered flawless affidavits and promptly responded to my emails and phone calls. And I would say that Larisa always had a listening ear for her client.”
See Chern Yang
“Thorough and knowledgeable.”
“He is an excellent mediator who is patient and persistent.”
“Highly efficient in solving problems and meeting datelines. Manages expectations and provides meaningful outcomes for client. Impactful writing skills.”
“Able to communicate clearly and explain issues well at the client’s level.”
Voon Jiet Chia
“Knowledgeable and commercial. Listens well and is responsive. Gives suggestions to solve problems.”
Joshua Chin
“Joshua is very responsive and professional in his dealings. He is very patient.”
Desmond Chng
“Proactive and innovative practitioner who provides prompt and practical legal advice.”
Yuet Min Foo
“Great attention to detail, quality of advice and ability to provide a very quick initial assessment of a situation ahead of formal advice.”
Blossom Hing
“Blossom has fantastic experience and knowledge of disputes, litigation and arbitration. Beyond that, Blossom is hugely dedicated to her clients and works tirelessly for them. Most recently, Blossom has built a strong team of very capable lawyers to support her and her clients.”
“Blossom is an outstanding litigator with a ferocious work ethic. I can also count on the undivided attention of her team, which has depth and breadth. I value her for how she always goes beyond the call of duty.”
“I have mostly used Blossom Hing. She is my trusted adviser because she is not just an excellent litigator – above all, she provides sound commercial advice.”
Shu Mei Hoon
“She takes time to really understand her clients’ needs and objectives and helps her clients to avoid unnecessary conflicts without giving up ground.”
“Shu Mei is a dedicated and tenacious litigator who is not averse to using alternative dispute resolution mechanisms like mediation to explore and achieve an amicable resolution. She is well regarded in her practice area and can be relied on to give sound advice.”
“Excellent understanding of emotional components of family law issues.”
Randolph Khoo
“Intrinsic knowledge of legal matters he is dealing with and vast experience. Provides meaningful commercial recommendations in a very timely manner.”
Rakesh Kirpalani
“Professional and trustworthy.”
“Responsive, clear, quick-thinking, approachable and, helpful.”
Meryl Koh
“Meryl is an excellent strategist and provides you with the necessary information to make an informed decision.”
“Meryl possesses a remarkable strategic vision, consistently formulating and executing well-thought-out legal strategies that align with our objectives. She exhibits a high level of legal expertise. Her comprehensive knowledge of the intricacies of trademark litigation has been instrumental in providing insightful guidance to the team and ensuring a robust case presentation. Facing the dynamic nature of legal proceedings, Meryl demonstrates a high degree of adaptability. She is quick to assess evolving situations, adjust strategies accordingly, and guide the team through challenges with resilience.”
Samuel Koh
“Samuel was very responsive to communications and built an excellent relationship with HKA and its experts. He was a pleasure to work with and very helpful in providing direction and clarity on instructions.”
Man Er Kong
“Man Er is an excellent lawyer. Always calm, reasoned, detailed and efficient. She considers every angle and is always ready with an answer.”
“She helped me win an appeal after an assessment of my case"
Shumin Lin
“Shumin has a quick grasp of the issues. She can always be counted on to provide insightful, clear and practical legal strategy. She demonstrates keen attention to detail in her work without losing sight of the broad strategy. She is a safe pair of hands.”
“Very attentive to details, very prompt in response.”
Mahesh Rai
“Giving good and professional advice. Being friendly and helpful on a personal level.”
“Good judgement, advising skills, creativity in problem solving.”
“The positive attributes of the team in general are all reflected by Mahesh. He frames advice very commercially and succinctly and will never recommend spending time to fight matters that can be settled cheaply and quickly, independent of the merits. He understands the technology and absorbs it and does not rely on juniors for this. He is extremely responsive and even when he is at trial you will get a quick response, within 24 hours. He pays attention even to smaller matters.”
Allister Tan
“Good dialogue regarding our options in our claim and also hitting back against the stalling tactics.”
Kelvin Tan
“An expert in his field and very commercially aware.”
Yuan Kheng Tan
“Proactive attitude, detailed and prompt responses.”
Gerald Tay
“He has been leading my anti-suit injunction and doing a good job.”
Benedict Teo
“Very responsive and thinks from a client perspective.”
Wendell Wong
“Proactive, responsive and aggressive in protecting/furthering client's interests.”
“One of the top disputes and litigation lawyers in Singapore. Provides strong and clear advice. Committed and passionate about the case. Spends time on the case. Excellent analysis of the case and rendered advice that led to the best possible outcome.”
Shu Yan Woo
“Excellent litigation counsel.”
Tony Yeo
“He has created and runs a first-class team and keeps the clients well informed and involved.”
“Tony is excellent in his work and relationship building with clients.”
Javier Yeo
“Javier is exceptionally hardworking and meticulous, with a deep understanding of complex legal issues and a strategic approach to case management. His clear and, persuasive communication skills stand out, making him an effective and reliable lawyer.”
Jimmy Yim
“He is a very good communicator, a very clever lawyer, and he presents cases well. He wins.”
