Nandakumar Ponniya > Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow > Singapore, Singapore > Lawyer Profile

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow acts for clients operating across a broad range of industries, including energy, construction and engineering, financial services, and aviation. Further to this, the team also has experience in advising on bilateral and multilateral investment treaties. Spearheading the practice, Nandakumar Ponniya regularly assists state-owned enterprises, large international companies, and governments with resolving disputes across the Asia-Pacific region. Ashish Chugh and Richard Allen are also prominent members of the team. Chugh has a broad range of experience navigating institutional arbitration rules under the ICC, SIAC, and UNCITRAL. Allen is recommended for his expertise in commercial and international investments disputes.

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow boasts an esteemed team of highly regarded partners and is noted for its leading expertise in construction, employment and intellectual property cases, while consistently handling a steady diet of commercial litigation, anti-corruption, and fraud matters. The firm, noted for its strong global presence, excels in multi-jurisdictional disputes and caters to a diverse roster of local and international clients. Steering the practice is Nandakumar Ponniya, who is noted for his specialist expertise in commercial litigation, international arbitration, and corporate restructuring across the tech, energy, construction and financial services sectors. Celeste Ang’s practice encompasses commercial disputes, compliance and investigations, while Andy Leck stands out for his expertise on contentious IP matters.

Tapping into the ‘knowledge and experience from other related areas’, the restructuring and insolvency team at Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow frequently has a seat at the table for key stakeholders in high-value, complex mandates across the construction, technology, energy and financial services sectors. Leading the team is Nandakumar Ponniya, who has specialist expertise in international arbitration, commercial litigation, and corporate restructuring and insolvency. Elsewhere in the team, Emmanuel Chua, praised for his ‘exceptional communication skills’, stands out for his work on cross-border and contentious matters, while Emmanuel Hadjidakis is a key port of call for financial institutions, borrowers, and private equity funds throughout Asia Pacific.

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow is prominent in contentious construction matters connected to energy, real estate, and infrastructure projects. Its grounding in construction disputes has brought it a growing array of non-contentious engagements, including experience in construction contracts, procurement models, and financings. It has a strong record in domestic matters, along with cases involving jurisdictions across Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. The firm has an extensive client base, notably, a number of South Korean employers and contractors. Nandakumar Ponniya heads the Asia Pacific dispute resolution practice and has a fine record in construction cases, as does Tjen Wee Wong. Former engineer Daniel Ho was promoted to local principal in 2023.

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow’s financial services and insurance team is well-versed in handling both disputes and advisory matters, standing out for its expertise in regulatory and corporate affairs, particularly in mergers, acquisitions, and restructurings, as well as risk management, crisis response, and cybercrime, including data privacy. The team is jointly led by Stephanie Magnus and Nandakumar Ponniya. Magnus has extensive experience in local and cross-border insurance matters, and Ponniya is noted for his focus on contentious insurance matters. Darren Yang is well-placed to assist all types of financial institutions, insurance companies, fintech companies and start-ups. Ying Yi Liew departed the practice in February 2025.

Baker McKenzie ’s arbitration practice in the Asia-Pacific region is robust, supported by highly regarded teams across key jurisdictions. In Hong Kong, Gary Seib is a key contact in a team that also includes Philipp Hanusch , who combines work as counsel and as arbitrator. In Singapore, Nandakumar Ponniya  leads a dynamic team that includes Ashish Chugh , who has a particular track record in India-related disputes. In Jakarta, Andi Kadir, who heads the firm’s Indonesian disputes practice, frequently handles complex cross-border cases. Beomsu Kim  heads the South Korean team, which also includes  Sunyoung Kim and the Canadian-qualified David Kim. In Thailand, Wynn Pakdeejit and Pisut Attakamol manage substantial commercial arbitrations, while in Vietnam, Minh Tri Quach  and Frederick Burke  bring significant experience, and the firm also has a highly-rated contentious practice in Taiwan.