Helmsman has been recognised in International Arbitration in Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2026

Helmsman has been recognised as highly recommended in the 2026 edition of Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific, with rankings in Commercial and Transactions as well as International Arbitration. This follows continued recognition for Una Khng, who leads the Commercial Disputes practice at Helmsman. 

This recognition highlights the team’s track record in managing complex, high-value commercial disputes. 

Commercial Disputes led by Una Khng

As Head of Commercial Disputes, Una’s practice spans a wide range of contentious work, including:

• Complex financial and structured products 
• Cryptocurrencies and digital assets 
• Joint venture and shareholder disputes 
• Breach of trust and fiduciary duties 
• Contractual disputes, fraud and misrepresentation. 

Una has extensive experience in both litigation and international arbitration. She has appeared before the Singapore courts and in arbitrations administered under major institutional rules, including SIAC, ICC, LCIA, LMAA and SCMA, as well as in ad hoc arbitration. This experience enables her to guide clients effectively through the full life cycle of complex commercial disputes, from early strategy to final resolution.

Una began her career as a Justices’ Law Clerk in the Supreme Court of Singapore. She later built a disputes practice at one of Singapore’s largest law firms, and subsequently served as a District Judge and Assistant Registrar at the Supreme Court of Singapore, where she presided over civil hearings and managed cases in the Companies, Insolvency, Trusts and Arbitration division.

While at the Supreme Court, Una was involved in the Court of Appeal Registry and the Secretariat of the Rules of Court Working Party, and was an integral member of the team behind the establishment of the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC). In April 2019, she was appointed Deputy Divisional Registrar of the SICC.

This combination of private practice, judicial and court administration experience gives Una a distinctive, multi-dimensional perspective on how commercial disputes are decided and managed, and how best to position cases before tribunals and courts.

Una read law at the University of Cambridge, graduating with First-Class Honours, and later obtained her MA from the university. She was valedictorian of her Graduate Diploma in Singapore Law class at the*National University of Singapore, and won the prize for Commercial Practice in the Singapore Bar Examinations.

She is a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators, has served on the Ethics and Professional Standards Committee, has taught at the law schools of the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Management University, and is currently Principal Examiner for Civil Litigation in Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations.

Commercial Disputes under Una’s leadership

Improperly managed commercial disputes can affect resources, finances, reputation, relationships, operations and morale. This is especially true of international arbitration and IP-related disputes, which frequently involve multiple parties, different legal systems and high-value, strategically important assets such as technology, brands and data.

Under Una’s leadership, Helmsman’s Commercial Disputes practice provides plain, practical advice on all aspects of disputes management, including:

• Early case assessment, potential claims and defences 
• Risk analysis, options and next steps 
• Dispute avoidance and negotiated outcomes 

Una and her team represent clients in a wide range of dispute resolution processes:

• International arbitration (e.g. SIAC, ICC, LCIA, LMAA, SCMA and ad hoc arbitrations) 
• Litigation before the Singapore courts and the Singapore International Commercial Court 
• Mediation and other ADR processes 
• Neutral evaluation or determination

They work closely with clients to understand their commercial priorities, risk appetite and constraints, and to design strategies that achieve strategic, efficient and holistic outcomes.

For strategic, commercially focused management of disputes, please reach out to Una Khng at una.khng@helmsmanlaw.com