Covenant Chambers LLC

26/05/2026

We are proud to announce a successful outcome achieved for our client at the Appellate Division of the High Court in the recent decision of 𝘛𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘶𝘢𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘷 𝘞𝘶 𝘓𝘦𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘰𝘰 [2026] SGHC(A) 15.

Our Managing Director Lee Ee Yang, Director Wilbur Lua and Counsel Andrew Chong acted for our client in applying for and obtaining a court-ordered sale of a landed residential property that was co-owned with her ex-husband under section 18(2) of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1969.

When the General Division of the High Court granted our client’s application for an order for sale, our client’s ex-husband appealed to the Appellate Division, arguing that the order for sale should not be made because parties had previously, pursuant to a Consent Order made during their divorce, intended that their respective shares in the property would be bequeathed to their daughter upon death, and that the property could not be sold except by mutual agreement.

After hearing arguments, the Appellate Division agreed with us that the Consent Order did not prohibit our client’s application for an order for sale. The Court affirmed the order for sale that was made, but released our client from certain conditions that had been previously attached to the order for sale.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
• Any agreement that seeks to restrict the right of a co-owner to apply to court for an order for sale should be expressed in clear language
• In deciding whether to order a sale against a co-owner’s objections, the Court will assess the relative prejudice to each party. Financial prejudice to a co-owner seeking the sale is a relevant consideration.
• Conversely, sentimental reasons, such as having to leave a home with familiar neighbours or the inconvenience of moving house, are generally not weighty considerations in the assessment of prejudice.

This judgment serves as a helpful illustration of the Court's pragmatic approach to resolving property disputes where co-ownership has become unworkable.

We congratulate Ee Yang, Wilbur and Andrew for securing this excellent result for our client!

Read the judgment here: https://www.elitigation.sg/gd/s/2026_SGHCA_15

This judgment text has undergone conversion so that it is mobile and web-friendly. This may have created formatting or alignment issues. Please refer to the PDF copy for a print-friendly version.

22/05/2026

“One in three new lawyers said they were likely to leave law in the next three years.”

This perennial industry challenge of junior lawyer attrition has taken centre stage once again in a deep-dive feature by CNA. While the legal profession is often associated with prestige and glamour, the stark reality is that many young lawyers are choosing to step away due to excessive workload, poor workplace culture, and a lack of mentorship.

Our Deputy Managing Director Ronald JJ Wong and Counsel Benaiah Lim were invited by CNA to share their distinct perspectives on lawyers leaving practice and how firms can build a healthier environment for legal talent to thrive.

Benaiah offers a unique, “full-circle” perspective. Having gone in-house after two years in private practice, he chose to return to the firm as Counsel last year. On what ultimately brought him back, he shared:

“What I came to realise was that private practice, despite its demands, offers quite a high level of control over how you build your career and how you manage your matters. And I found that difficult to replicate elsewhere.”

Drawing from over a decade of experience in private practice, Ronald highlighted the steps firm leadership must take to actively protect boundaries and manage capacity:

“The management of junior associate workloads boils down to intentional culture, efficient productivity processes and optimal project management.”

To support this, we shared with CNA that we intentionally expose our junior lawyers to opportunities in court advocacy and transactional negotiations early in their careers. Moving beyond backend drafting “gives junior lawyers a greater sense of achievement and impetus in their professional development”, as Ronald notes.

At Covenant Chambers, we remain committed to fostering an environment where personal well-being goes hand in hand with professional growth, without compromising either.

Read the CNA article here: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/in-focus-young-junior-lawyers-attrition-workplace-culture-boss-mentorship-6115411

After the Chief Justice's wake-up call about the attrition of junior lawyers, CNA talks to young associates about the difficulties of sustaining a legal career.

12/05/2026

“You should not invest in something you don’t understand.” This rule of thumb is more relevant than ever as cryptocurrency losses accounted for nearly 20% of the total amount lost to scams recorded in Singapore in 2025, alongside a 156% surge in such cases.

Addressing this growing risk, our Deputy Managing Director Ronald JJ Wong recently shared his views with Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报 on digital assets and navigating investment pitfalls.

Before investing, apart from the economic aspects and risks of investing in digital assets, investors should also consider certain legal issues. This includes understanding whether an exchange is properly regulated and whether the investor maintains legal title to their assets in the event of company insolvency.

Once investors detect abnormalities or suspect a scam, Ronald emphasises that recovery is a race against time. Investors should act decisively by immediately freezing all related bank accounts, cards, and digital wallets. If the entity is in Singapore, legal proceedings can be commenced in court or resolved through arbitration. He also shares that “if the counterparty is not in Singapore, legal action may still be pursued through local or foreign courts or arbitration. However, this depends on the specific circumstances and one may face challenges such as jurisdictional issues.”

Ultimately, all that glitters is not gold. Even the most lucrative-looking project carries inherent dangers if an investor proceeds without a proper understanding of the technology and the risks involved.

Read the Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报 article here: https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20260426-8915112 (For subscribers only)

进行任何投资前都必须做功课，投资加密货币或数码资产更是如此，不仅要了解产品和风险，也应考虑相关的法律问题，以应对可能涉及交易所或代币发行方的纠纷。

07/05/2026

We are delighted to be named a Recommended Firm in the newly released 2026 Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Rankings, alongside a Tier 3 ranking in the Private Client practice area. This marks our third consecutive year featured in the rankings, and we are deeply thankful to our clients who continue to entrust us with their matters.

Adding to our success, we are immensely proud to see our Director Chia Huai Yuan individually recognised as a Future Star in Commercial and Transactions for the fifth consecutive year.

In this year’s rankings, the guide describes us as “[i]ncisive and forward-looking,” highlighting our ability to deliver “creative, efficient dispute solutions that align with clients’ long-term commercial goals”. The publication also noted our extensive capabilities across all levels of Singapore’s courts, international arbitration forums and alternative dispute resolution.

The guide further observed that our Deputy Managing Director Ronald JJ Wong, a “seasoned advocate with a strong focus on TMT and IP disputes”, alongside Director Khelvin Xu with his expertise in employment and commercial litigation, played a key role in expanding our caseload over the past year.

The guide also highlights our notable matters, including a landmark Court of Appeal victory led by our Managing Director Lee Ee Yang, where we successfully recovered a S$1.2 million payment for two property buyers. In a separate matter, we were involved in defending litigation by liquidators to recover fraudulent transfers stemming from the fallout of one of Singapore's largest reported Ponzi schemes.

View our Benchmark Litigation profile here: https://benchmarklitigation.com/Firm/covenant-chambers/Profile/137871

04/05/2026

We are pleased to share that Ching Meng Hang has joined us as our newest Director!

Meng Hang brings deep expertise in International Arbitration, Construction & Engineering, and Commercial Disputes. Having spent a decade honing his craft at a Big 4 firm, his addition augments our firm’s strength in these sectors.

Other than his counsel work, Meng Hang sits on the Reserve Panel of Arbitrators at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and the Panel of Arbitrators at the Hainan International Arbitration Court (HIAC). He also regularly contributes to legal publications, including in the development of international arbitration soft law.

In his free time, Meng Hang finds joy in exploring the world around him, be it conversing with friends in different industries, visiting a new place, or simply breathing in the scent of nature.

Warm welcome to the team Ching Meng Hang!

See his full profile here: https://www.covenantchambers.com/menghang-ching
Read our interview with Meng Hang here: https://www.covenantchambers.com/community/interview-with-menghang-ching

17/04/2026

Can PRC court judgments be enforced in Singapore?

Given the ongoing growth in cross-border transactions, understanding how foreign judgments are recognised in Singapore has become essential for effective debt recovery. While there is no formal treaty for automatic recognition between the two nations, recent legal developments and a growing body of case law have established a clear and increasingly reliable pathway for enforcement.

In his latest article, our Director Chia Huai Yuan explains the common law framework that allows Singapore courts to enforce PRC judgments as binding debt obligations rather than re-litigating the merits of the case. He further explores how established legal precedents are fostering a more predictable environment for cross-border enforcements.

If you hold a PRC judgment and wish to explore recovery options in Singapore, reach out to us for a tailored consultation today.

Read the full article here: https://www.covenantchambers.com/articles/bridging-jurisdictions-enforcing-chinese-court-judgments-in-singapore

Our Director Chia Huai Yuan outlines the pathway for enforcing monetary judgments from Mainland China in Singapore through common law action.

13/03/2026

We are pleased to share that our Director Ng Pei Tong (Head, Mergers & Acquisitions and Capital Markets) recently acted for the home appliance brand Sterra in its full acquisition by Singapore-based electronics startup Stryv, which primarily sells personal care devices such as hairdryers and men’s shavers. Under this transaction, Sterra, which main products are water and air purifiers, will continue to operate as a standalone brand.

Since its inception, Sterra has established itself as a household name in the region, particularly in the home and lifestyle appliance market. This acquisition marks a strategic milestone for Sterra as it joins Evo Commerce, Stryv’s parent company, amidst a “growing trend of Asian direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands rushing to scoop up competitors,” as reported by The Business Times.

We are privileged to have supported Sterra through this transition and are optimistic that Evo Commerce, with its expanded and complementary product offerings, is well-positioned to build on its market share in the consumer appliance market, not just in Singapore but also in the region.

Read the full coverage by The Business Times here: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/tech-in-asia/singapore-based-stryv-acquires-water-purifier-brand-sterra (For subscribers only)

Roy Ang believes both companies can hit their goal of achieving an overall nine-figure revenue in 2027 Read more at The Business Times.

05/03/2026

We are delighted to have acted for Level3AI on its latest US$13 million seed funding, led by our Director Ng Pei Tong (Head, Mergers & Acquisitions and Capital Markets). This raise was anchored by global venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from BEENEXT, 500 Global, Sovereign's Capital and Goodwater Capital.

Level3AI is a fast-growing Singapore-based startup focused on the Enterprise AI space. With a track record of supporting a growing roster of leading regional brands, the funds from the latest seed round are earmarked for strategic expansion within the APAC market and the continued research and development of Level3AI’s proprietary AI agents.

It has been a privilege to support Level3AI on attaining this milestone. We look forward to their continued growth and their role in shaping the future of the AI-native enterprise landscape.

02/03/2026

The 2026 edition of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific has been released, and we are proud to share that Covenant Chambers LLC has been named as a Firm to Watch for Corporate and M&A: Local Firms in Singapore.

We are recognised as being “well-equipped to act in the full scope of corporate finance and commercial transactions”. This inaugural ranking follows a year of strategic growth for our corporate and commercial practice, spearheaded by our Director Ng Pei Tong (Head, Mergers & Acquisitions and Capital Markets).

This recognition, alongside our standing in asialaw as a Notable Firm in Capital Markets, further consolidates our position as an emerging leader in corporate legal services within the region.

We extend our gratitude to our clients for their continued trust and support and congratulate our corporate team on this well-deserved recognition.

We look forward to building on this momentum in the year ahead.

View our suite of corporate services here: https://www.covenantchambers.com/corporate-commercial-financial

16/02/2026

Blessed Chinese New Year from all of us at Covenant Chambers! 🐴🧧

Wishing you a vibrant year of the horse filled with good health, happiness, and prosperity. We are thankful for your continued support and look forward to sharing a bright and successful year ahead with you.