The practice of law is not a business, it is a calling.
Nicholas Narayanan
PartnerAbout Nicholas
With 20 years of experience, Nicholas has garnered a great reputation for himself, having represented the likes of CAO ex-CEO Mr Chen Jiulin and former MP Lew Syn Pau.
Nicholas graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree from Wolverhampton University, United Kingdom in 1996. He was admitted as a Barrister-at-Law, Inner Temple in 1997 and called to the Singapore Bar as an Advocate and Solicitor in 1999.
Nicholas has more than 20 years of experience in the legal arena. After completing his pupilage at Allen & Gledhill (now Allen & Gledhill LLP) in 1998, he practised with various law firms, including niche practice J Koh & Co and specialist maritime and insurance firm Ang & Partners. Prior to starting his own practice Nicholas & Co in 2007, he was a Principal in the litigation and arbitration chambers of Michael Hwang, S.C.
Area of Practice
Apart from general commercial practice as an advocate and solicitor (both advisory and contentious) and his arbitration practice, Nicholas has made a name for himself as a specialist litigator in the field of commercial crime and shareholder disputes. He is described by The Business Times as a “young corporate litigator” who “has made quite a name for himself defending some big corporate crime cases”. Nicholas was involved in several high profile “white collar” criminal cases which attracted widespread media interest and intense public scrutiny. Nicholas has acted for one of the former church leaders of the City Harvest Church in one of the longest criminal trials in Singapore. Another case was when Nicholas defended the former Chief Executive Officer of a public company listed on the Singapore stock exchange against criminal charges brought under the Securities and Futures Act, the Companies Act and the Penal Code in relation to losses amounting to US$550 million arising from oil options, futures and derivative trading undertaken by the company. This case was the biggest commercial crime case in Singapore since the collapse of British merchant bank Barings in 1995. Nicholas also successfully acted for a former Member of Parliament in relation to charges brought for alleged breaches of the Companies Act, a case which involved a question of law of unusual difficulty and which resulted in a landmark High Court judgment.
Nicholas has also been involved in several contentious and high profile boardroom and shareholder disputes. In addition to the area of shareholder disputes, Nicholas advises on a variety of company law issues including directors’ duties. He also has particular expertise in minority oppression actions.
Contact Information
O: +65 6224 7275
E: nicholas@nicholasandtan.com
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Appointments / Memberships
Nicholas is a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is also a Commissioner for Oaths.
Publications / Conferences
Co-author, “Arbitration in Singapore 2007” in the Asia-Pacific Arbitration Review 2008 (Global Arbitration Review
Experience
Some of the clients Nicholas has represented and advised include:
- A Managing Director of a Singapore public listed company in relation to a multi-million dollar claim involving conspiracy, deceit and unjust enrichment;
- A widow in a multi-million dollar claim brought by her step-children in the Singapore High Court to nullify the marriage with her deceased husband;
- An Indonesian hotel owner in an SIAC arbitration commenced by an Europe-based hotel management company in relation to allegations of breach of a hotel management agreement governed by Indonesian law;
- Two Europe-based water and environmental consultancy companies in relation to certain technical studies done in connection with land reclamation works in Jurong Island and the Tuas View Extension;
- An international industrial coatings manufacturer in relation to a multi-million dollar claim brought against them by a contractor for allegedly defective paint;
- A major Indonesian palm oil company in the Singapore Court of Appeal in relation to a contractual dispute with the state investment arm of the British government involving issues of a quistclose trust and breach of contract (one of the first cases where the concept of a quistclose trust was considered by the Court of Appeal);
- A contractor in the Singapore High Court against the Pakistan government in relation to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a barge-mounted electric power plant in Karachi;
- A Singapore public listed company in a multi-million dollar construction dispute under an ad-hoc arbitration by contract in relation to foundation and piling works for a major expressway; and
- A Singapore public listed company and its Chief Executive Officer in the Singapore Court of Appeal in relation to a claim by a former executive for wrongful termination and defamation.
Notable Reported Judgments