Sunil Abraham

• Banking and Securities

• Corporate and Commercial Litigation

• Commercial Arbitration

• Environmental Law

• Land & Property Law

• Media Law Disputes

• Public & Administrative Law Disputes

• Telecommunications

Dato’ Sunil Abraham has appeared in a number of noteworthy cases before the Federal Court pertaining to the approach courts are to adopt in land acquisition proceedings so as to ensure transparency of the process in Tegas Sejati Sdn Bhd v Pentadbir Tanah dan Daerah Hulu Langat & Anor and another appeal [2024] 3 MLJ 329; the grant of planning permission in Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur v Perbadanan Pengurusan Trellises & Ors and other appeals [2023] 3 MLJ 829; to the law of defamation and the application of the defence of reportage in Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd & Ors v Raub Australian Gold Mining Sdn Bhd [2021] 5 MLJ 79; the registration and enforcement of arbitral awards in Siemens Industry Software GmbH Co Kg (Germany) (formerly known as Innotec GmbH) v Jacob and Toralf Consulting Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Innotec Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd (M)) & Ors [2020] 3 MLJ; the validity and enforceability of introducer agreements within the meaning of Section 24 of the Contracts Act 1950 in Wong Yee Boon v Gainvest Builders Sdn Bhd [2020] 2 CLJ 727; the application of Section 10 of the Arbitration Act 2005 in Arch Reinsurance Ltd v Akay Holdings Ltd [2019] 1 CLJ 305; the applicable test for forgery in civil claims in Letchumanan Chettiar Alagappan (as the executor of the Estate to SL Alameloo Achi (Deceased) & Anor v Secure Plantations Sdn Bhd [2017] 5 CLJ 418; the applicable principles relating to the granting of interim relief in arbitration disputes in AV Asia Sdn Bhd v Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd [2014] 3 MLJ 61, the powers of liquidators in Ooi Woon Chee & Anor v Dato’ See Teow Chuan & Ors [2012] 2 MLJ 713 and the exercise of royal prerogative powers in Dato’ Seri Ir Hj Mohammad Nizar bin Jamaluddin v Dato’ Seri Dr Zambry bin Abdul Kadir (Attorney General, intervener) [2010] 2 MLJ 285 and His Royal Highness Sultan Ismail Petra Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra v His Royal Highness Tengku Mahkota Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra & Anor and another suit [2011] 1 MLJ 1; the doctrine of non-delegable duty and vicarious liability in Dr Harikrishnan & Anor v Megat Noor Ishak bin Megat Ibrahim & another appeal [2018] 3 MLJ 281, to name but a few.

Dato’ Sunil Abraham has successfully represented Raub Australian Gold Mining Sdn Bhd in a defamation claim against Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd (reported in Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd & Ors v Raub Australian Gold Mining Sdn Bhd [2021] 5 MLJ 79) involving issues relating to the law on responsible journalism and reportage. He has also had the distinction of representing several ministers within the Government of Malaysia in numerous libel claims, including appearing as co-counsel for the Government of Malaysia in an investment treaty arbitration claim instituted by Malaysian Historical Salvors and as co-counsel for investors in investment treaty disputes.

He successfully represented Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd in high-profile environmental law disputes instituted by local residents and involving the regulators as well as numerous developers in planning law disputes. Dato’ Sunil Abraham regularly sits as an arbitrator in commercial and infrastructure-related disputes.

Professional Affiliations:

• Barrister at Law of the Honourable Society of Middle Temple

• Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya

• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom

• Fellow of the Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators

• Fellow of the Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution

Empanelled as Arbitrator with:

• Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC)

• ADGM Arbitration Centre, Abu Dhabi

• Borneo International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation

• Dubai International Arbitration Centre

• Japan Commercial Arbitration Association

• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Malaysia

• London Court of International Arbitration

• Russian Arbitration Centre

• Shanghai International Arbitration Centre

• Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)

• Thailand Arbitration Center

• Vienna International Arbitral Centre

Panel of Mediators

• Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC)

• Encyclopedia of International Commercial

• Litigation – Malaysian Chapter by Kluwer International Law (2009)

• The IBA Arbitration Guide 2012 – Malaysian Chapter

• Lexis Nexis Dispute Resolution Law Guide 2017 – Malaysian Chapter

• Chapter 19 – Misrepresentation, Bullen & Leake & Jacob’s Malaysian Precedents of Pleadings (2017 Edition)

• Chapter 19 – Misrepresentation, Bullen & Leake & Jacob’s Malaysian Precedents of Pleadings (2023 Edition)

• The IBA Arbitration Guide 2018 – Malaysian Chapter

• Getting The Deal Through, Sovereign Immunity (2018) – Malaysian Chapter

• Getting The Deal Through, Sovereign Immunity (2019) – Malaysian Chapter

• Getting The Deal Through, Sovereign Immunity (2020) – Malaysian Chapter

• World Arbitration Reporter by Juris Publishing LLC – Malaysian Chapter (2018)

• World Arbitration Reporter by Juris Publishing LLC – Malaysian Chapter (2020)

• World Arbitration Reporter by Juris Publishing LLC – Malaysian Chapter (2022)

• Getting The Deal Through, Investment Treaty Arbitration (2019) – Malaysian Chapter

• Getting The Deal Through, Investment Treaty Arbitration (2020) – Malaysian Chapter

• Getting The Deal Through, Investment Treaty Arbitration (2022) – Malaysian Chapter

Dato’ Sunil Abraham is a partner at Cecil Abraham & Partners. He specialises in Corporate and Commercial, Banking and Securities, Media, Telecommunications, Public & Administrative and Environmental Law disputes, as well as Arbitration disputes. He has significant advocacy experience before the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Federal Court and before arbitral tribunals.

He has been recognised as a leading individual by Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Benchmark Litigation and Asialaw Profiles as well as being ranked by Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific in the area of dispute resolution. He has also been recognised in Who’s Who Legal (now Lexology Index) as a Future Leader in Arbitration. In 2016, he was named the Top 40 Under 40 Practitioners in Asia by Asian Legal Business.

Arbitration

• Sotella Fund Pte Ltd v Lextrend Sdn Bhd & Ors [2023] MLJU 2299

• Sotella Fund Pte Ltd v Bamboo Quest Sdn Bhd & Anor [2023] MLJU 2258

• Malaysia Resources Corp Bhd v Desaru Peace Holdings Club Sdn Bhd [2023] 11 MLJ 412

• Kua Khai Shyuan & Ors v Equities First Holdings, LLC [2022] MLJU 859

• Siemens Industry Software GmbH Co Kg (Germany) (formerly known as Innotec GmbH) v Jacob and Toralf Consulting Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Innotec Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd (M)) & Ors [2020] 3 MLJ

• Arch Reinsurance Ltd v Akay Holdings Sdn Bhd [2019] 5 MLJ 186

• Triumph City Development Sdn Bhd v Kerajaan Negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan [2017] MLJU 1394

• AV Asia Sdn Bhd v Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd [2014] 3 MLJ 61

• Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic v Thai-Lao Lignite Co Ltd, a Thai Co & Anor [2013] 3 MLJ 409

• Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad v Pin Center Sdn Bhd [2008] 1 LNS 712

• Malaysian Historical Salvors Sdn Bhd v Government of Malaysia, ICSID Case No. Arb 05/10

• Astro All Asia Networks Ltd (United Kingdom) v The Republic of India, PCA Case No. 2016-24

• South Asia Entertainment Holdings Ltd (Mauritius) v The Republic of India, PCA Case No. 2016-25

Banking & Securities

• I-Serve Online Mall Sdn Bhd & Ors v Bank Negara Malaysia & Ors [2022] MLJU 2952

• AWH Equity Holdings Sdn Bhd & Ors v GMV-Borcos Sdn Bhd [2019] MLJU 1069

• Michael Chow Keat Thye v Securities Commission Malaysia & Anor [2013] 10 CLJ 505

• Primus Malaysia Sdn Bhd v Rin Kei Mei & Ors [2012] 2 CLJ 501

• Hartaya Sdn Bhd & Ors v Malayan Banking Berhad & Ors [2010] 9 CLJ 469

Corporate & Commercial Law

• Sotella Fund Pte Ltd v Bamboo Quest Sdn Bhd & Anor [2025] MLJU 365

• Leopad Holdings Sdn Bhd v Asian Shield Warehousing Sdn Bhd [2021] 2 MLJ 424

• Wong Yee Boon v Gainvest Sdn Bhd [2020] 2 CLJ 727

• Dato’ Tan Wei Lian & Ors v Datuk Mansor Masikon [2019] 1 LNS 1615

• Wong Yee Boon v Gainvest Sdn Bhd [2018] 1 MLJ 124

• Tripple International Ltd v Belia Cermat & Ors [2016] 1 LNS 105

• Tripple International Ltd v Belia Cermat & Ors [2016] 1 LNS 135

• Leisure Dotcom Sdn Bhd v Globesource Sdn Bhd [2015] 5 MLJ 789

• Mariposa Grp Pty Ltd v Supreme Fame Sdn Bhd [2015] 1 LNS 159

• China Road & Bridge Corp & Anor v DCX Technologies Sdn Bhd and another appeal [2014] 5 MLJ 1

• PKNS Holdings Sdn Bhd v Nusa Gapurna Development Sdn Bhd & Anor [2014] 1 LNS 519

• Dato’ See Teow Chuan & Ors v Ooi Woon Chee & Ors and other applications [2013] 4 MLJ 351

• Gurubachan Singh s/o Baghwan Singh & Anor v Vellasamy s/o Pennusamy & Ors and other applications [2012] 2 MLJ149