Allen & Gledhill LLP has a large construction team that features a number of immensely experienced practitioners. The firm is equally strong in front-end and disputes, remaining at the forefront of Singapore and Southeast Asia matters; its expertise is also sought in North Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Australia. It has developed further expertise in sustainable construction and contracting methods, and has continued to advise on many of the landmark construction projects in Singapore, along with major disputes that have arisen in the jurisdiction, while working on headline matters in multiple jurisdictions, such as the new airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and a large-scale data centre in Jakarta, Indonesia. In construction and engineering department heads, Ho Chien Mien and Sathiaseelan Jagateesan, it has two of the outstanding practitioners in the market, covering both front-end and contentious matters. Deputy head of the team, Lim Dao Kai is rated for contentious matters and frequently represents statutory boards, government-linked companies, international developers and contractors. Chong Yee Leong is co-head of the international arbitration group and is an experienced figure in energy, oil and gas, power and infrastructure cases. Koh En Ying and Kelvin Kek are also noted for construction disputes and Charmelia Sugianto provides further front-end experience.

Clyde & Co Clasis Singapore is part of a prominent global construction practice. The Singapore team has a mix of local and international expertise, while covering the full range of transactional and disputes matters, though it has a distinct emphasis on disputes. The department is known for its connections to major contractors, along with employers and owners, and other construction project stakeholders. Eugene Tan is a prominent figure in construction arbitrations and high court proceedings involving projects across Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam. Sean Hardy has close links to Korean and other international contractors, and leads the team in multiple disputes involving projects in Singapore and the broader Asia Pacific region. Rachel Tan is another senior contentious practitioner at legal director level.

Pinsent Masons MPillay’s Singapore office has a sizeable focus on energy and infrastructure projects across Southeast Asia and the wider Asia Pacific region; the team has experienced an uptick in engagements from the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia. Central to this is a well-developed construction team that covers both front-end matters and disputes. With the Singapore office being part of a global firm with a leading reputation in construction, it has the local, regional and international client base that forms a flourishing practice. Newly elected partner Peter Jang has recently transferred to Singapore from Edinburgh, bringing additional front-end expertise in projects in South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, along with energy transition projects. Sam Boyling is global co-head of the construction advisory and disputes team, known for representing a wealth of Chinese contractors; he splits his time between Singapore and Beijing. Frédéric Gillion is another disputes specialist with both a common and civil law background. Mohan Pillay has over three decades of experience in construction and engineering disputes. Chen Han Toh is a prominent disputes expert, along with emerging talent Yong Neng Chan. Legal director Andrea Utasy Clark has transferred to Dubai.

Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP is best known for construction disputes, though also has a major presence in front-end and transactional matters;. The size of the firm and its commitment to Singapore and Southeast Asia brings it a wealth of high-level engagements. It recently advised on Single-Lendlease’s $3bn Comcentre headquarters redevelopment in Singapore along with a number of other major developments in the state and elsewhere in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. The construction team is additionally active in sustainability and clean energy developments, including solar farms and waste-to-energy plants. Head of the construction and projects department, Sim Chee Siong has more than two decades of experience in large construction and engineering projects and disputes. Ng Kim Beng and Soh Lip San are highly rated, while Shemane Chan stands out for major front-end matters. Avinash Pradhan is another key team member.

WongPartnership LLP stands out for the ability of senior team members to expertly handle both front-end and disputes matters. It is widely recognised for its adeptness in handling construction engagements from project inception and management of project to managing disputes and any formal proceedings. The team has gained further traction in front-end renewable energy engagements and is increasingly active in cross-border disputes, especially those involving Vietnam and Indonesia, including those linked to the construction of data centres. The firm is noted for representing large owners and employers, along with prominent contractors. Ian de Vaz and Tay Peng Cheng are leading names, covering both front-end and disputes engagements. Lesley Tan and newly-elected partner Vishi Sundar (‘a future market leader’) are also rated. Christopher Chuah and Lee Hwai Bin have left the firm.

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow is prominent in contentious construction matters connected to energy, real estate, and infrastructure projects. Its grounding in construction disputes has brought it a growing array of non-contentious engagements, including experience in construction contracts, procurement models, and financings. It has a strong record in domestic matters, along with cases involving jurisdictions across Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. The firm has an extensive client base, notably, a number of South Korean employers and contractors. Nandakumar Ponniya heads the Asia Pacific dispute resolution practice and has a fine record in construction cases, as does Tjen Wee Wong. Former engineer Daniel Ho was promoted to local principal in 2023.

Dentons Rodyk has an established record in Singapore and ASEAN construction and engineering projects and disputes. It has extensive experience in conventional construction contracts used in Singapore, along with the FIDIC forms deployed in the wider region. The construction team continues to act for a variety of clients, including developers and contractors, in substantial construction cases, such as those before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC). Kia Jeng Koh and Kirindeep Singh co-head the construction team and are both known for their contentious expertise. Paul Wong and Reuben Peter are disputes specialists that both have a significant focus on construction cases.

Drew & Napier LLC has a fine and longstanding reputation in the construction sector, particularly in the contentious field. It has demonstrated a deep commitment to construction and engineering work, especially in Singapore and region-wide energy and infrastructure projects. Along with its disputes expertise, the firm has further experience in front-end and procurement matters, due diligence and project advisory issues. It has close connections to developers, contractors and other clients from around the region. Christopher Chong is head of the construction and engineering group, specialising in disputes. Mahesh Rai is deputy head of the team and is also highly-related for contentious matters. Chairman Jimmy Yim SC is further noted for cross-border construction disputes and Kelvin Teo is another prominent member of the department.

Harry Elias Partnership has a long history in the construction field and it continues to elevate its standing in the sector. It is one of few firms to have a specialist front-end expertise, coupled with deep experience on the contentious side. It has worked on many of the most prestigious construction projects in Singapore and in other parts of Asia Pacific. It is particularly noted for marine engineering, dredging, land reclamation and shore protection works. The construction team has worked on a series of underground tunnelling and rail projects, along with disputes connected to them. It represents a large number of major contractors, along with employers, developers and consultancies. Tan Chau Yee is head of the construction and engineering group, leading many of the firm’s prime engagements. The team also includes the highly rated construction specialist Yvonne Foo and Joanna Seetoh. Conrad Campos and Justin Chia provide additional senior expertise.

Bird & Bird ATMD LLP brings its extensive experience in dispute resolution to the construction and engineering sphere. With exposure to disputes across Asia Pacific and the Middle East, the firm is consistently demonstrating its expertise in this area, representing a mixture of contractors, sub-contractors, developers and government agencies. On the non-contentious front, the firm has worked on a series of major infrastructure projects in Singapore, along with the development of industrial operations, office and warehouse space. Sandra Seah has an outstanding record in public projects in Singapore, including the construction aspects of these matters. Dual qualified in India and the UK, Akshay Kishore is noted for arbitration, adjudication and mediation work in the construction sector, while Shaun Lee, dual-qualified in Singapore and the UK, is further recognised for infrastructure disputes.

Christopher Chuah Law Chambers, specialising in construction, infrastructure, engineering and projects, was established in October 2023. Launched by Christopher Chuah, the former head of WongPartnership LLP’s construction and engineering team, the new firm brings a wealth of experience to the sector, notably in domestic and international industrial projects, hospitals, data centres and waste-to-energy plants. It advises a wide range of contractors, developers, employers and consultants in large-scale front-end matters and disputes in Singapore and in the wider region, including China, Indonesia and Thailand.

CMS Holborn Asia has a substantial focus on construction and engineering, working on a variety of domestic and international projects. As part of a wider international firm, it has the cross-border experience and resources to undertake large-scale engagements in multiple jurisdictions. The firm continues to be noted for disputes connected to power projects and civil infrastructure, along with tunnelling and data centre projects. It has retained close connections to major Asian EPC contractors, along with a range of employers and developers. Kelvin Aw and Lynette Chew are co-heads of the infrastructure and construction disputes team. Asya Jamaludin provides additional front-end and disputes experience.

Eldan Law LLP is highly rated for its construction disputes expertise. Frequently representing contractors, it has built a significant body of experience in Singapore cases. The firm handles a variety of arbitration, adjudication and litigation work, along with a decent flow of drafting and reviewing of contracts. It is particularly known for representing contractors. A number of its senior practitioners have construction expertise, particularly New York and Singapore licensed Danna Er, who has ‘extensive experience in construction disputes’, and the experienced Lawrence Tan, who is ‘practical with his advice and demonstrates a good understanding of construction documentation and practices’.

TSMP Law Corporation continues to represent a mixture of main contractors, developers, owners and consultants in sizeable construction disputes, contracts, and bids and tenders. The firm is primarily focused on the Singapore market, though has an impressive record in matters right across Asia Pacific, including Vietnam and Sri Lanka. It is particularly noted for claims connected to alleged defects in real estate developments, along with project performance and delay issues in a broad array of construction projects. Derek Loh and Melvin Chan are established figures in the construction and engineering disputes market.