Sim Puay Jain Edwin

Director

As a partner in Alban Tay Mahtani & de Silva in his 8th year of practice, Edwin decided to embrace the challenge of starting his own firm. In 2004, he co-founded Lexton Law Corporation. 20 years later, after building a successful litigation practice, he embarked on a new journey as a Director with Covenant Chambers.

Edwin’s practice is varied. With over two and a half decades of experience handling a variety of commercial and civil disputes, his versatility as an advocate is reflected in the diverse matters he handles, ranging from personal injury claims to building and construction matters (including SOPA claims), as well as complex trust disputes. As lead counsel, he has conducted many trials in the State Courts and High Court and has led successful appeals in the Appellate Division of the High Court, as well as in arbitration disputes.

Edwin’s practice areas also include non-contentious work where he provides advice on general corporate matters, employment-related issues, LPAs, wills and probate work. Edwin has been retained as counsel by a number of corporate organisations and has held directorships and board member roles in companies, associations, NGOs and MCST councils. He has completed the Listed Entity Director (LED1) Programme and is a member of the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID). He was a former board member of CHARIS (Caritas Humanitarian Aid and Relief Initiatives (Singapore) Ltd). He is the Hon. Sec of The Singapore Teochew Sim Clan Association.

As a senior advocacy trainer with the Law Society of Singapore’s Advocacy Committee, Edwin has been conducting advocacy training in Singapore for over ten years. He has also been to train advocates overseas. He is a senior trainer in the Medical Expert Witness Training course jointly conducted with the Singapore Medical Association. Edwin is a graduate of the Advanced Trial Advocacy course, conducted by the Australian Bar Association.

Edwin understands that it is often in the client’s best interest to resolve a dispute amicably. Whether it is preserving the harmony of relationships, helping the client to achieve closure, obtaining certainty or managing a disadvantageous financial situation, mediation is the key process to these outcomes. Edwin has successfully resolved many conflicts through mediation both as counsel and as a mediator. He is an accredited mediator with the Singapore International Mediation Institute and is appointed on the panel of the Law Society Mediation Scheme. He volunteers also as a Community Mediator appointed by the Ministry of Law’s Community Mediation Centre.

Besides a full-time practice, Edwin has been a volunteer with the Law Society’s pro-bono legal clinic for the past 25 years. Having been the past Chairperson of the Law Awareness Committee and past Chairperson of Law Awareness Week, he is acutely aware that there are many people who seek and need access to justice. He has contributed to public talks, video campaigns and clinics with the Law Society. He continues to volunteer with the Catholic Lawyers Guild and legal clinic at Church of Christ The King.

Sample Cases

Commercial Disputes and Trusts

• Most recently successfully represented a group of siblings in the High Court involving express and common intention trust issues with quantum in excess of $20m. Succeeding at trial in establishing his clients’ case on an express trust. The Appellate Division of the High Court affirmed the decision below. Reported in Ho Soo Tong & Ors v Ho Soo Fong and Ors [2023] SGHC 90.

• Acting as counsel in the State Courts in regard to breach of an IT contract and failure to produce the mobile app and other related services by the defendant IT company, obtaining damages and costs amounting to nearly $200,000.

• Acting as supervising solicitor in an Anton Pillar Search Order in a High Court matter in 2022 involving a claim and recovery of monies paid pursuant to sale agreements in excess of US$26m.

• Acted as lead counsel in a High Court matter in 2019 involving employment disputes and other restrictive covenants which included acting as defence counsel in an Anton Pillar Search Order and the subsequent setting aside application.

• Reported decision of SGDC 17 MCST 901 v Zhuge Liang Restaurant Pte Ltd [2017] acting as counsel against an MCST for breach of agreement to license a common area for use.

• Acted as counsel in a High Court family trust dispute involving quantum in excess of S$200m with interlocutory appeals to the Court of Appeal, reported in in Tan Chin Hoon & Others v Tan Choo Suan & Others [2010] SGHC 340 and in Tan Chin Hoon & Others v Tan Choo Suan (in her personal capacity and as executrix) & Others [2015] SGHC 306.

• Acted as lead counsel in successfully defending a Singapore Enterprise50 company in a High Court litigation suit by a French MNC, involving breach of confidentiality, trade secrets and intellectual property rights.

Property-related matters

• Acting in matter relating to property boundary dispute, reported in Fragrance Realty Pte Ltd v Rangoon Investment Pte Ltd and Others [2013] 2 SLR 1007.

• Acted as counsel in High Court dispute over licences to occupy and tenancy disputes, reported in Abundance Development Pte Ltd v Absolut Events and Marketing Pte Ltd [2009] SGHC 198.

• Continues to advise several notable Singapore property management companies in respect of landlord/tenancy and MCST matters, including drafting of tenancy agreements, institution of claims and writs of distress.

• Advised and acted for a listed Australian property firm in respect of landlord/tenancy matters at a large shopping/commercial property in Singapore.

Construction & Engineering

• Acted as counsel in numerous claims under the Security of Payment Act both for main contractors as well as sub-contractors.

• Counsel for a listed Singapore construction company in various contentious matters including SOPA claims.

• Advised a French MNC in 2002 over a dispute involving the construction of wafer fabrication plant in Singapore. Estimated quantum in dispute exceeds US$3.5m.

• Advised and acted for a Singapore company in 2001 in an arbitration dispute with its main contractor, involving the construction of an automobile display-cum-marketing building. Estimated quantum in dispute exceeded S$7m.

• Advised and acted for a Singaporean company in an arbitration dispute with its employers, involving the construction of buildings and laying of pipe-lines at Jurong Island. Estimated quantum in dispute exceeded S$5m.

• Advised and acted for a Singaporean main contractor (part of a listed group) in an arbitration dispute with their sub-contractors involving disputes over numerous projects in and around Singapore.

Corporate, Commercial & Financial

• Acted as counsel in a number of High Court disputes over alleged breach of fiduciary duties as directors.

• Advising and acting for vendors in a sale and purchase of shares by a Singapore-listed company.

• Counsel for a major household/lifestyle retailer in Singapore with multiple retail stores around Australia and Southeast Asia.

• Counsel for a Japanese multi-national water chemical company in their non-contentious corporate matters.

• Counsel for a major Finnish elevator company in respect of various general corporate and commercial in both contentious and non-contentious matters involving matters under the Competition Act, as well as advising on bid for specialized subcontract works to Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort.

• Advised and acted for two Malaysian banks in respect of their commercial disputes with borrowers.

Other Notable Projects & Cases

• Reported decision of [2023] SGHC 287 Re Lim Keng Teck, acting as counsel for an un-discharged bankrupt in a review of his monthly contribution to the Official Assignee and successfully reducing the monthly contribution by more than 50%.

• Advised and acted for the Hong Kong Department of Justice in a matter involving the obtaining of witness evidence in Singapore.

• Advised and acted for a Singapore regulatory board in competition-related matters.