Crystal (Wai Chin) Wong

International Arbitration

Energy & Utilities Disputes

Construction Disputes

Mediation

Engineering & Infrastructure Projects

Chairperson (2024 – 2026) & Director, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), Malaysia Branch

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)

Panel Arbitrator, Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC)

Panel Arbitrator, Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)

Arbitrator, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) List of Arbitrators

Panel Arbitrator, Chinese Arbitration Association, Taipei

Panel Arbitrator, Chongqing Arbitration Commission

Director of Interlaw & Regional Leader, Asia Pacific, Interlaw Special Business Team (Arbitration & ADR)

Commissioner, National Executive Board, Girl Guides Association Malaysia (pro bono)

Member, TrustLaw, Thomson Reuters Foundation

Author, “The Malaysian Arbitration Handbook: Authoritative Guidance on Dispute Resolution” (LexisNexis Malaysia, 2025), a comprehensive Chinese-language practitioner guide covering the full arbitration lifecycle in Malaysia, including construction and energy arbitration, adjudication under the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act 2012 (CIPAA Act), mediation, and the Arbitration (Amendment) Act 2024.

Contributor, “Malaysian Civil Procedure” (Sweet & Maxwell Asia, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2024 editions), on arbitration chapter.

Contributor, “Bullen & Leake & Jacob’s: Malaysian Precedents of Pleadings” (1st and 2nd editions).

Author, “Lexology In-Depth: International Arbitration 2025” (formerly The International Arbitration Review).

Author, research paper on climate change & energy on “Malaysia’s Energy Policywhere roads paved with good intentions lead?”. The research paper was nominated for Best Paper Award, International Conference on the Future of Law & Legal Practice 2019.

Co-author, “The COVID-19 Act and Contracts” (2020); “The Coronavirus Epidemic: Does it count as Force Majeure? [2020] MLN(A) xiii”; “The Rise of Mediation: An ADR Forum in the Times of COVID-19” (2020); “Changing for Climate Change: Renewable Energy Regulation in Malaysia”, Master Builders Journal Vol. 2/2020; “Enforcing Foreign Arbitral Awards in Malaysia” (Lexis PSL, 2016).

Crystal Wong Wai Chin is a Partner at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill (LHAG) and one of Malaysia’s leading practitioners in International Arbitration, with a specialist focus on energy, utilities, construction, and infrastructure sectors. She acts as both counsel and arbitrator across Malaysia, Singapore, and the broader ASEAN region. She is a trusted advisor to utility companies, independent power producers, government-linked companies, and multinational corporations.

As Co-Head of LHAG’s China Desk, Crystal has built one of the most distinctive Chinese client practices in the Malaysian legal market, personally advising more than 10 Chinese state-owned enterprises on dispute resolution, construction, and infrastructure matters in Malaysia. She brings a unique combination of legal expertise and cultural fluency, having received specialist Chinese legal training at Southwest University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing, and is fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Hokkien. In 2025, Crystal was specially invited by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia to participate in a training programme at the China National Judges College – a prestigious institution under the Supreme People’s Court of China.

Crystal has a strong and growing interest in mediation as a complementary dispute resolution tool. She has conducted mediation proceedings both locally and abroad. She is a vocal advocate for mediation as a strategic option for clients in cross-border and complex multi-party disputes. Crystal is equally active as a thought leader, having authored “The Malaysian Arbitration Handbook: Authoritative Guidance on Dispute Resolution” (LexisNexis Malaysia, 2025), a landmark Chinese-language practitioner reference on arbitration in Malaysia.

As Counsel/Co-Counsel:

Represented one of Malaysia’s largest independent power producers in a series of AIAC arbitrations concerning operation and maintenance of power stations, capacity payments under power purchase agreements, and the Malaysian Grid System.

Advised a major Malaysian IPP on payment disputes relating to Capacity and Energy Payments under long-term power purchase agreements, including Fixed and Variable Operating Rate adjustments.

Represented a Malaysian IPP in a Singapore-seated ad hoc arbitration against Japanese contractors over design and operating defects in a coal-fired power plant.

Advised various power producers in arbitrations against EPC contractors for delays in conventional power plants and co-generation plants.

Represented a state-owned company in disputes over construction and transmission issues with power transmission lines.

Represented a state-owned company in a series of arbitrations (insurer, engineer, and end user) arising from a post-completion explosion at a petroleum shore tank facility.

Advised and represented a Malaysian conglomerate in a French-seated ICC arbitration against Algerian state-owned entities under civil law project agreements for a seawater desalination plant in Algeria.

Acted as counsel for a major Chinese oil conglomerate in multi-party litigation arising from construction contracts for a refinery and petrochemical integrated development in Malaysia.

Advised and represented one of China’s largest state-owned construction companies in arbitration claims and counterclaims exceeding RM300 million arising from the construction of one of Malaysia’s tallest towers.

Advised various Chinese state-owned companies on commercial and construction disputes from Belt and Road Initiative investments in Malaysia.

Represented a state-owned petroleum company in Malaysian-seated ad hoc arbitrations over engineering disputes regarding defective earthworks at an international airport runway.

Represented a UK-based oil and gas contractor in arbitration against a Singaporean employer for the construction of production enhancement facilities at an offshore petroleum facility.

As Arbitrator:

Acted as sole arbitrator in relation to a dispute under a sale and purchase agreement for an agarwood tree plantation under the AIAC Arbitration Rules.

Acted as sole arbitrator in relation to a dispute arising out of an employee loan agreement under the SIAC Arbitration Rules.

Acted as sole arbitrator in relation to a dispute arising out of the construction of an Islamic university campus under the AIAC Arbitration Rules.

Acted as sole arbitrator in relation to a dispute arising out of the rectification contract for water reticulation pipes under the AIAC Arbitration Rules.

Acted as sole arbitrator in relation to a dispute arising out of a settlement agreement under the SIAC Expedited Procedure.

Acted as co-arbitrator in relation to a construction disputes under the Construction Industry Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration Association (AAA).

Mediation Practice:

Crystal has a strong and growing interest in mediation and has conducted mediation proceedings both in Malaysia and internationally. She believes strongly in mediation as a powerful and underutilised tool in the dispute resolution toolkit, particularly for cross-border and commercially sensitive matters.

Conducted mediation proceedings domestically and internationally, spanning construction, energy, and commercial disputes.

Regularly advises clients on mediation strategy and represents clients as counsel in mediation proceedings, including under the AIAC Mediation Rules.

A vocal advocate for mediation as a strategic alternative dispute resolution option, in which she co-authored “The Rise of Mediation: An Alternative Dispute Resolution Forum in the Times of COVID-19” (2020).

A featured contributor on mediation for Chinese investors in “The Malaysian Arbitration Handbook: Authoritative Guidance on Dispute Resolution” (LexisNexis Malaysia, 2025), which includes a dedicated chapter on strategic mediation approaches for cross-border investors.