Drew & Napier LLC

New in 2010. One of Singapore’s largest commercial disputes departments, Drew & Napier joins the 100 this year - after supplying sufficient proof of a sizeable and active practice to be declared “approved” by our researchers.The firm has also won some awards in Asia as arbitration firm of the year.

The practice is home to seven Senior Counsel, which it asserts is the largest number at any Singapore firm. Three are under 40, all the more impressive as appointments to the SC rank before that age are rare. In fact, the committee is supposed to refrain from them. All the SCs trained at the firm, it is proud to say. No lawyer focuses entirely on arbitration, according to a description provided, but several now major in it. Work is usually led by an SC, assisted by more junior lawyers who may be specialised in arbitration or a relevant field of law. Asked for proof it had recently been instructed in an arbitration “by a client with a great deal to lose”, the firm described a pipeline-access dispute that rated 10 on the scale of importance. It also outlined as a high point a matter in which, representing a government, it gained the upper hand against an Australian Queen’s Counsel. The case settled after it prevailed on jurisdiction.

Recent events

The Singapore International Arbitration Centre this year appointed a Drew & Napier partner, Cavinder Bull SC, to its executive committee. He is one of only two Singaporeans on the newly internationalised SIAC board. The SIAC’s registrar, Minn Naing Oo is a former Drew & Napier lawyer. Meanwhile Hri Kumar and Cavinder Bull became Senior Counsel, back in January 2008.