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Kelvin Aw

Director

Kelvin Aw

Kelvin Aw

Director

T +65 9176 6400
CMS Holborn Asia
7 Straits View
Marina One East Tower
Singapore 018936
Languages English, Chinese
Construction & Engineering

Kelvin Aw is a Director in CMS Holborn Asia, the Formal Law Alliance between CMS Singapore and Singapore law practice, Holborn Law LLC.

Kelvin represents clients in their transactional and litigation matters in the construction, engineering, and infrastructure industries. He provides advice throughout the changing dynamics of a project cycle, ranging from front-end structuring and procurement to back-end work in which disputes have arisen. In Singapore, he represents clients in large-scale, landmark development matters. He also advises parties with projects in China, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Middle East.

Kelvin is committed to add value to clients’ operations and often identifies areas that can benefit from best practices in the industry, such as developing in-house standard contracts and operational guides for developers and constructors. He also brings his wealth of experience in the industries to the handling of contentious matters.

Kelvin is particularly active in statutory adjudications under Singapore’s Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act (Cap. 30B), and delivers consistently with an impressive track record.

Kelvin regularly represents clients in both international and domestic arbitrations in Singapore and the region, under arbitration rules of various arbitral institutions including the SIAC, KLRCA, CEITAC and ICC. His specialist knowledge of building and construction law and tenacity as a lawyer puts him in a position of strength in any arbitration.

Kelvin is consistently ranked as a leading individual for construction by the Chambers Asia-Pacific: Leading Lawyers for Business and The Legal 500 since 2016, and has made it to the ranks of The Best Lawyers for construction in 2019. He has also been recommended as a Dispute Resolution Star for construction and international arbitration by Benchmark Litigation since 2018.

He is also a Senior Accredited Specialist for Building and Construction recognised by the Singapore Academy of Law.  He is a fellow of the Singapore and Chartered Institutes of Arbitrators, and an accredited Senior Adjudicator with the Singapore Mediation Centre. In addition, he has served on the Council of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and has taught construction law modules at the National University of Singapore.

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"… is lauded by clients for being very knowledgeable and street smart when it comes to the nuances of the legal system; he knows all of the ins and outs.”

Chambers, 2018

“[Kelvin’s] biggest strength as a lawyer is that he is very strategic and always thinks ahead and tackles potential problems early on.”

Chambers, 2017

"Recommended individual for Construction Law"

Legal 500, 2017-8

"Recommended individual for International Arbitration"

Legal 500, 2018

"Recommended individual for Construction"

Chambers, 2016

"Recommended individual for Projects & Energy"

Legal 500, 2016

Kelvin Aw … advises on both contentious and non-contentious construction matters, in particular those arising from large infrastructure projects in the region. One client says: “his biggest strength as a lawyer is that he is very strategic and always thinks ahead and tackles potential problems early on."

Chambers, 2017

"… is lauded by clients for being very knowledgeable and street smart when it comes to the nuances of the legal system; he knows all of the ins and outs.”

Chambers, 2018

“[Kelvin’s] biggest strength as a lawyer is that he is very strategic and always thinks ahead and tackles potential problems early on.”

Chambers, 2017

"Recommended individual for Construction Law"

Legal 500, 2017-8

"Recommended individual for International Arbitration"

Legal 500, 2018

"Recommended individual for Construction"

Chambers, 2016

"Recommended individual for Projects & Energy"

Legal 500, 2016

Kelvin Aw … advises on both contentious and non-contentious construction matters, in particular those arising from large infrastructure projects in the region. One client says: “his biggest strength as a lawyer is that he is very strategic and always thinks ahead and tackles potential problems early on."

Chambers, 2017

Relevant experience

  • As project counsel of one of the largest integrated resort developments in Singapore which was valued at more than SGD$ 6bn (approximately USD $4.4bn).
  • An international Korean construction company in successfully setting aside an adjudication determination before the High Court of Singapore and the Court of Appeal of Singapore, in relation to claims in excess of S$ 13m by its subcontractor over a longstanding dispute in the Suntec City Mall project in Singapore.
  • A Singaporean listed developer of a resort in the Republic of Maldives, in an arbitration bought by its contractor for disputes arising from their building contract concerning valuation, time analysis and defects.
  • A Hong Kong listed Chinese developer and its construction arm as sponsors in the tender of the Marina East Desalination Plant project called by the Singapore Government on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Model.
  • A Hong Kong listed construction company in their successful tender for the construction of an MRT station and tunnels along the Thomson-Eastern Line by the Land Transport Authority of Singapore and drafting subcontracts for tunnel boring machines and other processes for the project.
  • A Singaporean government-linked port developer on a retainer basis, advising them on front end contract documentation based on the FIDIC suite of standard forms for use in relation to their expansion of the container terminal in Panama.
  • A Singaporean government-linked constructor on its successful bid for development of a defence sector training facility in Singapore procured on a design-build-operate model, and drafting sub-tier contracts for all phases of the project.
  • A German food flavours manufacturer on a retainer basis, for the development of their first Southeast Asia headquarters located in Singapore.
  • A leading international architectural firm, advising on and resolving a dispute arising from a resort project in Montenegro, owned by joint venture between entities in Azerbaijan and Montenegro.
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Education

2005 - MSc, Construction & Arbitration King's College London

1995 – LLB (Hons), University of Kent at Canterbury, Kent

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Memberships

Senior Accredited Specialist (Building & Construction), Singapore Academy of Law

Fellow, Singapore Institute of Arbitrators

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Accredited Senior Adjudicator, Singapore Mediation Centre

Member, Society of Construction Law Singapore

Member, Law Society of Singapore

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Dispute Resolution

Kelvin Aw is a Director in CMS Holborn Asia, the Formal Law Alliance between CMS Singapore and Singapore law practice, Holborn Law LLC.

Kelvin regularly represents clients in both international and domestic arbitrations in Singapore and the region, under arbitration rules of various arbitral institutions including the SIAC, KLRCA, CEITAC and ICC. His specialist knowledge of building and construction law and tenacity as a lawyer puts him in a position of strength in any arbitration.

Kelvin represents clients in their transactional and litigation matters in the construction, engineering, and infrastructure industries. He provides advice throughout the changing dynamics of a project cycle, ranging from front-end structuring and procurement to back-end work in which disputes have arisen. In Singapore, he represents clients in large-scale, landmark development matters. He also advises parties with projects in China, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Middle East.

Kelvin is particularly active in statutory adjudications under Singapore’s Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act (Cap. 30B), and delivers consistently with an impressive track record.

Kelvin is consistently ranked as a leading individual for construction by the Chambers Asia-Pacific: Leading Lawyers for Business and The Legal 500 since 2016, and has made it to the ranks of The Best Lawyers for construction in 2019. He has also been recommended as a Dispute Resolution Star for construction and international arbitration by Benchmark Litigation since 2018.

He is also a Senior Accredited Specialist for Building and Construction recognised by the Singapore Academy of Law. He is a fellow of the Singapore and Chartered Institutes of Arbitrators, and an accredited Senior Adjudicator with the Singapore Mediation Centre. In addition, he has served on the Council of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and has taught construction law modules at the National University of Singapore.

more less

"… is lauded by clients for being very knowledgeable and street smart when it comes to the nuances of the legal system; he knows all of the ins and outs.”

Chambers, 2018

“[Kelvin’s] biggest strength as a lawyer is that he is very strategic and always thinks ahead and tackles potential problems early on.”

Chambers, 2017

"Recommended individual for Construction Law"

Legal 500, 2017-8

"Recommended individual for International Arbitration"

Legal 500, 2018

"Recommended individual for Construction"

Chambers, 2016

"Recommended individual for Projects & Energy"

Legal 500, 2016

Kelvin Aw … advises on both contentious and non-contentious construction matters, in particular those arising from large infrastructure projects in the region. One client says: “his biggest strength as a lawyer is that he is very strategic and always thinks ahead and tackles potential problems early on."

Chambers, 2017

"… is lauded by clients for being very knowledgeable and street smart when it comes to the nuances of the legal system; he knows all of the ins and outs.”

Chambers, 2018

“[Kelvin’s] biggest strength as a lawyer is that he is very strategic and always thinks ahead and tackles potential problems early on.”

Chambers, 2017

"Recommended individual for Construction Law"

Legal 500, 2017-8

"Recommended individual for International Arbitration"

Legal 500, 2018

"Recommended individual for Construction"

Chambers, 2016

"Recommended individual for Projects & Energy"

Legal 500, 2016

Kelvin Aw … advises on both contentious and non-contentious construction matters, in particular those arising from large infrastructure projects in the region. One client says: “his biggest strength as a lawyer is that he is very strategic and always thinks ahead and tackles potential problems early on."

Chambers, 2017

Relevant experience

  • As project counsel of one of the largest integrated resort developments in Singapore which was valued at more than SGD$ 6bn (approximately USD 4.4bn).
  • An international Korean construction company in successfully setting aside an adjudication determination before the High Court of Singapore and the Court of Appeal of Singapore, in relation to claims in excess of S$ 13m by its subcontractor over a longstanding dispute in the Suntec City Mall project in Singapore.
  • A Singaporean listed developer of a resort in the Republic of Maldives, in an arbitration bought by its contractor for disputes arising from their building contract concerning valuation, time analysis and defects.
  • A leading international architectural firm, advising on and resolving a dispute arising from a resort project in Montenegro, owned by joint venture between entities in Azerbaijan and Montenegro.
  • An American oilfield service company in an SIAC arbitration against its supplier in relation to supply of products for use in oil exploration activities, which is related to disputes over quantity and quality of products supplied.
  • A Swedish civil engineering company in 2 arbitrations arising from 2 MRT Circle Line projects, involving measurement of foundation and tunnelling works and investigation into trench collapse.
  • An international Australian real estate developer on claims arising from the ceiling collapse of their flagship mall in Singapore.
  • A Malaysian M&E contractor in an ad hoc arbitration in Singapore against a Korean M&E contractor involving the design and installation of piping and ducting works in a Rolls-Royce manufacturing facility for engines used in the Airbus A380 fleet, and its associated enforcement proceedings in Singapore and Korean.
  • A hotel developer in respect of a claim by its contractor for a hotel development in Perth, Australia.
  • A Singaporean employer in an arbitration against and an Australian contractor on a 5-star hotel project in Ho Chih-Minh City, Vietnam.
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Education

2005 - MSc, Construction & Arbitration King's College London

1995 – LLB (Hons), University of Kent at Canterbury, Kent

more less

Memberships

Fellow, Singapore Institute of Arbitrators

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Accredited Senior Adjudicator, Singapore Mediation Centre

Member, Society of Construction Law Singapore

Member, Law Society of Singapore

more less

Expertise

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14 January 2019
Singa­pore High Court con­siders ap­plic­a­tion of “le­git­im­ate...
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Publication Dispute Resolution