Biography
Eddie Chuah heads the Dispute Resolution and Compliance Practice Group at Wong & Partners and is involved in all aspects of civil litigation, arbitration, industrial relations disputes, and compliance.
He undertakes a wide variety of briefs as lead counsel in complex litigation and arbitration matters. His work spans all types of commercial disputes, including post - M&A disputes, as well as restructuring and insolvency litigation. He also focuses on compliance matters, in particular anti‑corruption investigations, government procurement, fraud, audit, and prevention.
Eddie is ranked Band 3 for Dispute Resolution by Chambers Asia Pacific and is listed as a Leading Partner for Dispute Resolution and Labour and Employment by Legal 500 Asia Pacific, with clients commending him as “sensible yet decisive”. He has also been recognised by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific as a Future Star in the area of Commercial and Transactions. In addition, Eddie was awarded "Young Lawyer of the Year" at the Asian Legal Business Malaysia Law Awards in 2018.
A client in a Legal 500 Asia Pacific interview highlighted Eddie’s ability to explain “complex issues in a way that’s easy to understand and gives clients the confidence to make informed decisions”. He is also regularly sought after for his team’s “efficiency, knowledge and high-quality outcome delivered”.
Practice Focus
Eddie focuses his practice as counsel and regularly appears in all levels of Court proceedings. He is also focused on international and domestic arbitration representing numerous clients to pursue and defend claims in arbitration proceedings administered by the AIAC (previously known as KLRCA), HKIAC, SIAC, LCIA and ICC.
On the compliance front, he regularly advises and assists domestic and multinational corporations on a broad range of risk-related issues in compliance. He has assisted and represented major corporations on internal as well as external investigations by the Department of Justice and Securities Exchange Commission, the United Kingdom Serious Fraud Office, Singapore Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Agency. He has also advised relevant stakeholders on the legal remedies upon discovery of fraud or corruption.
Due to the nature of his compliance work, Eddie frequently represents major corporations in matters involving the removal of directors and senior management, as well as the subsequent pursuit of claims against former executives for losses and fraudulent conduct affecting the company. He has also successfully defended numerous major corporations against claims brought by former senior management alleging wrongful dismissal.
Representative Legal Matters
- Successfully represented an oil and gas joint operating company to pursue claims against a valve supplier for loss of revenue arising from deferred gas production. The amount sought is in excess of USD 200 million.
- Successfully acted for a renewable energy company in a commercial suit concerning certain solar projects in Malaysia at the High Court. The monetary value of the dispute is approximately MYR 200 million. The dispute raised a number of novel features, including the question of whether alleged losses of business profits is recoverable under the tort of abuse of process.
- Represented a Malaysian private investment holding company in a multi-million dispute arising from the acquisition of shares in a manufacturing company. We successfully secured an urgent stay of execution following an adverse Court of Appeal decision pending Federal Court proceedings, which facilitated negotiations and culminated in a global settlement resolving multiple disputes between former business partners and their related entities.
- Successfully acted and represented one of the leading insurers in Malaysian market for a business transfer confirmation application in High Court of Malaysia to complete the acquisition of its joint ventures in Malaysia involving assets worth approximately MYR 765 million.
- Successfully represented a global oil and gas technology provider at the High Court and Court of Appeal to defeat claims by its JV partner for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties and shareholders obligations. In related proceedings, Eddie also secured a Court judgment for millions and appointed a liquidator of the client's choice for the unsuccessful solvent JV company.
- Successfully represented the Malaysian entity of a leading engineering and construction solutions provider in the energy industry to defend an unfair dismissal claim arising out of redundancy. The Court accepted the Company’s explanation to deviate from the Last in First Out selection of a more senior employee to be made redundant.
- Successfully represented a leading global engineering firm to defend claims by multitudes of employees and union claims for alleged unfair labour practice.
- Successfully represented a global technology consulting group on a strategic cross border reorganisation involving the consolidation of its Malaysian operations via a court sanctioned scheme of arrangement, resulting in a combined asset base of approximately MYR 532.4 million post-merger.
- Represented the majority shareholders of Korean conglomerates at the High Court and the Court of Appeal to defeat a claim by a local shareholder owned by a prominent Malaysian for alleged minority oppression.
- Assisted numerous clients comprising of public listed companies, family-owned conglomerates, medium enterprises and multinational companies operating in Malaysia to conduct risk assessments and implementation of anti-bribery systems in compliance with Section 17A of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009. These clients stem from a wide range of industries including oil and gas, telecommunications, construction, gaming, investment holdings, manufacturing as well as fast moving consumer goods.
Professional Honors
- Ranked Band 3 for Dispute Resolution by Chambers Asia Pacific
- Leading Partner for Dispute Resolution and Labour and Employment by Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Future Star for Commercial and Transactions by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific
- Future Star for Construction, Insolvency, and Labour & Employment by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific, 2020 - 2021
- “Young Lawyer of the Year” by Asian Legal Business Malaysia Law Awards 2018
Professional Associations and Memberships
The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn - Member
Admissions
Malaysia (2008)
United Kingdom (Barrister) (2007)
Education
University of Reading (LLB) (2006)