Una Khng

Director
Singapore
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Una Khng

Una heads our Commercial Disputes Practice Group and co-heads our Intellectual Property and Technology, Media & Telecommunications Practice Group. Her practice covers both domestic and international disputes across a broad spectrum. Her expertise includes complex financial structured products, cryptocurrencies, joint venture and shareholder disputes, breaches of trusts, contract, fraud, misrepresentation, white-collar crime, amongst others. Una has extensive experience in litigation and arbitration, having appeared in the Singapore courts and in international arbitrations (including SIAC, ICC, LCIA, LMAA, SCMA, etc.). She also advises clients on contentious and non-contentious matters.

Una began her career as a Justices’ Law Clerk in the Supreme Court of Singapore. After completing her clerkship, she went on to establish a disputes resolution practice at one of the largest law firms in Singapore. Una has held appointments as 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 she was with the Supreme Court, Una was involved in the Court of Appeal Registry and the Secretariat of the Rules of Court Working Party. She was also an integral member of the team behind the establishment of the Singapore International Commercial Court. In April 2019, Una was appointed Deputy Divisional Registrar of the SICC.

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

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


Recognitions

Asialaw

“She demonstrated high legal skills, was pragmatic in terms of providing useful advice, and good in communications.”

Benchmark Litigation

“She has a deep understanding of the law, especially in relation to commercial affairs. She has a quick understanding of the issues and possible solutions, is a fantastic communicator, gives a balanced presentation of possible outcomes, given any path taken may have risk. She is responsive and proactive even when the client is slow to respond.”


Awards

  • Recognised as a Future Star in Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific
  • Finalist for “Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year, ” in Asia Legal Business SE Asia Law Awards

Experience / Representative Matters

Commercial Disputes

Acted for three subsidiaries of a major Chinese tanker transportation company in successfully striking out claims in the Singapore High Court by a liquidator to unwind transactions worth about USD 57 million and obtaining a discontinuance of related claims against a former director with costs.

Acted for claimants in a USD 43 million joint venture dispute in the Singapore High Court involving allegations of fund siphoning, unpaid dividends, breach of fiduciary duties and breach of trust.

Acted for the claimant in a significant ICC arbitration concerning the repudiation of sale contracts for steel slabs valued at approximately USD 18.78 million.

Acted for an award creditor in successfully resisting an application to the Singapore High Court to set aside an arbitration award on behalf of an award creditor.

Acted for a defendant in a Singapore High Court dispute over competing ownership claims to nickel cargo valued at about USD 10 million.

Acted for an award creditor in successfully obtaining a winding up order against a subsidiary of a listed company in contested winding up proceedings.

Acted for a multinational hedge fund against liquidated damages and bonus claims by a former employee in the Singapore High Court.

Areas of Expertise

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Commercial Disputes

Our focus is practical and effective dispute management.

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Commodities

Specialist support in contentious and non-contentious matters. 

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Employment

Advice for every stage of the employer-employee relationship.

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Intellectual Property / Technology, Media and Telecommunications

Protecting your critical intangible assets and navigating the digital landscape.

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