Gavin NEO is a Partner in the Professional & Enterprise Disputes Practice and the White Collar & Enforcement Practice.

Gavin specialises in litigation and arbitration involving complex international commercial disputes across a myriad of industries, fraud & asset recovery, and criminal litigation.

On the fraud & asset recovery front, Gavin has investigated and defended claims involving corporate and commercial fraud, along with the recovery of misappropriated assets spanning multiple jurisdictions.

Gavin’s criminal litigation practice focuses on business crime, corruption, anti-money laundering, the Official Secrets Act, Interpol Red Notices, and corporate governance related offences.

Gavin understands that not every client defines a “win” the same way, so he works to find personalised “wins” and craft bespoke legal strategies for each case that comes through his door.

Gavin graduated from King's College London, University of London, and was admitted to the Singapore Bar in 2016.

Matters of significance that Gavin has been involved in include advising / acting for the following:

  • Successfully defended the marketing entity of a Canadian crude oil investment in a cross-border dispute, involving allegations of a ponzi scheme and misappropriation of funds, brought by a SPV representing over 1,000 investors from Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and Singapore with claims totalling SGD 90 million: [2021] SGHC 41 and [2022] SGHC (A) 2.
  • Successfully obtained judgment for the wife against her ex-husband and member of parliament ex-father-in-law in a lawsuit over the ownership of a conservation shophouse, involving trusts and mechanisms to avoid stamp duties: [2023] SGHC 259.
  • The marketing entity of a Brazilian land banking investment in a multi-jurisdictional dispute, involving allegations of a ponzi and pyramid scheme and dissipation of assets.
  • A prominent Indonesian businessman in an SIAC arbitration claim relating to natural resources and hospitality projects in Indonesia valued at over USD 1 billion. 
  • Successfully applied to Interpol to delete a Red Notice issued against a prominent Indonesian businessman concerning allegations of fraud and money laundering.  
  • A former senior executive level employee of a government linked entity in the crisis management of alleged breaches under the Official Secrets Act, relating to the retention, disclosure and dissemination of confidential and sensitive information.
     

Related Practice

  • Professional & Enterprise Disputes
  • White Collar & Enforcement