Chia Wan Lu
谢宛汝
LL.B. (SMU)
Associate Director
“To be gentle with people and fierce about their problems – that is the work.”
Since she was called to the Singapore Bar in 2020, Wan Lu has taken on various high stakes matters, ranging from multi-million dollar claims to cases involving complex and novel issues to disputes that are extremely personal to clients.
She empathises with clients and takes time to understand their concerns and objectives before delivering decisive advice. Clients who have worked with her have confidence in her ability to get things done effectively to further their interests. Colleagues appreciate her calm and measured personality even under immense pressure and her solution-centric approach. She is somebody you want in your corner.
The disputes she handles span various areas, including banking, shareholder disputes, employment and insolvency. Over the years, she has developed a specialisation in mental capacity matters, particularly those involving elements of probate and trusts. She has also worked on several disputes involving fraud and breaches of fiduciary duties. She always relishes a challenge and has substantial cross-examination experience under her belt.
She is actively involved in pro-bono work, acting for accused persons and rendering assistance at legal clinics. When she is not in the Courtroom or the office, Wan Lu enjoys keeping active – playing floorball, pickleball and badminton, lifting weights and training for Hyrox. She also volunteers at dog shelters and looks forward to seeing their wagging tails on weekly walks.
Notable Briefs
Acted for HSBC in a suit commenced against Hin Leong Trading (Pte.) Ltd.’s then directors, Lim Oon Kuin, Lim Chee Meng (Evan) and Lim Huey Ching for fraud and misrepresentation involving claims for damages amounting to US$85 million heard over a 50-day trial.
Acting for a high-net-worth individual and his son in proceedings before the Singapore International Commercial Court against the individual’s former financial advisor and the advisor’s related parties for breach of fiduciary duties, dishonest assistance, knowing receipt, undue influence, fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation, and conspiracy in relation to eight distinct but interrelated transactions, with losses potentially exceeding USD 200 million.
Acting for a Korean construction company in arbitration proceedings against a Sri Lankan government statutory board for payment of sums exceeding US$27 million awarded by a Dispute Adjudication Board.
Acted for a client in judicial review proceedings before the Court of Appeal in CBB v Law Society of Singapore [2021] SGCA 6 and successfully obtained a rare mandatory order compelling Law Society to apply for leave to refer his complaint against his elderly mother’s solicitor to the Chairman of the Inquiry Panel – she she was found by the Court of Appeal in Re BKR [2015] SGCA 26 to lack capacity to set up a trust which the solicitor advised her on.