Nicholas is a commercial disputes lawyer. He is the founder of Breakpoint LLC, a Singapore disputes-only boutique. 

 

Nicholas began his legal career as a law clerk to the Judges of the Supreme Court under the prestigious Justices’ Law Clerk programme. He was then appointed to the position of assistant registrar of the Supreme Court. As a JLC, Nicholas worked closely with the Judges of the High Court and Court of Appeal on a wide range of civil and criminal cases. As assistant registrar, Nicholas adjudicated numerous interlocutory applications, mainly of a commercial nature. 

 

Between his time with the Supreme Court and founding Breakpoint, Nicholas practised at Drew & Napier where he rose to the position of Associate Director. Since its founding in 2018, Breakpoint has grown from strength to strength and now counts international banks, global MNCs, listed companies from around the world, state-owned enterprises, international law firms, and high net worth individuals and families as its clients. 

 

Nicholas is instructed primarily in disputes of a commercial nature, including in the areas of banking, joint venture, shareholder, construction and trust and property, many involving cross-border elements foreign legal systems. He has appeared as lead counsel at all levels of the Singapore court system, including in the Court of Appeal. In international arbitration, he has acted as counsel and arbitrator. Nicholas also regularly undertakes probono criminal and civil legal work for the underprivileged. 

 

Nicholas publishes regularly in Singapore and international journals. His works have been cited by the Singapore Courts and commentators around the world. Nicholas is one of the authors of Singapore’s first comprehensive textbook on international commercial arbitration. Nicholas also previously taught conflict of laws and commercial arbitration, among other subjects.as an adjunct faculty member in the Singapore Management University. 

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REPRESENTATIVE SELECTION OF MATTERS AS COUNSEL

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• Successfully secured a discharge amounting to acquittal for a foreign worker in a prosecution by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower. 

• Acting for a major Korean entertainment conglomerate in two Singapore High Court matters in a multi-jurisdictional dispute involving claims in New York, South Korea, BVI, Hong Kong and Singapore.  

• Acting for a listed Malaysian construction company in a multi-million dollar claim against a Brunei GLC in an SIAC arbitration. 

• Acting for MUIS, a statutory board, in a judicial review application in the Singapore High Court. 

• Acting for investors and creditors in the liquidation of the billion-dollar Envy group of companies. 

• Successfully acted for a US construction firm in resisting setting aside of an arbitral award in the Singapore High Court by a South Korean construction conglomerate. 

• Successfully acted for a major regional real estate firm in a complex easement dispute involving multiple shophouses in Singapore. 

• Acted for a China SOE against a Saudi Arabian conglomerate in an SIAC arbitration in relation to the construction of the Maldives Airport. 

• Successfully defended a management and consulting company in the Singapore High Court against a S$2.8 billion claim for dishonest assistance and knowing receipt. The claim relates to a high-profile mass departure of more than 200 insurances agents from a leading insurer in Singapore.

• Successfully acted for shareholders of a Singapore-listed environment technology company against the management of the company in a dispute in the Singapore High Court. 

• Advising a billion-dollar US-based private equity fund on several investments in the region. 

• Acting for and advising the subsidiary of a major European brewery on disputes with a former employee and nominee director.  

• Successfully acted for a prominent Singapore cryptocurrency trading house against a customer in a multi-jurisdictional SIAC arbitration that involves a foreign government and allegations of money-laundering and use of criminal proceeds. Acting for the same client in concurrently interpleader proceedings in the Singapore High Court. 

• Acting for a real estate and property management arm of a major Hong Kong listed company in the Singapore High Court in relation to a dispute over a row of shophouses in Singapore. 

• Advised the subsidiary of a major European brewery in relation to allegations by the minority shareholders of oppression and breach of shareholders’ agreement.  

• Successfully acted for the minority shareholders of a large family-owned company in an oppression claim against the majority shareholders, securing payout in excess of S$60m. 

• Advised a major Chinese conglomerate in relation to the purchase of shares in a restructured entity in Singapore from a major international bank.  

• Advised a Malaysian property developer in the enforcement of a MYR233m arbitral award in Malaysia against a state government.  

• Acted for private equity investors of a diode manufacturer claiming in the Singapore Court of Appeal in relation to US$40m dispute over a convertible bond subscription agreement.

• Successfully acted for a global private equity fund in resisting an injunction claim and obtaining a stay of Court proceedings in favour of SIAC arbitration. The underlying dispute concerns financing with a Vietnamese entity in a Vietnamese pharmaceutical.   

• Acted for a US multinational oil and gas company in an SIAC arbitration against a Singapore government-linked company seeking US$38.5m in damages for breach of a shareholder agreement and procured a favourable settlement. 

• Acted for a minority shareholder in a S$20m dispute over a property development joint venture involving allegations of breach of director’s duties and shareholder oppression. 

• Advised a major international bank in a US$40m dispute over a letter of credit involving another major international bank and a Russian oil major.

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SELECTED PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND APPOINTMENTS

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• Independent Director, Tiong Woon Corporation Holding Ltd, a member of the Singapore Stock Exchange

• Committee Member, Reform of Legal Costs in Singapore (Supreme Court and State Courts)

• Committee Member, ASEAN Law Association

• Co-Director, Young ICCA Editorial Team

• Committee Member, Young SIAC

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EDUCATION

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Nicholas obtained his LL.B. from the Singapore Management University in 2011, graduating summa cum laude with a near perfect GPA which placed him in the top 5% in his cohort.  He was on the dean’s list every year, and was also awarded a university scholarship for his all-rounded performance. He was a two-time winner of the best research paper award, champion of two university-wide mooting competitions, and twice represented the university in the Vis international arbitration moot competitions. Nicholas was also the first law student to represent the university in an international business case consulting competition in Montreal. An avid tennis player, Nicholas was a principal member of the university’s tennis team that scored numerous achievements locally and internationally.