About | Paul Tan Law

Experience

MIKE DENG

VPE

This is the space to introduce the business’s team and what makes it special.

Energy and natural resources

Paul Tan

Advised a State-owned entity in relation to shareholder, financing and other contentious issues relating to a multi-billion dollar joint venture to build a petrochemical facility. Governed by multiple laws including English law with various agreements providing for LCIA arbitration or English court jurisdiction.

Acted for a government in relation to US$3bn in tax liabilities concerning a natural gas exploration service contract. Governed by Philippine and international law; ICC rules.

Acted for a government in relation to US$700m claims under sovereign guarantees with two water concessionaires. Governed by Philippine and international law; UNCITRAL rules, PCA administered.

Sale of goods and commodities

Acted on a US$200m dispute over the sale of oil rigs in four parallel proceedings against the buyer and their guarantor. Governed by English law; LMAA rules.

Acted on a US$60m dispute arising under parallel ‘offshore’ and ‘onshore’ agreements concerning the sale and purchase of logs in Indonesia. Governed by Singapore and Indonesian law; SIAC arbitration.

Acted for a company in a dispute involving the sale and purchase of encrypted chips in high frequency and very high frequency military radios, involving Australian, Italian, Indonesian and Singapore elements.

Technology, Media Telecoms, Intellectual Property

Acting on a dispute involving a video licensing agreement between a US gaming studio and a publisher.

Acted for one of the world’s largest content producers and distributors in a dispute with its joint venture partner over the exercise of a put option and the valuation of the company in relation to its multi-billion dollar acquisition.

Acted for a Taiwanese manufacturer against a conglomerate in an indemnity claim for breach of intellectual property rights. Governed by Singapore law; SIAC rules.

Acted for a telecoms company in relation to the termination of tower contracts worth over US$200m, including potential investment claims. Governed by English law.

Share Holder & Joint Ventures

Acted for a cosmetics company in a dispute with its joint venture partner following an US$800m buy-out by an international brand. Governed by HK law; SIAC rules.

Represented a major global Chinese insurer in relation to the exercise of a put option over a major healthcare company in Singapore with US$300m plus running interest. Governed by Singapore law with SIAC arbitration seated in Singapore.

Acted for shareholders against the directors of a real estate investment trust for breach of duties.

Acted for a Hong Kong party in a minority oppression suit.

Private Equity / Funds & Financial Disputes

Acted for a leading PE fund in relation to a potential dispute with one of their portfolio companies in the education sector.

Acted for a PE fund in relation to their US$500m investment in the telecommunications sector in an Asian country.

Acted for a borrower against a lender for unlawful forfeiture of its collateral in listed shares worth in excess of US$100m, with parallel proceedings in multiple jurisdictions. Governed by Singapore law; SIAC rules.

Acting for an international bank in relation to potential claims worth $500m arising out of accounts managed by a fraudulent relationship manager.

Acting for an international bank in relation to a $150m mis-selling claim.

Acted for an international bank in relation to claims for misrepresentation and negligence as a result of investments affected by the Madoff ponzi scheme.

Acted for an international insurer against an agency leader for soliciting the movement of 240 agents to a rival business.

REAY FINIGAN

CTO

This is the space to introduce the business’s team and what makes it special.

Advised a State-owned entity in relation to shareholder, financing and other contentious issues relating to a multi-billion dollar joint venture to build a petrochemical facility. Governed by multiple laws including English law with various agreements providing for LCIA arbitration or English court jurisdiction. Acted for a government in relation to US$3bn in tax liabilities concerning a natural gas exploration service contract. Governed by Philippine and international law; ICC rules. Acted for a government in relation to US$700m claims under sovereign guarantees with two water concessionaires. Governed by Philippine and international law; UNCITRAL rules, PCA administered.
Acted on a US$200m dispute over the sale of oil rigs in four parallel proceedings against the buyer and their guarantor. Governed by English law; LMAA rules. Acted on a US$60m dispute arising under parallel ‘offshore’ and ‘onshore’ agreements concerning the sale and purchase of logs in Indonesia. Governed by Singapore and Indonesian law; SIAC arbitration. Acted for a company in a dispute involving the sale and purchase of encrypted chips in high frequency and very high frequency military radios, involving Australian, Italian, Indonesian and Singapore elements.
Acting on a dispute involving a video licensing agreement between a US gaming studio and a publisher. Acted for one of the world’s largest content producers and distributors in a dispute with its joint venture partner over the exercise of a put option and the valuation of the company in relation to its multi-billion dollar acquisition. Acted for a Taiwanese manufacturer against a conglomerate in an indemnity claim for breach of intellectual property rights. Governed by Singapore law; SIAC rules. Acted for a telecoms company in relation to the termination of tower contracts worth over US$200m, including potential investment claims. Governed by English law.
Acted for a cosmetics company in a dispute with its joint venture partner following an US$800m buy-out by an international brand. Governed by HK law; SIAC rules. Represented a major global Chinese insurer in relation to the exercise of a put option over a major healthcare company in Singapore with US$300m plus running interest. Governed by Singapore law with SIAC arbitration seated in Singapore. Acted for shareholders against the directors of a real estate investment trust for breach of duties. Acted for a Hong Kong party in a minority oppression suit.
Acted for a leading PE fund in relation to a potential dispute with one of their portfolio companies in the education sector. Acted for a PE fund in relation to their US$500m investment in the telecommunications sector in an Asian country. Acted for a borrower against a lender for unlawful forfeiture of its collateral in listed shares worth in excess of US$100m, with parallel proceedings in multiple jurisdictions. Governed by Singapore law; SIAC rules. Acting for an international bank in relation to potential claims worth $500m arising out of accounts managed by a fraudulent relationship manager. Acting for an international bank in relation to a $150m mis-selling claim. Acted for an international bank in relation to claims for misrepresentation and negligence as a result of investments affected by the Madoff ponzi scheme. Acted for an international insurer against an agency leader for soliciting the movement of 240 agents to a rival business.
Acted for a Japanese media company in setting-aside proceedings in relation to an $800m dispute over the value of an intellectual property portfolio. Acted for a fund in defending an award against allegations of breach of public policy. Acted for a BVI entity in setting-aside proceedings for the Tribunal’s failure to address a defence / counterclaim. Acted for Midea in setting aside an award on the basis it was rendered in excess of jurisdiction / against parties’ agreed position. Acted for a Chinese construction company in a challenge against an award involving claims and counterclaims of US$1.2bn. Acted for the successful party in the first-ever Court of Appeal decision granting an antisuit injunction restraining foreign proceedings. Acted for a fund in the enforcement of an award and setting-aside proceedings in the first arbitration-related decision by the SICC.
AES Corporation v Kazakhstan White Industries v India Courts plc v Madagascar (prior to filing) Rafat v Indonesia (annulment stage) Shell v Philippines Manila Water v Philippines Maynilad v Philippines Swissbourgh Diamond Mines v Lesotho

LLB, National University of Singapore (First Class Honours)

BCL, University of Oxford (Disctinction)

Chevening Scholar

Harvard Law Club Book Prize

Shook Lin & Bok Prize

Blackstone Prize

LLB, National University of Singapore (First Class Honours)

BCL, University of Oxford (Disctinction)

Chevening Scholar

Harvard Law Club Book Prize

Shook Lin & Bok Prize

Blackstone Prize

Appointments

20 years’ experience handling complex, high-value claims in court and arbitration

Member of One Essex Court, London

10 years as partner in elite Singapore and global law firms

Sits as arbitrator in SIAC, ICC and HKIAC cases

Member, Income Tax Review Board

Member, Disciplinary Committees of ACRA and ISCA

Co-chair, ADR Committee, Law Society of Singapore

Former Assistant Registrar, Supreme Court of Singapore

Other Appointments (including previously held)

Exco member, Rising Arbitrators Initiative

Member, Users’ Committee, Singapore International Commercial Court

Co-chair, ABA International Law Section’s Singapore Conference (2025)

Member, Ethics Committee (commissioned by the Chief Justice of Singapore)

Member, Belt and Road Commission of the ICC

Regional co-leader, Swiss Arbitration Association

Founding member, International Law Association (Singapore)

Member, Young Singapore International Arbitration Center committee

Member, Cost Review Panel (commissioned by the Supreme Court)

Member, Program Committee, ASIL (2019)

Education

LLB, National University of Singapore (First Class Honours)

BCL, University of Oxford (Distinction)

Chevening Scholar

Harvard Law Club Book Prize

Shook Lin & Bok Prize

Blackstone Prize

Operational Excellence

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Publications

Mustill and Boyd on International Commercial and Investor-State Arbitration (Lexis Nexis, 2024)

A Commentary on the International Arbitration Act (Oxford University Press, 2023)

The Law and Theory of International Commercial Arbitration in Singapore (Academy Publishing, 2022)

50 Years in the Making: An Empirical Account of the Development of Singapore Law (Academy Publishing, 2015)

35 articles, chapters in books and op-eds, including a chapter on the Singapore International Commercial Court in Singapore International Arbitration Law and Practice (2nd ed, LexisNexis, 2018), a chapter on trust disputes and arbitration in Singapore in Trust Disputes: Issues in National and International Law (OUP, 2016), a chapter on multi-tiered dispute resolution clauses in Singapore International Arbitration Law and Practice (LexisNexis, 2014), and an article “Between competing jurisdiction clauses – a pro-arbitration bias?” [2011] LMCLQ 15