Disputes-focused firm Eugene Thuraisingam handles both domestic and international litigation and arbitration involving industries such as shipping, oil and gas, and construction. Peers have credited the firm for its forte in constitutional and criminal litigation matters. The team is regularly engaged for regulatory investigations, white-collar crime investigations and by those being investigated or disciplined by various professional authorities in Singapore. Familiar with the major arbitral institutions, the firm is adept at handling matters from pre-arbitration negotiations to post-award proceedings. Its lawyers are especially skilled in trial advocacy and in the art of cross-examination. The group recently opened an office in Bangkok to grow its commercial arbitration practice regionally.
The criminal defence litigation practice deserves special mention, with the team celebrating numerous achievements in tough cases before the state. It has obtained landmark judgments, including the Court of Appeal’s decision – for the first time in Singapore’s legal history
– to review its own concluded judgment convicting an accused person, and eventually reversing its original decision. The firm has secured numerous acquittals in trial at both the High Court and the state courts, including for persons charged with capital offences. In other cases, it has successfully persuaded the prosecution to amicably resolve matters.
The team is led by noted litigator Eugene Thuraisingam and includes partners Suang Wijaya, Jing Yen Chooi, Johannes Hadi and Hamza Malik. The rest of the group includes one counsel and five associates.
The firm is acting for a former employee of the Envy companies as a defendant against allegations of fraud. It is also assisting a liquidator in a $215 million claim by a foreign government-owned entity established to collect bad debts. In another highlight, the team is representing a global commodities trader in resisting a claim brought by a Hong Kong fund in a multi-jurisdictional dispute that involves complex questions of commercial law.
One landmark case that featured Thuraisingam and Wijaya was a constitutional challenge that was mounted against a colonial-era penal law that criminalised consensual sexual activity between adult males. The law was challenged on a few grounds, including the ground that it breaches the provisions relating to equality in the constitution. In a seminal judgment, the Court of Appeal in Singapore held that the law was unenforceable in its entirety as things stand presently. This was the first time when the Court of Appeal held that a law was unenforceable in its entirety. The court’s remarks in
obiter, which hinted at a possibility that a future constitutional challenge may be successful, was referenced by the government when it announced its decision to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code in August 2022.
Client feedback
“Chooi Jing Yen and Chen Yongxin, my lawyers from Eugene Thuraisingam, upheld their professionalism and showed me kindness and compassion throughout my case. I never expected myself to be involved in a legal dispute, and if not for my lawyers, it could have been one of the most draining and emotionally exhausting things to experience. Instead, I felt safe, secure and confident throughout the entire litigation. Jing Yen guided me, answered the many questions I had and explained everything so I could understand what was going on. The team was extremely meticulous and prepared. Like grandmasters in chess, they could think many steps ahead. Jing Yen shared the objective with me from the start, and it was fulfilled. My case was sensitive because it involved media and press, but the whole litigation process was really well managed. The lawyers on the team were experts on the topic and handled my case really well. I had friends telling me that lawyers are the ultimate winners in any case because of the money they earn at each step of the litigation process, and that I had to be wary of the decisions being made. That wasn’t the case for me at all. In fact, all the decisions made showed me how my lawyers had my best interests at heart. Jing Yen gave me the confidence that I could trust the team, and that I did not have to be anxious. I’m also really thankful for how prompt he was with my questions as well, because it always put an end to the anxiety I’d feel whenever I was uncertain. I’d also like to thank Ariffin Sha for answering the many questions I had as well. From my experience, I’d highly recommend engaging the lawyers at Eugene Thuraisingam. They are superb at their work, so calm and confident with what they do. I’m so thankful that the case has been resolved and that I can finally move forward. Thank you so much Jing Yen, Yongxin and Ariffin. I will forever be grateful.” – Labour and employment
“Responsive, effective strategy, and intelligent legal analysis.” – White-collar crime
Chooi Jing Yen
“Jing Yen was kind, knowledgeable and professional. He is very well prepared and has great foresight. He is able to think many steps ahead and fulfils his goals. He is very transparent with regards to fees and considered my financial concerns.”
Eugene Thuraisingam
“Very responsive, responsible and reliable.”
“Friendly and approachable, while maintaining a steady grasp on the case file.”
“He is excellent.
