Donaldson & Burkinshaw - The Practice

T H E P R A C T I C E

YOU COME FIRST

Our clients include well-known local and multinational corporations, private companies, partnerships and individuals, banks and other financial institutions, property developers, manufacturers, traders, information technology companies, airlines, and shipping and logistic support companies. The firm also represents a number of Singapore's blue-chip corporate giants as well as governmental and quasi-governmental agencies and organisations.

Our objective is to provide the full range of high quality legal service to commerce and industry, government and industrial clients consistent with the best international standards throughout the world. Over the years, the firm has earned a reputation for integrity, industry and astuteness in advancing and protecting our clients' interests by looking beyond narrow legal issues and focusing on each client's business goals. We are also sensitive to the budgetary concerns of our clients and strive to ensure that our work is cost-effective.

ADMIRALTY & SHIPPING LAW	We are involved in a wide range of Admiralty and Maritime work, both contentious and non-contentious, providing the swift and efficient service so crucial in this area. These include the arrest or release of ships, collision claims, cargo claims, ship financing and disputes on competing interests.
ARBITRATION PRACTICE, BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS	Donaldson & Burkinshaw has a very active Building & Construction and Arbitration practice in Singapore and provides the full range oflegal service in this area. In particular, we undertake complex building, engineering and marine construction contracts. We service our clients from the drafting of the contract until the completion of the project. We work closely with clients to expeditiously deal with any difficulties that may arise and ensure the smooth running of the project. In the event of disputes arising, clients are able to tap our vast experience in dispute resolution in this area. In this connection, we have been involved as counsel in numerous and diverse matters in both litigation as well as arbitration proceedings. The firm includes attorneys who are fellows, members, arbitrators and conciliators of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and the Singapore Institute of Architects, and have served as Arbitrator at the International Chamber of Commerce, the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators as well as private arbitrations.
BANKING, FINANCE & SECURITIES	We provide a comprehensive service in the area of Banking and Finance. The transactions that we handle include capital market transactions, commercial paper, debt, equity and security instrument issues, bank security and collateral, loans, loan syndications and other financings, equipment leasing and hire purchase, general commercial banking advice, insolvency matters like restructuring and rescheduling of debts, work-outs, receiverships, judicial managements, liquidations, bankruptcies, all aspects of recovery, regulatory requirements including the establishment and conduct of banking and other financial and securities operations.
CIVIL & COMMERCIAL LITIGATION	We are involved in litigation relating to commercial and corporate disputes, debt collection, breach of contracts, counterfeit and civil claims in intellectual property matters, banking matters, building contracts, injunctive reliefs, breach of fiduciary duties, partnership disputes, administration of estates, employment law disputes, fraud, disputes regarding real property (for example, landlord and tenant matters and agreements relating to the sale and purchase of land), family matters, admiralty actions including collisions and salvage, cargo damage claims, marine insurance including P & I Club representation, mortgage enforcement, maritime personal injury claims and shipbuilding disputes, and general insurance and personal injury claims. We undertake appeals before the High Court and the Court of Appeal of Singapore. We have also appeared before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. We act regularly for banks and trustees in major litigation and liquidation proceedings. In addition to litigation, we also appear regularly before various tribunals. We handle major public inquiries in national disasters. We act for owners of lands compulsorily acquired by the Government in hearings before the Appeals Boards (Land Acquisition) (a statutory body to determine the valuation of acquired land and disputes relating thereto). We also act for developers and landlords in clearing tenants and squatters from rent-controlled premises and in conducting proceedings before the Tenants' Compensation Board (a statutory body to determine the rights of occupants relating to rent-controlled premises).
COMPANY & COMMERCIAL LAW	Our firm represents many well-known local and multinational companies. In line with our status as a full service firm, we provide total service to meet all the legal needs of our corporate clients. We handle the incorporation of companies, or the setting up of branch or representative offices, the setting up of partnerships, arrangements for pioneer status, foreign investments and corporate and project financing, drawing up of shareholders' agreements, commercial contracts, joint ventures, franchise and technology transfer agreements, taxation, acquisitions and sale of companies, businesses, shares and assets, agencies and distributorships and retirement benefit schemes. We also provide full corporate secretarial services and nominee directors and registered office facilities. With regard to corporate finance, we advise on stock exchange transactions including public company flotations, placings, rights issues, mergers and acquisitions, take-overs, management buy-outs, restructurings, reorganisations and schemes of arrangement, capital reorganisations, reduction of capital, financial assistance and prospectus requirements.
CONVEYANCING & PROPERTY LAW, LANDLORD & TENANT LAW	Our Real Estate and Conveyancing Practice includes all matters relating to land sales, purchases, leasings, licensings, mortgages, land acquisitions and rent control with regard to commercial, industrial and residential properties. We have been involved in many major transactions acting for various banks, finance companies, corporations and private clients in property development and financing, commercial and residential sales and purchases, property joint ventures, bank mortgages, home ownership and private sector participation scheme mortgages, property litigation and security enforcement, and property-based debt restructuring and rescheduling. We also act regularly in Landlord and Tenant matters. We draft landlord and tenant agreements including commercial and residential leases and tenancies as well as participate in the negotiations and provide a continuing service should any ancillary matters arise during the term of the lease.
EMPLOYMENT LAW & WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS	Our attorneys deal with all matters relating to employment. We advise on employment contracts and collective agreements as well as advise on industrial disputes, including claims for redundancy and wrongful or unfair dismissal.
FAMILY LAW	As a full service firm, our lawyers also handle all aspects of Family Law. These matters include divorce proceedings, property division, maintenance, child support, custody and adoption.
IMMIGRATION LAW	Our work in this area is closely related to the corporate matters which we undertake for our numerous foreign clients. Together with the incorporation of a local subsidiary or the setting up of a branch or representative office, we advise and handle the documentation for all Immigration and Employment matters that arise when clients wish to post their employees to Singapore and matters relating to the leasing of office and residential premises for clients and other related matters.
INSURANCE LAW	We handle various aspects of Insurance work on behalf of various large leading insurance companies and private clients with regard to industrial, professional negligence and civil claims. We also represent insurers in respect of personal injury and motor accident claims.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PRACTICE (COPYRIGHTS, DESIGNS, PATENTS, AND TRADE MARKS & SERVICE MARKS)	Donaldson & Burkinshaw has one of the largest Intellectual Property practices in Singapore where we provide a full range of legal service with regard to copyrights, patents, trade marks and service marks, registered designs, trade secrets, and confidential information. We provide registration services as well as undertake enforcement litigation action, including opposition and rectification proceedings, and infringement, passing-off and anti-counterfeiting action. We are also involved in know-how, technology and design contracts, distributorships, franchising and licensing, advertising and media law, computer contracts, publishing, and entertainment. The Intellectual Property Department has handled many landmark cases in Singapore, including up to the Privy Council in London (before appeals to the Privy Council were abolished). Our clients, primarily overseas, include many giant multinationals from USA, Japan, Germany and many other countries.
MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE & MALPRACTICE	We have a well-established practice regularly involved in matters in the medical field and are able to keep abreast of new developments in this area. The firm handles medical negligence proceedings in the civil courts, coroner's inquiries, as well as malpractice and disciplinary proceedings before the Singapore Medical Council, in which we provide a comprehensive service to the majority of medical practitioners in Singapore.
PROBATE & ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES	We have an active Chancery practice in Singapore. It includes advice and legal action on complex estate, settlements and trusts, probate, wills and succession matters. Estate and succession complexities are explored and resolved through legal action, if necessary. In this connection, we are and have been involved in matters relating to several well known estates in Singapore.
PRIVATE CLIENTS	Besides large corporate clients, we also provide personalised service for select individual clients. They are able to count on us to provide advice and service specifically tailored for their particular or special needs.