Full Profile
Sandra specialises in disputes management and resolution, with particular focus on civil and commercial issues, construction, infrastructure and energy projects sectors. She is a mediator with the Singapore Mediation Centre, and is recognised for her work in Construction as a Litigation Star in Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific.
Her disputes experience covers all levels of the Singapore courts, local and international arbitration (both ad hoc and under major institutional rules) and mediation. As part of her extensive general practice, she has handled a wide-ranging portfolio of cases including employment, supply chain, joint ventures and investments, insolvency, directors, shareholders and other corporate disputes.
Sandra advises on both front-end and live-project matters, including drafting and negotiations of bespoke or standard contracts (such as the Public Service Sector Conditions of Contract, Singapore Institute of Architects Conditions of Contract, REDAS Design and Building Conditions of Contract, and FIDIC forms). She covers the full project lifespan including tender, disputes management and avoidance, compliance, mitigation and claim strategies, commissioning and post-completion maintenance, servicing and tenancy issues.
Her diverse clientele includes government authorities, consultants, owners and developers, management corporations, contractors, manufacturers and suppliers, landlord and tenants, across international and local markets. Clients have commended Sandra as having “unrivalled aptitude for the law, legal method of inquiry, and full-spectrum creative approach to achieving the objectives of her client”, noting her “strong technical knowledge” and ability to deliver advice that is “practical and strategic without compromising on integrity”, her deep understanding of clients’ businesses and her commitment to taking “a personal stake in working through solutions”.
Experience
Contentious:
- Advised international offshore wind contractors and joint ventures on high value disputes arising from Taiwanese offshore wind farms.
- Acted on cross border renewable energy disputes involving offshore wind and solar projects, including the integration of arbitration strategy with related Singapore court proceedings for interim relief.
- Advised a major international geotechnical and ground improvement contractor on disputes arising from tunnelling and underground transport works forming part of a national rail infrastructure project in Singapore.
- Acted for a multinational engineering contractor in an ICC arbitration and Court of Appeal proceedings involving disputes over works done for the Trans Thailand Malaysia Project Gas Onshore Pipeline System.
- Acted for a multinational contractor in a SIAC arbitration involving variation and delay claims arising from HVAC ducting and architectural installation works for the Greater Ekofisk Area’s new accommodation modules.
- Acted for an Indian company against a Singapore contractor in a SIArb arbitration involving the design and construction of water and waste-water treatment systems for power plants in Vietnam.
- Advised an EPC contractor on disputes arising out of an engineering and instrumentation contract for a hazardous waste treatment facility project in Singapore.
- Acted for a Korean contractor against design consultants in an ICC arbitration for a claim of USD 39 million involving disputes over the engineering design liability for the Taiwan Highspeed Railway.
- Advised a M&E engineering company on issues arising from its electrical works contract worth approx. S$187 million for a data centre project in Singapore.
- Acted for a top Singapore educational institution in an SIAC arbitration, involving disputes arising from the laying of optic fibre cable network and flooding of its data centre.
- Acted for a domestic subcontractor against the nominated subcontractor involving disputes worth approx. S$10 million relating to ACMV and electrical installation works for a hospital development in Singapore.
- Acted for a subcontractor in a SIAC arbitration, involving defects and delay claims arising from basement and reinforced concrete works for a maximum-security storage facility project in Singapore.
- Defended a construction machinery and equipment supplier from the liquidator’s application to void alleged transactions or claim payment on alleged sales invoices issued by a company in Singapore.
- Defended Mareva injunction and Anton Piller orders obtained by a marine logistics company against 8 defendants in court proceedings involving shareholders’ disputes and alleged breaches of fiduciary duties.
- Defended the managing director of a foundation piling company in court proceedings, involving allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation and conspiracy.
- Advised a management corporation for a commercial development in Singapore on disputes arising from an exclusive concession agreement for the supply of LPG.
- Acted for employers and employees in employment matters, including an international group of companies against its regional sales director who joined a competitor; an international relocation company against its senior vice president in relation to redundancy; a head of marketing against an international bank to defend internal show cause proceedings and negotiate resignation; a global chief technology officer against a luxury resort in relation to termination; a commodities broker to manage resignation and transition to competitor.
Non-Contentious:
- Acted for regional and international clients on data centre developments and mission critical facilities across Asia Pacific, providing cradle to grave advisory support on market entry set-up, disputes and contract risk management.
- Advised contractors and developers on industrial, logistics and mixed use developments in Singapore, including high value D&B projects under both standard and heavily bespoke contract forms.
- Acted for an international lift and elevator group on issues and transactions in their operations and projects including contracts review, debt recovery management, data protection, employment, risks and compliance.
- Advised a Singapore investment company on its joint venture for a Build-Operate-Transfer development agreement for a resort project in Korea.
- Acted for a Singapore petroleum company, in the advising and drafting of a design and build contract worth approx. S$23 million for an offshore supply base project.
- Acted for an international consultancy firm, in the advising and drafting of an interior design consultancy agreement for an international hotel and casino complex project in Macau.
