Alvin is a Partner in the firm’s Insurance & Reinsurance Practice.
Alvin primarily practices in the field of insurance and reinsurance. He has been instructed on a wide range of disputes, including matters involving insurance coverage, construction defects, and professional negligence. He also regularly advises on insurance corporate and regulatory issues, such as schemes of transfer of insurance businesses, licensing of insurance companies and brokers, and issuances of catastrophe bonds.
Alvin was a member of the Singapore Academy of Law’s Subcommittee on Insurance Reform. The Subcommittee reviewed the insurance law of leading foreign jurisdictions and submitted its recommendations in the Report on Reforming Insurance Law in Singapore published in February 2020.
EXPERIENCE
Commercial Litigation
- Acted for a group of life insurers on coverage under multiple life policies following suspected fraudulent misrepresentation and non-disclosure of policyholder.
- Acted for a government-owned electricity and gas distribution company in a claim in the High Court for damage to a subsea electricity distribution infrastructure caused by a jack-up vessel.
- Acting for a statutory board and main contractors against the contractor of an adjoining construction site for damage caused to drainage infrastructure.
- Defending parties involved in telecommunications, sewerage, and transport infrastructure projects against third-party claims allegedly arising from ground subsidence and settlement.
- Acted for a property developer for claims against various construction contractors and consultants relating to defective and fallen external facade of a Grade A office building in Singapore.
- Acted for a general insurer against guarantors after a call on a performance bond.
- Defended a HR software provider against a claim by customer. Counterclaimed for fees owed by customer.
Arbitration
- Acted for a supply chain financier headquartered in London in an SIAC arbitration against a general insurer who denied coverage under a credit insurance policy.
- Acted for a provider of engineering, procurement, construction and installation services in the renewable energy power infrastructure sector in an ad hoc arbitration claim against a manufacturer and distributor of food products based in the Philippines.
- Acted for a waste management company in an SIAC arbitration claim against its customer for providing prohibited waste chemicals for treatment and disposal which caused a major explosion in an industrial estate in Singapore.
Advisory & Regulatory Matters
- Advising a telecommunications service provider on coverage under a liability policy concerning a contractual dispute in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
- Advising a food manufacturing group on property damage and consequential loss coverage for the 2021 floods in Malaysia.
- Advising on the setting up and operations of a coverholder under the Lloyd’s Asia Scheme.
- Advised NTUC Income on first-in-market longevity arrangement with Swiss Re.
- Advised on reinsurance cover for a motor claim in Sri Lanka and potential reinsurance broker liability.
- Advised an A&H insurer on reinsurance cover under treaties.
- Advised CAR insurers on coverage for damage caused to properties in the vicinity of construction sites in a flood-control project in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Advised a general insurer on coverage under a property insurance policy for a fire incident at a market warehouse in Myanmar.
- Advising a technical facility management company on a claim by a semiconductor manufacturing company arising from a fire incident at a manufacturing plant.
- Advising on issuances of catastrophe bonds via special purpose reinsurance vehicles in Singapore.
- Acted for life, general, and marine insurers in schemes of transfer of insurance business. Managed policyholders’ objections and submissions to Court.
- Assisted with the registration and licensing of a healthcare reinsurance broker and its related reinsurance company in Singapore.
- Advising marine mutual insurers on providing kidnap & ransom coverage.
- Advised insurers on regulatory obligations following cyber incidents and suspected data breaches.
MEMBERSHIPS / DIRECTORSHIPS
- Member, Professional Indemnity Committee, Law Society of Singapore
PUBLICATIONS
- Contributor, Report of Reforming Insurance Law in Singapore, Singapore Academy of Law (February 2020)
