Based in Singapore, Daniel Chia is the leader of Morgan Lewis’s disputes practice in Asia, covering contentious matters relating to dispute resolution, restructuring and insolvency, and government investigations and enforcement. He is sought for his experience—both as legal advisor and trial counsel—in devising and executing strategies for disputes relating to commercial crime, white collar proceedings, professional indemnity insurance, shareholder litigations, insolvency claims, and securities and regulatory enforcement in Asia. In his personal practice, he has over 15 years of experience as a corporate and commercial trial and appellate litigator representing clients in complex, cross-border, and multidisciplinary disputes in court hearings, international arbitrations, and other dispute resolution forums.
Daniel provides clients with tailored, tactical advice that adds value to their corporate strategy. He regularly handles matters relating to regulatory, commercial fraud, and business crime defense, including fraudulent fundraising, and prosecutes and defends against allegations of corruption, money laundering, and commercial crime.
As a trial lawyer, Daniel regularly acts in professional liability cases where he represents professionals, consultants, and insurers in all matters relating to professional negligence suits. He also acts for clients in the epayment industry and advises on various regulatory and competition legislation. In all these matters, he acts as lead trial and appellate counsel arguing both in court and international arbitration cases. Daniel is also an active member of the firm’s crisis management team and its labor and employment practice, which specializes in global mobility issues of clients.
Daniel is recognized as a leading lawyer in major legal directories like Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, and Benchmark Litigation where clients have commended him for not just his technical ability in the law but also his business acumen and his ability to manage disputes and problems and structure solutions efficiently and effectively.
Client and peer accolades across legal directories recognize that he is “excellent” and “a terrific litigator” who is “able to hold his own against much more senior advocates, including senior counsel.” He has been praised as being a partner who is “hands on,” “diligent and has a great work ethic" and a “delight to work with.” The Legal 500 additionally recognizes his “strategic vision and on the ground advocacy” and his deep knowledge of “big ticket litigations.” He is also credited for leading an “outstanding team” that provides an “impeccable service.”
Daniel was recognized by Asian Legal Business in its inaugural Asia Super 50 Disputes Lawyers list, which recognizes the top arbitration and litigation practitioners based in Asia. He was also named a “Future Leader” in Litigation by Who’s Who Legal in 2018 to 2020 and was ranked for three consecutive years as the most highly regarded in the Asia-Pacific region. He was also quoted by clients in the publication as being an “experienced commercial litigator” who “provides valuable strategic advice to corporate clients which considers both legal and commercial realities.”
Daniel is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and was recently mentioned in the 2022 edition of Global Arbitration Review (GAR) 100 for his work in the arbitration space.
The Supreme Court of Singapore appointed Daniel as a Young Amicus Curiae in 2009.
He is also regularly appointed as lead pro bono counsel by the Law Society of Singapore and the Supreme Court of Singapore in a wide variety of criminal matters.
The following are cases handled by Daniel in the last five years as lead counsel:
Corporate & Commercial
Labour & Employment
Arbitration
White Collar & Crime
Recognized, Private Client Global Elite Directory, American Lawyer Media (2022)
Recognized, Arbitration and Mediation, The Best Lawyers in Singapore (2022)
Recognized, Asia Super 50 Disputes Lawyers, Asian Legal Business (2021)
Litigation Star, Commercial and Transactions, Singapore, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific (2022)
A-List, Top 100 Lawyers in Singapore, Asia Business Law Journal (2019)
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Employment, Law360 (2017)
Ranked, Dispute Resolution: Litigation, Singapore, Chambers Asia-Pacific (2017–2020, 2022, 2023)
Ranked, Dispute Resolution: Litigation, Singapore, Chambers Global (2017–2022)
Recommended, Litigation – Future Leader, Who’s Who Legal (2018–2020)
Recommended, International Arbitration: Local Firms (Singapore), The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific (2019–2021)
Recommended, Shipping: Local Firms (Singapore), The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific (2018)
Recommended, Dispute Resolution: Local Firms; Labor and Employment: Local Firms (Singapore), The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific (2015–2021)
Finalist, Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year, Asian Legal Business (2018)
Recognized, Asialaw Leading Lawyers (2015, 2019)
40 Under 40, Asian Legal Business (2019)
20 Most Influential 40 and Under Lawyers, Singapore Business Review (2014)
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