"He is is extremely intelligent and deeply knowledgeable and, as counsel, is prescient in anticipating what opponents might serve up and provides a clear strategy for the road ahead."
The Legal 500
Alex Taylor
Senior Clerk
+44 (0)20 7842 3706
Click here to email
Luke Diebelius
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3711
Click here to email
Matthew Evans
Team Leader's Assistant
+44 (0)20 7842 3707
Click here to email
Darius Chan specialises in international arbitration, and is co-author of the text The Law and Theory of International Commercial Arbitration in Singapore.
Darius practises as an independent arbitrator, advocate and academic. He is Associate Professor of Law (Practice) at Singapore Management University (SMU) Yong Pung How School of Law. He is concurrently appointed:
He is bilingual in English and Mandarin Chinese.
Darius’ practice and teaching interests focus on international commercial and investment arbitration, private and public international law. In addition to commercial arbitration, Darius is especially well-regarded for his expertise involving States and State-Owned Entities. Darius is accustomed to collaborating with local counsel on both advisory and contentious mandates.
Darius is recommended by Who’s Who Legal Arbitration as a Global Elite Thought Leader and a “Most Highly Regarded Individual” in Asia-Pacific. Darius has experience acting as emergency, sole and presiding arbitrator. Additionally, Darius has an active practice as an independent legal expert. He has provided legal opinions for use before the US, Swiss, Hong Kong and Chinese Courts, on areas of Singapore contract law, private international law, civil procedure and arbitration law and practice. He has conducted trainings/spoken at events in China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, England, and Austria.
Prior to commencing independent practice, Darius spent a decade practising with international law firms in London and Singapore. He served as a Justices’ Law Clerk and Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court of Singapore between 2007 to 2009. Darius has been appointed amicus curiae by the Singapore courts:
Advising a US multinational aviation company in a dispute against two French-based aviation leasing companies in relation to breaches of warranty claims over engine repairs.
Advising a South East Asian national flag carrier airline on a dispute against another airline arising out of an aircraft accident at an international airport. Dispute governed by Brunei law.
Advising a multinational ground handling company in a multi-jurisdictional dispute against an airline arising out of a ground handling agreement.
Advising a European client concerning the sale and purchase of vessels from an Asian ship-maker. Dispute governed by English law.
Advising a European carmaker in an ICC arbitration against a Japanese carmaker in relation to a joint venture concerning the Indian car market. Dispute governed by English law.
Advising a State in the challenge of a PCA arbitration award worth over USD1.3 billion obtained by an European listed oil and gas exploration company over various tax assessments.
Advising a Singaporean investor in a dispute involving the expropriation of land use rights and other breaches of a bilateral investment treaty in ICSID Case No. ARB/20/34 / PCA Case No. 30 of 2021.
Advising a seller of telecommunications infrastructure in South East Asia on the merits of setting aside an SIAC award worth more than USD500m.
Served as legal expert in US proceedings between Go Airlines v International Aero Engines LLC.
Served as legal expert in Swiss proceedings between a Japanese finance company, Thai credit providers and a Swiss bank worth more than USD200 million.
Advised a Chinese pharmaceutical company on the termination of a license and development agreement against a Korean drugmaker in relation to the distribution of a new drug product in Greater China.
Advised BVI and Singapore entities in an SIAC joint venture and shareholder dispute concerning the building, developing and operation of a power plant in Cambodia. The dispute involves parallel court proceedings in Singapore and Cambodia.
Representing a Middle Eastern commodity trader in a sale and purchase HKIAC arbitration against a Chinese trader and guarantor in relation to payments over crude oil deliveries.
Representing two Chinese commodity traders in separate sale and purchase disputes (governed by SIAC arbitration) against a Singaporean commodity trader concerning sale of fake aluminium ingots.
Advising a Russian pharmaceutical supplier in an SIAC arbitration against South Asian manufacturers and distributors in relation to the supply of pharmaceutical products in South Asia.
Advising a Japanese pharmaceutical supplier in an Swiss Arbitration Centre arbitration against a Swiss distributor in relation to the distribution of pharmaceutical products in China.
Advising investors in a representative action against an investment firm and its promoters before the Singapore courts involving Anton Pillar and Mareva injunctions.
Advising founder of green energy start-up company in shareholder and employment dispute against other shareholders.
Representing promoters of major cryptocurrency trading group on regulatory and civil claims ranging from fraudulent mis-selling to conspiracy, and related insolvency re-organisation proceedings.
Representing investors in an SIAC arbitration involving the mis-selling of crypto-currency tokens.
Advising promoter of software development company in relation to criminal investigations concerning remote gaming, payment systems and money laundering.
Representing a fund management company in a shareholding dispute against another fund management company in relation to a potential merger.
Advising a European beverage multinational conglomerate in the termination of an long term license manufacture and distribution agreement.
Representing a senior employee in an employment / partnership dispute against a global professional services firm involving claims of constructive dismissal.
Representing a cryptocurrency trading institution in a SIAC arbitration seated in Singapore against an overseas customer regarding the freezing of assets ordered by the domicile court of the customer.
Representing a Middle Eastern entity in an SIAC arbitration against a financial institution over a hedging master agreement on issues arising out of US sanctions. Dispute governed by Singapore law.
Representing a financial investment company and its management in proceedings brought by foreign investors over complex investment arrangements involving a listed company. Dispute involved interim and freezing injunctions.
Representing a European beverage multinational conglomerate in an SIAC arbitration against a joint venture party over joint venture and loan agreements concerning operations in Myanmar.
Representing a European beverage multinational conglomerate in multiple SIAC arbitrations against a joint venture party over joint venture and loan agreements concerning operations in India and Nepal. Sum in dispute in excess of $1.1 billion, involving emergency arbitration and parallel court proceedings in Singapore. Dispute governed by Singapore law.
Representing a Malaysian travel and hospitality company over a profit-sharing dispute against a South Asian travel and hospitality company. Dispute governed by Singapore law.
Representing a European multinational conglomerate in the confectionery and beverage industry in an UNCITRAL arbitration against its Thai joint venture company in relation to its breaches of contract, allegation of collusion and misconduct arising out of a co-manufacturing agreement governed by Thai law. Sum in dispute in excess of $600 million, involving competing lawsuits filed in Thailand.
Representing a global bank in a post-M&A SIAC arbitration against an Asian bank arising out of an acquisition in Brunei. Dispute governed by Brunei law.
Representing a Taiwanese food and beverage multinational conglomerate in a SIAC arbitration against a Malaysian master franchisee in relation to breaches of the franchise agreement and non-competition covenants. Dispute governed by Singapore law and involved competing lawsuits filed in Malaysia.
Representing a US client in an UNCITRAL arbitration arising out of a share sale and purchase agreement in the precision engineering sector, and involving fraud, conspiracy and assessment of damages. Dispute governed by Singapore law.
Representing a client in an ICC arbitration concerning a technology licensing and distributorship agreement between a South American corporation and a European multinational in the industrial gear unit business. Dispute governed by English law.
Advising a European glass and building material company in an ICC arbitration against a Korean company over an alleged entitlement to an uplift on the price payable under a Share Purchase Agreement.
Advising a global trade financing group on the enforcement and insolvency proceedings before the Singapore High Court against various India-based trading entities arising out of various post-dated cheques. Dispute governed by Singapore law.
Advising a Scandinavian precision engineering conglomerate on a dispute against its Singapore sales agent over breaches of corporate governance under Singapore law.
Advising a global bank on its rights and obligations under Singapore law as a bond trustee of a note issuance by a Malaysian issuer.
Advising a Swiss multinational company in a Netherlands Arbitration Institute arbitration against a US multinational company in relation to a joint venture for the production and distribution of a new line of luxury watches.
Advising a Canadian private equity fund company in a technology dispute concerning the setting up of competing business in Asia by a venture partner.
Advising a Russian financing company in a dispute concerning the setting up of competing business in Asia by a venture partner.
Advising a Chinese-Indonesian mining and smelting company in a force majeure dispute against a US manufacturer concerning the design, manufacture and sale of severe service valves. Dispute governed by Singapore law and subject to SIAC arbitration.
Representing an Indian commodity trading conglomerate in a SIAC arbitration against a Spanish seller regarding the non-receipt of mining raw materials due to certain export restrictions at the place of origin (Zimbabwe). Dispute governed by Convention for the International Sale of Goods (CISG).
Representing a Chinese commodity trading company in a SIAC arbitration against an Indian buyer of copper cathodes over breaches of a sales and purchase agreement. Sum in dispute in excess of $20 million. Dispute governed by Singapore law.
Representing an Indonesian client in a SIAC arbitration against a Chinese joint venture partner in the nickel mining industry. Dispute governed by Indonesian law.
Advising a Chinese commodity trading company in disputes against Taiwanese and Vietnamese agents involving the sale and purchase of ferrous metals.
Tribunal Secretary in a class action arbitration between 814 claimants and a South East Asian government-linked corporation concerning 12,000+ hectares of palm oil plantation land in South East Asia.
Representing BVI and Singapore entities in an SIAC joint venture and shareholder dispute concerning the building, developing and operation of a power plant in Cambodia. The dispute involves parallel court proceedings in Singapore and Cambodia.
Representing a State-Owned Entity in an SIAC arbitration involving wrongful termination of a contractor on an offshore LNG pipeline project.
Representing a senior employee of a multinational energy company in white-collar investigations following the insolvency of one of Asia’s largest oil traders.
Advising a State in the challenge of a PCA arbitration award worth over USD1.3 billion obtained by an European listed oil and gas exploration company over various tax assessments.
Representing a US listed provider of marine dredging services in setting-aside proceedings to defend an ICC expedited arbitration award obtained against a Korean main contractor.
Representing an oil major in an UNCITRAL arbitration against an Asian state regarding the unlawful assessment of taxes and penalties imposed for hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation activities in a disputed area of seabed jointly administered by two states under a treaty, in violation of a tax stability agreement. Sum in dispute in excess of $230 million.
Representing a European buyer in two gas price review arbitrations involving a Central Asian seller of natural gas. Disputes governed by Swiss law seated in Stockholm. Sum in dispute in excess of €1 billion.
Representing one of Asia’s largest independent power producers in an ICC arbitration against a South Asian government in relation to breaches of a long-term Power Purchase Agreement.
Representing one of Asia’s largest independent power producers in an ICSID arbitration against a South Asian government in relation to breaches of a long-term Power Purchase Agreement.
Representing a Malaysia-based energy company in a SIAC arbitration against a US customer in relation to breaches of sales and consignment agreements and guarantees. Dispute governed by English law and involved competing lawsuits filed in Texas, USA.
Advising a European tanker and storage conglomerate on a product storage dispute before the Singapore courts against a Singapore trading company involving competing claims of ownership, bailment and conversion. Dispute governed by Singapore law.
Advising a US marine logistical and operational support company on a Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) dispute against an Asian-listed company arising out of the provision of services over a LNG project. Dispute governed by Singapore law.
Advising an Indian conglomerate on a dispute against Indonesian joint venture partners in the gas aromatics sector. Dispute governed by Singapore law.
Advising an oil major on a dispute, subject to LMAA arbitration in London, with a shipper’s protection and indemnity club insurers concerning commingling by the shipper of various oil products delivered in Singapore. Dispute governed by English law.
Advising a client in an arbitration concerning an English buyer and a Middle East supplier concerning the supply of an oil rig and other equipment for use in the Middle East. Dispute governed by English law.
Representing a South-East Asian investor in an investor-state arbitration against an Asian state concerning the expropriation of land use rights and other breaches of a bilateral investment treaty.
Representing an Indian infrastructure conglomerate in a SIAC arbitration against a Korean main contractor in relation to a power project in India. Sum in dispute in excess of $100 million. Dispute governed by Indian law.
Representing a Korean multinational conglomerate in a SIAC arbitration against a Korean listed company in an EPC dispute relating to various greenfield electricity power plant projects in the Middle East. Dispute governed by Singapore law.
Advising a European export credit agency on a Singapore High Court dispute against a Burmese counterparty in the tele-communications sector involving Bills of Exchange. Dispute governed by Singapore law.
Representing a Korean conglomerate in an UNCITRAL arbitration between and a Malaysian sub-contractor in relation to a clean-room building project in Singapore. Dispute governed by Singapore and international law.
Advising a consortium company on multiple disputes involving a major PPP (Public-Private Partnership) infrastructure project in Singapore, ranging from infrastructure defects and delays, landlord-tenant, employment and cyber-security issues.
Emergency arbitrator in an SIAC arbitration seated in Singapore between an Indonesian company and a German company concerning a call on a letter of credit arising out of a major plant construction project in Indonesia. Dispute governed by Singapore law.
Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore between a US and Dutch company and a Japanese manufacturer concerning a business and IP acquisition exercise in Vietnam. Dispute governed by Delaware law.
Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore concerning a dispute between an Italian entity and a Malaysian entity in the oil & gas sector. Dispute governed by the CISG.
Sole arbitrator in an SIAC arbitration seated in Singapore concerning the private education sector. Dispute governed by Singapore law.
Sole arbitrator in an SIAC arbitration seated in Singapore between a Middle Eastern company and a Thai company concerning the hospitality sector. Sum in dispute in excess of $150 million and dispute governed by Singapore law.
Sole arbitrator in an SIAC arbitration seated in Singapore concerning the supply of oil and gas equipment to be installed in a condense storing, offloading facility. Dispute governed by Malaysian law.
Presiding arbitrator in an SIAC arbitration seated in Singapore concerning long-term distribution agreements of FMCG goods in South-Asia. Sum in dispute in excess of US$10 million. Dispute governed by Singapore law.
Presiding arbitrator in an SIAC arbitration involving a Hong Kong entity and Chinese entity in a petrochemical sale and purchase agreement involving the Asean-China Free Trade Area Preferential Tariff Certificate of Origin. Dispute governed by Singapore law / English law / CISG.
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Alex Taylor
Senior Clerk
+44 (0)20 7842 3706
Click here to email
Luke Diebelius
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3711
Click here to email
Matthew Evans
Team Leader's Assistant
+44 (0)20 7842 3707
Click here to email
APPOINTMENTS
Speaking and Training Engagements
MEMBERSHIPS
PRIZES
Professional
Academic
Journal Articles [Refereed]
Journal Articles [Non-Refereed]
Case Notes/Digests
Book Chapters
Magazine Articles
Blog Posts
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