Chua Ming Hao

A specialist in construction and engineering disputes, MingHao's forte lies in supporting projects through its life cycle, from managing risks during project delivery to dispute resolution at the conclusion of the works. He has over 10 years experience advising and acting for developers, contractors, architects and engineers in both Singapore and Southeast Asia, on a range of developments.

On the international front, MingHao handled arbitrations proceedings under many of the leading institutional rules in the region, including ICC, SIAC, VIAC, BANI, HKIAC and UNCITRAL rules. Matters include energy projects concerning conventional power plants, waste management and waste-to-energy facilities, wind farms, and onshore and offshore production facilities, commercial properties such as factories, transportation hubs and research and development complexes, and residential projects such as luxury condominiums. His practice largely involves projects throughout Asia, with a focus on Southeast Asia.

Domestically, aside from arbitrations, MingHao appeared before all levels of the Singapore Courts, and routinely handles both statutory adjudication proceedings under Singapore’s Building and Construction Industry Security of Payments Act, and contractual adjudication proceedings before dispute boards. MingHao was and continues to be involved in landmark Singapore projects, from prominent desalination plants, to iconic tourist locations in Sentosa, along Orchard Road and in the Mandai region. He is particularly well versed in transportation projects, having handled matters involving the North-South Corridor, and along the Downtown Line and the Circle Line, where he has advised on issues involving tunnelling, subterranean foundation works and the excavation and disposal of geotechnical materials.

• Acted for the owner and operator of a Mongolian greenfield cement plant in an ICC arbitration against a Chinese contractor in respect of defects in the structure and foundations of the plant.
• Acted for an international contractor in an AIAC arbitration concerning the construction of a luxury condominium in Penang, Malaysia.
• Acted for an international contractor in its disputes with a Cambodian developer concerning the construction of a residential and commercial mixed-development in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Acted for an oil major in multiple BANI arbitrations against an Indonesian contractor consortium concerning the development of oil fields and the construction of an onshore production facility.
• Acted for a consortium of international contractors in a series of Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) arbitrations against the Vietnamese state owned entity in relation to a major rail project in Vietnam
• Acted for another consortium of international contractors in a series of dispute board proceedings against another Vietnamese state owned entity, in relation to another major rail project in Vietnam
• Acted for a contractor in its disputes with a Singapore employer over the construction of floating pontoons for rescue and operational use.
• Acted for an international contractor in a series of proceedings against the subcontractor concerning construction of a MRT station along the Circle Line in Singapore.
• Acted for an international contractor in a series of proceedings against the subcontractor concerning geotechnical works arising from a tunnelling project for the North-South Corridor in Singapore
• Acted for a listed subcontractor in its disputes with a listed main contractor concerning the construction of an iconic desalination plant in Singapore