Litigation & Appeals

The Firm’s Litigation & Appeals practice handles a wide range of complex commercial disputes spanning sectors, such as insurance, construction, aviation and shipping, insolvency and restructuring, crime and investigations, and private wealth and trusts.

The practice is regularly engaged to represent clients on complex multi-million dollar disputes. In particular, we have significant experience working with and representing clients from the People’s Republic of China in matters relating to construction, technology and infrastructure, and private equity.

Most recently, we have appeared before the Singapore International Commercial Court on behalf of a Chinese state-owned entity in its solar energy project dispute with the developer. The project is sited in Pakistan. We also act for a Chinese state-owned oil and gas giant in five interpleader proceedings in the aftermath of the collapse of Hin Leong Trading (Pte.) Ltd (“Hin Leong“) and Ocean Tankers (Pte.) Ltd. Hin Leong was one of Asia’s largest oil traders prior to its collapse in 2020 and its collapse is also Singapore’s largest-ever instance of corporate fraud. The total value of the claims is in excess of USD 100 million.

We have successfully represented technology unicorns and business consulting firms in protecting their commercial information by applying for and obtaining search orders against errant employees in breach of their confidentiality obligations.

We regularly act to assist clients on matters relating to the enforcement of arbitration awards in Singapore. In 2022, we succeeded in assisting our client, a major regional health supplement company, to resist the enforcement of a foreign emergency arbitration award in Singapore as the award was tainted by a breach of natural justice (CVG v CVH [2022] SGHC 249).

Testament to our abilities, the practice is ranked favourably by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, and Benchmark Litigation. Our client feedback has been excellent and includes the following:

• “LVM are able to tackle a broad range of disputes. Their strengths lie in excellent litigation strategy and advocacy coupled with commercially-minded advice.”
• “A boutique dispute resolution firm that is service-oriented.“
• “They work as team. The lawyers have good knowledge of the related field and provide follow-ups.”

Our other notable matters include:

• Successfully representing a big four Singapore law firm in striking out a claim for breach of confidence brought by Lim Oon Kuin and his children in a matter arising out of the collapse of Hin Leong Trading (Pte.) Ltd and Ocean Tankers (Pte.) Ltd.
• Successfully obtaining repayment of USD 2.4 million in total for a foreign bank against a company which was in compulsory liquidation.
• Successfully obtaining a declaration of trust over shares in a family-owned company on behalf of a set of brothers against another set of brothers (Ho Soo Tong v Ho Soo Fong [2023] SGHC 90).
• Successfully obtaining search orders for a technology unicorn and a major management consulting firm against ex-employees in possession of confidential and proprietary information.
• Representing an individual in an appeal that led to a landmark decision on the treatment of “no oral waiver” clauses (Charles Lim Teng Siang and another v Hong Choon Hau and another [2021] 2 SLR 153).
• Representing an individual against her uplines for fraudulent misrepresentation and conspiracy to defraud her into investing in a Ponzi scheme.