Sheng Rong specialises in international arbitration and commercial litigation, with a focus on intellectual property and technology disputes.
Sheng Rong has substantial experience as counsel in a broad range of intellectual property disputes, including copyright, trade mark and patent infringement. He also regularly acts in disputes involving breach of confidentiality, theft of trade secrets and new technologies.
He is conversant in Mandarin and regularly acts for clients from the Greater China region in complex, high-profile disputes.
He is frequently engaged to act in challenging and significant cases. He acted in Riot Games v NetEase, a multi-jurisdictional dispute involving breach of copyright in a global eSports video game franchise, which received the Impact Deal and Case Award at the asialaw Awards 2023. He also acted in the landmark breach of confidentiality case of I-Admin (Singapore) v Hong Ying Ting, which was named Impact Deal of the Year at the Managing IP Asia-Pacific Awards 2021. He further acted in the first-ever case before the Singapore International Commercial Court, BCBC Singapore v PT Bayan Resources, involving a dispute over a joint venture to commercialise a novel patented coal upgrading technology.
Sheng Rong has been identified as a key lawyer in Dispute Resolution by Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 and recognised for Enforcement and Litigation by World Trademark Review 1000 2025. He was ranked as a key lawyer in Intellectual Property by Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024, a future star by Benchmark Litigation 2024 and a rising star in Dispute Resolution and Intellectual Property by asialaw 2024. He has also been named as one of Asia’s Super 50 Disputes Lawyers by Asian Legal Business, and one of Singapore’s Most Influential Lawyers Under 40 by Singapore Business Review.
Legal publications and clients alike have described him as “a formidable advocate in high-stakes litigation” who is recognised for his “incisive legal intellect and unwavering pursuit of excellence”, and “an impressive advocate who is quick on his feet and invariably calm in any challenging situation”.
Sheng Rong is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Committee of the Law Society of Singapore. He also teaches Trial Advocacy at the National University of Singapore Law School.
Prior to joining the firm, Sheng Rong was a Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Attorney-General’s Chambers, where he was a founding member of the Technology Crime Unit, tasked with investigating and prosecuting technology and cyber crime.
EXPERIENCE
Intellectual Property
- Acted for a Chinese Internet technology company against a US video game developer in litigation before the Singapore International Commercial Court involving claims for breach of copyright and passing off in a global eSports video game franchise, as part of a series of cross-jurisdictional actions spanning Singapore, the UK, Germany and Brazil (Riot Games v NetEase).
- Acting for a Chinese petrochemical company against a German-headquartered multinational chemicals company in an SIAC arbitration involving claims over the licensing of proprietary and confidential patents, technical information and know-how which was utilised for the construction and operation of a series of large petrochemical plants in China.
- Acting for a Chinese software company against a US software company in litigation before the Singapore High Court involving claims for breach of copyright and trade mark infringement in a web-based, AI-powered user interface design tool.
- Acting for a Singaporean manufacturer of therapeutic products against competing Chinese and Singaporean online retailers in a dispute involving claims for copyright, trade mark and patent infringement in regulated health products.
- Acting for a Singaporean manufacturer of medical devices against a Chinese company in a dispute involving claims relating to the registration of medical devices in China.
- Acting for a US-headquartered multinational manufacturer of flow creation and industrial products against a Singaporean company in a dispute involving claims for copyright and trade mark infringement in industrial machinery.
- Acted for a Chinese-headquartered leading online retailer of luxury goods listed on the New York Stock Exchange against a well-known American lifestyle brand in a dispute involving claims for trade mark infringement and passing off in luxury bags.
- Acted for a UK-based award-winning singer, songwriter and performer against a Singapore company in a dispute over ownership of copyright in songs which were used in various Netflix dramas.
- Acted for a Singaporean media and entertainment company against a Malaysian film production company in a dispute over film distribution agreements.
- Acted for a Singapore-headquartered multinational digital advertising service provider against an American digital advertising company in a dispute involving claims for trade mark infringement and passing off.
- Acted for a Singaporean manufacturer and distributor of industrial fire protection products against a Belgian manufacture of building materials and systems in a dispute involving claims for copyright infringement.
- Advising ESG and renewable energy solutions providers on filing of patents in respect of clean energy technologies.
- Advising pharmaceutical companies on filing of patents as well as registration of therapeutic products and medical devices with Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority.
- Advising entertainment companies and individuals operating through online channels and social media (including YouTubers, Twitch streamers and VTubers) in relation to the sale, purchase and acquisition of digital intangible assets (such as copyright, trade marks and other intellectual property rights).
- Advising Singapore’s leading immersive dining experience provider in relation to the protection of intangible assets and intellectual property rights in Singapore and overseas markets.
Breach of Confidentiality, Theft of Trade Secrets and Other Technology Disputes
- Acted for a Singapore-headquartered multinational technology company against two ex-employees in litigation before the Singapore Court of Appeal involving claims for the theft and misuse of proprietary software, source codes and trade secrets, which is now the landmark case for breach of confidentiality in Singapore (I-Admin (Singapore) Pte Ltd v Hong Ying Ting).
- Acting for a Singaporean electronic payments service provider against a Singapore-headquartered multinational information, communications and technology services firm in an SIAC arbitration relating to a software project involving the development, implementation and operation of a next-generation electronic payments system.
- Acting for an India-headquartered software company against a Singapore company in a dispute involving claims for breach of contract arising from the development and rollout of education software.
- Acting for an Indonesian pharmaceutical company against a US software company in a dispute involving claims for breach of contract arising from the implementation of enterprise resource planning software.
- Acted for an India-headquartered multinational technology services company against ex-employees in a dispute involving claims for breach of confidentiality, theft of trade secrets and misuse of proprietary information upon joining a competitor.
- Acted for a Singaporean professional body against a technology company in litigation before the Singapore High Court involving claims for alleged anti-competitive behaviour, conspiracy and unlawful interference with trade (StreetSine Singapore Pte Ltd v Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers).
- Advised senior-level executives in relation to claims by a global technology and manufacturing company for the recovery of confidential information and trade secrets.
- Advised cryptocurrency investors in relation to tracing and asset recovery of cryptocurrency tokens held in offshore wallets.
- Advised cryptocurrency investors on regulatory and contractual parameters governing the recoverability of profits realised from trading on cryptocurrency exchanges.
International Commercial Arbitration
- Acting for a Cambodian public-listed company against a Singaporean public-listed company in an SIAC arbitration involving claims for breach of contract arising from management changes, corporate governance failings and misappropriation of funds in a joint venture project.
- Acting for an Australia-headquartered multinational construction company against Australian and Italian companies in relation to an ICC arbitration involving claims for breach of contract arising from a joint venture to design and conduct the widening and upgrading of major motorways in Australia.
- Acted for a Singapore-headquartered multinational trading and engineering company against a Dutch company and individuals in an SIAC arbitration involving claims for breach of contract and misrepresentation arising from an acquisition of a conglomerate of companies in various Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and India, valued in excess of S$131 million.
- Acted for an Australia-headquartered multinational construction company against French and Portuguese companies in relation to an ICC arbitration involving claims for breach of contract and misrepresentation arising from a joint venture to design and construct an LNG project, with a claim sum in excess of AU$1.39 billion.
- Acted for a Singapore-headquartered multinational company operating South-East Asia’s largest online used-car marketplace against Thai and BVI companies in an SIAC arbitration involving claims for breach of contract and misrepresentation arising from an acquisition of a Thai company operating a used car auction platform, valued in excess of US$30 million.
- Acted for a Cambodian company operating a Special Economic Zone in Phnom Penh, Cambodia against Singaporean and BVI companies in an SIAC arbitration involving claims for breach of contract arising from a joint venture project to generate, procure and supply electricity to customers within the Zone.
- Acted for a BVI trading and investment company against a Malaysian company in an SIAC arbitration involving a shareholders’ dispute over the ownership, management and operation of a Vietnamese manufacturing and engineering company.
Other Notable Disputes
- Acted for an Australian public-listed company against an Indonesian public-listed company in the first-ever case before the Singapore International Commercial Court arising out of a failed joint venture to construct and operate a coal upgrading plant involving the commercialisation of novel patented technology, with over S$1 billion in dispute (BCBC Singapore Pte Ltd and another v PT Bayan Resources TBK).
- Acting for a French-headquartered global private bank in civil and criminal proceedings before the Singapore High Court involving the freezing and recovery of assets held in Singapore bank accounts pursuant to diplomatic mutual assistance rendered in support of Brazilian and Spanish criminal investigations and proceedings pursuant to the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2000.
- Acting for a Singapore-headquartered multinational trading and investment company in investigations and asset tracing across multiple jurisdictions, including Belize, the BVI, Cambodia, Mauritius, Singapore and Taiwan.
- Acting for a Singaporean construction company against ex-directors in litigation before the Singapore High Court involving claims for misappropriation of company funds, breach of trust and minority oppression.
- Acted for a Singaporean construction materials manufacturer against a Japanese-headquartered multinational construction company in litigation before the Singapore Court of Appeal involving claims under a supply contract which was frustrated by the unexpected imposition of an export ban on sand by the Indonesian government, which is now the landmark case on contractual frustration in Singapore (Alliance Concrete Singapore Pte Ltd v Sato Kogyo (S) Pte Ltd).
- Acted for the Chairman and founder of an Indian public-listed company against a Singaporean public-listed company in litigation before the Singapore High Court arising out of a failed joint venture to establish educational institutions across India (Raffles Education Corporation Limited v Shantanu Prakash).
- Acted for a UK-headquartered multinational financial services company against a Japanese-headquartered multinational group of trading and investment companies in litigation before the Singapore High Court in relation to an unexpected surge in nickel prices which forced the London Metal Exchange to take the unprecedented step of halting trading and cancel all trades in nickel-related products.
- Advised a Swiss-headquartered global luxury watch brand in relation to investigations by foreign authorities pertaining to customs and tax regulations for the import and sale of consumer goods between Singapore and South Korea.
MEMBERSHIPS / DIRECTORSHIPS
- Member, Intellectual Property Committee, Law Society of Singapore
- Advocacy Trainer, Law Society of Singapore
- Tutor, Trial Advocacy, National University of Singapore
PUBLICATION
- Contributor, Chapter on “Role of Court”, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, ed., Arbitration in Singapore: A Practical Guide (Sweet & Maxwell) (2nd ed., 2018; 1st ed., 2014)
