Prominent disputes-focused firm Eugene Thuraisingam handles both domestic and international litigation and arbitration involving industries such as shipping, oil and gas, and construction. The firm is respected in the market for its strength in constitutional and criminal litigation matters, and it has a robust commercial and employment disputes offering. The firm has been involved in landmark cases that have shaped legal precedents in Singapore. For example, it represented a client in a case that established important legal principles regarding employer liability and the accuracy of performance reviews, influencing how companies handle employee references and evaluations. 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 firm's commitment to providing conflict-free legal counsel has made it a go-to choice for clients seeking independent representation. The group has an office in Bangkok, part of its expansion and strategy 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 decision convicting an accused person (it eventually reversed its own decision). It also secured numerous acquittals in trial at both the High Court and the state courts, including for those persons charged with capital offences; and it has successfully persuaded the prosecution to resolve matters amicably in other cases. In a recent matter, the team mounted a successful defence of professionals accused of serious offences, resulting in high-profile acquittals. In another notable case, Eugene Thuraisingam secured a rare mid-trial abandonment of a case against a client accused of a serious crime.
Leading the team is firm founder Thuraisingam, who is recognized as a leading lawyer for criminal litigation. Other key names are managing director Suang Wijaya and director Johannes Hadi.
The firm recently acted for a leading sports goods distributor in its claim against a former director for unauthorized withdrawals totaling over S$3.5 million ($2.6 million). Additionally, the team is representing clients in an ongoing litigation against Titan Principals to recover over S$1.5 million in relation to a failed investment in the GoTo Group.
On the labor and employment side, the firm is regularly approached to help clients with cases concerning non-compete clauses. The lawyers recently successfully defended a former employee of a private bank in claims for wrongful dismissal and loss of bonuses, underscoring their knowledge in employment contracts and workplace rights.
Client feedback
“They provided focused and clear instructions and advice." – Commercial and transactions
"The firm's strengths were their responsiveness and communication. They managed to follow up on the relevant matters. Since he had no experience in litigation matters and processes, they were able to inform and preemptively address his concerns. They ensured that all aspects were covered as comprehensively as possible and were transparent and frank in their information exchange." – Family and matrimonial
“Everything was superb, from client matters to advocacy in court; it was a full package.” – White-collar crime
"They calmed me down and broke down the case in simple terms." – White-collar crime
"They are top-notch lawyers who are able to provide succinct advice and are highly recommended." – White-collar crime
Johannes Hadi
"He's professional and capable of handling all types of cases he's specialized in, especially criminal."
Sophia Ng
"She was responsive, detail-orientated, and understood the gist of the case."
Eugene Thuraisingam
"He is very focused in his work and commercially savvy."
"He's the nation's top criminal lawyer.” – White-collar crime
Suang Wijaya
"He has great client manners and fights for the right outcome.”
"He is a very tenacious lawyer, capable of delivering top-quality written and oral advocacy."
"Suang is very incisive and pragmatic in his approach. From the onset of the dispute, he took time to listen to the background of the case and provided advice based on his knowledge and was able to explain things sufficiently and in context. He was responsive at every step and was able to advise accordingly. I was very impressed with the initial handling of the case and how he mentored his trainee during the process. Suang is also very competent in his field and very strategic in his approach."
