Matters of significance which Valerie has been involved in include acting for the following:
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Disputes Resolution
• Acting as lead counsel in commencing and defending adjudication proceedings in relation to various disputes arising out of the construction of nursing homes, the proposed reconstruction of landed properties, the supply and installation of a deionized water system, the construction of a demineralised plant as well as the upgrading of waste water facilities for waste water treatment plants in a world-scale refining complex, the supply and installation of electrical services for the Thomson-East Coast Line rail and bus depot, and HomeTeamNS clubhouse.
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• Representing a prominent main contractor in relation to ongoing disputes with the upstream employer and downstream sub-contractors arising out of a S$125 million project for the construction of a port-centric ecosystem facility.
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• Successfully representing employers and upstream contractors in defending injunction proceedings commenced by the downstream contractors as well as successfully representing downstream contractors in commencing injunction proceedings to obtain ex parte interim injunctions.
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• Advising and representing Emerald Star Pte Ltd (“ESPL”) in proceedings commenced by Sub MC 2 – The Management Corporation Strata Title Plan No. 4682 ("Sub-MC") in HC/OC 591/2023 against the joint developers, ESPL and FC Retail Trustee Pte. Ltd (“FCRT”), and the main contractor, Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd (“HDEC”) in relation to the development known as “Punggol Watertown” situated at 71 Punggol Central Watertown Singapore 828755. Punggol Watertown is part of a S$1.6 billion sustainable integrated waterfront residential and retail development, which also includes Waterway Point
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• Advising and representing JP Nelson Equipment Pte Ltd, the employer, in various court proceedings commenced against and/or by Builders Hub Pte Ltd, the main contractor, and Builders Lodge Pte Ltd the main contractor’s related company, which culminated in inter alia the following court decisions: JP Nelson Equipment Pte Ltd v Builders Hub Pte Ltd [2023] SGHC 186; Builders Hub Pte Ltd v JP Nelson Equipment Pte Ltd [2023] SGHC 120; Builders Hub Pte Ltd v JP Nelson Equipment Pte Ltd [2024] 1 SLR 1189 (CA).
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• Advising a leading design and engineering consultant in relation to international arbitration proceedings commenced by a Brunei statutory board in respect of disputes arising out of a large-scale housing project in Brunei Darussalam, with the employer’s claims exceeding B$130 million.
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• Successfully representing a Thai joint venture company (comprising a wholly owned subsidiary of a public company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand) in ICC arbitration proceedings involving a multibillion-baht dispute arising out of the construction of a waste-to-energy power plant valued at approximately THB$1.8 billion. The claims and counterclaims involve a highly contentious factual matrix and complex issues relating to termination, delay and disruption, technical defects as well as legal remedies under Thai law (the governing law of contract), requiring expert evidence from a total of 12 experts.
• Successfully representing or defending various stakeholders in the construction sector in adjudication proceedings under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2004 relating to disputes arising out of construction and supply contracts across various trades, including defending a reputable luxury resort hotel operator against claims arising out of a S$68 million contract for the design, construction and management of a performing arts theatre, and acting for a leading Japanese civil works contractor in claims arising out of a S$34 million contract for the construction of an international mixed-use development.
• Successfully representing or defending various entities in corporate and commercial disputes, including successfully defending a prominent property developer against misrepresentation claims for sums S$13 million that were entirely dismissed (Jin Ling Enterprise Pte Ltd v E C Prime Pte Ltd [2019] SGHC 209), and defending a prominent temple in disputes involving novel issues concerning the legal personality of unregistered unincorporated associations (Chee Hock Keng v Chu Sheng Temple [2016] 3 SLR 1396 (CA)).
• Successfully representing Far East Square Pte Ltd in an appeal to set aside an adjudication determination on the grounds that the contractor had no entitlement to serve the payment claim in question and that it fell outside the purview of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act (see the landmark Court of Appeal decision of Far East Square Pte Ltd v Yau Lee Construction (Singapore) Pte Ltd [2019] 2 SLR 189 (CA)). Other related decisions include Yau Lee Construction (Singapore) Pte Ltd v Far East Square Pte Ltd and another matter [2018] SGHCR 11.
Front-end / Advisory
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Advising and reviewing various project documentation for a Chinese majority state-owned, Fortune Global 500 publicly traded engineering and construction company in relation to various public infrastructure projects valued in excess of S$172 million
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Advising one of the first and largest solar leasing and renewable energy companies in Singapore in relation to disputes with a Singapore subsidiary of publicly traded technology conglomerate arising out of a renewable energy purchase agreement
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Advising various reputable contractors in relation to various high-value infrastructure, construction and engineering projects across the public and private sectors, both in Singapore and overseas, including residential developments valued in excess of S$214 million, commercial developments, mixed developments, industrial buildings, hotels, airports, power plants and an offshore wind farm.