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Kelvin Teo

Director, Dispute Resolution

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Practice Areas

Qualifications

  • LL.B. (Hons), National University of Singapore (2004)
  • Admitted to the Singapore Bar in May 2005
Overview

Kelvin is a specialist in resolving complex infrastructure, energy and resource disputes. He is proficient at making complicated technical, delay and quantum issues, easy to understand.

His sector experience covers infrastructure projects from solar farms, nuclear power plants and renewables including wind, hydropower and geothermal; to refineries, mines, railways and expressways; and even giant Ferris wheels.

Kelvin has advised parties and projects in Singapore, France, Korea, China, Middle East, Mongolia, Italy, Laos, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, US, Italy, India and, amongst others.
Kelvin carries out his own advocacy across the entire spectrum of dispute resolution mechanisms including litigation, arbitration, mediation and adjudications, held both within and out of Singapore.

Kelvin is a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and sits as an arbitrator.

Kelvin is a thought-leader who regularly speaks and publishes articles on construction law and arbitration practice issues. He heads the Thought Leadership subcommittee and is a Council Member of the Society of Construction Law (Singapore). He headed a Singapore Academy of Law Promotion of Singapore Law Sub-committee (Energy and Oil and Gas), and sits on the Building and Construction Law Committee of the Law Society.

He was an assessor for COVID-19 construction cases. He also sits on a panel promoting neutral evaluation, as a mediator, and was part of an experts group commenting on e-discovery issues.
He has also been recognized in directories such as The Legal 500, Experts Guide, and SBR’s list of most influential lawyers under 40 (2018), and most recently in The Arbitration Power List : Southeast Asia 2022.

Kelvin’s recent experience (*) includes:

  1. Nuclear Power Plant LCIA Arbitration
    Acting for a contractor in an LCIA arbitration in a billion-dollar dispute arising in relation to the construction of a nuclear power plant.

  2. Lao Hydropower ICC Arbitrations and court proceedings
    Acting for a major Italian contractor in two ICC arbitrations seated in Singapore against a Thai entity in relation to disputes over time and cost claims arising out of a Lao hydro-power plant project, and in related court  proceedings.

  3. SIAC Arbitrations and court proceedings over iconic infrastructure project
    Acting for a major Korean contractor in two SIAC arbitrations seated in Singapore arising out of an iconic infrastructure project in the Middle East and related court proceedings.

  4. Offshore greenfield wind-farm project 
     Advising the Employer and his representative on day to day legal matters and managing potential disputes, during the construction phase of a commercial scale offshore wind farm.

  5. Managing construction disputes and advisory
    Advising the owners or main contractors on disputes arising out of various multi-million dollar infrastructure projects, such as an EPC contract to construct a refinery in Singapore, an EPCM contract for a project in Singapore, a FEED agreement on a major rail, port and coal terminal project in Indonesia, agreements to procure a floating oil production/processing platform off Thailand, an agreement to construct a food processing factory in Malaysia for an iconic international brand, performance bonds and injunctive relief for a hotel project in Mongolia, etc.
* Includes experience at previous firms.

Chambers Asia-Pacific
Construction 2023 – Up and Coming

A market source tips Kelvin Teo as "one to watch". 

A client praises Kelvin Teo for providing "pragmatic advice". 

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Clients commend Kelvin for:

being an “experienced arbitration partner [who is a] key contact.”

“always focused and effective. He provides commercial and strategic advice.”

being “an emerging talent in construction disputes.”

“knowing the construction industry extremely well. He has strong experience in infrastructure and energy disputes and unparalleled industry knowledge.”

"providing excellent legal advice in a pragmatic and understandable manner, understanding his client’s limited legal comprehension and explaining legal and procedural issues in a simple and straight forward way.”

"a keen ability to grasp complex technical issues and break them down into coherent and concise descriptions that can be readily understood by arbitrators"

"great in-depth industry knowledge"

and for being “an extremely creative lawyer who thinks of solutions that no one else can”

He is recognised for his practice in:
International Arbitration – Next generation partner for 5 consecutive years
Construction – Next generation partner for 5 consecutive years
Dispute Resolution – Next generation lawyer for 3 consecutive years (2017-2019)

The Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist: Southeast Asia 2023
Recognised as a leading arbitration practitioner in the Southeast Asia region for 2 consecutive years

Who’s Who Legal
National Guide: Southeast Asia - Construction 2022 – Leading Lawyer

Kelvin Teo is looked upon with enormous favour as “an insightful and formidable hand” when it comes to infrastructure, energy and resource matters.

asialaw Leading Lawyers
Construction 2023/24 – Notable Practitioner 

“Very knowledgeable about the law and the legal system. Able to provide clear guidance on the relevant issues.”

“Accessible, positive, strategic, explains approach well. Communication is supportive and empathetic.” 

Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
Construction 2023 – Future Star

Singapore Business Review 2018
Kelvin Teo is recognized as one of Singapore’s most influential lawyers under 40 

LMG Expert Guides
Construction and Real Estate – Rising Star for 3 consecutive years 

  • Head of Subcommittee (Commodities, Oil and Gas and Energy), Promotion of Singapore Law Committee, Singapore Academy of Law
  • Honorary Secretary, Society of Construction Law (Singapore)
  • Panel of Assessors for COVID-19 Temporary Relief
  • Member, Law Society of Singapore

Recent publications include:

  • The SCL (Singapore) FAQs for the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act (With an Emphasis on Construction and Supply Contracts) – June 2020
  • From “Yam Seng” to Divorce: Navigating (in good faith) joint venture agreements in construction projects – April 2020
  • A Lack of Agreement? Approaches to liquidated damages in Singapore and the UK following Seraya v. Denka and Triple Point v. PTT. – December 2019
  • Experts’ joint statements and discussions: What role should the lawyers play? – January 2019 
  • Practical Law: Construction and Projects in Singapore: Overview – 2017 and 2018
  • Practical Law: Governing law and jurisdiction clauses Q&A: Singapore – 2018
  • Contributor to A Practical Guide to the SIAC Rules – April 2018 

Recent speaking engagements include:

  • Speaker at Debate at SCL (Singapore) 3rd "Focus on Asia Conference" 2022 on the motion “This House Believes that Renewables are the Beating Heart of a Sustainable Future” – October 2022
  • Lecturer for SIAC Specialist Arbitration Series Part 2: Energy, Oil & Gas Arbitrations – July 2022
  • Speaker for "National Conference on Construction Adjudication 2022" – by Singapore Mediation Centre – July 2022
  • Moderator for “Hot Topics in ESG and Energy Law – The Singapore Experience” – a webinar by the Singapore Academy of Law – February 2022
  • Speaker and Moderator for “Crossing the Currents in Clean Energy and Oil & Gas: Legal Issues and Lessons Learnt” – a webinar by the Singapore Academy of Law – March 2021
  • Speaker for “Topical issues in the adoption of Singapore Law: Views from the Commodities and Energy sectors” – a webinar by the Singapore Academy of Law – October 2020
  • Client Seminar – “SOP Act Update and Dispute Masterclass”
  • Chairing “The Circuit Break – Picking Up the Pieces” – a webinar by the SCL (Singapore) – September 2020
  • “Picking Fruit from Scorched Earth – Practical Tips for Managing Construction Arbitrations Efficiently” – a webinar jointly supported by the ICC and the SCL (Singapore) – June 2020
  • Clifford Chance Annual Construction Seminar - "Cheaper, Faster and Better" cross-border infrastructure project dispute resolution – Myth or Mirth – August 2019
  • Chairing ”Cost and Time Blowouts (and Major Disputes) on Large Construction Projects” – July 2019 
  • Panelist for Singapore International Energy Week – “Key technology solutions to achieve global energy transformation” – May 2019
  • Beijing International Arbitration Centre – “东南亚和南亚工程项目合同起草中的常见风险和规避方式 Avoiding pitfalls and mitigating risks in SEA construction and infrastructure projects” – March 2019