Silvester Legal LLC
Legal guides written by Silvester Legal LLC:
- The Liability of Directors for Company Insolvencies
- Mediation: Keeping disputes out of court
- Mediation: Parties get to meet early on
Yuen Law LLC is an award winning law firm that was named “Boutique Private Client Law Firm” in 2016, “Client’s Choice for Boutique Private Client Choice” and “Fast Emerging Law Firm” in 2015.
We provide a full range of legal services and specialise in providing sound, practical and cost-effective legal advice on commercial, corporate, intellectual property, and private client matters.
We are experienced in cross border and overseas transactions and have a robust network of strategic alliances throughout the world.
At the heart of the practice lies the conviction that upholding the highest ideals of the legal profession necessarily means a practice founded on the principles of arete, integrity, and professionalism. These are tenets that guide our practice as we focus on delivering prompt, accurate, and practical legal advice and services. By adopting a keen understanding and sense of our clients, we seek to actively partner with each client to meet their unique legal needs.
Yuen Law is a prominent Singapore law firm among tech startups and fintech companies, as well as multinationals looking to establish their presence here or in Asia.
Our lawyers provide companies with astute legal advice on incorporation, corporate governance and strategic matters.
Our firm is known for its transactional work in Mergers and Acquisitions and fundraising. Each year, the Corporate team advised on over 30 M&As and venture capital related deals. We also help clients mitigate risk and stay ahead of the curve.
Legal Expertise:
Yuen Law’s Corporate Practice group was recognised in three prestigious legal rankings in 2020:
Yuen Law represents individual and organisational clients on either end of a dispute or lawsuit.
For clients pursuing a claim, we will objectively assess the case and advise the best course of action: to sue, negotiate, mediate or arbitrate. For clients being sued, our lawyers will mount a robust defence and/or work towards reaching the most acceptable resolution.
Our experienced lawyers handle complex litigation cases at all levels of the Singapore courts.
We litigate for cases including shareholder disputes, construction claims, property law claims, debt recovery, medical negligence, equity and trust claims, and insurance matters.
As protracted lawsuits can entail a financial and emotional toll, we advise clients if there are more preferable solutions, such as taking the arbitration or mediation route.
Our family and private wealth lawyers advise clients on the full spectrum of legal matters an individual may be concerned with.
This spans family and matrimonial matters such as prenuptials, divorce, annulments, disputes over maintenance or custody, and adoption matters. The family and private wealth team has guided many clients to reach an amicable resolution in family dispute matters.
We advise clients on asset protection to safeguard their wealth and loved ones’ futures from potential disputes.
As more people grow aware of the importance of end-of-life planning, our experienced lawyers help clients set up “estate plans”, including drafting of wills and certification of lasting powers of attorney, setting up of trusts, and family business succession planning. We also assist families with the grant of probate/ or letters of administration applications for the administration of a deceased estate.
Yuen Law’s Family & Private Wealth Practice emerged among the most-recommended law firms in 2020 in:
Founder and Managing Director
Called to the Singapore Bar in 2001, Samuel heads our firm’s Corporate and Business Practice Group, which advises our clients on:
Prior to founding our firm in 2012, Samuel practiced in the corporate and securities law departments of a large local firm as well as local boutique law practices. Samuel also enjoyed a fruitful stint as a head of department and group legal counsel of an internationally renowned conglomerate headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Samuel had and continues to represent clients from diverse and specialized sectors that included banks, manufacturers, pharmaceuticals, medical clinics, F&B chains, defence contractors, fashion labels and manufacturers. His clientele includes large MNCs, listed companies, SMEs, Start-ups, social entrepreneurs and private individuals, notably hailing from Singapore, ASEAN, USA, India, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Russia, UK, Germany, Italy, France, South America, Morocco. Samuel does not like to kiss and tell, but will share his detailed resume personally, if requested.
Samuel is perhaps best known for being a creative thinker that provides out of the box but practical and efficient legal solutions. Samuel believes that an effective lawyer is a collaborator for growth and he prefers to work closely with his clients to meet their needs.
Samuel is the honorary legal counsel for the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore. In his spare time, Samuel volunteers with Law Society, the Guide Dogs Association of the Blind. Samuel worships at Covenant Evangelical Free Church and enjoys exploring the world. He is a proud father of a precious little girl and grateful husband to the vivacious mother of his daughter. Samuel currently stewards 4 cats (Bobby, Billy, Bruno the snowball and Hairy Barry) with his family.
Senior Director
Kevin Chua is a senior director at Yuen Law. He heads Yuen Law’s Regulatory and Compliance team under our Corporate Practice Group. Kevin has a depth and breadth of expertise in corporate and commercial law.
During his distinguished career of over 20 years in both public service and private practice, Kevin has developed a special focus on regulatory laws and compliance.
His public sector record saw him serving in the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He had a critical role in the team (secretariat) overseeing the 2003 amendments to the Companies Act, among other legislation administered by ACRA, where he held management positions in the Compliance Division and the Registration Division.
Kevin later joined MAS, and became one of its Assistant General Counsels. Advising on a spectrum of legal issues, his responsibilities centred particularly on investment agreements, commercial contracts, and government tenders.
With diverse experience in the private sector, Kevin is also steeped in on-the-ground legalities that impact to clients at every level of business – from solopreneurs and startups, to SMEs and MNCs.
He brings to the table practical counsel gleaned from stints in a Big Four law firm WongPartnership, as in-house counsel in an MNC, and as Head of Regulatory Practice in a boutique law firm, ranked in The Legal 500 for its work in financial services regulation.
Kevin has an extensive experience in payment services and digital tokens such as in cryptocurrency and blockchain services; AML/CFT (anti-money laundering / countering financing of terrorism); as well as full- suite corporate and commercial legal services with regards to mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, investment agreements, government tenders, and commercial contracts.
Director
Fung Peen is our Director and the Head of Private Wealth Practice.
Fung Peen is a veteran of the legal industry and has been in practice since 1996 during which he specialised in Private Client matters. These include matters and proceedings relating to adoption, bankruptcy, conveyancing, divorce, Mental Capacity Act, personal protection orders, personal injury, power of attorney, as well as wills and probate/administration applications. Fung Peen has accumulated substantial experience in conveyancing and conveyancing related matters such as tenancies and leases, actions for distress, recovery of rental in arrears and applications in the High Court for forced sales.
Fung Peen is also known for pioneering the successful defence of clients charged with fraudulent trading at the Court of Appeal and his work in corporate and commercial matters to debt recovery, disputes, building and construction matters, winding up, personal injuries claims, landlord and tenancy matters, employment disputes. His clients include Government Statutory Boards and well known MNCs and SMEs.
Fung Peen has guided his clients who have had brushes with the law in criminal matters to achieve a fair outcome.
The mediation process is something Fung Peen has been actively involved in since its inception in the Singapore Courts and he has successfully guided many clients to reach an amicable resolution to their law suit be it a commercial matter or a divorce.
Sharing up to-date and tailored knowledge to benefit his clients is something he also enjoys, whether it is a talk in a small group or a seminar with a larger group.
Director
Amos is our Director and the Head of Disputes Practice.
Amos graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree in 2011 and was called to the Singapore Bar in 2012. He completed his training and practised with several other medium sized firms before joining Yuen Law LLC in 2018.
Amos’s main areas of practice are civil /commercial litigation and criminal litigation. Amos has also acted for and advised clients in many other areas of law including probate, bankruptcy, and construction arbitrations/adjudication applications.
Some of the notable cases that Amos has handled include:-
Amos is also a volunteer lawyer with the Singapore Law Society’s Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS), a non-profit initiative by the Law Society of Singapore to provide assistance to the underprivileged in criminal cases, as well as a Singapore NGO that works with migrant workers.
Outside of legal practice, Amos is actively involved in sports such as football and tennis and participates in such activities on a regular basis. Amos represents the Law Society football team in the annual Bench and Bar competition. Amos also plays board games regularly.
Senior Manager (Human Resources)
Prior to joining Yuen Law LLC, Wendy served with the National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Law from 2007 to 2020 where she played a pivotal role in transforming the administration of key corporate services functions. During her tenure, she served as head of HR, Finance, Procurement and Corporate Communications, and was instrumental in the staffing and set-up of processes within each unit when the functions were decentralised. She also led the overhaul of the Alumni Relations and Development section’s operations and developed a functional workflow for student financial aid administration. At the University level, Wendy successfully implemented improvements to finance systems through business process reengineering initiatives, as co-lead of the team tasked to review Accounts Receivables processes.
Wendy’s most challenging role to date is that of “minister for home affairs” – a position that she has held for almost 2 decades. A mother of two and mother to three (including a fur-kid), she feels that being at work offers a refreshing break from her morning and night shifts juggling household chores and parental duties. Wendy’s experience in managing a diverse scope of responsibilities on both the home front and work front has gained her invaluable and in-depth working knowledge of relational, operational, and administrative matters within an organisation. She believes that employees make the organisation and subscribes to Konosuke Matsushita’s “people before products” philosophy. At Yuen Law, she aims to provide contextualised recommendations and solutions in the areas of human resources and general administration, and assist the management in effective policy formulation and strategic decision-making that will enable the organisation by first enabling the employees.
Manager(IP and Business Development)
Cheryl is our Manager (IP and Business Development).
Cheryl possesses a rare mix of artistic sensibilities, procedural know how and business acumen that will prove valuable to our clients. Cheryl received formal education in graphic design at the prestigious LaSalle College of the Arts and possesses considerable artistic flair and a keen eye for detail. She is experienced in matters relating to trade mark and design protection.
Cheryl applies her innate and considerable artistic talent in assisting our Intellectual Property Practice clients, by assisting them in positioning and optimising the strategic value and protection of their trademarks and designs through the marriage of functionality and artistry. A free spirit with a can do attitude, Cheryl cut her teeth in the business world by overseeing the planning, sourcing and operational activities of a local footwear retail and manufacturing company.
In her free time, Cheryl paints, reads, plays the piano and ukulele and is the proud owner of a Pomeranian named Lilo.
Associate Director
Angeline is our firm’s associate director.
Angeline specialises in corporate mergers and acquisitions as well as corporate financing. Her areas of work include advising clients on the mode and structure of setting up new businesses and managing projects relating to joint ventures and sale of businesses.
Angeline was last the in-house counsel for a start-up in composite engineering and research & development start-up, where she was responsible for drafting commercial agreements and advised on R&D tie-ups with academic institutes.
Prior to her in-house role, Angeline was a partner in a boutique law firm, where she advised clients in setting up new businesses and assisting MNCs in mergers and acquisitions projects. Angeline has also had experience in managing client projects relating to the public raising of funds.
Angeline has worked with a wide range of clients, from start-ups to multinationals. Being fluently bilingual in English and Chinese and attuned to Chinese culture also put her in good stead to serve Chinese companies. Additionally, she is competent in German.
Angeline has a passion for helping local and foreign companies set up new businesses in Singapore. With an eye for detail whilst being perceptive to a client’s commercial direction and purpose, she takes pride in comprehensive drafting to cater for differing scenarios and structuring legal solutions towards achieving a client’s commercial aim. Angeline looks forward to journeying alongside her clients and growing their businesses in depth and width together.
Associate Director
Kayshavani is our firm’s Associate Director (Personal Wealth).
Kayshavani graduated from Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia in 2016 and was in the top 30% of her cohort. She was admitted to the Supreme Court of Singapore as an Advocate and Solicitor in 2018. Kaysha is trained to handle Matrimonial Disputes, Adoption matters, Trust, Wills, Probate and Administration and Estate Planning. She has also assisted in matters heard in the Family Justice Courts, State Courts and the Supreme Court. As an associate, she assists with private client, family and civil matters. Kayshavani is passionate about the law and endeavours to find practical and innovative solutions to meet the individual needs and circumstances of each case.
She is also able to converse in Mandarin and Tamil. In her free time, Kayshavani can be found volunteering at a children’s home or exploring the latest food trends.
Manager (Private Client)
Serene is our Manager (Private Client).
Serene is a veteran of the conveyancing practice, with more than 30 years’ experience. Serene has variously been a member of the conveyancing practices of various large and medium sized Singapore law practices and has over the years gained a vast wealth of know-how in property transactions and documentation work.
A highly organised person, Serene is quietly effective and an indispensable asset in any property transaction. Her vast experience allows her to anticipate and pre-empt potential problems in each transaction. Serene excels particularly in supporting sale and purchase, redemption, refinancing and mortgage transactions.
In her free time, Serene ushers at her local church and serves with its local chapter of the Women’s Society of Christian Service. Serene also plays the ukulele as a member of a bluegrass band. Serene is a proud mother of 2 lovely young adults Cassandra and Ericson.
Assistant Manager (Business Development)
Born and raised in the Philippines, Tara graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management.
Over the years, Tara has served in various hospitality companies which includes hotels and airlines, where she excelled in providing exceptional customer service to clients. She also enjoyed a fruitful stint in corporate events planning.
Singapore has been her home for eight years since she landed a job in one of the leading banks in the country prior to joining Yuen Law.
Tara is a team player with a strong work ethic, and has the aptitude to foster positive relationships. This allows her to deliver the highest level of customer service and to build long-lasting relationship with our clients.
Tara is a lover of music and an adrenaline junkie. Outside work, if she’s not dancing or playing the piano, you can find her trying out a new sport or jumping off planes and waterfalls.
Senior Executive
Ever dependable, Brendan is a pillar of strength to the Yuen Law community. He is also the go-to executive for a wide spectrum of our legal practice, including conveyancing and other real estate transactions, notarial services, as well as matters related to the Mental Capacity Act, such as Lasting Powers of Attorney.
Brendan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University at Buffalo, State University of New York in 2013. Thereafter, he travelled the world, living in Italy, the UK and Australia for some time before returning to Singapore.
Outside work, he enjoys family time, Theological discussions, Gregorian Chant, trying not to forget his Italian and playing with Leila – his Singapore Special.
Finance Senior Executive
Daniel is our Finance Executive.
Daniel started his career in Singapore shortly after graduating from the University.
Prior to joining Yuen Law, he worked as an accountant in various industries such as food & beverage, logistics, manufacturing, and banking & finance.
Daniel believes continuous learning is the key to success. “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty – Henry Ford.”
Outside of work, Daniel enjoys having a few good sips at pubs or playing computer games.
Executive
Ken was born and raised in Malaysia. Prior to joining Yuen Law, Ken worked at Resorts World Sentosa as Finance Executive, where he handled AML/CFT (anti-money laundering/countering financing of terrorism) matters.
Ken is currently assisting the Disputes Practice Group with civil litigation work. Ken is a keen listener and actively seeks to understand clients’ needs.
In his free time, Ken enjoys diving as he finds exploring coral reefs and the deep blue the best way to relax and recharge.
Business Development Manager (Foreign Desk)
Riikka is our Business Development Manager (Foreign Desk).
Riikka has extensive experience in the international banking industry, specializing in fields such as corporate banking, compliance and management of share-based incentive schemes. Before joining Yuen Law, Riikka was in charge of the Danish customer portfolio in a Nordic bank where she helped to grow her customers’ business in Southeast Asia.
Inspired by the startup culture, Riikka is also responsible for the investor relations at Slush Singapore, an event and a movement developing the startup ecosystem in Singapore. The first event was held in September 2016 with over 2000 attendees, 160 investors and 200 startups participating.
Riikka is a Finn and a Singapore PR, and she has been calling the Little Red Dot her home for the past six years. She is also a board member of Finnish Business Council of Singapore, a position where she can support Nordic companies to expand their operations into Southeast Asian market. Riikka loves to travel to explore new cultures and cuisines. And in 2017 she will finally run that full marathon.
Legal guides written by Silvester Legal LLC: