Daniel Chia

Practice Areas

Litigation - Singapore Courts

International Arbitration

Restructuring and Insolvency

Career

Daniel Chia is a corporate and commercial trial and appellate litigator. He acts as counsel before the Singapore High Court, the Singapore Court of Appeal and the Singapore International Commercial Court. He is regularly instructed as counsel for clients in international arbitrations hearings as well as defence and prosecuting counsel before various disciplinary and regulatory authorities. He has a wide practice but mainly acts in high value disputes relating to new technologies, commercial crime, professional indemnity insurance, shareholder litigations, insolvency claims, and securities and regulatory litigations.

Peers have recognised Daniel as “excellent” and “a terrific litigator” who is “able to hold his own against much more senior advocates, including senior counsel.” Clients have praised him for being “"unflappable", hands on”, “diligent and has a great work ethic" and a “delight to work with”. He is also credited for leading an “outstanding team” that provides an “impeccable service.”

Professional Memberships

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Member, Singapore Law Society

Member, Singapore Academy of Law

Publications

Contributing Editor, Singapore Civil Procedure

Work Highlights

Corporate & Commercial

- acting for various fund managers and investment funds in respect of their investment into investee companies located in China, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Issues which typically arise include founder mismanagement, accounting fraud, misrepresentation and corporate actions depending on the form of the instrument of investment

- successfully representing asset managers in a claim for deceit and fraud in respect of the acquisition of an African cryptocurrency-friendly bank in the Singapore International Commercial Court, covering issues relating to the regulatory regime for SWIFT payments, cryptocurrency payments and wallets as well as the bank licensing regime in several African jurisdictions

- advising a leading electrical retailer for homes and businesses in Singapore as the appointed crisis management counsel. This included all matters relating to the worldwide energy crunch and surge in electricity prices following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, numerous litigations threatened by former customers and regulatory issues arising from the open market electricity regulatory regime administered by the Energy Market Authority in Singapore

- successfully represented a Singapore-listed water solutions company in derivative proceedings initiated by minority shareholders who took issue with the listed company's share placement exercise and the exploratory acquisition of two wastewater treatment concessions in China and in Indonesia

- successfully acting for over 20 shareholders in a government sponsored Global Investor Program fund in oppression, derivative action and insolvency proceedings against the management of the fund for fraud and misuse of monies for claims close to US$40 million. The series of proceedings included the first known "pre-packed" scheme for claims which was sold in the fund's insolvency proceedings to the shareholders to enable them to take direct action against the former management

Arbitration & Award Enforcement

- successfully representing a IT cybersecurity company in both arbitration and setting aside proceedings with a series of related entities trading under the name "KuCoin", which is linked to a cryptocurrency exchange. Secured a rare setting aside of an arbitration award for the client in the Singapore High Court on the ground of breach of natural justice, which was affirmed by the Court of Appeal of Singapore

- successfully representing a large state-owned Chinese shipbuilding yard in SIAC arbitration proceedings against Singaporean ship-owning entities in respect of contracts to build several offshore drilling rigs – the value of which exceeded US$350 million. Technical issues relating to defective design of components, marine construction, liquidated damages and wrongful termination took centre stage. - -

Also acted in the attendant setting aside applications and successfully resisted the shipowning entities' attempts to set aside the award both at the High Court and Court of Appeal stages

- successfully representing a Korean state owned entity in respect of enforcement proceedings against Indian parties in the Singapore Courts. Successfully resisted the counter parties attempt to set aside the arbitral award (which had award US$15 million in damages in the client's favour and dismissed some US$150 million in counterclaims against the client)

- successfully representing 21 Chinese preference shareholders in a quasi-class action case in a SIAC arbitration. It concerned the recovery of a US$40 million investment from a Singapore Global Investor Program Fund which invested in entertainment assets throughout the world

- successfully representing international investors in an SIAC arbitration involving a shareholder dispute in respect of investments in a pharmaceutical and diagnostic company which was majority owned by a Chinese conglomerate. Issues relating to oppression, diversion of business and trade secret theft in China took centre stage

- representing a Cambodian telecommunications company in ICC arbitral proceedings against a Chinese telecoms component manufacturer for loss of potential profits up to US$50 million. Technical issues of telecoms frequency, equipment design, suitability and customs issues took centre stage

Engineering & Construction

- successfully defended a globally renowned consulting engineering firm against a Singapore High Court claim brought by renowned commercial building owners for alleged defects in façade design in relation to a "Grade A" office building in Singapore. The trial of the matter involved 6 parties, some 30 factual and expert witnesses and led to one of the longest running trials in Singapore. He also successfully represented the same client in the attendant appeal

- successfully defended a globally renowned consulting engineering firm against a Singapore High Court claim initiated by Global Switch (a worldwide operator of data centres) in a claim relating to the power and cooling systems of a data centre, which involved issues of compensation for alleged defective design, replacement costs, loss of profit and revenue. Also successfully represented the same client in the attendant appeal and obtained one of the largest sums of attorney costs ever awarded by a Singapore court

- successfully acted for plaintiff contractors in respect of an oil rig construction against the owners and successfully reaching a settlement of the claims

Labour & Employment

- acting for several multi-national companies on their anti-bullying and harassment policies

- successfully defended a client in a claim involving alleged theft of trade secrets and confidential information as well as breach of non-compete clauses

- acting for a leading talent agency in connection with the overhaul of their Asia-wide employment policies and documentation. The overhaul included anti-bullying and harassment policies, sales incentive schemes, equal opportunity and diversity policies, substance abuse policies, and general code of conduct

- advising various clients on restrictive covenants and anti-poaching activities, policies and disputes

- acting for various clients across Asia-Pacific on claims relating to theft of confidential information and trade secrets

- coordinating and conducting investigations in respect of issues relating to employee misconduct and fraud along with the attendant termination and civil claims issues

White Collar & Crime

- successfully acting as coordinating counsel for a Algeria-based French businessman in respect of corruption proceedings and government asset seizures in Singapore, Hong Kong, Italy and France. Secured the unfreezing and release of nearly US$200 million in assets following the client's acquittal

- acted for the chairman of a leading shipbuilder in Singapore in corruption proceedings and investigations in Singapore

- acted for a government linked entity in respect of a fraud committed by its sales representatives in South East Asia

- acted for various listed companies on the Singapore Stock Exchange in respect of regulatory issues arising from purported breaches of securities regulations and disclosure requirements

Pro Bono & Human Rights

- acting as in over 10 capital punishment matters relating to drug trafficking and drug possession in the Singapore Courts

- advising clients on the spill-over effect of greenwashing and misstatements from a securities regulation perspective under Singapore law

Experience

Daniel provides tailored, tactical advice that adds value to client's corporate strategy. He devises and executes strategies for disputes relating to commercial crime, commercial fraud, business crime defence, white-collar proceedings, professional indemnity insurance, shareholder litigation, insolvency claims, and securities and regulatory enforcement in Asia. These include matters relating to misselling, misrepresentations, fraudulent fundraising, and prosecuting and defending against allegations of corruption, money laundering, and commercial crime.

He is an experienced corporate and commercial trial and appellate litigator representing clients in complex, cross-border, and multidisciplinary disputes. Daniel has appeared as lead counsel in court hearings, international arbitrations, and other dispute resolution forums. Daniel also regularly acts in professional liability cases where he represents professionals, consultants, and insurers in all matters relating to professional negligence.