CHAN Hock Keng is the Co-Head of the Commercial & Corporate Disputes Practice and a Partner in the International Arbitration Practice. He has an active practice as counsel in Court proceedings and international arbitrations and regularly sits as arbitrator in references conducted in either English or Chinese.

Hock Keng is a Honorary Legal Adviser to the Singapore Medical Association, the national organisation representing medical practitioners in Singapore, a panel member of the Inquiry Committee as well as a panel member of the Disciplinary Tribunal appointed by the Chief Justice to hear complaints against lawyers. He is a Honorary Council Member of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

He is a Chartered Arbitrator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the Court of Arbitration of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. He is on the panels of other arbitration centres such as the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board,  Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, Shanghai International Arbitration Centre, Asian International Arbitration Centre, Thailand Arbitration Centre, Japan Commercial Arbitration Association, Borneo International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation, Wuhan Arbitration Commission and Hainan International Arbitration Court. Since 2012, his redacted awards have been published in LexisNexis’ “Singapore Arbitral Awards”.

Hock Keng is an independent director of Sitra Holdings (International) Limited.

Hock Keng graduated top of his class from the University of Bristol with First Class Honours and was awarded the Sweet & Maxwell Law Prize. He was placed fifth in the UK Bar Exams the following year and was called to the Singapore Bar. He clerked for the Chief Justice for a year before entering private practice in 1995. Hock Keng is also admitted to the Roll of Solicitors of England & Wales.

Matters of significance in which Hock Keng has been involved in include acting for the following:

  • Two Korean entities in an ICC arbitration commenced against three Respondents incorporated in the People's Republic of China, Cayman Islands and the Republic of Korea. This is a complex arbitration involving multiple parties, multiple contracts as well as multiple legal issues under Korean law, Chinese law and Singapore law. The arbitration relates to claims for breaches of a software licensing agreement and conspiracy and the Claimants were awarded damages in excess of USD150 million.
  • A Korean main contractor to successfully defend claims in a SIAC arbitration brought by a Cambodian sub-contractor alleging wrongful termination of a Subcontract between the parties for engineering and construction works for a national highway in Cambodia which was funded by loans extended by a foreign government.
  • A Korean listed electrical equipment manufacturer in a SIAC arbitration successfully commenced against a Korean chaebol for the breach of a joint venture agreement to participate in the construction of 34 gas turbine power plants in Iraq in 3 separate bid series.
  • A leading multinational energy company and its subsidiary against another global energy company and its subsidiary in proceedings in the Singapore International Commercial Court to set aside two partial arbitral awards rendered in respect of separate aspects of liability pursuant to a SIAC arbitration. The partial awards arise out of a claim of approximately US$5.5 billion for fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of warranties and recovery of losses under an indemnity in relation to a North Sea oil venture.
  • A well-known Singapore hotelier in an ICC arbitration against a middle eastern property development company for the wrongful termination of a Hotel Management Agreement and successfully obtaining an award for the recovery of substantial compensation from the respondent.
  • Malaysian’s largest listed pharmaceutical company to successfully claim substantial damages against a leading People’s Republic of China pharmaceutical provider in a HKIAC arbitration for the breach of a joint venture agreement to set up a up a pharmaceutical plant in Wuxi.

Related Practices

  • China
  • Commercial & Corporate Disputes
  • Insurance
  • International Arbitration

Hock Keng is identified as a leading individual in Singapore for Arbitration work by Chambers Asia-Pacific – Asia-Pacific's Leading Lawyers for Business since 2013. He has been described by Chambers as "a lawyer who brings valuable PRC expertise to the team, and is well versed in CIETAC and SIAC matters". He has also been recognised in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers for his expertise in the areas of Arbitration and Mediation; and Litigation.

Hock Keng is also commended by clients as "a very creative lawyer" who offers "great ideas on how we can come up with a solution" and is "commercially minded and very quick to grasp whatever points opposing counsels make".

Contact Details

Career & Qualifications

University of Bristol (LL.B., Hons.)

Middle Temple (Barrister-at-Law)

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