DR Annual Update 2021: The Future of Disputes

Nandakumar (Kumar) Ponniya heads the Dispute Resolution Practice of Baker McKenzie in the Asia Pacific and is a principal in Baker McKenzie's Singapore office. He has a broad focus on dispute resolution, with specialist expertise in international arbitration, commercial litigation, and corporate restructuring and insolvency. He is listed as a leading international arbitration lawyer in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021 and was also named a Litigation Star in the Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific 2020.

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Celeste Ang is a member of the Dispute Resolution team at Baker & McKenzie Singapore. The specialised areas in which she has experience include employment and labour law, intellectual property, and oil and energy related disputes. Ms. Ang is recognised as an up-and-coming lawyer in the area of litigation by Chambers Asia Pacific 2013, where she is described as a “‘down-to-earth, persuasive, strong and confident lawyer.” Celeste Ang can be reached at Celeste.Ang@bakermckenzie.com and + 65 6434 2753.

Tjen Wee Wong is a Principal in the Dispute Resolution Practice Group in Singapore. His practice covers international arbitration, commercial litigation, and adjudication under the Singapore Security of Payment Act. Tjen Wee is particularly noted for his work relating to infrastructure and construction. Apart from construction disputes, he also handles a broad range of commercial, MCST, shareholder, and employment disputes. Tjen Wee's wealth of experience in international arbitration involves the major arbitral rules including UNCITRAL, ICC, SIAC and KLRCA; with conduct of hearings in multiple jurisdictions such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. His litigation expertise encompasses disputes in commercial law, banking and financial services, building and construction law, and insolvency law. Tjen Wee is a recommended lawyer in Construction on Legal 500. Tjen Wee can be reached at tjen.wee.wong@bakermckenzie.com and + 65 6434 2686.

Ashish Chugh is an associate principal in Baker McKenzie's Singapore office. His area of practice is international arbitration and cross-border commercial litigation, with a particular focus on disputes concerning technology and telecommunications. He has represented numerous parties with respect to disputes across a wide range of industries, including technology and telecommunications as well as aviation, commodities, hospitality, investment funds, renewable energy and power. Ashish is acknowledged by Legal 500 Asia Pacific as a key practitioner in the area of international arbitration in Singapore.

Richard Allen is a Local Principal in the Singapore office of Baker McKenzie and a member of the Firm's Global Dispute Resolution Practice Group. His practice covers a broad spectrum of contentious and non-contentious work, including commercial and competition litigation, international arbitration, public law and regulatory advice. He is a member of the Law Society of England & Wales, the LCIA Young International Arbitration Group, the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), the International Law Association, the American Society of International Law and the International Legal Network of Avocats Sans Frontières. Richard Allen can be reached at Richard.Allen@bakermckenzie.com and + 65 6434 2663.

Emmanuel Chua is a senior dispute resolution lawyer with expertise acting for multinational clients in complex, cross-border disputes and situations across Asia. Emmanuel is experienced in coordinating and managing international arbitration and litigation processes across Asia, and has appeared as lead counsel in these proceedings. He also has significant experience in financial restructurings and formal insolvency processes (including schemes of arrangement, judicial management and liquidation), and has been featured on business media (including Bloomberg and The Business Times) for his perspectives in the space. Leveraging off this depth of experience, Emmanuel also regularly advises on risk avoidance and mitigation strategies, including contingency planning and strategic advice, often from a cross-jurisdictional perspective. He has also been appointed as arbitrator in international arbitration proceedings. Emmanuel can be reached at emmanuel.chua@bakermckenzie.com and + 65 6434 2337.