10 Best Criminal Lawyers in Singapore
If you are charged for a crime, and the matter is handled unprofessionally and instead goes to court, you must contact an experienced and reputable lawyer who can provide you with the necessary legal services for a reasonable fee.
A lawyer’s objective is to help their client reduce charges so that they can leave the courtroom safely and in order. An experienced one, in particular, has a better chance of winning a case or lessening the severity of the accusations.
It is best to inquire legal advice from an expert if you are unsure whether to plead guilty or submit a claim in the middle of a case. Consequently, in terms of getting excellent legal advice, these are the ten best criminal lawyers in Singapore to consult.
Here are the 10 Best Criminal Lawyer in Singapore:
- Eugene Thuraisingam
- Ashvin Hariharan
- Foo Cheow Ming
- Chooi Jing Yen
- Wilbur Lim
- Carol Yuen
- Bachoo Mohan Singh
- Cheryl Cheong
- Kevin Liew
- Martin Marini
1. Eugene Thuraisingam
Eugene Thuraisingam attended the Anglo-Chinese School for his education. He earned an excellent Second Upper Bachelor’s Degree in Law at the National University of Singapore, where he made the final year Dean’s List.
Eugene began his legal career in 2001 at Allen & Gledhill, a well-known Singapore law firm, where he swiftly advanced through the ranks to become a partner in 2007.
He joined Stamford Law Corporation, now Morgan Lewis Stamford LLC, in 2009 as one of the firm’s early dispute resolution pioneers and stayed until he left to establish his practice.
He is a fiery lawyer who isn’t afraid to battle for what he believes in. Some clients describe him as a “strong-willed and determined litigator.” Others lauded his strategic approach to putting a case in the best possible settlement situation should the right circumstances materialize.
Eugene founded Messrs Eugene Thuraisingam, now known as Eugene Thuraisingam LLP, in 2012, a boutique law firm focusing on criminal defense and commercial dispute resolution.
Eugene was the recipient of the LASCO Award in 2016 for his commitment to pro bono criminal representation. Eugene is routinely briefed on matters concerning human rights and the rule of law. He was also conferred the Pro Bono Ambassador Award 2020 by the Law Society of Singapore for his unstinting dedication to defending impecunious accused persons.
He has argued cases involving free expression, the right to counsel under the Constitution, and the separation of powers.
Eugene persuaded the High Court and the Court of Appeal by a majority in a particular case that the Government lacked the standing to bring proceedings under Section 15 of the Singapore Protection from Harassment Act.
As a result, Eugene has been recognized as a Leading Criminal Defence Lawyer by Doyle’s Guide in 2020 and as one of The Best Lawyers™ in 2022. For general dispute resolution and litigation, he was named a Market-Leading Lawyer in Dispute Resolution & Litigation by Asialaw in 2018 and was also recently recognized by Asialaw Profiles 2022 as a Notable Practitioner.
The firm, Eugene Thuraisingam LLP, believes that safeguarding fundamental liberties granted by the law is central to law practice.
Eugene Thuraisingam LLP
The law firm is committed to resolving matters arising from criminal law and commercial disputes. It is a Singapore-based law firm created in 2012 to offer top-notch representation in commercial and criminal law. Eugene Thuraisingam LLP was recognized as the Asia Pacific Boutique Firm of the Year in 2020 by Benchmark Litigation.
The law firm has had substantial success at all levels of court, with many of its cases leading to reported judgments. Situations of remarkable commercial complexity, instances involving unique questions of law of public interest, and cases in which liberty or even life is at stake are among the cases the firm has fought and won.
Services Provided
- Criminal Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Commercial Arbitration
- Corporate and Commercial
Contact Details:
T: +65 6557 2436
W: https://thuraisingam.com/ /
https://www.linkedin.com/company/eugene-thuraisingam-llp
https://www.facebook.com/eugenethuraisingamllp
https://www.instagram.com/eugenethuraisingamllp/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugene-thuraisingam-410499154/
Singapore
2. Ashvin Hariharan
Ashvin is a criminal defense lawyer, family law lawyer, and estate planning, lawyer. In instances including cheating, criminal breach of trust, rioting, sexual offenses, money laundering, corruption, and road traffic offenses, Ashvin as a criminal lawyer, has represented accused persons in both tiers of Singapore courts (the State Courts and the High Court).
Through investigations and interviews conducted by the Singapore Police Force, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Ashvin has aided several clients.
As a family law lawyer, Ashvin has represented clients in a wide range of Family Law matters, including contested and uncontested divorces. In Singapore’s first lawsuit under the recently passed Vulnerable Adults Act 2018, Ashvin defended a client.
Additionally, Wills, Probate, Letters of Administration, Lasting Powers of Attorneys, and Deputyship petitions are where Ashvin frequently advises and aids clients.
Ashvin is a criminal defense lawyer at Kalidass Law Corporation.
Kalidass Law Corporation
Kalidass Law Corporation is a small law firm in Singapore that focuses on criminal law. Kalidass is a highly skilled and experienced criminal defense lawyer who handles a wide range of criminal matters in Singapore.
The firm’s legal expertise in the legal arena allows the corporation to best attend to its client’s demands with flawless professionalism and insight while also offering steadfast support throughout the case.
Kalidass Law Corporation serves its clients with inexpensive, high-quality legal services delivered with honesty, professionalism, compassion, and respect. The firm walks you through the process of your hearing with top-level counsel from their defense attorneys at each stage.
The corporation’s Singapore team consists of devoted and professional defense lawyers who have brought a wealth of experience and knowledge from previous law firms and have proven to be adept and qualified in handling the most complex criminal matters.
Services Provided
- Criminal Law
- Corporate Law
- Family Law
3. Foo Cheow Ming
Mr Foo is a zealous criminal defense attorney with over 30 years of expertise. He has served in various capacities, including Asst Registrar High Court, Magistrate, Deputy Public Prosecutor, and State Counsel, then as dedicated Defence Counsel.
He provides services based on his knowledge and experience to clients with criminal offenses with a targeted, solution-oriented, and practical approach to resolving criminal cases.
Foo Cheow Ming began his career in legal practice. He worked as an Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court and later as a Deputy Public Prosecutor in the Attorney General’s Chambers between 1989 and 1999.
He spent five years in association with eminent criminal defense attorney Mr Sant Singh, Senior Counsel, after entering private criminal practice in 1999.
Foo spent seven years as a full-time criminal defense lawyer at KhattarWong LLP, Singapore’s largest law firm. He also partnered and worked closely with Mr Subhas Anandan, another well-known experienced criminal defense lawyer in Singapore’s local law firms and internationally, during his stint at KhattarWong.
4. Chooi Jing Yen
Chooi Jing Yen is a partner at Eugene Thuraisingam LLP. He received his bachelor’s degree with honors from the Singapore Management University (SMU) in 2015, placing on the Dean’s List in his final year.
He received broad-based training in his early years but ultimately decided to specialize in criminal and commercial disputes.
Client reviews in Asialaw Profiles and Benchmark Litigation have commended Jing Yen for his sharp mind, calm demeanor, and long-term litigation strategy. He has argued at all court levels, including the Court of Appeal.
Jing Yen has secured several acquittals, including representing two doctors who were completely acquitted of sexual assault allegations. He has also obtained acquittals in murder and drug trafficking cases, where a conviction would have meant that his clients would suffer the death penalty.
In addition, Jing Yen frequently advocates for accused persons suffering from various psychiatric conditions, to mitigate their sentences in court. One of the most significant examples is the case of a man who had a fetish for leather wallets.
Jing Yen has authored several articles for the Singapore Law Gazette, including one on the seminal Court of Appeal judgment in Teo Seng Tiong v Public Prosecutor [2021] SGCA 65 which held that a previously compounded offense can aggravate an offender’s sentence for a future offense.
This skill set is complemented by his concurrent practice in complex commercial litigation. He has published in the Singapore Law Gazette on the striking out of frivolous and vexatious lawsuits.
Eugene Thuraisingam LLP
The law firm is committed to resolving matters arising from criminal law and commercial disputes. It is a Singapore-based law firm created in 2012 to offer top-notch representation in commercial and criminal law. Eugene Thuraisingam LLP was recognized as the Asia Pacific Boutique Firm of the Year in 2020 by Benchmark Litigation.
The law firm has had substantial success at all levels of court, with many of its cases leading to reported judgments. Situations of remarkable commercial complexity, instances involving unique questions of law of public interest, and cases in which liberty or even life is at stake are among the cases the firm has fought and won.
Services Provided
- Criminal Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Commercial Arbitration
- Corporate and Commercial
Contact Details:
T: +65 6557 2436
W: https://thuraisingam.com/ /
https://www.linkedin.com/company/eugene-thuraisingam-llp
https://www.facebook.com/eugenethuraisingamllp
https://www.instagram.com/eugenethuraisingamllp/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chooi-jing-yen/
Singapore
5. Wilbur Lim
Wilbur Lim is the managing director of WMH Law Corporation. Litigation matters such as commercial and construction litigation and arbitration are among Wilbur’s many areas of expertise. In addition, he has stood in for clients in various criminal law cases and marital cases. Wilbur’s clients include individuals and large corporations, including a publicly traded overseas company with a $1 billion annual turnover.
Wilbur had previously served as lead counsel in international arbitration for high-value construction disputes involving complicated problems such as conflict of laws and arbitration rules.
Wilbur is an Adjunct Faculty member at Singapore Management University’s School of Law, where he teaches Construction Law. Wilbur has also given talks and workshops on various themes, including Employment, Private Wealth, Matrimonial, Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation, and Islamic Law.
Wilbur was among the top students in his law school, graduating with the highest honors, summa cum laude (First Class Honours). In addition, Wilbur’s outstanding academic achievement earned him prizes such as the Michael Hwang Prize for the Top Student in International Arbitration, the Top Student for Property Law, and the Top Student for Ethics and Social Responsibility, among others.
He also represented his law school in the prestigious International Commercial Court Mediation Competition in Paris, confirming his belief in the efficacy of alternative conflict resolution techniques.
WMH Law Corporation
WMH Legal Corporation is a full-service boutique law firm with a focus on dispute resolution and corporate law. The firm is Singapore-based, and through the WMH Regency network, they possess significant regional capabilities in Greater China, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
WMH Regency is a network of structured regional practice groups founded to deliver first-class legal advice to clients in today’s globalized world.
A group of attorneys who previously worked for Singapore’s Big Four legal firms established the corporation to provide high-quality legal services at affordable prices.
In addition, the firm uses cutting-edge legal technology to boost productivity while lowering costs. The Law Society of Singapore has recognized and certified the firm as a “SmartLaw” Singapore Law Practice in this regard.
Services Provided
- Criminal Law
- Family Law
- Medical Law
- Corporate Law
- Labour Law
6. Carol Yuen
Carol Yuen is an associate member of Peter Low and Choo LLC Advocates and Solicitors. She completed her legal education at Peter Low & Choo LLC and got her call to the bar in 2020. Carol helps with criminal, civil, commercial, and matrimonial cases and public interest work.
Carol has assisted in the defense of a murder accusation in a High Court criminal trial, as well as charges of cheating, criminal breach of trust, moneylending, corruption, and legal matters associated with criminal law.
Carol has also aided in the prosecution of criminal cases involving sexual offenses and traffic violations. She is a CLAS volunteer and listed as Junior Assisting Counsel for LASCO on the Supreme Court’s registry of counsel.
Other noteworthy milestones include her aid in a High Court civil trial involving a wrongful dismissal issue and the employer’s internal inquiry for civil and commercial problems. Carol has also aided in resolving commercial issues and assisted in mediation investor-state arbitration, and litigation.
Carol has aided non-governmental organizations with legal advice as part of her public interest work. She has also made legal representation in the defense and appeals of disciplinary cases involving the legal, dental, and real estate professions.
Peter Low and Choo LLC Advocates and solicitors
Peter Low & Choo LLC is a Singapore-based law firm specializing in all aspects of conflict resolution. It has partaken in many high-profile civil, commercial, and toughest criminal cases. In addition, the firm, led by Mr Peter Cuthbert Low, focuses on public-interest litigation and has a plethora of experience in this area.
The firm is a professional practicing corporation in terms of litigation matters with ten court-ready lawyers who have worked in Singapore courts at all levels. They have a wide range of contentious projects. Peter Low and Choo LLC has a reputation for taking on complex and challenging cases from start to finish in the highest courts. The organization is also capable of handling corporate tasks.
Services Provided
- Criminal Defense Litigation
- Family and Probate Practice
- Corporate Regulatory Practice
- Civil and Commercial Litigation
7. Bachoo Mohan Singh
Mohan Singh is the Managing Director at BMS LAW LLC Singapore and Principal at BMS LAW LLC. Singh has extensive legal experience in Singapore and Australia, having worked as an advocate and solicitor for over 45 years.
He has handled high-stakes matters in civil litigation, criminal defense, and arbitration, among other dispute resolution fields.
Singh, an excellent litigator, addresses each client with actual answers, and the results are proof of his legal knowledge. As a result, clients he has worked for rate him highly due to his in-depth understanding of the legal system.
In Singapore, Singh has appeared in over 30 High Court matters. He has also appeared in the Western Australian Supreme Court, the Federal Court of Australia, the Wardens Court of Australia, and the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.
BMS LAW LLC
BMS LAW LLC’s rich history dating to 1972 when Singh graduated from the University of Singapore with a B.Laws with honors which paved the path for a job at L A J Smith. Singh got the chance to counsel the Respondent in Singapore Pak Hock Pai Athletic Association v Yiu Pek Heng (1973) SGCA 8, with the Singapore Court of Appeal hearing held in the Apex Court of Singapore, shortly after his admission to practice in 1973.
Singh established his law firm, B Mohan Singh & Co. A few years later, Singh represented the Appellant in Malayan Plant (Pte) Ltd v Moscow Narodny Bank Ltd (1978) SGCA 11, heard at the Singapore Court of Appeal, around 1977.
He continued to practice law under his name for many years, supporting clients in numerous Singapore High Court and Court of Appeal cases.
Singh began practicing law in Singapore in 2016 under the name Bachoo Mohan Singh Law Practice and incorporated his Singapore legal company into BMS LAW LLC quickly.
In 2018, Australia’s law firm was renamed BMS LAW to preserve brand consistency throughout Australian and Singapore law practices.
Since June 2018, BMS LAW LLC (Singapore) and BMS LAW (Australia) have proudly represented clients in over 35 cases heard before the Singapore High Court, Singapore Court of Appeal, and Western Australian Supreme Court.
Services Provided
- Criminal Law
- Civil Litigation
- Family Law
- Deceased Estate
8. Cheryl Cheong
Cheryl Cheong is a senior associate at Gloria James Civetta and Co. and operates across various fields of law, including; Family Law, Corporate and Commercial Law, and Criminal Law.
Cheryl graduated from the United Kingdom University of Leeds in 2010. The Supreme Court of Singapore admitted her as an Advocate and Solicitor in 2012. In 2014, she was named an Associate Mediator at the Singapore Mediation Center.
Cheryl returned to the United States after completing her training in the local law firm, where she served on a wide range of general litigation cases, including marital, corporate, and commercial disputes, arbitration, and criminal matters. She has also worked with general corporate, probate, and issues of administration.
Cheryl has worked in a variety of matrimonial and family law settings. She has represented both local clients and foreign clients successfully in both contentious and non-contentious cases.
As a corporate lawyer, Cheryl has given corporate consulting, restructuring, and employment assistance to small and medium-sized businesses in the area.
She also has valuable experience in criminal law. As a criminal attorney, her practice includes; Criminal Representation and Matters under the Prevention of Harassment Act (POHA).
Additionally, she has worked as a co-mediator at the Singapore Mediation Centre for conflict resolution.
Gloria James Civetta and Co
Gloria James-Civetta & Co. is a well-known Singapore-based law corporate firm. The firm comprises legal specialists in a variety of fields.
GJC is widely regarded as a reliable and high-quality firm, having received numerous honors and accreditations from reputable Singaporean organizations.
Their skilled team of lawyers at Gloria James-Civetta & Co. offers clients the excellent advice and representation they need to get results. They work with their customers to ensure that they understand the legal procedure straightforwardly and concisely.
GJC provides guidance and representation to clients to make them feel at ease, and we can be of assistance, no matter how complex the situation is.
Services Provided
- Criminal Law
- Family Law
- Corporate and Commercial Law
- Civil Litigation
- International Alliance
- Estate Law
9. Kevin Liew
Liew is an associate lawyer at Gloria James-Civetta & Co. He is a versatile legal practitioner with experience in various fields of law such as; Criminal law and Family Law.
Liew graduated from the University of Durham in 2019, gaining admission to the Supreme Court of Singapore as an Advocate and Solicitor in 2021.
Liew has partaken in a broad spectrum of blue-collar and white-collar crimes due to his love for criminal law and desire for justice. He has experience handling and assisting clients on criminal cases such as; sexual offences, hurt offences, property offences, drug offences, traffic offences, and employment offences.
Aside from criminal defense, Liew has also assisted clients in filing police reports and Magistrate’s Complaints.
In Family Law, Liew has relevant experience in family law such as; Divorce, Meditation, division of marital assets, stay of proceedings, maintenance issues, custody, care, and control issues.
He also has experience providing legal advice and solutions on the Harassment Act. Liew has also worked with clients on both sides of the argument, claims, and respondents. He approaches such issues with zeal, quickly recognizing his clients’ needs and efficiently guiding them through practical solutions.
Liew has dealt with and aided clients in cases of harassment such as; verbal abuse, cyberbullying, anonymous harassment, and doxing, threats to leak compromising or embarrassing materials.
Gloria James Civetta and Co
Gloria James-Civetta & Co. is a well-known Singapore-based law corporate firm. The firm comprises legal specialists in a variety of fields.
GJC is widely regarded as a reliable and high-quality firm, having received numerous honors and accreditations from reputable Singaporean organizations.
Their skilled team of lawyers at Gloria James-Civetta & Co. offers clients the excellent advice and representation they need to get results. They work with their customers to ensure that they understand the legal procedure straightforwardly and concisely.
GJC provides guidance and representation to clients to make them feel at ease and offer legal solutions to criminal matters, no matter how complicated the situation is.
Services Provided
- Criminal Law
- Family Law
- Corporate and Commercial Law
- Civil Litigation
- International Alliance
- Estate Law
10. Martin Marini
Martin leads Farallon Law Corporation’s Maritime Practice. He focuses on the shipping and offshore disputes, both contentious and non-contentious.
He has served as General Counsel at the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) for 15 years. He also provides legal advice for senior management and leads its legal and prosecution activities. He is also an adjunct marine practice consultant at the NUS Centre for International Law, Singapore.
Martin attended sessions of the International Maritime Organization’s Legal Committee, the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund Assembly, and the Special Tripartite Committee (STC) of the International Labour Organization’s Maritime Labour Convention in Geneva. He continues to serve as vice-chair of the STC.
Martin began his legal career with Messrs Ramdas & Wong in 1996. He managed dispute settlement at Goodwins Law Corporation (Singapore) before joining the MPA in 2005. Martin’s litigation experience includes serving as defense counsel in criminal matters and aiding and leading counsel in reported capital cases assigned by the High Court under the LASCO Scheme.
Martin was also a volunteer with the Law Society’s Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, and he represented the society in two recorded cases as counsel. He also served as a prosecutor for the Central Provident Fund Board, prosecuting employers for violating the CPF Act in court.
Martin worked as an Administrative Service Officer in the Singapore Civil Service. In addition, he had positions at the Ministry of Defence, Communications and Information, and the National Trades Union Congress’ Research Unit.
Farallon Law Corporation
Farallon Law Corporation is a Singapore-based boutique independent law company dedicated to providing excellent legal advice to a broad spectrum of clients. From commercial high-stakes disputes to criminal law trials, the FLC team has gotten significant results for clients at all levels of court in Singapore. In addition, the world-class quality of legal services provided has earned the firm regional recognition.
Services Provided
- Criminal Law
- Civil Litigation
- Commercial Law
- Corporate Law
- Dispute Resolution
- International Arbitration
Importance of Criminal Lawyers on Criminal Offence Cases
Criminal charges can be contentious for anyone charged with criminal offenses, and this is one of many reasons criminal lawyers are essential in the legal industry. You may be facing complicated documentation, foreign legal words, and lengthy follow-ups involved in criminal proceedings.
The criminal law process can be pretty stressful, and it may add to your already existing concerns about the case. While handling your case and representing yourself is conceivable, there are always certain disadvantages.
Hiring a lawyer is not always a low-cost alternative. However, they may be able to reduce your chances of suffering higher losses or facing jail time if your case is lost.
Verdict
Being called to court is not an easy experience, but having an experienced criminal lawyer to rely on can be a huge help.
The roles and importance of criminal lawyers in every society cannot be overemphasized. The above list of criminal lawyers in Singapore comprises Singapore’s finest criminal lawyers.
Therefore, if you require legal counsel or legal representation on a criminal legal matter, you have a high-quality list of lawyers with the necessary knowledge, skillsets, and experience to guide you and proffer solutions to your legal matters.
FAQs
What are cases that fall under criminal law?
Even if the immediate victim is an individual, criminal law deals with action interpretable as an offense against the public, society, or state. Murder, violence, theft, and drunken driving are only a few examples.
What does it mean when you plead guilty to a charge?
Pleading guilty to a charge implies you have admitted that you committed the charge’s alleged offense and that you accept that you will be penalized for it.
What does it mean to claim trial to a charge?
The act of claiming trial requires you to inform the judge of your intentions once charged with a crime in court.
What does the criminal justice process entail?
Criminal justice is a multi-step process that starts with a criminal inquiry and finishes with a convicted offender being released from prison supervision.
