The Legal 500 > Asia Pacific > Malaysia > Dispute resolution

‘Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill(LHAG) is a ‘Rare Gem’, a prestigious law firm that exceeds its reputation in the legal sphere as we know it. We are very pleased with the unparalleled representation we received from LHAG. Due to the dynamic nature of our business, LHAG has always delivered their impeccable service within given timelines. We are satisfied with their level of dedication in handling our matters. We also take comfort in knowing that they’ve always kept their client’s best interests foremost in their approach‘.

‘Legal counsels are highly competent, able to understand the full spectrum of issues arising (legal, technical, operational and commercials). Able to suggest strategic and practical solutions to the clients. The partners are taking full responsibilities by checking the works of the associates to ensure quality of deliverable‘.

‘The team gives attention to detail and prepares meticulously taking the client’s interest into consideration. The team has a good track record and tremendous depth in what they do. They strategize and collaborate with the client. In comparison to their other firms, their client centred approach makes them the best in the field and in the country‘.

‘The team offers specialist assistance on regulatory enforcement and securities laws disputes. The team comprises highly experienced professionals who are intelligent, independent and effective‘.

‘SM Shanmugam is an amazing lawyer and an energetic person who is both committed and extremely professional in his approach with me and my team. I have been consulting with SM Shanmugam for all my business-related issues and found his business acumen and responsiveness to be impressive. SM Shanmugam is also incredibly well-versed and immersed in the Tech industry and its best practices. His level of professionalism and his grit to go above and beyond for his clients will put any business owner at ease. Overall, he is a valued business partner who is a forward thinker and trusted advisor‘.

‘SM Shanmugam is intelligent with superb knowledge in the area of law which he practices. Able to provide good and practical advice as he also has strong business acumen. He is very responsible and ensures that he and his team are always there to provide necessary support‘.

‘Mr Darshendev Singh is always pleasant to talk to. He is genuine and while he constantly tries to find the best solutions for us, he will not hesitate to call a spade a spade (but without being rude of course!) thus giving us a sense of comfort/conviction on whatever strategies we decide on‘.

‘Dealing with Mr Kumar Kanagasingam, who have compassion, excellent ability to listen, effective communication skills, assertiveness, creativity and perseverance. They will ensure the Bank’s interests are protected at all times. They see what we didn’t see and didn’t realise! I have no further comments to made!‘

‘They provide very practical legal advice and cut through all the noise‘.

‘The team’s knowledge, availability and turn around time for our libel matters are un-matchable‘.

‘Yee Mei Ken’s knowledge of the industry is vast as is his ability to provide sound strategic advice. He is always available as and when required. Outstanding‘.

‘Shanti Mogan is an astute disputes lawyer who takes into account the sensitivities of client concerns when advising on how to handle problems‘.

‘When we first encountered our first Alternate Dispute Resolution on a construction matter and Skrine was recommended to us, we naturally felt comforted that we were in good hands as it was a large firm, with a team with solid credentials. We found the accomplished team at Skrine to be very sharp, precise, and sprightly‘.

‘Strong presence and capability in Malaysia, especially for local dispute issues‘.

‘Very responsive, they give practical advice about how to deal with a very difficult legal system‘.

‘Our relationship with Skrine goes back to 2008-09 when they provided us with legal support on two major litigation cases. My personal experience was for a case that ended up at the ICC Arbitration in London. Skrine’s team was outstanding in building up our case and identifying adequate partners in England, a key to our ultimate success in that case‘.

‘Sharon Chong Tze Ying has always impressed me with both her round-the-clock availability and her ability to get up to speed with sometimes complex matters. Her advice has helped me building a favourable background in several commercial matters, to not only build a stronger position in the relevant matters, but also to know that we were leaving a trail of strong and favourable documents in case we would end up in litigation‘.

‘Sharon Chong of their aviation litigation team is responsive and gives practical and clear advice‘.

‘Sharon Chong is extremely responsive and savvy‘.

‘Extreme pragmatism, very solid analytical expertise, strong confidence to foreign parties not familiar with the Malaysian court system, and clear focus on the key topics. All always gave us a very clear feeling that we will be treated in the most professional manner and created trust in the unfamiliar legal system‘.

‘The team’s strength lies in its responsibility to its client’s interest which urge it to conduct extensive research to advance the points in favour of its client and to assist in rebutting the opponent’s points. The team should be applauded on its willingness to make the effort and to spend the time beyond the call of duty to listen to/read its client’s view and to consider the points raised by its client so as to put together a case which is the most advantageous to the client. The team interacts well with one another, with the junior supporting the senior and acts with courtesy and consideration to the opponent‘.

‘Rahmat Lim & Partners has a team of committed lawyers that is able to combine rigorous analysis with astute advice to manage its clients’ legal issues. The team is efficient and able to offer alternative resolutions, if necessary‘.

‘The team put their hearts into my case, they studied the situation with empathy and compassion and found all the right legal grounds to defend my case. They prioritise helping me to defend and resolve the matter and always look for mediation route that is less taxing to me mentally and financially. They have given me a sense of security with proper legal standing‘.

‘The partner, Jack Yow, heads the litigation team. Despite being very busy with his work, he takes the trouble to go through the cases handled by him and to understand and appreciate the facts and the law applicable thereto so as to be able to advance the best possible case for his client. He is fearless in advocating the points that need to be advocated and values the law and doing what is right above money and self-interest‘.

‘Jack Yow is very humble and helpful. His vast experience and enormous legal knowledge enable him to give pragmatic advice. The way he looks into the case is very different from the rest, he is able to immerse himself into the problems I faced and tackled it skilfully‘.

‘Jack Yow and Daphne Koo listen well, grasp issues and communicate opinions without imposing their views. As a client, I appreciated the discussions on issues and the law, and feel ownership in the decisions taken. We saw this team take down a high powered legal team of a competitor efficiently and effectively‘.

‘Mr Jack Yow and Ms Daphne Koo stand out for their competent work in the drafting and presentation of the legal arguments in a clear and persuasive manner‘.

‘This is the team to go to for complicated legal matters and larger exposures needing extra care. They are involved in the decisions that set precedents for the financial industry and can be depended on to protect the best interest of their clients. Their integrity and dedication is second to none‘.

‘All the partners in the Dispute Resolution team have hands on experience and are able to provide advice and guidance when required. Detailed and comprehensive legal advice rendered‘.

‘The team is on top of the latest court decisions/changes in law and are hence able to render advice that takes into account the latest developments. Associates are closely supervised by partners, hence there is comfort that correspondences/emails even from associates are correct and can be relied on‘.

‘They are good in all aspects i.e technically very strong, always provide high quality recommendation/opinion which takes into consideration all aspects, very responsive, good follow up on the cases‘.

‘Ms Yoong Sin Min is the lawyer most Bankers would engage for banking litigation, especially complicated and challenging matters. She is able to deliver commercial advice and can be depended on even in last minute and urgent engagements‘.

‘Yoong Sin Min: she is exceptional. We will only use her service whenever we have major disputes. A very good and experienced litigator, an expert in the field. Renders practical and honest advice, which makes it so much easier for clients to make a decision on next steps forward. Always well prepared for our matters and that is absolutely important and reassuring to clients‘.

‘Ng Hooi Huang is always available and very approachable. Her advice has been very practical but always based on sound legal principles‘.

‘Ng Hooi Huang is intelligent and very knowledgeable. A very sharp individual with excellent problem solving skills – a rising star in her area of practice‘.

‘The team at ARC are incredibly strong. They are very commercial in their approach to dispute resolution and they have a wealth of experience spanning many jurisdictions and different areas. The team are incredibly well liked by clients and highly respected for their advice‘.

‘A partner led boutique that delivers a highly specialised service‘.

‘ARC has the ability to swiftly offer its expert opinion on the applicability and mechanics of family law in Malaysia‘.

‘Ariff Rozhan – An excellent lawyer that practised at the Bar in the UK – A great commercial lawyer‘.

‘The firm is headed by Ariff Rozhan a very experienced and shrewd litigator who practised for many years in the UK. He keeps a very close watch over his team and takes a personal interest in training them up. He knows the market very well and is well connected in Malaysia. He is also a fighter when need be. He has managed to attract some very large international clients and is a good fit for a foreign corporation with a dispute in Malaysia. He is used to working with external law firms as part of a team. Not only does he service international clients in Malaysia but he acts for Malaysian clients in the UK‘.

‘Arif Rozhan – the leading lawyer in Malaysia. He delivers first class advice to his clients, focusing on the issues and coming up with legal and commercial solutions to resolve disputes. He is very good at managing client and he is highly regarded by the industry. Ezane Chong -She is incredibly bright. She knows how to best utilise the strengths of her team to get the best out of them and deliver for the client. William Chong – He has a grasp of the facts like nobody else in the case. You want him in a room for any settlement discussions‘.

‘Ezane Chong provided expert advice on the applicability of the adoption law in Malaysia to assist my High Court proceedings in the High Court of England & Wales. Ezane was swift to provide responses to any queries and the quality of her expert evidence was crucial to the case‘.

‘Good customer commitment and efficient. The lawyers are knowledgeable and could communicate/explain in Mandarin language with my management from China‘.

‘The team that led by Ms Han Li Meng is attentive to our case, diligent in information gathering and analysis, and all members have good knowledge in covering all aspects of the case‘.

‘Ms. Han Li Meng from the firm’s Dispute Resolution Department is professional, knowledgeable and proficient‘.

‘Mr. Niak Hiong Keong, a Partner in the dispute resolution department of the firm, is a standout. His service is attentive and response time good. Well versed in the areas of law we have engaged him in. His advice is practical with commercial sensibilities, as opposed to just academic advice‘.

‘Clear updates and clear information given, perfect paperwork and hardly can find error in the documents prepared, very cooperative and perfect teamwork, well prepared before attending court, a firm with a strong belief and positive culture from top to bottom!‘

‘The Litigation team  has all the criteria we need – dedicated and reliable and assuring‘.

‘The firm has a number of highly-experienced and knowledgeable partners with a proven track record in dispute resolution. Besides being responsive to clients, the firm’s senior lawyers are extremely professional, reliable, approachable, display sound judgment and are value for money‘.

‘They relentlessly seek solutions to issue raised by clients and try to make the client feel at ease and secure whenever faced with whatever challenges‘.

‘Mr Gan Khong Aik – a person who upholds integrity, truth and helps clients to defend their interests in justice. He is a very professional and experienced person with clear direction who enables clients to understand the entire litigation process. Willing to spend a lot of time to understand client needs and give professional advice.’

‘The firm has a number of experienced and competent commercially-conscious and client-oriented partners, notably Mr Gan Khong Aik is a vastly experienced litigation lawyer who is meticulous, thorough and possesses troubleshooting skills‘.

‘As one of the main Principals of the firm, Mr Foo Joon Liang is not only knowledgeable, he understands the client’s requirements and precisely prescribes the legal action framework to safeguard his clients’ interest’.

‘Bahari, Jian and the team are hands-on and approachable. Both Bahari and Jian are commercially and legally sound. They know what they are doing, and know the subject area including the industries very well. Both Bahari and Jian are exemplary IP litigators‘.

‘LCWP is a specialised firm handling dispute resolution. The firm provides personalised services and understands the client’s business. It focuses on the best interest of its clients and handles conflict of interest professionally. The firm also has the expertise and experience lawyers to assist clients handle a multitude of disciplines of laws‘.

‘Unlike other teams which have the tendency to staff its cases with unnecessarily large teams, LCWP’s teams are lean and mean. This provides for efficiency and consistency in the delivery of their work product. I have also found LCWP’s advice on disputes to be strategic and creative, with achieving the client’s commercial objectives always at the forefront of their analysis. This is in addition to their impressive advocacy in court. In one particular high profile case, the team managed to persuade the Malaysian Court of Appeal to overturn a ruling by the High Court, against the odds‘.

‘The lawyers at Lim Chee Wee Partnership have excellent depth of knowledge and experience. They also have a good understanding of the commercial aspects. In this regard, the opinions, views and solutions are grounded in legal principles and practical‘.

‘Tactically astute. Unlike many other firms, this team is strong in its mid level lawyers, not just at the top end‘.

‘Lee Shih provides clear and succinct legal advice. He knows how to make his clients understand despite the complexity of the matter. He also provides a personalised service to clients. He’ll always available when you need him and in terms of cost he’ll ensure clients receive the best value for service. He also understands the client’s business very well and always find the best solution. His legal analysis and risk identification usually help clients make the right decision. Lim Chee Wee is an experienced litigator. His vast experience in handling local and international dispute resolution cases sometimes help us assess our present case more objectively. Kwan Will Sen supplements the firm’s dispute resolution practices in the area of less litigated/ practised e.g. HSE laws and strict liability laws. He is always available and ready to assist his clients‘.

‘Lim Chee Wee – Huge amounts of experience in cases with an international dimension. Kwan Wil Sen – Not afraid to roll up his sleeves to engage with the detail‘.

‘Kwan Will Sen in particular is one partner that I have worked with and find him to be outstanding. Accessible and always feels that he really is excited to provide his views on the issue at hand. I believe due to the passion, the deliverable are always excellent‘.

‘MWK & Associates’ personal analytical approach (and their willingness to devote time to analyse the dispute) invariably generates superior results. MWK also has a systematic team in whose operations one can feel confident‘.

‘Legal cases are professionally analysed, before court submissions are prepared. They are willing to devote time to suggestions and points put forward by the client‘.

‘What makes this practice stand-out is the highly individualised duty of care which made my concerns and queries as a client feel carefully considered. With other firms, I was always left with the impression that the legal team was either time-poor or unavailable to communicate to me in a way that left me assured of my legal position moving forward‘.

‘Sreenevasan Young is a leading litigation firm that specialises in corporate and commercial disputes. The partners are highly dedicated, experienced and knowledgeable in the areas of the law that they specialise at. They also have a very good team of staff to support each partner‘.

‘They are both “hands-on” and dedicate a lot of time to the client’s legal needs. The in-house peers should know:(a) That they give immediate attention to the client;(b) Their knowledge of the area of dispute is of a high level. If the subject matter is not within their expertise area, they would say so upfront; (c) Prompt in their delivery, both on the advice OR in the filing of the necessary documents in Court and including working on long/tight deadlines; and(d) Pleasant and cordial relationship with the Client. The size of the firm allows for close inter-reaction with the client‘.

‘Sreenevasan Young have the strengths of the experience, cost-effective, quickness of response, sense of balance. These are essential points for the foreign client to be satisfied with their work‘.

‘Conrad Young is highly recommended. Not only is he knowledgeable, he is also very, very approachable and efficient. I’d say that he always leaves no stones unturned‘.

‘Conrad Young was a stand-out partner whose contribution to the case was significant. His legal expertise and strategic thinking shone through in every aspect of the case. Conrad handled the complexity of the case well as he consistently presented strong solutions every step of the way. His calm and thoughtful demeanour coupled with his excellent command of the law gave me the peace of mind needed when dealing with a stressful case. I appreciated how supportive, highly communicative and readily available Conrad was in answering any of my concerns‘.

‘Ms. Leong Phaik Leng and Mr. Tan Shang Neng worked for us. We could not see any weakness in any of them. They worked hard, effectively and efficiently, and produced the results we desired to achieve. They were a very through and competent professionals who always had their client’s best interest in mind‘.

‘Our main contract lawyer is Mr. Tan Shang Neng. He is an exceptional litigation lawyer who has an ability to provide in-time practical advice which is cost-effective‘.

‘The team is made up of personnel with diverse characters and dynamics which makes every meeting pertaining to any case or matter at hand a smooth and efficient one even to discuss the most complex and critical issues‘.

‘Those who who we have worked with have given a very personalised approach to our requirements and their ability to perform detailed level of background checks prior to each meeting definitely impressed us. They are able to come up with a summary of the situation at hand and the proposed resolutions for our consideration. Farah Shuhadah Razali is definitely a strong team leader of her own team‘ .

‘The team is exceptionally hardworking. I have never had another occasion where I would tell our counsel and his team to go home because it was late and the work can wait‘.

‘Joel and Co have a very professional team of lawyers and i find them very dedicated to their task. They are very hardworking and when our case is near for hearing, they even call me after office hours to discuss the case and accommodate me as during the noon I am quite occupied with other work. You feel assured as you know you have a dedicated team of lawyers who are very committed handling your case‘.

‘The panel lawyers are very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. Able to provide solution promptly as compared to some lawyers who need to be pushed‘.

‘Diligent, careful and hardworking‘.

‘I am particularly impressed with Mr Joel Kon. He is well versed in law and gave me sound advice on the eventuality of the case and the results turned out as per his advice . Mr Joel is very ‘hands-on’ and he is very detailed and committed. His assistant Chloe is also very committed and experienced as well. They are a good team‘.

‘Chloe was exceptionally passionate about her work for us. The intensity and meticulousness of her work was evident in the quality of the output‘.

‘I am a lawyer admitted in Japan and I have been working with JLKC for more than three years. Their team has a plenty of experience of litigation practice in Malaysia and has been giving us appropriate advice from time to time based on their experience and legal analyses. In addition, their team has some attorneys who can speak Japanese and it would be helpful for Japanese clients‘.

‘The firm’s strength lies in their expertise and professionalism. They have managed to achieve success in most of our litigation cases and they have proven themselves to be a formidable team. They are creative in the way they manage our cases and we definitely think it’s value for money‘.

‘They are very efficient and respond quickly. They always give us good advice to make appropriate case decisions. One of the best law firms in Malaysia‘.

‘Their opinions are always helpful and give us the right ideas to go forward‘.

‘Cyndi Chow Li Kian is the litigation partner managing our cases. She is experienced and has the ability to deliver to our satisfaction in what she does. This is why we have been with the firm all these years. She leads a dynamic team of lawyers‘.