Speakers
Kwong Chiew Ee, partner, Rahmat Lim & Partners
Chiew Ee is a dispute resolution lawyer with in-depth experience in corporate and commercial disputes. Her disputes experience includes acting for the Malaysian subsidiary of a German-listed company in proceedings involving breach of directors’ and fiduciary duties, representing a Japanese credit leasing company in a post-M&A arbitration concerning breach of warranty, advising local and foreign private equity funds in shareholder disputes, and representing clients in asset tracing proceedings arising from cyber frauds. She also regularly acts for financial institutions in defending claims relating to alleged financial mis-selling and negligence.
In the area of restructuring and insolvency, Chiew Ee has acted for creditors, debtors, financial institutions, and insolvency officeholders in a broad range of contentious and non-contentious matters. She has experience advising foreign clients on the implications of their restructuring processes—such as the US Chapter 11 process and the UK Part 26A restructuring plans—in Malaysia, including how their Malaysian entities may participate in or be affected by the wider foreign restructuring processes. Chiew Ee also has experience coordinating recognition of Malaysian restructuring and insolvency proceedings and orders in foreign jurisdictions.
Notably, Chiew Ee is the first and only Malaysian-qualified practitioner to be admitted as an INSOL Fellow, joining a select global cohort of professionals recognised for their experience in international restructuring and insolvency. Chiew Ee is also a part of the INSOL International’s Asian Advisory Council—a regional council comprising a group of experienced restructuring and insolvency professionals that is supporting INSOL International work in the Asia-Pacific region. She is a member of INSOL International and the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC).
Chiew Ee has been recognised as a Recommended Lawyer in Dispute Resolution for The Legal 500 Asia Pacific where she was noted for being “very knowledgeable about the law, particularly on insolvency issues” and was praised for being “detail-oriented and possesses an impressive commercial sense”. Client has also commended her as their “preferred go-to as counsel for Malaysian disputes.” She was the winner of the Lexology Client’s Choice Award in 2025 for Restructuring & Insolvency in Malaysia. In 2022, Chiew Ee was named in Asian Legal Business’ Asia 40 Under 40 list, which recognises the most accomplished lawyers in Asia under the age of 40.
Chiew Ee is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Panel Adjudicator at the Asian International Arbitration Centre. She is an emerging thought leader in cross-border commercial disputes, having co-authored Commercial Conflict of Laws in Malaysia, the sole Malaysian practitioner text on the subject which has been cited by the High Court of Malaya. She is also the co-editor of the latest edition of the “Halsbury’s Laws of Malaysia – Conflict of Laws” published by LexisNexis.
Dzuhairi Jaafar Thani, partner, Rahmat Lim & Partners
Dzuhairi has extensive experience advising on the development and construction of industrial and commercial buildings, including data centres, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, oil and gas infrastructure and related facilities, and the development and construction of railway and highway infrastructure.
He has advised on various engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contracts, including those for railway systems, refinery and petrochemical plants and other oil and gas related facilities, and has also advised on the procurement of energy, including renewable energy, for the operation of data centres and semiconductor manufacturing facilities.
Dzuhairi is ranked in Projects, Infrastructure & Energy in Chambers Asia-Pacific, where he is commended for providing “practical, commercially-minded advice on issues raised” and for being “able to digest and advise on complex issues”. He is also recognised as a Recommended lawyer for Energy by Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal). In The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, he is ranked as a Leading Partner in Real Estate and Construction and praised for his “in-depth knowledge of the industry”, with clients describing him as “very experienced in handling project contracts”. In IFLR1000, he is recognised as a Highly Regarded lawyer in Project Development”, where a client attests that “He is extremely experienced, knowledgeable and was attentive to assist us in the finalization of the contract”.
Dzuhairi is concurrently a Partner at Allen & Gledhill.
Charmian Aw, partner, Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee
Charmian Aw is a leading practitioner in data, privacy and cybersecurity in the Asia-Pacific region, with extensive technology regulatory and transactional experience. Having obtained certifications in AI governance and information privacy for Asia, Europe and the U.S. (AIGP, FIP, CIPP/A, E, US, CIPM), Charmian has counselled global corporations on multijurisdictional data law compliance and spearheaded projects (covering over 130 territories) on regulatory compliance, data governance and cross-border transfers. While her practice is industry-neutral, she has particular expertise advising market leaders in the technology, healthcare and life sciences, finance, hospitality, e-commerce, media and gaming, and consumer and luxury sectors. Charmian is ranked in legal directories including Chambers, Legal 500, and Lexology Index. In 2026, Charmian was named the IAPP Vanguard Award winner for Asia, recognising excellence and creativity in advancing privacy, AI governance, cybersecurity law and digital responsibility.
Lo Khai Yi, partner, co-head of the technology practice group, HHQ
Khai Yi is a technology, media and telecommunications lawyer and co-head of the Technology Practice Group at Halim Hong & Quek. His practice focuses on complex technology, software and telecommunications transactions, as well as data protection, AI governance and fintech. He has worked closely with regulators, including contributing to national data protection policy and guidelines on the use of personal data in AI as a member of a PDPC working committee. Khai is known for delivering commercially driven, practical advice to institutional clients and technology providers on structuring technology transaction, software deployment and system integration, including many national technology projects and engagements with the governmental agencies and departments.
Ong Johnson, partner, co-head of the technology practice group, HHQ
Ong Johnson heads the Technology Practice Group, focusing on TMT, with a market-leading specialisation in fintech and personal data protection. A leading fintech practitioner, he regularly engages with Bank Negara Malaysia, the Securities Commission, and the Labuan FSA on complex licensing, digital assets, tokenisation, and emerging payment models. In personal data protection, he is widely regarded as a leading authority, with extensive, hands-on experience advising on high-impact data breaches, regulatory investigations, and crisis response strategies across multiple industries. His standing is further reinforced by his appointment by the Commissioner to draft key national DPO and AI-related guidelines, reflecting both his technical depth and policy influence in shaping Malaysia’s data protection landscape.
S. Saravana Kumar, partner, head of the firm’s tax, SST & customs, Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership
Saravana heads the Tax, SST & Customs Practice where he is widely regarded as one of Malaysia’s leading tax controversy and tax advisory lawyers. He has acted in numerous landmark tax disputes before the Malaysian courts and tax tribunals, with a distinguished track record in complex direct and indirect tax litigation, transfer pricing, customs matters and stamp duty disputes.
He is also a trusted adviser on the tax structuring aspects of corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, cross-border investments, and business reorganisations. He regularly advises multinational corporations, financial institutions, private equity sponsors, public-listed companies, and high-net-worth individuals on tax-efficient transaction structuring, group reorganisations, transfer pricing, customs enforcement, and indirect tax risk management. His ability to combine technical tax expertise with commercial and strategic insight makes him a sought-after adviser for complex and high value transactions.
Saravana has been consistently recognised by Chambers Asia-Pacific, The Legal 500, Asialaw Profiles, and Asia Business Law Journal for his expertise and leadership in tax law. Beyond practice, he currently serves as Chair of the Taxation & Customs Committee of LAWASIA and as a Trustee of the Malaysian Tax Research Foundation. He is also the Organising Chairman of the Malaysia Legal Forum, which is a leading legal forum on contemporary legal issues.
Kamilah Kasim, partner, Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership
Kamilah is one of Malaysia’s most distinguished projects, energy and infrastructure lawyers, with 40 years of experience advising on complex, high value developments across the region. Her practice focuses on major infrastructure and public-private partnership projects, including rail, airport, port, and power sector developments, where she regularly advises government-linked entities, sponsors, developers, financiers, and multinational stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
Drawing on her strong background in dispute resolution, Kamilah is particularly valued for her strategic, commercially grounded approach to contract structuring, risk allocation, and negotiations in large-scale and politically sensitive projects. She is a member of the AIAC Court of Arbitration and has received numerous accolades, including being named Southeast Asia Legal 500 Leading Lawyer of the Year for Projects and Energy, ranked Band 1 by Chambers & Partners for Projects, Energy and Infrastructure, recognised as a Hall of Fame lawyer in The Legal 500, and awarded ALB Woman Lawyer of the Year 2023. Her experience spans numerous landmark cross-border transactions and transformative national infrastructure initiatives.
Michele Lim, partner, Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership
Michele leads the firm’s Corporate Governance & Compliance Practice. With more than 30 years of experience, she is widely recognised as a leading adviser on corporate governance, board effectiveness, regulatory compliance, succession planning, and ESG governance frameworks.
Michele brings a rare combination of legal, regulatory, and boardroom leadership experience, having previously served as the Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM), as well as holding senior leadership positions at IHH Healthcare Berhad and Proton Holdings Berhad. She regularly advises boards of directors, regulators, public-listed companies, and multinational corporations on governance transformation, stakeholder accountability, and sustainable corporate oversight. In 2024, she was recognised as Best Malaysian Woman CEO (Corporate Governance) at the Women’s Tabloid Awards.
Rajeswari Karupiah, partner, Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership
Rajeswari specialises in employment, industrial relations, and workplace advisory matters. For the last 30 years, she has been advising domestic and multinational employers on the full spectrum of employment law issues including contentious disputes, regulatory compliance, executive misconduct and fraud investigations, workforce restructuring, and employee incentive and share option arrangements.
Rajeswari brings significant adjudicatory and policy-making experience to her practice, having served as Chairman of the Industrial Court of Malaysia from 2018 to 2024, during which she presided over more than 500 cases involving complex employment and industrial relations issues. She also served as Legal Advisor and Consultant to the World Bank, where she contributed to the development of Malaysia’s minimum wage policy and labour reform initiatives. A certified mediator and published author, she is widely regarded as a respected voice in employment and industrial relations law.