Biography
Eddie Chuah heads the Dispute Resolution and Compliance Practice Group of 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 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 often represents major corporations in the removal of management and directors and in subsequently pursuing claims against ex-senior management for losses and fraud committed on the company. He has also successfully defended many major corporations for claims by ex-senior management for wrongful dismissal.
Representative Legal Matters
- Acting for a group of multi-currency financing (MCF) financiers in one of the largest restructuring litigations in Malaysia. The amount to be restructured is in excess of USD 2.5 billion.
- Acting for a joint operating company, comprising of the Malaysian national oil corporation and two of the largest oil corporations in the world based in Houston and London, to pursue claims against a valve supplier for loss of revenue arising from deferred gas production. The amount sought is in excess of USD 100 million.
- Acting for one of the largest technology companies in the world to successfully obtain judgment to the tune of millions and to defeat a counterclaim by the counter-party arising from allegations of fraud and dishonest assistance. Eddie also successfully defended the Judgment at the appeal stage and the matter is now pending at the Federal Court.
- Acting for one of the world's largest privately owned healthcare companies in international arbitration and domestic litigation in a dispute arising from the supply of gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic after successfully obtaining a stay of the domestic litigation in favor of international arbitration in Singapore.
- Acting for a Japanese manufacturer in both court and arbitration proceedings to defend claims by a supplier for alleged misrepresentation during the entering of the supply agreement.
- 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 MYR200 million (ca. USD45 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.
- Acting for one of Europe’s largest solar power plant developer groups in complex arbitration proceedings being pursued at the AIAC and the High Court, which has unique aspects involving the use of the new fast track procedures under the AIAC Arbitration Rules 2021, and whether such procedures are suitable for a high value matter which involves contractual and tax issues.
- Representing a leading glove manufacturer in a civil suit in the High Court of Ipoh against a service provider for breach of contract and negligence arising from a failure to maintain a water treatment system.
- 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.
- 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 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," 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)