Adriel is a disputes lawyer with expertise in commercial arbitration and infrastructure and construction disputes. He is admitted to practice in Singapore and in New South Wales, Australia.
Adriel has acted for clients in a broad range of contentious matters, with a particular focus on large-scale construction projects. He previously practised at an international law firm with a strong reputation in construction and infrastructure, and was extensively involved in complex, high-value arbitrations and court proceedings. Such matters include disputes arising from major infrastructure projects and the development of integrated resorts.
Adriel also has expertise in advising clients on a range of civil and commercial matters, and has dealt with issues concerning contractual disputes, mental capacity, employment, intellectual property, franchising, defamation, personal injury and accidents, hire-purchase arrangements, professional liability, and payment technologies.
In the area of construction law, he acted for a contractor in an adjudication matter that ultimately gave rise to a landmark Court of Appeal decision clarifying an ambiguity in the security of payment regulatory framework. Within this practice area, he has also been involved in advisory work relating to security of payment reform in Hong Kong.
In addition to legal practice, Adriel spent several years in a medico-legal setting, assisting forensic psychiatrists in the preparation of reports for civil and criminal matters. In one notable matter, he worked closely with a psychiatrist to prepare a forensic report on an offender of low intellectual functioning who was facing the death penalty. Although the offender did not meet the legal threshold for mental impairment, the court ultimately imposed life imprisonment instead.
During national service, Adriel served as an Investigating Officer in a law enforcement division overseeing issues involving military personnel. He subsequently completed undergraduate studies at the University of Sydney, before reading law at UNSW as part of a graduate-entry cohort.
While at university, he received clerkships from two Magic Circle firms, earned a Distinction for his research work at Peking University in a Chinese law immersion programme, and was an active volunteer in the pro bono legal clinic on campus.
Case Highlights
- Acted for a major international contractor in a US$300 claim against a government authority arising from an infrastructure project
- Acted for the contractor in construction adjudication proceedings, which led to a landmark construction law Court of Appeal case Lee Wee Lick Terence v Chua Say Eng (f.t.a.) Weng Fatt Construction [2012] SGCA 63
- Assisted in a High Court contractual dispute concerning novation and claims arising from an architectural services agreement.
- Acted for two MNCs, in separate but related disputes, in large claims against a major American credit card company
- Acted for owners, main contractors and sub-contractors in adjudications under the security of payment framework, representative cases include: AON Pte Ltd v AOO Pte Ltd [2013] SGSOP 8; AOT Pte Ltd v AOU Pte Ltd [2013] SGSOP 11; AIF Pte Ltd v AIH Pte Ltd [2011] SGSOP 23; AIK Pte Ltd v AIN Pte Ltd [2011] SGSOP 25; AIO Pte Ltd v AIP Pte Ltd [2011] SGSOP 26
Education
- Bachelor of Commerce – University of Sydney, Australia
- Bachelor of Laws – University of New South Wales, Australia
- Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice – College of law, Australia
Appointments
- Member, Law Society of Singapore
- Member, Singapore Academy of Law
- Member, American Psychology-Law Society

