Joel CHNG is a Partner in the Restructuring & Insolvency and Special Situations Advisory Practices. He is also concurrently the Chief Representative of the firm’s Shanghai Representative Office.

His main areas of practice are litigation and arbitration, involving banking and commercial transactions, corporate and shareholder disputes, restructuring and insolvency. On the restructuring and insolvency front, Joel acts for corporate debtors, turnaround professionals and investors.

Joel was placed on the Supreme Court's Young Amicus Curiae 2013 list and was appointed amicus curiae in Kee Lek Choan v PP (MA No. 8 of 2014) and Mohammed Ibrahim s/o Hamzah v PP ([2015] 1 SLR 1081) (where a three-Judge coram of the High Court commended him for having provided "invaluable assistance").

Joel is also active in various other programmes and organisations. These include: 

  • Being one of the trial-advocacy facilitators for the preparatory course of the Singapore Bar Examinations run by the Singapore Institute of Legal Education, and a tutor for the trial advocacy module at National University of Singapore Faculty of Law.
  • Volunteering with the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. Reported matters in this regard include PP v Haliffie Bin Mamat [2015] SGHC 224 (where the High Court commended the defence for being "well-prepared and thorough in presenting the defence") and Haliffie Bin Mamat v PP [2016] 5 SLR 636. 
  • Contributing to the 2025 edition of Singapore Civil Procedure. 
  • Being a Fellow of IPAS, a member of the Young Insolvency Practitioners Committee 2025 of IPAS, and a member of the Law Society of Singapore’s Insolvency Practice Committee 2025. 

Joel graduated from the National University of Singapore on the overall Dean's List and was awarded the Peter English Memorial Prize for being the best student in Criminal Law, and the Law Society Book Prize. Joel is admitted to the Singapore Bar.
 

Matters of significance in which Joel has been involved in include advising / acting for the following:

  • The judicial managers of Xihe Holdings in the restructuring of the Xihe Holdings group of companies.
  • EMAS Chiyoda Subsea Limited and its subsidiaries on their cross-border restructuring of debt in excess of S$1 billion.
  • Dasin Retail Trust Management Ptd Ltd, the Trustee-Manager of Dasin Retail Trust (a SGX-listed business trust), in respect of a hostile winding-up application made against it. 
  • Takashimaya Singapore Ltd in its dispute with Ngee Ann Development Pte Ltd over the proper construction of the parties' agreement for rent review.
  • A leading food import service provider in China against an European supplier of sheep whey powder in an SIAC arbitration, in respect of disputes arising out of an international sale of goods contract.
  • The court-appointed receivers and managers of Airtrust (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. which is in the business of oil and gas logistics services, oil well maintenance, steel fabrication and construction, in various proceedings involving allegations of breaches of directors' duties, transnational fraud, money laundering and tax evasion in the region of S$100 million.

Related Practices

  • China
  • Restructuring & Insolvency
  • Special Situations Advisory

Chambers Asia-Pacific – Asia-Pacific's Leading Lawyers for Business

  • Restructuring and Insolvency – Singapore: Up and Coming

"He's technically competent and able to provide a range of scenarios with ensuing costs and benefits."

"Joel's problem-solving finesse reflects a discerning elegance, where meticulous attention to detail converges with a forward-thinking mindset."

The Legal 500: Asia Pacific – The Client’s Guide to the Asia Pacific Legal Profession

"Extremely user friendly and consistently on point in his legal advice."

"Joel Chng is an outstanding lawyer. His analytical ability and years of experience enable him to provide thoughtful, thorough, and practical legal advice."

IFLR1000: Financial & Corporate – The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms

  • Restructuring and Insolvency – Singapore: Notable Practitioner

"Has the expertise in handling regulatory issues and dealing with authorities, sales and purchase agreements, term sheets, and handling creditor groups."

"Good lawyer; provides innovative solutions and is client focused."

"Very approachable and an effective communicator. Displays tactical acumen - ability to think and advise over and above just the legal issues. Ability to not only look at the strategic picture but also is comfortable across the day-to-day details."

Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific

  • Singapore: Future Star
  • Asia-Pacific: Top 40 lawyers under the age of 40

asialaw – The definitive guide to Asia's Leading Law Firms and Lawyers

  • Restructuring and Insolvency – Singapore: Notable Practitioner
  • asialaw awards – Singapore: Lawyer of the Year 

Best Lawyers

  • Recognised in Insolvency and Reorganization Law – Singapore

Contact Details

Qualifications

National University of Singapore (LL.B. Hons.)

Singapore Bar

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