Delos-Y Kuala Lumpur Tea Break took place on 28 November at 3pm Kuala Lumpur, at AIAC Seminar Room, Bangunan Sulaiman, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, 50000 Kuala Lumpur. The topic for this event was: “Embracing AI in IA: Opportunities and Challenges for Young Lawyers”.

The event featured Agesh Krishendra Jeyaratnam (Zul Rafique & Partners), Carissa How Chen Huey (Gan Partnership), Ji-En Lee (Chambers Lab), Marc Adrian Emuang (Raja Darryl & Loh), Chia Eng Yi (Cecil Abraham & Partners), Sanjev Sharma (AIAC’s Young Practitioners’ Group), Sean Ng (Donovan & Ho), and Thomas Shaun Mathews (Mohanadass Partnership). The event was moderated by Dato’ Sunil Abraham (Cecil Abraham & Partners); Raphael Kok (Lim Chee Wee Partnership) and Lilien Wong (Shearn Delamore & Co).

This Delos-Y Tea Break was held in conjunction with Cecil Abraham & Partners under the leadership of Delos-Y Co-Chair Rina See.

Short bios of our speakers and moderators can be found below.

With the support of

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

Agesh Krishendra Jeyaratnam (Senior Associate, Zul Rafique & Partners): he is a Senior Associate in the Construction Dispute Resolution practice group of the firm. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degree from the University of Reading, United Kingdom and obtained the Certificate of Legal Practice from the Legal Profession Qualifying Board, Malaysia. He was admitted to the Malaysian Bar in 2018. Agesh is principally involved in dispute resolution, particularly in construction and engineering related disputes. Apart from construction disputes, he also has handled disputes in matters relating to amongst others, insolvencies and performance bonds. He also has appeared at all tiers of the Malaysian Courts as well as in arbitration proceedings.

Carissa How Chen Huey (Senior Associate, Gan Partnership): she is a First Class Honours graduate from the University of Queen’s Belfast, United Kingdom. Thereafter she was called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. Carissa was admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 2019 after serving her pupillage with Gan Partnership, and currently holds the post of Senior Associate. Carissa practises in the field of general dispute resolution with a focus in construction and commercial disputes. Her practice includes mostly handling arbitrations both on a domestic and international scale and advising on various areas of contractual management and disputes. One of her notable works include forming part of the defence team in one of the first few challenges to the adjudication regime in Malaysia.

Ji-En Lee (CEO of Chambers Lab): he solves problems for lawyers. He co-founded Chambers Lab, a legal innovation startup which helps lawyers practice in an enjoyable and effective manner through the intelligent use of technology and global talents. Prior to this, Ji En was a disputes lawyer at a global law firm in Singapore. Ji En was the founding Deputy Chairperson of the Asia-Pacific Legal Innovation and Technology Association (ALITA). He often speaks on topics at the intersection of law, business, and technology and teaches Law Firm Management at the University of Malaya’s Faculty of Law.

Marc Adrian Emuang (Senior Associate, Raja Darryl & Loh): Marc is a senior associate in the Construction, Infrastructure & Energy practice group of Messrs Raja, Darryl & Loh. The focus of his practice is in commercial and civil dispute resolution, with experience and involvement in commercial arbitration, construction adjudication, mediations as well as traditional litigation at all levels of the Malaysian Courts. Marc has assisted clients with disputes in a diverse range of areas including construction, building and infrastructure projects, cross-border logistics and supply matters and corporate restructuring proceedings

Sanjev Sharma (Council Member on AIAC’s Young Practitioners’ Group): he is an independent legal practitioner based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He previously served as a case counsel at an international arbitral institution, where he led the establishment of its sports alternative dispute resolution (ADR) division. Sanjev also played a pivotal role in drafting the first Asian Sports Arbitration Rules, launched in October 2023, marking a milestone in the region’s commitment to fair and impartial dispute resolution in sports. Currently, Sanjev sits on the AIAC Young Practitioners’ Group (AIAC YPG) Council and is an active member of several other global young practitioners’ networks. A passionate advocate for inclusivity, he is a prominent voice for emerging leaders in ADR, dedicated to fostering a diverse and forward-thinking community within the field. Sanjev is licensed to practice as an Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya.

Sean Ferdinand Ng (Senior Associate, Donovan & Ho): he is a senior associate in Donovan & Ho’s dispute resolution practice group. He holds a Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of Oxford, St. Cross College, and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Hull. He is a recipient of the Routledge Law Prize, the Lionel Rosen Memorial Prize in Law, and the J Haydon Glen Prize. He brings with him a wealth of experience having worked on construction and infrastructure arbitrations, along with litigation involving debt recovery, tenancy disputes and judicial review. He has led investigations into tender processes, been involved in due diligence and contract drafting, and advises clients on risk mitigation measures. Sean has represented and assisted asset management and infrastructure solutions companies, construction companies and housing developers.

Chia Eng Yi (Associate, Cecil Abraham & Partners): Eng Yi is developing a practice covering all areas of the firm’s work, including in Commercial and Corporate Litigation, Construction & Infrastructure Dispute, Commercial Arbitration as well as in Media Law. Eng Yi read law at the National University of Malaysia. He was called to the Malaysian Bar in 2021. Eng Yi is presently involved in several commercial disputes, where he is led by Rishwant Singh and Aniz Ahmad Amirudin

Thomas Shaun Mathews (Senior Associate, Mohanadass Partnership): he is a Senior Associate in Mohanadass Partnership, a boutique law firm in Kuala Lumpur specialising in litigation and arbitration. Thomas graduated with a degree in law from the University of Liverpool in 2015 and completed his Certificate in Legal Practice the following year. Thomas commenced pupillage in Mohanadass Partnership in 2016 and was later called to the bar in 2017. Since joining the firm, Thomas has handled disputes involving corporate, commercial, construction and oil & gas and has appeared as counsel and co-counsel in the Courts of Malaya and Arbitrations, both international and domestic.

MODERATORS

Dato’ Sunil Abraham (Partner – Cecil Abraham & Partners): he specialises in Corporate and Commercial, Banking and Securities, Media, Telecommunications, Public & Administrative and Environmental Law disputes, as well as Arbitration disputes. He has significant advocacy experience before the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Federal Court and before arbitral tribunals. He has appeared in a number of noteworthy cases before the Federal Court pertaining to the approach courts are to adopt in land acquisition proceedings so as to ensure transparency of the process in Tegas Sejati Sdn Bhd v Pentadbir Tanah dan Daerah Hulu Langat & Anor and another appeal [2024] 4 CLJ 1; the grant of planning permission in Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur v Perbadanan Pengurusan Trellises & Ors and other appeals [2023] 3 MLJ 829; to the law of defamation and the application of the defence of reportage in Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd & Ors v Raub Australian Gold Mining Sdn Bhd [2021] 5 MLJ 79; the registration and enforcement of arbitral awards in Siemens Industry Software GmbH Co Kg (Germany) (formerly known as Innotec GmbH) v Jacob and Toralf Consulting Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Innotec Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd (M)) & Ors [2020] 3 MLJ; the validity and enforceability of introducer agreements within the meaning of Section 24 of the Contracts Act 1950 in Wong Yee Boon v Gainvest Builders Sdn Bhd [2020] 2 CLJ 727; the application of Section 10 of the Arbitration Act 2005 in Arch Reinsurance Ltd v Akay Holdings Ltd [2019] 1 CLJ 305; the applicable test for forgery in civil claims in Letchumanan Chettiar Alagappan (as the executor of the Estate to SL Alameloo Achi (Deceased) & Anor v Secure Plantations Sdn Bhd [2017] 5 CLJ 418; the applicable principles relating to the granting of interim relief in arbitration disputes in AV Asia Sdn Bhd v Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd [2014] 3 MLJ 61, the powers of liquidators in Ooi Woon Chee & Anor v Dato’ See Teow Chuan & Ors [2012] 2 MLJ 713 and the exercise of royal prerogative powers in Dato’ Seri Ir Hj Mohammad Nizar bin Jamaluddin v Dato’ Seri Dr Zambry bin Abdul Kadir (Attorney General, intervener) [2010] 2 MLJ 285 and His Royal Highness Sultan Ismail Petra Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra v His Royal Highness Tengku Mahkota Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra & Anor and another suit [2011] 1 MLJ 1; the doctrine of non-delegable duty and vicarious liability in Dr Harikrishnan & Anor v Megat Noor Ishak bin Megat Ibrahim & another appeal [2018] 3 MLJ 281, to name but a few. Dato’ Sunil Abraham has successfully represented Raub Australian Gold Mining Sdn Bhd in a defamation claim against Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd (reported in Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd & Ors v Raub Australian Gold Mining Sdn Bhd [2021] 5 MLJ 79) involving issues relating to the law on responsible journalism and reportage. He has also had the distinction of representing several ministers within the Government of Malaysia in numerous libel claims, including appearing as co-counsel for the Government of Malaysia in an investment treaty arbitration claim instituted by Malaysian Historical Salvors and as co-counsel for investors in investment treaty disputes. He successfully represented Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd in high-profile environmental law disputes instituted by local residents and involving the regulators as well as numerous developers in planning law disputes. Dato’ Sunil Abraham regularly sits an arbitrator in commercial and infrastructure-related disputes. He has been recognised as a leading individual by Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Benchmark Litigation Asialaw Profiles as well as being ranked by Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific in the area of dispute resolution. He has also been recognised in Who’s Who Legal as a Future Leader in Arbitration. In 2016, he was named the Top 40 Under 40 Practitioners in Asia by Asian Legal Business.

Raphael Kok (Partner, Lim Chee Wee Partnership): he is a partner at Lim Chee Wee Partnership specialising in international arbitration, shareholder disputes, asset recovery, and energy disputes. He is well-versed with the dispute resolution frameworks under public international law (ICJ and ICSID). Raphael regularly assists senior counsel from England and Singapore on multi-jurisdictional disputes. Presently, he is acting for the Government of Malaysia in an LCIA arbitration arising from the fraudulent misappropriation of public funds exceeding US$5.5 billion. In 2014, he was awarded the Best Malaysian In-House Lawyer of the Year by ASEAN Legal Business for his role as Shell’s global litigation counsel overseeing the Asia-Pacific region. Every year since 2022, his critiques on international arbitration have featured in prominent journals published by the Cambridge University Press (International & Comparative Law Quarterly) and Oxford University Press (ICSID Review and Arbitration International).

Lilien Wong (Partner, Shearn Delamore & Co): she is a Partner in one of the largest and oldest law firms in Malaysia, Shearn Delamore & Co. She holds a 1st Class LLB degree and an LLM in International Commercial Law with Distinction. Lilien is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. She is on the AIAC’s Panel of Arbitrators & Mediators and has acted as an arbitrator. She has handled many complex landmark commercial disputes for clients both domestic and international in litigation and arbitration. She has been recognized in the Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist: Southeast Asia published by the Legal 500 (2022), Legal 500 Asia-Pacific (2022-2024) as ‘Next Generation Partner’ in Dispute Resolution and Key lawyer in Antitrust & Competition.  Work aside, Lilien actively offers training for clients and judges mooting competitions

CHAIR

Rina See is a barrister practising from Bankside Chambers in Singapore.  She has represented States, state entities and multinational corporations in high-stakes international commercial and investment arbitrations, in both common law and civil law jurisdictions. Prior to relocating to Singapore, Rina was counsel in the international arbitration practice of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr in London.  Rina graduated from the University of Auckland (2011) and completed the BCL at the University of Oxford (2016).  She has taught as an adjunct professor at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law on Comparative Law.