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Tjen Wee Wong

Principal
Wong & Leow LLC

Biography

Tjen Wee is a Principal in the Dispute Resolution Practice Group in Singapore. His practice covers international arbitration, commercial litigation, and adjudication under the Singapore Security of Payment Act. Tjen Wee is particularly noted for his work relating to infrastructure and construction.

Tjen Wee's wealth of experience in international arbitration involves the major arbitral rules including UNCITRAL, ICC, SIAC and AIAC; with conduct of hearings in multiple jurisdictions across the Asia Pacific. His litigation expertise encompasses disputes in commercial law, banking and financial services, building and construction law, and insolvency law.

Tjen Wee has been recognised by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022 in the Construction category as "…a genuine construction specialist, particularly in disputes but also handles a significant proportion of front-end work" and praised by a client in the same guide as "…very able, experienced, approachable, friendly, prompt and efficient in all his dealings – for litigation, arbitration, adjudications and in negotiations.’" In the 2019 edition, sources state that Tjen Wee is a "highly intelligent and strategic thinker."

Tjen Wee was also named by Singapore Business Review as one of the most influential lawyers under 40 in 2019.

Representative Legal Matters

International arbitration

  • Represented the one of the world's biggest contractors in its disputes (upstream and downstream) arising out of one of the largest mixed-use development in the central business district.

  • Represented an Australian mining company in its disputes against an Indonesian conglomerate regarding mining rights and remuneration arising out of a coal-mining project in Indonesia. The client’s claims exceeded USD 20 million and the dispute involved a mine collapse and disputed payments under a mining agreement.

  • Represented a Singapore statutory board in defending an arbitration claim in excess of SGD 16 million in relation to a dispute with a Hong Kong-based international developer over the construction of a pedestrian underpass and the related collapse of a highway. Part of the claim involved loss of use and loss of profits.

  • Represented an Indonesian state-owned enterprise in a high-level and complex dispute under a gas transportation agreement. The claims against the client amount to almost half a billion dollars.

  • Represented a Malaysian power company in their claims with regard to the supply of generating capacity and electricity in an arbitration held in Kuala Lumpur. The dispute between parties arose due to differing interpretations over complex industry-specific contractual clauses, and the parties’ respective claims exceeded RM 100 million.

  • Represented an international construction company in a novel dispute against its employer over the design and construction of an underground transmission cable tunnel. A significant issue in the dispute was whether the contract had been frustrated, with further complex and technical sub-issues.

  • Represented an international construction company in a complex multi-million dollar dispute against its sub-contractor over the construction of a railway line. Numerous claims and counterclaims made include cost of varied works, defects, contra charges, release of retention monies, financing charges, extension of time and liquidated damages.

Litigation / SOP Adjudication

  • Advising and representing a company in the business of mechanical equipment, plant & machinery on its dispute regarding the design and installation of gondola systems in a condominium complex and also being instructed to review its complete suite of project and supply contracts.

  • Represented an international contractor in its multi-million dollar dispute regarding the provision of fire protection services and equipment in the construction of an international airport.

Advisory Work

  • Advising and assisting clients navigate on front-end complex advisory matters. Some notable matters include advising a well-known electrical appliance company on its consultancy and construction contract for its new office premises, where it also retained the firm more recently for two other projects in Singapore and Malaysia, which also involve high value construction and engineering works; as well as an American global management consulting firm in respect of its fit-out works at its new office premises.

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • The Law Society of Singapore
  • Singapore Academy of Law

Admissions

  • Singapore (2006)

Education

  • National University of Singapore (LLB, with Honors) (2005)

Languages

  • English
  • Mandarin

Publications

Co-author, Workplace Safety and Health – A Practical Guide, LexisNexis, Singapore

Co-editor, Baker & McKenzie Construction Law Digest