Thaddaeus Tan

Acted for the administratrix of a deceased partner’s estate in an appeal to the Court of Appeal concerning the taking of partnership accounts, a partner’s fiduciary duties in respect of withdrawals from partnership funds, and the scope of an inquiry ordered on constructive trust principles: [2022] SGCA 47

Ran the trial of a sibling dispute over the administration of an intestate Muslim estate, acting for the administrator, including a successful objection to affidavit evidence, and negotiated a deed of settlement.

Acted for a respondent in a Mental Capacity Act application concerning his mother, which the applicant withdrew.

Acted for a beneficiary in a contested estate against her siblings over a landed property, and in related protection order appeals.

Acted for a widow in obtaining letters of administration with sureties dispensed with over her son’s objection, and in asserting the estate’s resulting and constructive trust claim over the matrimonial home held in the son’s name, including lodging a caveat when the property was listed for sale.

Acted for the settlor and beneficiaries of family trusts which were unwound following the family’s relocation to the United States.

Acted in a family dispute over jointly held bank accounts and trust property.

Drafted a trust deed for a national charity’s board-appointed trustees to hold a state tenancy on trust for the charity.

Advised a legally aided administrator facing default judgment in a sibling estate dispute, and negotiated a non-enforcement arrangement.

Advised on cross-border succession planning, including Singapore trust deeds alongside US living trusts, Singapore and Australian wills with testamentary trusts, bare trust variations and Islamic inheritance; regularly drafts wills, codicils, lasting powers of attorney and deeds of family arrangement, and obtains grants of probate, letters of administration and resealing of foreign grants.

Acted for the buyer in a dispute under an aircraft purchase agreement governed by English law, on whether a seller who first pleads specific performance has affirmed the contract and waived prior repudiatory breaches: [2022] SGCA(I) 3

Acted for the same buyer at the assessment of damages before the Singapore International Commercial Court and on the further appeal, concerning the market value of an aircraft sold without engines under s 50(3) of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (UK) and the weight of third-party offers against expert valuation evidence [2022] SGHC(I) 15; [2023] SGCA(I) 5

Acted, with Senior Counsel, for members of a proprietary club in an appeal to the Appellate Division concerning claims in deceit and negligence against the club’s proprietor and its controlling shareholder over the relocation of the clubhouse, and the pleading of Wrotham Park damages: [2022] SGHC(A) 11

Acted for a company in resisting a minority shareholder’s application for permission to bring a statutory derivative action under s 216A of the Companies Act, and on the appeal to the Appellate Division.

Acted for the liquidators of a removed REIT manager in proceedings concerning the handover of the manager’s records to the REIT trustee and the protection of legal advice, litigation and third-party privilege over material on the manager’s servers.

Acted for the estate of a deceased director as third party in a company’s claim for alleged misappropriation against a former director, who sought contribution and indemnity from the estate.

Acted for a claimant in a High Court claim under an investment and profit-share agreement relating to a land redevelopment in India.

Acted for a corporate tenant in a dispute with a serviced-office provider over restricted access to its premises, resolved by settlement.

Acted for United Overseas Bank Ltd at the ten-day trial of its claims in unlawful means conspiracy and deceit against a property developer and two property agents, arising from housing loans of over S$181 million disbursed for 38 units at the Marina Collection, Sentosa Cove: [2021] SGHC 283

Assisted Senior Counsel in defending a Bloomberg journalist against defamation claims brought by two Cabinet Ministers, involving the application of Reynolds privilege in Singapore: [2026] SGHC 147

Acted for an international bank, sued as joint lead manager and bookrunner, in retail noteholders’ claims in fraudulent misrepresentation and conspiracy arising from the default of notes issued by an Indonesian group, including a successful application to strike out pleaded references to unrelated foreign proceedings.

Acted for a private banking client in a mis-selling claim against a bank and its trustee arm over a trust and investment structure.

Acted for a defendant in a passing-off action over a restaurant name, with a parallel invalidation at IPOS, including resisting a committal application and applying for a stay.

Acted for the claimant in a District Court claim for stolen cryptocurrency, including service out of jurisdiction and an application for a worldwide freezing order.

Acted for the selling shareholders in the sale of a sustainability consultancy to a global real estate services group, including the sale and purchase agreement, disclosure letter and post-completion employment terms.

Acted for a shareholder in the sale of her shares in a café group.

Drafted a multi-investor shareholders’ agreement for a private company, with related share transfers, deeds of ratification and accession, preference share redemption and capital reduction.

Advised the directors of a private company on the removal of a co-founder director, including EGM papers and a share buy-back, and on a shareholders’ settlement of minority allegations.

Advised a charitable foundation on constitutional amendments to permit its dissolution and the distribution of its assets to fifteen institutions.

Advised a motor dealer on a framework agreement for accepting cryptocurrency payments, including anti-money laundering compliance.

Drafted a software source licence agreement with a call option for a technology company.

Advised on the sanctions and customs implications of a commodity trade, and on force majeure and frustration under a sanctions-affected supply contract.

Advised an alumni association on the validity of its president’s election and a requisition for an extraordinary general meeting.

Acted for a foreign bank in arbitration proceedings arising from a repurchase agreement, with a claim of over US$200 million.

Acted for a foreign education technology company in an SIAC arbitration concerning an exclusive licence and distribution agreement with a foreign counterparty, including the response to a jurisdictional objection.

Assisted tribunals as Tribunal Secretary in SIAC and ICC arbitrations.

Accredited mediator (SIMI Level 3). Volunteer mediator with the Consumers Association of Singapore, the Community Mediation Centre and the Small Claims Tribunals since 2022; has mediated more than 20 consumer, neighbour and tenancy disputes, the majority resolved at mediation.

Acted for a wife in obtaining maintenance for herself and two children against a husband whose reduction in income the court found to be self-induced: [2024] SGFC 10‍

Assisted in obtaining, for a wife after a 44-year marriage, a 68 per cent share of the matrimonial assets at the ancillary matters hearing, and in resisting the husband’s appeal: [2020] SGFC 50

Assisted in obtaining, for a retired ex-husband, the rescission of spousal maintenance of S$5,500 a month, phased out over 15 months, and in the resulting cross-appeals to the Family Division of the High Court: [2021] SGFC 11

Acted for a Malay-Muslim couple in contested proceedings for the adoption of a child in their care, including dispensing with the natural father’s consent; adoption order granted.

Acted for an applicant for financial relief in Singapore consequent on foreign matrimonial proceedings under Chapter 4A of the Women’s Charter, mirroring a US consent order.

Acted for a wife in resisting her former husband’s application to reduce spousal maintenance.

Acted for a mother in divorce proceedings involving custody of four children, maintenance and division of assets.

Acted for husbands and wives in contested and uncontested divorce proceedings and ancillary matters, including division of assets across multiple jurisdictions, and in negotiated deeds of separation.

Acted in an application for the appointment of a deputy under the Mental Capacity Act.

Acted for a former managing director in a High Court claim against a private bank over his termination, resolved after mediation.

Acted for a former employee in resisting an interim injunction sought by a listed manufacturer over alleged breaches of post-employment restrictive covenants; settled.

Acted for a former employee in an application to discharge a without-notice injunction and delivery-up order obtained by a multinational in a breach of confidence claim.

Acted for a former employee in a wrongful termination and psychiatric injury claim against a multinational software company, including resisting a striking-out application.

Acted, pro bono, for a migrant worker seeking permission to appeal from the Employment Claims Tribunals on overtime and rest-day claims.

Advised employees on constructive dismissal, retrenchment, restrictive covenants and internal investigations, and employers on termination and TADM exposure.

Acted for the provisional liquidators of a Singapore investment holding company in a shareholder’s appeal to the Court of Appeal on when a creditors’ voluntary winding up commences and whether creditors can wind up a company absent a members’ special resolution: [2021] SGCA 8

Acted, with Senior Counsel, for the Thai-listed parent of the debtor company in opposing a judgment creditor’s application to wind up its Singapore subsidiary on a judgment of about US$124 million and the appointment of the creditor’s nominee as liquidator: [2024] SGHC 195

Acted for a logistics provider in its debt restructuring, including a moratorium under s 64 of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act, leave to convene a scheme meeting, approval of the scheme by the statutory majorities and its sanction by the court.

Acted for court-appointed receivers and managers in a cross-border Mareva and receivership dispute with assets in Singapore, Cyprus, Belize and the British Virgin Islands.

Advised a trustee in bankruptcy on a cross-border tracing and recovery strategy for a bankrupt owing at least US$118 million.

Acted for a bank in a mortgagee’s action for possession, and advised liquidators, creditors and directors in liquidations and creditors’ meetings.

Assisted, pro bono, in a capital appeal before a five-judge Court of Appeal in which the appellant’s death sentence was set aside on the ground of diminished responsibility under s 33B(3)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act: [2022] SGCA 75

Acted for an accused person in sentencing proceedings for sexual penetration and sexual grooming of a minor: [2026] SGDC 290

Acted for a Spanish company in the Attorney-General’s application under s 370 of the Criminal Procedure Code over property seized by the CPIB, and in applications under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act on requests from Brazil, Panama and Spain.

Acted as assigned counsel under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme in Moneylenders Act and Penal Code matters, including representations to the Attorney-General’s Chambers and pleas in mitigation.

Acted for the Law Society of Singapore in show cause proceedings before the Court of Three Judges against a solicitor who conducted litigation without his client’s instructions and failed to render proper advice: [2023] SGHC 132

Acted for the Singapore Medical Council in enforcing disciplinary tribunal costs against a practitioner by statutory demand and bankruptcy proceedings, and advised on recovery against struck-off and bankrupt practitioners.

Advised a plaintiff and prepared High Court proceedings in a medical negligence claim arising from a stillbirth, with expert evidence from the United Kingdom, and advised patients in other clinical negligence matters at the pre-action protocol stage.