Dispute-focused firm Thomas Philip has up to 21 specialists covering contractual, defamation, probate, land, shareholder, employment and public interest litigation. The firm’s international reach extends to Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China and Australia. Mathew Thomas Philip is the firm’s founder and managing partner. With close to 30 years of experience, Thomas Philip has counselled and represented domestic and international clients in highly complex and contentious civil and commercial litigation. He regularly advises multinational corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises on litigation risk and represents them in negotiations and execution of strategy. Alliff Benjamin Suhaimi and Jee Tjun Tan are other key partners.
Client feedback
“Prompt and professional.” – Dispute resolution
“The law firm has been clear on each step and has given us periodic updates. They are also empathetic to our situation.” – Dispute resolution
“They identified the key points to resolve and win the case, providing solutions to settle the dispute. The preparation of documents was extremely thorough and meticulous.” – Dispute resolution
Ahmad Iyas Husni
“He is sharp, meticulous and pays attention to the client’s interests and case explanation. He did his homework, which made the discussions easier.”
Henn Xhen Low
“He quickly understood our situation and made recommendations that were sufficient for us. His clear communication made the legalities of the proceedings simple for us to understand.”
Li Hui (Rachel) Ng
“Good advice was provided.”
Jee Tjun Tan
“He is professional in his approach and projects a positive outlook. He is able to simplify the key points of the case to facilitate understanding. Although he is undergoing cancer treatment, we would not know he is ill as he puts in 110% at work and is always energetic in his communications. I can also feel that his team enjoys working with him.”
Mathew Thomas Philip
“He explains things very carefully and clearly to clients.”
Jee Tjun Tan and Li Hui (Rachel) Ng
“Tan Jee Tjun and Rachel Ng, who handled our cases, closely monitored developments and advised the directors on the next steps, potential implications, defences and relevant articles in the firm’s newsletter, ensuring the directors understood the plaintiffs’ arguments and our company’s responses. Their familiarity with cases and legal concepts meant their recommendations carried conviction, allowing management to make decisions quickly and confidently with less time spent on litigation and more focus on business challenges.”
Work highlights
Represented more than 34 individuals who are the owners of an unsubdivided piece of land in Kulai, Johor in a class action suit. This dispute is notable as it outlines the extent of the fraudulent acts committed to present the sale of the land and the probate application as legitimate. The firm successfully secured cross-border and public sector co-operation to obtain evidence of the fraud to be submitted at the trial.
Successfully represented Taman Tun Dr Ismail’s Residents’ Association, management corporations and several residents of Taman Tun Dr Ismail in a judicial review application to quash a development order granted by the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur. The case is significant as the Federal Court’s decision will profoundly affect the law concerning locus standi in judicial review proceedings.
Representing Hoe Leong Corporation, a Singaporean public listed company, in assessment of damages proceedings after winning an appeal at the Federal Court in a landmark oppression case. The Federal Court ruled that directors and third parties can be held legally responsible in an unfairly prejudicial petition under Section 346 of the Companies Act 2016. This decision will affect directors’ and third parties’ exposure to liability in unfair prejudice claims. Moreover, this decision will affect how unfair prejudice petitions and affidavits are drafted.
Key clients
Ken Builders, One Iskandar, WRP Asia Pacific, YCH
