Rajah & Tann is leading full-service law firm with roots in dispute resolution. The firm enjoys a stellar reputation for litigation, with the largest practice in Singapore and Southeast Asia, and it is a go-to choice for many clients in complex, cross-border disputes. The firm has the highest number of senior counsels, with a total of seven in Singapore, which gives it the strongest advocacy power in the region. The court hearing statistics alone reflect the commanding lead the firm has in the market, with the highest number of hearings in 2021, at 564 cases, which is almost double the cases of the next closest competitor. The team also secured the highest number of SICC judgments as of mid-2022, with more than a third of the total. The firm maintains an excellent track record of securing landmark decisions and victories for its clients across a wide range of practice areas. Market watchers commend the firm’s expertise, particularly in sectors such as energy, financial services, shipping and construction. This year, the firm ascends into the top tier in the construction rankings.
Among the firm’s numerous leading lawyers are key senior counsels Eng Beng Lee, Chuan Thye Tan, Andre Yeap and Francis Xavier, and partners Adrian Wong, Vikram Nair, Kelvin Poon, Patrick Ang, Danny Ong and Rebecca Chew, who are known for their work in commercial disputes. Insolvency, international arbitration and shipping specialist Kian Sing Toh is another notable figure alongside IP-focused Kok Keng Lau, construction experts Chee Siong Sim and Lip San Soh, commercial litigation head Chandra Mohan and white-collar crime expert Hamidul Haq.
The Rajah & Tann team was at the helm for Tendcare Medical Group Holdings in the largest successful claim ever for fraudulent trading in Singapore. The case also resulted in the Court of Appeal issuing a landmark judgment appraising the law of reflective loss in the jurisdiction. In another seminal case, the firm is acting in the first civil claim brought in Singapore by an investor against directors for breach of statutory duties under two sections of the Securities and Futures Act. Its clients are the former non-executive independent directors of the managers of Eagle Hospitality Trust.
On the construction front, the team is representing Vim Engineering in an appeal against a High Court decision in a significant dispute involving contractual conditions when making variation claims. The case is of tremendous significance for the industry, and the appellate judgment, when it is issued, is likely to be the
locus classicus on a number of issues that are often significant sources of controversy. The issues addressed will include the effect of oral instructions for variations where the construction contract provides for variations to be carried out only on written instructions, the authority of employees to issue instructions on a live construction site, and the effect of provisions in the construction contract regarding the entitlement to levy back charges.
The insolvency litigators are busy assisting Shanghai Huaxin Group on its liquidation. This is a very significant case demonstrating the increased collaboration between the mainland and Hong Kong judicial authorities in relation to insolvency matters. It is the first case where a Hong Kong court has recognised and assisted mainland liquidators. In another marquee matter, the team received the first-ever recognition of Singapore’s moratorium law in a landmark ruling by the High Court of England and Wales involving its client, H&C S Holdings. This groundbreaking decision is a significant development for Singapore’s debt restructuring and insolvency regime. The ruling is positive for debt workouts across different jurisdictions and a boost to Singapore’s ambition to become Asia’s debt restructuring hub.
In a huge, high-value international arbitration case, the firm continues to defend an Indian conglomerate against a $21 billion claim brought by a BVI entity for alleged breaches of non-disclosure agreements. The team additionally represented the Republic of the Philippines in ongoing $15 billion arbitration proceedings before the ICC on claims for breach of contract and estoppel brought by two large multinational oil and gas companies.
On the labour side, the firm successfully acted for Prudential Assurance Company Singapore in a High Court suit against its former group financial services director and PTO Management and Consultancy. The High Court found that the former director was liable to the client for breach of his contractual obligation to act with integrity and honesty. The case arose out of one of the largest mass exoduses of financial advisers in Singapore in recent history.
Key clients include Alfa Bank of Russia, Borrelli Walsh, China Machinery New Energy, Hilton Group, Prudential Assurance, Senda International Capital, Vedanta and World Fuel Services.
Rajah & Tann has a strong regional footprint that makes it adept at multi-jurisdictional dispute resolution, with strategic firm alliances across Southeast Asia that allow it to appear in local courts in China, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Client feedback
“Concise, technically excellent and commercial advice.” –
Commercial and transactions
“The team conducts an in-depth study of the facts, blended with a high level of legal research and extreme professionalism, and practical approach in matters.” –
Commercial and transactions
“Fees are reasonable and the response quick.” – Construction
“They are good at strategising and advising how to prepare
positions and documentation, and to manoeuvre to maximise our situation in protecting our position against the contractor.” – Construction
“They do well overall. Particularly in preparing strategy to respond to our opponent's attitude, and they are efficient.” –
Energy
“Quick turnaround and sound knowledge of the law.” –
Insolvency
“Commercially savvy lawyers who are ‘high touch’ with clients.” –
Insurance
“Provides legal advice in a timely and well organised manner.” – Insurance
“Takes matters forward without unnecessary bells and whistles.” – International arbitration
“Great practical solutions-focused work.” – Labour and employment
“We appreciate their responsiveness and clarity of advice.” – Labour and employment
“Rajah & Tann Singapore provided clear, coherent and practical advice, liaised with foreign counsels seamlessly, and instead of simply forwarding the advice from foreign counsels to us, they proactively sought clarification from foreign counsels, and also rationalised how the advice received from foreign counsels gels with their own advice.” – Labour and employment
“Gives solid tax advice and structures.” – Tax
“Extreme quality of client service, very technical and in-depth analysis of the client's situation. High quality of opinion provided. Partner in charge, Vikna Rajah, had amazing knowledge.” – Tax
“Rajah & Tann is very good in strategising and advising on how certain events should be portrayed and presented to the police and prosecution.” – White-collar crime
Dedi Affandi Ahmad
“Always tries to understand clients' position and requirements.”
Tze Phern Ang
“Tze Phern was able to deliver clear, coherent and practical legal advice. He was also able to meet all the timelines as promised.”
Josephine Chee
“Josephine knows the law very well and is very realistic in her assessments. She also has a lot of previous, useful experience.”
Kim Beng Ng
“Excellent analytical and strategic advice on how best to position and prepare a defence against potential future disputes. Once a dispute is evident, he’s able to look ahead and provide steps to maximise our position.”
Vikna Rajah
“He’s highly professional and knowledgeable, with Incredible technical insight. He offers perfect client service and is in control of the whole process from explaining to delivering. He provides swift and on-point service.”
Mark Cheng
“Excellent knowledge and strong in communications.”
Lip San Soh
“He is responsive and practical, with a good knowledge of construction law.”
Elaine Tay
“She is a very competent lawyer with good industry knowledge.”
Kelvin Poon
“Good legal knowledge and positive approach.”
Adrian Wong
“Technically excellent, he writes well, is concise, practical and offers a solution.”
“Gets to the point and steers matters towards an efficient resolution.”
Andre Yeap
“He's a no-nonsense lawyer. He would tell us his view and the prospect of our case without sugar-coating it. Thus, he helped us to manage our expectations and decide what strategy to employ.”
Jonathan Yuen
“He’s a problem-solver and understands our business very deeply.”
“Practical and provides clear advice.”
