Email: ken.koh@pacific.net.sg

Kenneth graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1983.  He is an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK.  He specialises in litigation, arbitration and mediation, with a particular focus on infrastructure, civil engineering and building construction disputes.  He also acts for clients in real estate and property financing matters.  He is legal advisor to the Singapore Contractors Association and authored the Singapore chapters in 2 international publications:

1. Transnational Litigation - A Practitioner's Guide by Oceana Publications; and
2. The Handbook on Cross-Border Contracting by AIJA.

Email: lai@unilegal.com.sg

Swee Fung graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1984. Since then he has been involved in civil & criminal litigation and arbitration. He obtained a Masters of Business Administration (for Asia Pacific Executives) from National University of Singapore in 1999. He is a Founding Director of UniLegal LLC. Prior to that he was a Senior Partner of Chan Ng Aqbal and a Partner of Toh Tan & Partners. He has been involved in numerous litigation cases involving commercial, construction, family, estate, property, conveyancing, criminal and other matters.

Email: ranvir.kumar@unilegal.com.sg

Ranvir graduated from National University of Singapore with LL.B (Hons) in 1984. He also graduated from Singapore Institute of Management with Dip F Mgt in 1990. He was admitted to the Singapore Bar in 1985 and has been in private practice ever since.

Ranvir is a very practical and pragmatic lawyer and he has gained considerable exposure and experience in a wide spectrum of legal matters. He has been the lead Counsel in a number of large complicated cases. He is an active Advocate who has argued cases in superior Courts in Singapore, the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, Singapore International Arbitration Centre and Singapore Mediation Centre.

Fluent in English, Hindi and Malay. Conversant in some Chinese dialects. He is active in social and community work and holds key positions in a number of organisations.

Email: bryan@ghows.com

Bryan graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1983.  Bryan was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 2008 and as a Solicitor of England & Wales in 1997.

Bryan brings insight and experience from the positions he held at Microsoft, IBM and legal practice. At Microsoft, Bryan was the lead lawyer for the Windows division and dealt with the legal issues relating to the Windows operating system. At IBM, Bryan was largely responsible for the integration of acquired software companies into IBM. He worked for IBM both in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Singapore. In Singapore, he was first the Asia Pacific regional counsel and later the Asia Pacific CFO for Lotus Software.

The areas where he is focusing on are: negotiating and closing high value transactions; enforcement of intellectual property rights; assisting start-ups; and software development and licensing issues. Below are examples of some of the work undertaken by Bryan:

• At Microsoft he negotiated and drafted numerous in-bound licensing agreements for use in the Windows operating system.
• The Microsoft Windows EULA that every Windows user has to agree to was largely drafted by Bryan.
• In legal practice, he has worked on agreements relating to Internet advertising; software licensing agreements; negotiated and concluded management agreements for both hotel owners and hotel management companies; the acquisition of IP assets and companies for clients;
• From a litigation perspective, he has undertaken enforcement actions on behalf of the Business Software Alliance in a number of Asian countries.
• Similarly he has acted for owners of intellectual property in protecting their rights in trade marks, passing off, trade secrets, copyright and designs.
• Bryan has appeared on behalf of clients in all venues in the Singapore courts, including the Privy Council.

Email:ernest.bala@ernestbala.com.sg

Ernest Balasubramaniam graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1987.  He was emplaced in the Singapore Legal Service in 1988 where he served for 5½ years principally involved in land matters, prosecution and computerization. He was Project Manager of the Singapore Titles Automated Registration System and involved in amendments to legislation involving land. He was also involved in integration and development issues involving various ministries on land issues.

Ernest was admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 1990. He obtained his Masters in law degree from the National University of Singapore in 1992 where he read advanced Banking Law, International Business Transactions, Insurance and Tax.

Ernest commenced private practice in June 1993 as a partner with a Singapore firm involved in 3 main areas, conveyancing, civil litigation and corporate work. He joined Arfat Selvam Alliance in 1999 and was head of the Real Estate and Civil Law Practice prior to joining Unilegal LLC in April 2010.  Ernest enjoys a broad practice, which include conveyancing, general corporate, banking, project finance, tax and civil litigation and arbitration. He was counsel for a landmark decision on the law of issue estoppel and easements.

Ernest has extensive experience in practice matters relating to computerization and conveyancing. He has been on the Conveyancing and Ruling Sub-Committee of the Law Society since 1993 and is the Deputy Chairman of the Sub-Committee until 2008.  He has worked closely with the Singapore Land Authority, IRAS, Controller of Housing, Building and Construction Authority and Singapore Academy of Law in various working groups and projects. He is a member of  LawNet  Sub-Committee for Conveyancing.

Ernest has been at the forefront of many initiatives such as the 1996 Property Tax Stamp Duty review, privatization of HDB transactions, electronic filing of instruments and electronic stamping of documents. He is regularly involved in changes to conveyancing practice and gives lectures and seminars organized by the Law Society for practicing lawyers.

He frequently advises major institutional clients including the CPF Board, Banks, Real Estate Developers and both private and listed companies.

Ernest’s credentials include:-

• advising Keppel Land in the disposal of certain properties to Ayala Land valued at $170 million;
• securitization of DBS Tampines Centre valued at $220 million;
• sale and lease back of 3Com facilities in Singapore;
• advising Centrepoint Properties Ltd on the acquisition and development of Compass Point Shopping Centre and residential units valued at $380 million;
• advising Keppel Land on office REIT valued at $1.2 billion;
• advising Keppel Land on securitization of office buildings valued at $650 million;
• redevelopment of Centrepoint Shopping Centre valued at $200 million;
• redevelopment of Tang Plaza retail, hotel/residential valued at $300 million;
• advising British & Malayan Trustee Limited in the ALLCO-IMF REIT valued at $690 million including office buildings in Perth, Melbourne and Singapore;
• advising on enbloc sales ranging from  18 units to 172 units;
• advising a listed company to acquire a Hotel (land and buildings) in Thailand;
• acting for both the Manager and Trustee of Cambridge Industrial Trust in acquisitions totalling $80 million;
• acting for Creative Technology Centre Pte Ltd in the disposal of its corporate office valued at $250 million;
• appeared before the Court of Appeal in  Lee Tat Development Pte Ltd v MCST No. 301 [2008 SG CA 47]

A landmark decision reversing two earlier Court of Appeal decisions and is considered the leading case on the law of easements and issue estoppel.  The asset of the property exceeds $550 million.

Outside his involvement in law, Ernest is a Board Member and Hon. Treasurer of St Hilda’s Kindergarten.  He is also an independent director of Vibropower Corporation Limited.  He is also a member of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Nominating Committee.

Serena Kent
Director

Email: serena.kent@ernestbala.com.sg 

Serena graduated from the National University of Singapore with an LLB (Hons) and LL.M and was called to the Singapore Bar in 1988.  Prior to joining Arfat Selvam Alliance LLC in 2005, she was Vice President (Legal) at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (OCBC) and also with DBS Bank.

Serena has extensive experience in all types of banking transactions including retail, commercial and private banking sectors.  Her areas of practice include commercial leasing, banking and mortgage finance, real estate finance, collective sales and securitization, direct and indirect property acquisitions and regional investments. She also frequently advises major institutional clients in banking matters.

Ng Puay Joo
Director

Email: ngpuayjoo@unilegal.com.sg

Puay Joo graduated from the National University of Singapore with LLB. (Hons) in 1988 and was called to the Singapore Bar in 1989. She has been a director of UniLegal LLC since 2006.  Prior to that, she practised with the law firms Messrs Rajah & Tann, Messrs Peter Low Tang & Belinda Ang as well as Messrs Toh Tan & Partners. She has also spent a short stint as an in-house legal counsel of one of the major local banks.

Puay Joo’s areas of practice and specialisation include banking, conveyancing, securities and loan documentation.  She has advised banks, financial institutions, local statutory boards, registered societies, corporations and individuals on a variety of banking and finance transactions including development project financing, multi-currency loans, syndicated loans, and in the sale, acquisition and mortgage of industrial, commercial and residential properties.  Her other areas of practice include representing and advising landlords and tenants in commercial and residential leasing in Singapore as well as estate and probate matters.

Email: nazim.khan@unilegal.com.sg

Nazim graduated from the University of London with an LL.B Hons in June 1989. He was admitted as a Barrister to the Bar in ngland & Wales in July 1990. He did a short pupillage with the late Lord Denning’s former chambers at 7 King’s Bench Walk (a specialist commercial set). He then did his pupillage in Singapore with M/s Rodyk & Davidson after completing his Post Graduate Practice Law Course. Nazim has been in practice for over 18 years and has been a director of UniLegal LLC since August 2002.

Nazim specialises in Commercial Litigation with his practice spreading over several areas with a particular emphasis on recovery relating to forensics and fraud. In the last 18 years, he has also been actively involved in several key Insolvency, Judicial Management and Corporate Receivership matters. Nazim also handles Corporate and Personal Debt Restructuring, International and Domestic Arbitrations, Banking and Trade Finance Disputes, Professional Negligence actions, matters relating to Companies and Corporations including shareholder disputes and Building and Construction matters.

Nazim has also been actively involved in various aspects of IPPs (Independent Power Plants) in Asia and South America from advising on the procurement of PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) to the setting up and running of such power plants through EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contracts) and Technical Assistance, Management and Off-Take Agreements. In conjunction with the IPPs, Nazim has also become involved in advisory work relating to the sourcing and procurement of coal, fuel and gas.

Email: ckltan@singnet.com.sg

Clarence graduated from the University of Leeds in 1992. He was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn and was called to the English Bar in 1995. He was called to the Singapore Bar in 1997 and remains in practice to date.
Clarence specialises in civil/litigation involving family, civil & commercial cases, criminal, bankruptcy & insolvency law and Strata Titles Board matters. He also does Court of Appeal work.  

Clarence has been a Director of UniLegal LLC since 2006. Prior to joining UniLegal LLC, he was running Clarence Tan & Co.

Email: jispal@unilegal.com.sg

Jispal graduated from the University of London with LL.B (Hons) in 1996 and was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn and called to the English Bar in 1997.  He was admitted to the Singapore Bar in 1998 and has been in private practice ever since.

The practice of law for Jispal has been a mid-career change.  His background prior to becoming a lawyer was in various fields such as instrumentation and control in the offshore oil and gas industry, land surveying, building construction, and marine cargo claims.   This diverse technical background and mid-career change has resulted in Jispal being a mature, pragmatic and active Advocate and Solicitor.

Jispal's primary area of practice is insurance litigation, where he represents lay persons in injury claims, as well as insurance companies as defence counsel.  He also deals with civil and commercial litigation, matrimonial and probate matters, criminal law, engineering and building construction disputes, medical negligence, and workmen's compensation and industrial accident claims.   He has been appointed by the State as an Assisting Counsel in a capital case, and has also volunteered his services at legal clinics.  He is also a member of the Social and Welfare Committee of the Law Society of Singapore.

Jispal is an avid sportsman.  He views the pursuit of sporting and outdoor activities as a metaphor for life's various challenges, and firmly believes in a work and life balance.  He has been an active scuba diving instructor for more than 20 years, and also enjoys biking, rock and ice climbing, mountaineering, skiing, sailing and adventure racing.  He is the Chairman of the SAFRA Adventure Club, and was also a Committee Member of the Singapore Underwater Federation in the early 90s.  

He is fluent in English, Malay and Punjabi, and is able to converse in basic Hokkien.

Email: chanfm@unilegal.com.sg

Fook Meng graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1985. Since then he has been involved in corporate matters and civil litigation. He is a Founding Director of UniLegal LLC. Prior to that he was a Senior Partner of Chan Ng Aqbal and a Partner of Wong Yoong Tan & Molly Lim. He has been involved in numerous corporate deals and litigation cases involving Building and Construction Law, Bankruptcy and Insolvency, Contract, Company Law, Intellectual Property, Confidential Information, and Landlord and Tenant. He currently sits on the board of a public listed and several private companies.

Eric Low Eng Wan
Consultant

Email: eric@unilegal.com.sg

Eric Low Eng Wan graduated with the degree of LL.B (Hons) from the University of London in 1981.  He was awarded the degree of Barrister-at-Law (Gray’s Inn) in 1983 and was called to the English Bar that year.

He was called to the Singapore Bar in 1984 and commenced private practice in Messrs Wee Swee Teow & Co. 

From 1986 to 1991, he was in the Singapore Legal Service and held the concurrent appointments of Magistrate, Deputy Registrar of the Subordinate Courts, Coroner, Referee of the Small Claims Tribunal and Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court.

He left Legal Service in 1991 to join Messrs Khattar Wong & Partners and was a litigation partner when he left in September 2000 for other law firms before joining Messrs UniLegal LLC as a Director from March 2003 onwards until he became a Consultant from April 2010.

In 1997 Eric attended the International Symposium on Civil and Commercial Law in Osaka, Japan, at which he presented a paper on Bankruptcy Law in the Singapore Legal System as the delegate from Singapore. Delegates from Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the People’s Republic of China, South Korea and Japan represented their respective jurisdictions.

In 1994 he was attached for 3 months full time in the office of Messrs Minter Ellison in Sydney, Australia, to observe and learn from their practice.

Over the years, Eric has represented parties in a number of significant cases (including several landmark cases) such as:-

• Rai Bahadur & Anor v Bank of India [1993] 1 SLR 634, HC : which was the first case to determine the age of majority in Singapore
• UCO Bank v Ringler Pte Ltd [1995] 1 SLR 713, CA : which involved the liability of carriers of goods for conversion by releasing goods without a bill of lading but covered by a banker’s guarantee
• Central Provident Fund Board v Lau Eng Mui [1995] 3 SLR 109, CA : a case of considerable consequences which involved the division of matrimonial assets following divorce where the Court of Appeal decided that an ex-spouse may have an interest in the monies in a member’s CPF account and that such interest may be protected by a Court Order
• McConnell Dowell Southeast Asia Pte Ltd v Tan Hee Seng Construction Pte Ltd & Ors, unreported, HC : a case involving very complicated facts and issues arising from the construction of a jetty where the disputes centred on marine piling, land surveying and engineering
• The Committee of Inquiry into the collapse of Nicoll Highway in 2004, a hearing which was conducted over an aggregate of 88 days – the longest in Singapore’s history – wherein Eric acted for one of the sub-contractors who was involved in the project’s geotechnical and instrumentation works.

Eric’s areas of practice include arbitration, building and construction law, civil and commercial litigation, employment law, hire purchase and leasing, banking, landlord and tenant, insolvency, companies and partnerships.