“A dispute is rarely just a legal problem—it’s a business, reputational, and personal pressure-cooker that needs clear thinking and steady strategy from day one.”

A selection of Noel’s notable matters include:

Foo Kian Beng v OP3 International Pte Ltd (in liquidation) [2024] 1 SLR 361; [2024] SGCA 10

• When a company is in financial distress, what should its directors do, or refrain from doing? Noel was involved in this landmark decision by a 5-judge bench in the Singapore Court of Appeal which comprehensively set out the law on the duties owed by directors to the company and its creditors.

Interpleader claims arising from Hin Leong’s liquidation

• Hin Leong’s collapse in 2020 gave rise to a multitude of cross-claims by financial institutions and other entities. Noel was involved as co-counsel for two of the inventory financing banks which cumulatively sought to recover more than USD 450 million. The matter culminated in a Singapore High Court trial in 2024 and 2025 which spanned almost 80 days, during which Noel handled cross-examination of former Hin Leong and Ocean Tankers employees.

Restructuring and Insolvency

• Resisting applications for moratorium relief brought by financially distressed companies, under the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 and Companies Act 1967.
• Advising the liquidators of a Venezeluan-Chinese joint venture company on a wide range of issues, including the impact of US sanctions imposed on the Maduro regime, adjudication on proofs of debt exceeding USD 100 million, and garnishee applications brought by offshore creditors.
• Assisting with the initial phase of restructuring of a Singapore listed shipping company involving debts in excess of SGD 1 billion.
• Advising judicial managers of the Technics Group of companies in the entire life cycle of the judicial management process, including obtaining extensions of the JM order and taxation of solicitor and JMs’ bills of costs.

Commercial Disputes

• Appeared before the Singapore International Commercial Court (“SICC”) in a dispute involving an SGX-listed company and BVI entity, which involved issues of contractual interpretation, misrepresentation, estoppel and PRC tax law. This matter gave rise to 3 reported judgments where the SICC developed its jurisprudence on liability, security for costs, pre-judgment interest and costs in the SICC.
• Breach of put option and settlement agreements – assisting in an SIAC arbitration, advising an established Singapore construction company in its claims against BVI and Indonesian parties and obtaining an award in excess of SGD 40 million.
• Shareholder disputes in a cross-jurisdictional joint venture company – assisting the minority shareholders to settle claims in excess of USD 35 million after mediation at the Singapore International Mediation Centre.
• Employee’s claims against an international trading company – assisting the company to negotiate an amicable resolution of claims in excess of USD 1 million.
• Breach of industrial manufacturing agreements – successfully achieving a settlement of a High Court dispute between UAE and Taiwanese entities.
• Dispute relating to property sale and leaseback transaction – successfully negotiating settlement in relation to claims amounting to SGD 80 million.

Criminal Defence

• Advising a former director of Swiber Holdings Limited in relation to criminal charges under the Securities and Futures Act 2001.
• Advising individuals and/or entities charged under the following statutes:
  • Penal Code 1871;
  • Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992;
  • Income Tax Act 1947; and
  • Wholesome Meat and Fish Act 1999.