Samuel NAVINDRAN is a Partner in the Specialist & Private Client Disputes Practice and the White Collar & Enforcement Practice.

His main areas of practice include court litigation and arbitration in cutting-edge and complex commercial and corporate disputes, and white-collar criminal defence work. 

As part of his extensive commercial dispute experience, Samuel has acted and advised in class-action suits with cross-border and multi-jurisdictional elements, the contested liquidations of major commercial entities, and construction disputes in large-scale commercial projects.

Samuel also has specialised experience in white-collar criminal litigation and investigations, and regularly acts for individuals facing investigations and charges in respect of allegations of corruption, Securities & Futures Act breaches, cheating and money laundering. Samuel’s experience in white-collar criminal matters also includes the representation of individuals facing the threat of extradition to foreign countries, and cross-border investigations involving individuals and commercial entities outside of Singapore.

In the course of his practice, Samuel has appeared at all levels of the Singapore Courts, including before the Singapore International Commercial Court.

Samuel is a member in the Law Society’s Civil & Criminal Practice Standing Committees, and also provides pro bono representation to individuals under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. 

Samuel graduated from the National University of Singapore, appearing on the Dean’s List in his final academic year. Samuel is admitted to the Singapore Bar.
 

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

  • Terraform Labs Pte. Ltd. and Luna Foundation Guard in representative action litigation in Singapore, following the multi-billion-dollar collapse of the Terra stablecoin ecosystem in 2022. WongPartnership acted for both entities in proceedings before the Singapore International Commercial Court, successfully resisting the majority of claims brought by over 350 claimants in Singapore’s first large-scale representative action involving cryptocurrencies. The firm continues to act in related trial and appellate proceedings.
  • The Managing Director of an SGX-listed civil and building construction company in connection with CPIB investigations arising from charges brought against former Cabinet Minister S. Iswaran. The Attorney-General’s Chambers subsequently announced that no charges would be brought against the Managing Director.
  • A former President and Executive Director of a Singapore state-owned company in relation to Brazil’s ‘Operation Carwash’ investigations. The allegations concerned an alleged conspiracy to corruptly give approximately US$44 million to a Brazilian agent and consultant for the benefit of political figures in Brazil.
  • The Chairman of a Dispute Resolution Committee appointed by debenture noteholders in contested winding-up proceedings against Laguna National Golf and Country Club Ltd., the issuer of over S$70 million in unsecured notes. In granting the winding-up, the Singapore courts for the first time considered the operation of ‘no-action clauses’ and accepted that there may be circumstances in which such clauses can be circumvented.
  • A former director of a leading civil and building construction company in a trial exceeding 40 days, securing an acquittal on bribery charges relating to loans totalling over S$300,000 allegedly made to a senior Land Transport Authority official. WongPartnership continues to act in the Prosecution’s appeal.
  • The CEO of a company in connection with international investigations and sanctions, following charges brought by the United States Department of Justice against various other persons alleged to have been involved in cyber-fraud and money laundering activities.


Related Practices

  • Specialist & Private Client Disputes
  • White Collar & Enforcement
  • Co-author in IFC Review’s "Singapore: Tightening Scrutiny Of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs)" (2024)
  • Co-author in IFC Review’s "Knowing What You Don’t: Navigating ESG-Adjacent Liabilities As A Trustee" (2023)
  • Contributing author in "Contemporary Issues in Mediation (Volume 5)" (2021)

       

Contact Details

Qualifications

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

Singapore Bar

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