Chou Sean Yu > WongPartnership LLP > Singapore, Singapore > Lawyer Profile

WongPartnership LLP Offices

Singapore
    WongPartnership LLP
    12 MARINA BOULEVARD, LEVEL 28
    MARINA BAY FINANCIAL CENTRE TOWER 3
    SINGAPORE 018982
    Singapore
    Visit website 65 6416 8000 65 6532 5711

    Chou Sean Yu

    Chou Sean Yu photo
    +65 6416 8133 seanyu.chou@wongpartnership.com View profile

    Work Department

    Banking & Financial Disputes; Financial Services Regulatory; International Arbitration

    Position

    Chou Sean Yu is the Managing Partner of WongPartnership and Head of the Firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group.

    Career

    He is also the Head of the Banking & Financial Disputes Practice and a Partner in the International Arbitration, Financial Services Regulatory and Malaysia Practices.

    Sean Yu’s main practice areas are banking & trade finance disputes, insolvency & restructuring, corporate fraud, investigations & asset recovery, financial services regulatory, commercial & corporate disputes, shareholder litigation, tort & contractual claims and domestic & international arbitration.

    He was a Justices’ Law Clerk with the Singapore Supreme Court before entering into private practice.

    Work Highlights

    Matters of significance in which Sean has been involved in include advising / acting for the following:

    • Defending an arbitration claim by an international oil & gas company with claims totalling US$500 million concerning production contracts of coalbed gas methane projects in the PRC.
    • Defending an international financial institution in relation to claims relating to the distribution of credit-linked structured notes.
    • A satellite TV group in an arbitration dispute which culminated in awards for over US$230 million and resulted in several high-profile enforcement challenges across Asia.
    • Defending an international private equity firm in a multi-jurisdictional shareholders dispute arising from a US$260 million leveraged buy-out of a technology company.
    • A Singapore-listed company in a minority oppression action concerning a S$80 million electrical products company.
    • An international private bank in a cross-border enforcement of banking facilities of over US$200 million.

    Publications & Legal Updates

    Memberships

    Sean Yu frequently sits as an arbitrator and is on the Panel of Arbitrators of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (“SIAC”), the Asian International Arbitration Centre, the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board, the Maldives International Arbitration Centre, the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association, the Hainan International Arbitration Court and the Russian Arbitration Center at the Russian Institute of Modern Arbitration. He is a Chartered Arbitrator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a former Chairman of the Board of its Singapore Branch. He is also a Fellow of the Insolvency Practitioners Association of Singapore.

    Sean Yu is an Honorary Racing Steward of the Singapore Turf Club.

    Education

    Sean Yu graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Bristol and is admitted to the English Bar (Middle Temple) and to the Singapore Bar.

    Lawyer Rankings

    Singapore > International arbitration

    WongPartnership LLP houses a ‘highly professional, diverse and extremely knowledgeable’ team, which advises on disputes across a broad range of sectors such as energy, oil and gas, healthcare, and technology. Chou Sean Yu heads the litigation and disputes team, while Koh Swee Yen leads the international arbitration practice. Described as ‘an expert in arbitration and a well-recognised individual in the legal community’, Koh acts for both prominent companies and sovereign governments. Wendy Lin is another recommended member of the team with expertise in navigating high-value commercial disputes. Joel Quek is also noted for his experience with investment treaty arbitrations. The team is strengthened with the addition of Daniel Gaw, who joined from Dechert in January 2024.

    Singapore > Dispute resolution

    The ‘responsive’ litigation team at WongPartnership LLP is praised for its ability to remain ‘undaunted by any challenge across full breadth of Singapore law’. Counting government-linked businesses, local and international banks, and multinational among its key clients, the team’s caseload regularly includes commercial disputes, crypto-related disputes, insolvency cases and arbitration-related court proceedings. Leading the team is Chou Sean Yu, who has a broad practice, advising on banking disputes, restructuring, investigations and corporate fraud. A litany of clients hailing from the worlds of energy, infrastructure, transport and tech turn to Koh Swee Yen SC for her expertise in high-value and multi-jurisdictional disputes. Wendy Lin, described as a ‘star in her field’, is recommended for her extensive experience before the Singapore courts.

    Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Leading firms

    Singaporean firm WongPartnership LLP handles disputes across a broad range of sectors such as energy, oil and gas, healthcare, and technology from the firm’s headquarters, although it also has outposts elsewhere in ASEAN, and in mainland China. Chou Sean Yu heads the litigation and disputes team, while Koh Swee Yen SC leads the international arbitration practice at the firm – she acts for both prominent companies and states. Wendy Lin is another recommended member of the team with expertise in navigating high-value commercial disputes. Joel Quek is also noted for his experience with investor-state arbitrations. Daniel Gaw joined from Dechert in January 2024.

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