Lijun Chui

I am a partner in the Singapore Dispute Resolution team, specialising in commercial dispute resolution, and contentious regulatory and investigation matters.

I am a Singapore and English qualified lawyer who handles a broad range of complex commercial litigation and arbitration, specialising in cross-border disputes involving parties from different countries. I also advise on contentious regulatory issues, including data privacy, competition, market misconduct and corruption legislation.

I believe that it is important to combine legal proficiency with a practical approach to secure the best commercial outcome. Effective and strategic use of dispute resolution processes can significantly reduce an organisation's business risks. Early and careful management of an investigation can minimise regulatory risks. I advise clients in a broad range of sectors including: banking and FS, financial investors, telecommunications, information technology, consumer goods, energy, oil & gas, and shipping & maritime, healthcare, logistics, infrastructure & mining, entertainment & media, aircraft leasing, and leisure & travel.

Prior to joining Bird & Bird in 2020, I spearheaded the Singapore Tech Dispute & Regulatory practice at a Magic Circle firm which was developed to a sizeable practice, ranging from tech disputes and investigations to advising on cyber crisis handling and data privacy.

Technology, like law, can bring about huge benefits when responsibly deployed.

I have been appointed to panels of arbitrators at various leading arbitral institutions, including the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), where I serve on the Young SIAC Committee and Users' Council.

I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a mediator accredited by the Singapore Mediation Centre. I serve on the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, and Data and Cybersecurity Committees of the Singapore Law Society, where I also serve as a member of its Inquiry Panel.

• SIAC Arbitration on behalf of several PE funds – I acted for foreign and domestic PE funds in three consolidated SIAC arbitrations relating to an investment worth more than US$800 million in an Indian infrastructure company. Issues raised include foreign capital restrictions, and the legality of exit mechanism in the jurisdiction where the investment was made. The PE funds successfully secured their exit initial anticipated returns.
• Singapore High Court Action against errant employee – I acted for an international bank in a Singapore High Court action against an employee who perpetrated a two year fraud on the bank's customers, by transferring monies out of clients' account and executing various trades (including forex trades) without authority or knowledge of the bank's clients. The work included managing a year-long investigation into the extent of misconduct by the employees including the conduct of multiple interviews.
• ICC Arbitration on behalf of a UK-based petroleum group - I acted for the operator of an oil field in Indonesia in an ICC arbitration against joint venture partners pursuant to a Joint Operating Agreement for claims in excess of USD 40 million. Issues raised include, chargeability of certain costs to joint accounts under the Joint Operating Agreement, the quantum of such costs and how they have been accounted for in the joint accounts. A final award in favour of the clients and awarding full costs to the clients was successfully obtained. I was also the key contact point throughout the process and spearheaded the legal strategy.
• Leak of customer data by a travel and leisure company – I advised the company on an implementation error which caused customer data to be inadvertently leaked to other customers. I also led the investigations and advised the company on responses to the data privacy regulator's investigations, as well as potential action that may be taken against the company for such a leak. The matter was closed with a finding by the data privacy regulator that the company had not breached any data privacy legislation and no civil action taken against the company.