Stephania is a Partner in the firm’s Fraud, Asset Recovery & Investigations and White Collar Crime practice.
In her practice, she has handled a wide range of criminal matters, including commercial or financial crimes, money laundering, corruption, fraud, drug offences, violent crimes and other regulatory offences. Her experience spans across all levels of the Singapore courts, and also includes matters involving sanctions regulations and violations, and offences under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking & Other Serious Crimes Act and Payment Services Act.
She has also assisted in internal corporate investigations into employee misconduct, regulatory breaches and other fraudulent activities, including the conduct of digital forensics in complex matters. She also advises companies on their reporting and disclosure obligations vis-à-vis government authorities and compliance issues arising from internal investigations.
Stephania regularly advises companies on corporate governance matters, including anti-money laundering and anti-bribery policies, whistleblower policies and corporate training on these matters.
Apart from domestic crimes, she has also advised on cross-border criminal matters including investigations involving foreign and local authorities, extradition and mutual legal assistance matters.
Outside of private practice, Stephania also strives to maintain an active pro bono practice as a volunteer with the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. She has experience in criminal matters involving young offenders, persons with mental disabilities and/or special needs, as well as individuals with psychiatric diagnoses.
EXPERIENCE
Commercial & Financial Crimes
- Represented the General Manager and Director of the National Environment Agency’s Tuas Incineration Plant in a high profile fatal incident
- Represented high net worth individual alleged to be associated with the $3 billion money laundering case in Singapore, with several millions worth of assets seized
- Represented a director of a creative advertising company in relation to corruption charges
- Represented the manager of a construction company for a series of fraudulent offences including forgery, cheating and conspiring to disguise benefits of criminal conduct
- Acting for a partner of an events advertising and branding entity in relation to charges under the Workplace Safety and Health Act
- Acting for a director and owner of trading company in alleged breach of sanctions regulations
- Acting for a director of a local food & beverage enterprise in relation to alleged fraud, forgery and falsification of accounts
Investigations, Regulatory and Other Advisory Work
- Acting for a local trading and distribution company in internal investigations involving fraud, regulatory breaches and criminal offences
- Advising various pharmaceutical suppliers and distributor companies involved in police investigations and related coroners’ inquiries
- Represented a travel agency in internal investigations involving alleged private sector corruption
- Advising on regulatory and compliance matters including internal investigations policies, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption regulations and applicable banking laws
Miscellaneous Crimes
- Pro bono counsel for an individual charged for the import of endangered wildlife parts and successfully secured an acquittal on one charge under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking & Other Serious Crimes Act on appeal.
- Successfully acted for a young offender on appeal in the reduction of the sentence for an offence involving grievous hurt
MEMBERSHIPS / DIRECTORSHIPS
- Volunteer Counsel, Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS)
- Committee Member, Criminal Legal Aid Scheme Committee (Pro Bono SG), 2023 to 2025
- Committee Member, Young Lawyers Committee (Law Society of Singapore), 2023 to 2024
PUBLICATIONS
- Co-author, “Singapore: Navigating the complex landscape of government investigations”, Global Investigations Review (2025 – 2026)
- Contributor, “International Comparative Legal Guide: Business Crime, Singapore Chapter”, Global Legal Group (2025)
- Author, “A Pointed Problem: What are “benefits from criminal conduct”?; Public Prosecutor v Gumede Sthembiso Joel [2024] SGHC 23”, Practitioner Case Comment, Singapore Academy of Law (2024)