Singapore

Dispute resolution has long been a cornerstone of BR Law Corporation, and the practice continues to form the backbone of the firm’s work across commercial, family and private client disputes. With a history spanning more than four decades, the firm is known for handling complex and often sensitive contentious matters with a pragmatic, litigation‑focused approach, advising corporates, family‑owned businesses, high‑net‑worth individuals and private clients across a wide range of disputes in Singapore and beyond.

The firm’s dispute resolution group covers civil and commercial litigation, arbitration, injunction proceedings, probate and trust disputes, as well as family and matrimonial matters. On the commercial side, the team regularly acts in shareholder and corporate governance disputes, contractual and property‑related litigation, employment disputes and breach of trust claims. These matters frequently involve closely held companies and family‑run enterprises, where legal issues intersect with personal relationships and long‑term commercial considerations. The firm is noted for its ability to manage both the legal complexity and the practical sensitivities of such disputes, often advising clients on strategic options at an early stage to avoid unnecessary escalation where possible.

Family and matrimonial disputes remain a defining strength of the firm, with a significant caseload involving high‑value and cross‑border matters. The lawyers are active in contested divorce proceedings, ancillary matters involving substantial matrimonial asset pools, custody and relocation disputes, and complex estate and probate litigation. In a recent matter, the firm acted in a cross‑border divorce and child custody dispute involving proceedings in both Singapore and Thailand, where the court ultimately ordered the return of a child to Thailand and awarded sole care and control to the father. In another highlight, the firm acted in multiple urgent applications to vary divorce orders in circumstances where a respondent had gone missing, navigating procedural hurdles under the Rules of Court 2021 to protect the client’s interests and prevent the involuntary acquisition of a matrimonial flat by the authorities.

The lawyers have also been involved in several high‑value matrimonial ancillary proceedings involving ultra‑high‑net‑worth individuals, with disputed asset pools extending into the tens of millions of Singapore dollars and encompassing interests in privately held companies. These matters often require parallel civil proceedings to safeguard business and shareholder rights pending resolution of matrimonial issues, including the successful pursuit of urgent interim injunctions to prevent the removal of a spouse as director of family‑owned companies.

Estate and trust disputes form another significant strand of work. The team regularly advises beneficiaries and administrators in contested estate matters involving allegations of misappropriation, breaches of fiduciary duties and failures to account. Recent instructions include acting for beneficiaries in cross‑border estate disputes involving assets and trusts spanning Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China and the British Virgin Islands, raising complex issues of succession, trust law and jurisdictional overlap. The team has also acted pro bono for minor beneficiaries in estate matters, successfully resolving disputes through negotiated settlement while navigating highly acrimonious relationships between the parties and significant informational asymmetries.

The dispute resolution group is led by a senior, partner‑driven team. Senior director Foo Soon Yien is a central figure in the firm’s litigation and family practice, bringing nearly four decades of experience across civil, commercial, probate, trust and matrimonial disputes. She is frequently instructed in complex, precedent‑sensitive matters and remains actively involved in both trial and appellate advocacy. She is supported by Director Daniel Loh, director, who plays a key role in the firm’s family and matrimonial litigation, and Associate Director Luke Lee, who is increasingly involved in high‑value ancillary proceedings and commercial disputes involving family‑owned assets.

Client feedback

“They are very informative and advised me of the steps until I finally successfully acquired the immovable property.”

Daniel Loh

“Knowledgeable and approachable.”