Adam Maniam

Some of the matters in which Adam has acted include the following:

Lead counsel in successful SIAC Emergency Arbitration

• Adam was lead counsel in an SIAC Emergency Arbitration application. He successfully obtained emergency orders preventing the respondent from terminating a highly lucrative licensing agreement for novel technology in the oil and gas industry.

S$80 million infrastructure arbitration

• Co-counsel in an SIAC international arbitration involving a Singapore government-linked company and an Australian listed company. The dispute arose out of a major infrastructure project relating to the construction of an electrical services tunnel and involved significant legal and technical engineering issues. The quantum of the claim exceeded S$80 million.

S$25 million arbitration relating to construction of a jack-up rig

• Co-counsel in an SIAC international arbitration involving the construction of a jack-up rig. The quantum of the claim exceeded S$25 million.

Shareholder disputes

• Adam has acted for both claimants and defendants in multiple shareholder disputes involving claims of minority oppression and breach of shareholder / joint-venture agreements.

Acted for Singapore holding company of an Indian listco

• Adam acted for a Singapore holding company of an Indian listco in a dispute involving a US$50 million loan and a potential sale of assets worth more than US$100 million. This multi-jurisdictional dispute involved issues of both Singapore and Indian law, proceedings before the Singapore and Indian courts and a consideration of whether acts taken in Singapore would be in breach of SEBI regulations in India.

Acting for an Indian logistics facilitator and rail operator in a US$100 million dispute

• Adam acted for 2 Indian companies in a US$100 million infrastructure dispute relating to the construction of rail facilities in India. Adam also advised on arguments to be made before the National Company Law Tribunal in India.

Successfully struck out multiple causes of action in a US$1.4 billion mining dispute

• Adam successfully acted for a PNG company to strike out several causes of action in a claim allegedly brought by 147,000 persons in PNG in respect of the operation of a mine. Adam also successfully applied for the proceedings to be discontinued as a representative action. The case was one of the highest value claims ever brought in the Singapore Courts.

Successfully acted in trust dispute involving assets estimated to be worth US$600 – US$800 million

• Adam successfully acted for members of the De La Sala family in a trust dispute involving assets estimated to be worth US$600 – US$800 million. Adam acted for three directors of the companies involved in the dispute and successfully defended claims against them for breach of fiduciary duties and conspiracy.

Composition of Charge under the Workplace Safety & Health Act

• Adam was lead counsel for 2 companies which had been charged under the WSHA and which were facing a possible fine of up to $500,000. After representations were made by Adam, the charge against the companies was successfully compounded with a composition sum of only $5,000 being paid.

Dispute involving alleged damage to more than 300 Chinese ink paintings

• Adam was lead counsel for one of two defendants in an assessment of damages proceeding and subsequent appeal involving claims of more than S$2 million for alleged damage to more than 300 Chinese ink paintings. Under cross-examination by Adam, the plaintiff’s expert made several key admissions that the Court relied on in reducing the amount of damages claimed by the plaintiff by more than 70%.

S$18 million Private Banking Dispute

• Successfully represented UBS AG in a S$18 million dispute where two customers sued the bank for negligent advice and various other allegations surrounding the losses suffered by a US$60 million investment portfolio in the aftermath of the global financial crisis in 2008.

Representing Takashimaya subsidiary in a S$33 million dispute with a REIT

• Successfully represented a subsidiary of the Japanese Takashimaya conglomerate in a dispute over its contract with its REIT landlord. The dispute concerned issues of commercial propriety in contract law and involved one of the most iconic shopping centres in Singapore.

Claims relating to aircraft engine servicing

• Acted for a well-known aircraft engine manufacturer in claims relating to breaches of engine service agreements by international airlines.

Claims for breach of contract for sale of iron ore and heavy melting scrap

Acted for several companies in relation to various claims for breach of contract for the sale of iron ore and heavy melting scrap.