Building, Construction & Infrastructure

The Firm’s Building, Construction & Infrastructure practice boasts extensive knowledge and experience in the construction, infrastructure and engineering sectors, coupled with a keen efficiency in the resolution of international, regional and local disputes.

The team’s experience includes representing both employers and contractors in a range of high-value disputes often involving complex and novel issues in the construction industry. Some of these disputes have engaged novel points of law – see for instance LH Aluminium Industries Pte Ltd v Newcon Builders Pte Ltd [2015] 1 SLR 648, a leading case concerning the interpretation of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2004, and Chan Sze Ying v Management Corporation Strata Title Plan No 2948 (Lee Chuen T’ng, intervener) [2021] 1 SLR 841, a leading case on the conduct of meetings for management corporations.

Joseph Lee is, in particular, highly regarded in the industry. He sits as the current Vice-Chairman of the Singapore Academy of Law Construction Law Committee for the Promotion of Singapore Law. He is also the author of various construction protocols launched in 2019.

Testament to the team’s abilities, the practice has been ranked favourably by Benchmark Litigation with Joseph ranked as a Litigation Star for construction matters.

Some notable cases include:

• Acting for a contractor in litigation proceedings against various construction professionals including the architect of the project, with related arbitration proceeding commenced against the employer. The suit raises novel issues as to the duties that construction professionals owe to contractors.
• Acting for a firm of engineers in its defence against claims arising from the collapse of a section to a significant highway link. The collapse was widely reported due to its public interest, and the dispute raises highly technical issues both in the insurance and construction spheres.
• Acting for a sub-contractor in its defence against claims arising out of the construction and development of various mass rapid transport stations along the new train line in Singapore.