Stephen Cheong

Stephen Cheong is an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore with a broad practice covering litigation, domestic and international arbitration and mediation, specialising in the avoidance, management and resolution of disputes.

His practice areas include insurance and reinsurance, M&A, joint venture, distribution, construction and engineering, power generation, labour and employment, family and private client.

Stephen has an established network with leading local law firms in the Asia Pacific and South East Asian region and is regularly instructed by local counsel to advise and represent clients in international arbitrations and proceedings in the Singapore courts. Stephen is fluent in the institutional rules of major arbitral institutions including SIAC, HKIAC, ICC, ACICA, LCIA and UNCITRAL and is a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators.

Stephen is also appointed to the panel of arbitrators of the Thailand Arbitration Center (THAC) and the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB International).

Practice areas

General Commercial Disputes
Insurance
Employment
Family
Private Client
Cross Border Advisory

Recognition

Recommended, Dispute Resolution: Local Firms, The Legal 500 (2019).

Representative matters

International Arbitration

Representing a listed mining and processing company in ACICA arbitration proceedings against a global engineering company for damages and loss of profits arising out of the catastrophic failure of mining equipment. Approximately US$85 million was at stake.
Representing the subsidiary of a conglomerate listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in SIAC arbitration proceedings (including emergency arbitration proceedings for urgent interim relief) arising out of a joint venture mining dispute. Approximately S$4.2 million was at stake.
Representing a Taiwanese manufacturer of scooters and quadbikes in SIAC arbitration proceedings against a French importer and distributor following the termination of the commercial relationship. More than EUR 12 million was at stake.
Representing a Thailand-based company engaged in agro-industrial business and production of food in expedited SIAC arbitration proceedings in Singapore arising out of a share purchase agreement dispute. More than THB 91 million was at stake.
Representing a Thailand-based company in SIAC arbitration proceedings in Singapore against an asset management company incorporated in the Federation Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Representing a Russian pharmaceutical company in SIAC arbitration proceedings in Singapore against an Indian company in respect of disputes arising out of a distribution agreement. More than USD 2 million was at stake.
Representing a Thailand-based company engaged in the entertainment industry in JAMS arbitration proceedings seated in Los Angeles, California, USA, arising out of a licensing agreement dispute. More than USD 5 million was at stake.
Representing a local supplier of bottled LPG gas in ad hoc arbitration proceedings (with parallel litigation proceedings) against insurers in respect of losses arising from the catastrophic destruction of a LPG bottling facility by fire. More than SGD 9 million was at stake.
Representing a Thailand-based company in the offshore marine sector in SIAC arbitration proceedings in Singapore against an Australian sub-contractor in respect of disputes arising out of and in connection with the supply of sub-sea equipment.

Court Litigation and Mediation

Obtaining summary judgment against an individual in respect of breach of the terms of a share purchase agreement.
Appointed by professional and indemnity liability insurers (P&I) to defend an architect in Singapore High Court proceedings commenced by the owners of a hotel for loss of profits occasioned by the delay in completion of the construction works due to alleged professional negligence.
Advising and representing the former CEO of a mining company in a multi-million dollar dispute arising from the wrongful retention of termination benefits by his former employer.
Representing the operator of a commercial mall in mediation proceedings to resolve disputes arising between the operator, tenants, contractors and various stakeholders.

Insurance and Reinsurance

Assisting international insurers and reinsurers in respect of contentious and non-contentious matters arising out of and in connection with the catastrophic Thailand Floods of October 2011. The total quantum in dispute was in excess of THB 100 billion.
Working closely with insurers and local counsel to defend worldwide business interruption claims commenced by a US car manufacturing conglomerate for worldwide business interruption losses arising out of the 2011 Thailand Floods. Approximately US$69 million was at stake.
Representing national independent power producer in ad hoc arbitration proceedings against insurers for property damage and business interruption losses arising from turbine failure of a coal-fired power plant in Malaysia. Approximately US$70 million was at stake.
Acting for a Philippine reinsurer in a dispute against a US retrocessionaire arising out of and in connection with an excess of loss treaty covering losses subsequent to the Thailand Floods of October 2011. Approximately PHP 250 million was at stake.
Acting for and advising an international reinsurance syndicate against a property damage and business interruption claim arising from turbine failure in the Philippines. Approximately US$65 million was at stake.
Acting for and advising an international independent power producer in a machinery breakdown and business interruption claim against Insurers for losses arising from failure of a power plant in Sri Lanka.
Acting for and advising the subsidiary of a conglomerate listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in a material damage and business interruption claim against Insurers for losses arising from Fire damage to a crude oil refinery. Approximately US$45 million was at stake.
Representing a policyholder in a claim against an insurer for wrongful repudiation and cancellation of a jewellery block policy.
Representing insurers of a property management company in the successful resolution of a multi-million dispute instituted by the property under management arising out of and in connection with the defalcation by a former employee of the insured.
Advising a Singaporean conglomerate on matters relating to policy coverage following a comprehensive review of existing Director & Officer Liability Policies.

Speaking engagements

Joint speaker at a seminar entitled “IPO Listings – Managing Risk; Unlocking Potential”, organized jointly by Markel International Singapore and SGX in 2014 on topics covering the transfer of risk in M&A financial lines.
Speaker at the 2014 Construction Law Conference organized by the Society of Construction Law on “Transferring Risk – Current Challenges Facing the Construction Industry and Mitigating Risks in Projects – A Legal Perspective”.
Conducted in-house seminars to clients on “Fundamentals of Contract Law” and “Legal Proceedings and Alternative Dispute Resolution in Singapore”.
Participated in in-house seminars to clients on “How Third Party Funding for Dispute Resolution is Impacting the Insurance Industry in Asia”.
Participated in in-house seminars to clients: “First Thailand Now Texas: Wide Area Flood Damage and the Critical Coverage Issues”.
Panelist at the Expert Witness Institute Conference Singapore 2019 Panelist “Expert Evidence in the Asia Pacific Region. Expert Evidence in International Arbitration”.
Joint speaker on “M&A Disputes: Liability, Quantum and How to Avoid Dealing with Either” at the ICC Bangkok, November 2019

Professional memberships

Member of the Singapore Institute of Legal Education.
Member of the Law Society of Singapore.
Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators
Senior Fellow of the Bali International Arbitration and Mediation Centre.
Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Panel of Arbitrators, Thailand Arbitration Centre (THAC).
Panel of Arbitrators, Pacific International Arbitration Centre (PIAC)
Panel of Arbitrators, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB International)
Panel of Arbitrators, Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC)
Panel of Mediators, Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC)

Admissions

Advocate and Solicitor, Singapore.
Commissioner for Oaths, Singapore.
Notary Public, Singapore.

Academic record

National University of Singapore, LLB Hons.