Thio Shen Yi, SC was featured in a Singapore Academy of Law article, offering his expert perspectives on the crucial attributes that define exceptional disputes lawyers. The piece brought together leading disputes practitioners to reflect on common pitfalls in major litigation and the qualities that distinguish truly effective advocates at the sharp end of practice.

Fresh from being named Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year at the Asialaw Awards, Shen Yi was one of four practitioners interviewed. Drawing on decades of experience in high-stakes commercial disputes, he cautioned against approaching litigation in a piecemeal fashion, stressing the importance of structure and foresight from the outset. His advice was unequivocal: lawyers should enter disputes fully prepared to see matters through to the end — a level of preparedness that often makes protracted battles unnecessary.

Central to Shen Yi’s approach is having a clear plan and identifying the “critical path” early on. This means understanding both the substantive merits of a case and the most effective process to achieve the client’s desired outcome, allowing lawyers to distinguish what is essential from what is merely desirable. He warned that incremental decision-making is often a false economy, leading to longer disputes and weaker settlement positions.

Beyond strategy, Shen Yi also underscored the importance of commercial awareness. Effective disputes lawyers, he noted, must go beyond black-letter law and develop working knowledge of the industries they serve — from construction and finance to valuation in shareholder disputes. This broader perspective, he explained, sharpens advocacy, strengthens cross-examination, and ultimately enables lawyers to advise clients with greater clarity, realism and impact.