Arvin’s dispute resolution practice relates to Southeast Asia and Greater China, and he has honed practical instincts to getting results across jurisdictions. 

Arvin is an early advocate of third party funding, maintains good working relationships with various third party funders through fair assessments, and works with claimant clients to obtain such funding for international commercial arbitrations that reduces their financial exposure and sends a strong signal about the merits of their claim(s). 

Arvin speaks English and Chinese (both native), and rudimentary conversational Arabic.

His professional highlights (includes experience from previous firms, denoted by *): 

Energy and Energy-Related Disputes

 Oil and Gas 

• Lead counsel for an Australian upstream oil and gas company in its dispute against floating production services provider including an SIAC arbitration in relation to a US$7M parent company guarantee, and another SIAC arbitration (including preliminary Emergency Arbitration) in relation to a charterparty with amount in dispute (claims and counterclaims) in excess of US$10 million.
• Lead counsel for an established Taiwan petrochemical trader against a major global oil major in relation to a sale and purchase dispute in excess of US$6 million in two consolidated SIAC arbitrations.
• Acting for the Japanese subsidiary of a major Indonesian oil and gas company in relation to LC claims in excess of US$23 million against a major international bank before the High Court of Singapore.
• Acted for an Indian conglomerate in relation to an oil rig construction dispute before the Singapore International Commercial Court. * 

Renewable Energy 

• Lead counsel for a Southeast Asian wind power developer in its project finance claims against private equity investor in an SIAC arbitration, where total amount in dispute is in excess of US$20 million.
• Lead counsel for a Southeast Asian wind power developer in relation to attempts by private equity investor to exercise conversion rights to take over control of the developer at project level pursuant to an accelerated repayment provision. * 

China-Related Work 

• Lead counsel for a Singapore listed ship supply company in relation to a trademark licensing dispute against 2 PRC parties. Successfully ran an SIAC Expedited arbitration and obtained an award for all orders sought (pertaining to specific performance) and costs in full. This award was enforced by the Dalian Intermediate Court with finality. The client testimonial was in these terms: “…showed great strategic foresight in anticipating the moves of the counterparties…” *
• Lead counsel for a global Chinese company to effect the termination of 2 of its most senior APAC executives. This matter promised to be considerably contentious, but we secured compliance by the two executives with all demands by clients within 2 weeks, obviating the need for use of significant management time. 

Private Equity-Related Work 

• Acted for Shanghai Decent Co. Ltd to for deal negotiation advice in relation to a US$50 million private equity injection by the China ASEAN Fund into PT Sulawesi Mining Investama, an Indonesian company that holds Indonesia’s largest iron-nickel project and which is part-owned by the Shanghai Decent group. *
• Lead counsel for a major Southeast Asian private equity company in relation to various disputes arising from and in relation to a shareholders’ agreement where amount in dispute exceeds US$50 million. 

Arbitral Award Setting Aside 

• Acted for BVI-registered upstream oil and gas companies to set aside an arbitral award in favour of major PRC oil and gas companies before the Singapore High Court.
• Acted for a major Korean automotive parts manufacturer to set aside an arbitral award in favour of a major US automotive parts manufacturer before the Singapore High Court. * 

Third Party Funding Work 

• Advised a major third party funder in relation to a professional liability claim in excess of US$100 million governed by Singapore law to enable the funder to make its assessment on buying over the claim.

Arvin has also been recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 Influential Singapore Lawyers (Singapore Business Review) in 2015.