[SIArb] Construction Dispute Resolution – Managing the Process: A Discussion about Best Practices

Mr. Ho Chien Mien is Co-Head of Allen & Gledhill’s Construction & Engineering practice. In 2018, he was among the inaugural batch of select practitioners to be recognised as a Senior Accredited Specialist in Building and Construction Law by the Singapore Academy of Law. On his work in Construction, Projects and Energy, Chien Mien is constantly recommended as a key practitioner in several leading publications. Chambers Asia-Pacific notes that he “enjoys an outstanding reputation for contentious and non-contentious work” and that “clients acknowledge his high intellect, saying ‘he is a very clever individual’”. It also refers to comments on “his ability to think out of the box” and that “he is very creative and able to provide alternative solutions which are not immediately apparent”. Chambers Asia-Pacific further compliments his ability “to provide great insights be it from his technical knowledge or his commercial awareness,” and considers him a “complete lawyer who offers a combination of deep knowledge and wide experience”.  The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, too, notes that he is “highly regarded”, “extremely experienced, client-focused and commercially minded”. Chien Mien sits on the main panel of arbitrators for the SIAC and the KLRCA.  He is also an Accredited Adjudicator with the SMC.

Mr. Edwin Lee is one of the founding partners of Eldan Law LLP, a law firm with an extensive practice in building and construction law. Practising for more than 20 years, Edwin has argued both major courtroom disputes and arbitrations. He is recognised by the Singapore Academy of Law as a Senior Specialist in Construction Law.  He is also cited as a leading Singapore construction law practitioner in Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading Construction Lawyers (2017). The Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2017 has also cited him as “an authority on domestic construction adjudications”.  Apart from his active legal practice, Edwin is also an Adjunct Associate Professor with the National University of Singapore, Adjunct Assistant Professor with the Singapore University of Technology and Design, and a trainer for the Building & Construction Authority on Construction Law. Edwin’s is also a contributor to the book Law & Practice of Injunctions in Singapore (2004), co-author of Confidentiality in Arbitration (2007), one of the general editors of the annual Singapore Construction Adjudication Review, and a contributing editor to the Singapore Journal of Construction Law.  His latest book is the recently published Building Contract Law in Singapore, 2016 (3rd Edition).

Mr. Eugene Tan leads the firm’s Southeast Asia construction practice. His experience encompasses dispute resolution and transactional/advisory work. His clients include owners, consultants and contractors.Eugene has considerable experience in both disputes and transactional/advisory work, focusing on the engineering, infrastructure and construction sectors across a number of jurisdictions. He has worked extensively on various construction and projects related matters in Indonesia since 2010 and spends a regular amount of time in Indonesia. He has represented clients in matters involving FIDIC, PSSCOC SIA and REDAS forms of contract. Eugene has appeared as counsel in every level of the Singapore courts, from the state courts to the court of appeal. He also advises and represents clients in arbitrations under ICC, SIA, SIAC and ad hoc rules and in adjudications under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act. Eugene also advises on the review, drafting and negotiations of engineering, procurement and construction contracts and their related agreements including performance bonds, warranties and parent corporate guarantees. He has also contributed to the Singapore Public Sector Construction Contract: Commentary on the Public Sector of Construction (7th Edition) textbook. Eugene has been appointed as a Senior Accredited Specialist in Building and Construction Law, by the Singapore Academy of Law in its inaugural batch of accredited specialist. He is recognised as an expert in construction and infrastructure matters by the Asia Legal 500 and ranked by Chambers and Partners for construction in Singapore. He is also recommended as a leading Construction, Projects & Infrastructure Lawyer for Singapore in the Doyle’s 2016 guide.

About the Chairperson/Moderator:

Mr. Mohan Pillay is Joint Head of Office of Pinsent Masons MPillay LLP. He is a Singapore and UK qualified dispute resolution lawyer with 30 years’ experience in advisory, commercial litigation and regional arbitration work, particularly in construction and engineering projects. In addition to being a Chartered Arbitrator, he appears regularly as Lead Counsel in the Singapore High Court, Court of Appeal, and arbitrations. He is part of the first batch of Senior Specialists in Building and Construction Law accredited by the Singapore Academy of Law in 2018. Mohan is actively involved in litigation/arbitration programs and publications. He is Co-Chair of the Dispute Resolution & Arbitration Committee, IPBA, and previously Adj. Assoc. Professor (Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore, 2003-2011) and Visiting Professor (Centre of Construction Law, King’s College London 2005–2011). He is one of the General Editors of the Singapore Construction Adjudication Review and the Singapore Journal of Construction Law.  He is also co-author of “The SICC Handbook – A Guide to the Rules and Procedures of the Singapore International Commercial Court”, and chapter contributor to “Arbitration in Singapore”, and “Commercial Litigation in Singapore”. Mohan is a Past President of SIArb and currently serves as its Hon. Treasurer.

Accreditation:

Public CPD Points: 1.5 Practice Area: Alternative Dispute Resolution Training Level: General