Drew & Napier LLC

Drew & Napier continues to attain regional accolades with a total of 32 practice and lawyer rankings in the Chambers Global 2025 legal rankings. Our regional accolades include being recognised as a leading firm in 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴-𝘉𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 (𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘴), for the seventh consecutive year, 𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘗𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘈𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭), 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢: 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢: 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 & 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 (𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘴), 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 & 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦: (𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘦: 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢) and 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘈𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘦) – 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢, 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢. On the domestic front, Drew maintains our disputes prowess with achievements in 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘦: 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯) – Band 1 for 19 consecutive years and 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘦: 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘈𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 – 𝘌𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦). This is among the 10 practice areas we are ranked in this year, in the Global rankings. Hats off to our brilliant lawyers who have secured their well-deserved rankings this year!   Congratulations to the Drew Family on this achievement.   Global Market Leaders: Arbitration (International) – Cavinder Bull, SC China: Dispute Resolution (Arbitration) (International Firms) – Randolph Khoo 邱武德 India: Dispute Resolution (Desk based abroad in Singapore) – Cavinder Bull, SC and Mahesh Rai Indonesia: Banking & Finance (International Firms) – Julian Kwek Singapore: Dispute Resolution (Arbitration) (Foreign Experts) – Randolph Khoo 邱武德 Singapore: Dispute Resolution (Arbitration) – Jimmy Yim, SC, Cavinder Bull, SC, and Mahesh Rai Singapore: Dispute Resolution (Litigation) – Jimmy Yim, SC, Cavinder Bull, SC, Randolph Khoo 邱武德, Blossom Hing SC, Mahesh Rai and Adam Maniam Singapore: Banking & Finance (Foreign Experts) – Julian Kwek Singapore: Banking & Finance (Domestic) – Pauline Chong Singapore: Banking & Finance (Regulatory) – Grace Chong Singapore: Corporate/M&A (Domestic) – Steven Lo 罗邦富, Teng Sen Tan 陈镇绅 and Gary Pryke Singapore: Dispute Resolution (Most in Demand Arbitrators) – Cavinder Bull, SC   Read more here: https://bit.ly/3CJVh23 #teamdrew #accolades

Our CEO Cavinder Bull SC and Director Shumin Lin, together with Senior Associate Erin Chua and Associate Journe F. are acting for Media Matters for America, a US media monitoring not-for-profit organisation, who is being sued by Twitter Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (the Singapore subsidiary of X Corp., the social media company that owns the platform formerly known as Twitter) for defamation and malicious falsehood over an online article published in 2023, which stated that anti-Semitic content had been found on the platform alongside advertisements from major brands such as Apple and IBM.   Twitter Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. alleges that advertisers withdrew advertising on the X platform because of this article and is therefore claiming against Media Matters for damages of nearly US$13 million (S$17.4 million) in lost advertising revenue.   The team has filed an application for Media Matters, seeking to challenge the jurisdiction of the Singapore Court over the case. Alternatively, the team is seeking a stay of the Singapore action.   You may read the full article, “X subsidiary sues US media watchdog in Singapore following lawsuits in US, Ireland” on ST Online here - https://lnkd.in/gDrVa55n #dispute #legal #Singapore

In an interview with Indian legal publication Bar and Bench, disputes director Mahesh Rai discussed India’s potential to become an international arbitration hub. He highlighted the underrepresentation of Indian arbitrators despite the rise of skilled practitioners, advocating for the adoption of international best practices and a more diverse pool of arbitrators. Mahesh emphasised the need for consolidation within India's domestic arbitration market, noting the rise of institutions like MCIA and DIAC but the lack of a single leading institution. He also acknowledged the increasing popularity of the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC). Supporting the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Mahesh praised its emergency arbitration provisions and alignment with international best practices. He highlighted the growing role of mediation in international disputes, driven by the Singapore Convention, and noted the importance of technology in its adoption. Mahesh sees healthy collaboration between foreign and Indian lawyers, benefiting from foreign firms bringing best practices to the Indian market. He also lauded Indian lawyers’ creativity and problem-solving abilities, which now compete globally. Mahesh outlined key trends in Asian arbitration, including a focus on efficiency, flexibility in choosing arbitration seats, and a diverse pool of practitioners, all contributing to the field's growth. You may read the full interview here https://bit.ly/3Ezw1fk.

Director Shu Mei, Hoon (洪淑媚) was invited by The Straits Times to provide insights for their column on ageing well in Singapore, titled “Sumiko at 61”, where she discussed issues pertaining to matrimonial assets in late-life marriages.   Shu Mei highlighted to The Straits Times that it is important to discuss pre-marital assets before marriage. Couples in late-life marriages, where both bride and groom are 60 and older, often have significant assets built up over a lifetime, including real estate, cash savings and Central Provident Fund (CPF) money. These could be vulnerable and subjected to division in the event of a divorce.   Couples may wish to enter into a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement to define asset division terms, should they divorce. “These agreements could include terms stating that both parties do not have a claim on the assets acquired by the other party prior to the marriage, including the property [they] reside in,” she said. Shu Mei also addressed legacy planning matters such as having in place wills, CPF nominations as well as executing a lasting power of attorney (LPA), in order to avoid disputes which can arise over the appointment of deputies or between deputies.    You may read the full article on p.B3 of yesterday's Straits Times (11 February 2025), or on their website here: https://bit.ly/3EJy2FD #familylaw #matrimoniallaw #interviews

Join our upcoming Drew Data Protection & Cybersecurity Academy lunchtime webinar titled, “𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂'𝒔 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒂 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑨𝒄𝒕 (𝑫𝑷𝑫𝑷𝑨)” on Thursday, 20 February 2025 from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm (SGT). India’s first comprehensive data privacy statute, the DPDPA, was enacted in August 2023, marking a significant step towards regulating the processing of personal data in India. The government of India recently released for public consultation, draft rules that seek to implement the DPDPA. In this webinar, our Data Protection, Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice Co-Head David N. Alfred, and our guest speaker, Arun Babu from Kochhar & Co., will discuss the key aspects of India’s DPDPA and its draft rules. Moderated by: David N. Alfred Director, Corporate & Finance, Co-Head, Data Protection, Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice; Co-Head, Drew Data Protection & Cybersecurity Academy Speaker: Arun Babu Partner, Kochhar & Co. Registration is complimentary, sign-up now via this link: https://bit.ly/412wPlP. Find out more details about the webinar here: https://bit.ly/3Q6gNB3. #drewacademy #DataProtection #dpdpa #webinar

If you are keen to take on challenges in the real estate legal practice and be part of a dynamic outfit, we want you on our team! Our Corporate Real Estate team is looking for a dedicated Paralegal and Conveyancing Secretary. Bring your enthusiasm and willingness to learn – we’ll take care of the rest! Click here to learn more: https://bit.ly/4hkpwvk #drewcareers #hiring #singapore

In 𝘋𝘌𝘔 𝘷 𝘋𝘌𝘓 [2025] SGCA 1, the Court of Appeal considered among other things whether a non-participating party to an arbitration can challenge the award on grounds that the arbitrator failed to consider a point which was not put in issue. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, and held that although the arbitrator did not consider the issue, the appellant was not entitled to rely on this ground to challenge the award because he chose not to participate in the arbitration. Director Terence Tan discusses this decision in this update. Read more here: https://bit.ly/40Gxrfo #arbitration #disputeresolution #lawsingapore

Welcome to the second edition of the Drew Network Asia (DNA) ASEAN Roundup newsletter – a selection of the most popular articles published by DNA firms, Drew & Napier LLC, Makarim & Taira S., Shearn Delamore & Co., Martinez Vergara & Gonzalez Sociedad (MVGS) and Tilleke & Gibbins, in the past quarter. Topics are wide-ranging and cover various areas of practice and jurisdictions. Please click here: https://bit.ly/4gwU0Jg to view the full newsletter. To view our full list of DNA ASEAN guides and newsletters, please click here: https://bit.ly/4gQm2Ro. The list of topics and jurisdictions covered in this edition are highlighted below. HIGHLIGHTS 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲 | MAS Revised Guidelines on Fair Dealing – How to Deliver Fair Dealing Outcomes to Customers 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲 | One Arbitration Agreement to Rule Them All 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮 | Indonesia’s Interest Rate Reference Reform: Introducing IndONIA as the Replacement for JIBOR 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗮 | Malaysia’s Cyber Security Act 2024 Comes into Operation 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮 | Cambodia Launches Trial of Intellectual Property Rights Recordation System 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮 | Cambodia Grants Tax Incentives for Investment Project Expansion and MSMEs 𝗠𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗿 | New Enforcement Procedures for Myanmar’s Tax Administration Law 𝗠𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗿 | Minimum Wage: Myanmar Increases Mandatory Daily Allowance 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 | New Thai SEC Guidelines Simplify Market Entry for Foreign Securities Businesses 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 | Fintech Insights: The Bank of Thailand’s Sandbox Framework for Fintech Innovation 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗻𝗮𝗺 | Potential Impact of Vietnam’s New Land Law on the Energy Sector 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗻𝗮𝗺 | Vietnam’s Draft Personal Data Protection Law: An In-Depth Look #Singapore #Malaysia #Indonesia #Cambodia #Laos #Myanmar #Thailand #Vietnam #DrewNetworkAsia #DNA #FirmOfFirms

Congratulations to our IP practice for maintaining its Gold Band ranking in both the Enforcement and Litigation as well as Prosecution and Strategy categories in the 2025 edition of the World Trademark Review (WTR 1000) for the 13th year! We are also proud to celebrate the recognition of our lawyers as leading experts across various categories: Tony Yeo – Gold band for Enforcement and Litigation; Gold band for Prosecution and Strategy Yvonne Tang – Gold band for Enforcement and Litigation; Gold band for Prosecution and Strategy; Recommended for Transactions Siau Wen LIM – Gold band for Enforcement and Litigation; Silver band for Prosecution and Strategy; Recommended for Transactions Meryl J Koh, FSiArb (许君宁）– Silver band for Enforcement and Litigation  Ruby Tham – Bronze band for Enforcement and Litigation; Bronze band for Prosecution and Strategy   Kudos to our talented and dedicated team in IP and importantly, huge thank you to our valued clients for your continued trust and support. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4jM4JCv #intellectualproperty #trademark #WTR1000

On 17 January 2025, Association of South East-Asian Nations (“𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐍”) unveiled the ASEAN Guide on Data Anonymisation (https://lnkd.in/d_VdCbVX) (the “𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞”) at the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting in Thailand. The Guide was developed by members of our Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice in consultation with the Infocomm Media Development Authority, the Personal Data Protection Commission and ASEAN stakeholders. In this legal update, our Data Protection, Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice Group highlights some key points from the Guide relating to data anonymisation and data protection that may be helpful for your organisation. Read the update here: https://bit.ly/3EAEP4o. Read more about our Data Protection, Privacy & Cybersecurity practice here: https://bit.ly/4gp1Ncd. #ASEAN #dataanonymisation #dataprotection #dataprivacy #cybersecurity #riskassessment