Partner, Clifford Chance Asia*
* Clifford Chance Asia is a Formal Law Alliance in Singapore between Clifford Chance Pte Ltd and Cavenagh Law LLP
Kabir Singh is a Partner in the International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution practice of Clifford Chance. He specialises in complex, cross border disputes with a focus on India, Indonesia, and South East Asia. His client roster includes large multinational corporations, international banks and financial institutions with presence across APAC.
Kabir focuses on international arbitration, regulatory investigations and contentious employment disputes. He has acted as counsel on numerous international arbitrations under the rules of ICC, SIAC, LCIA, HKIAC and AAA.
Kabir has been appointed as an alternate member of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (the "ICC Court"), for a three-year term. He is a market leader and is regularly ranked by leading international legal directories such as Legal 500, Chambers & Partners and Who's Who Legal. He has also been involved in various teaching initiatives including with the ICC, SIAC, NUS Centre for International Law, Foundation for International Arbitration Advocacy (FIAA) and Chulalongkorn University (Thailand).
Publications and insights
In international arbitrations, Kabir has acted for:
a leading Dubai based conglomerate in two international arbitrations against a BVI entity backed by an Indian promoter. This shareholder dispute involved allegations of breach of a joint venture agreement and fraud in relation to a power plant in India worth over US$1 billion
a Singapore state owned entity in a multi-million dollars arbitration commenced by a shareholder and former owner of a group of logistics subsidiaries.
a major financial institution in two international arbitrations arising out of a shareholder agreement relating to a multi-million dollars equity investment in an Indian media company. The dispute involved allegations of breach of contract and fraud
a US media conglomerate in relation to a complex and protracted dispute involving several high-profile Indian partners which resulted in an international arbitration in Singapore, and multiple proceedings in India
a group of Thai investors in an international arbitration involving claims of fraud and breach of contract under a share purchase agreement against a major Australian based construction company
a leading Japanese conglomerate in relation to 8 parallel international arbitrations against a major Vietnamese state linked entity surrounding the sale and purchase of construction equipment and supplies in Vietnam
a pair of Norwegian high net worth investors in an international arbitration against various individuals surrounding investments in Thailand
a leading US energy company in 2 international arbitrations valued at USD130 m arising out of the termination of two development contracts in relation to an oilfield project in India
one of the largest Chinese state owned entities in relation to an international arbitration against an Indonesian multinational corporation relating to a power plant project in Indonesia
a major Indian infrastructure company in a Singapore seated international arbitration relating to a project to construct a five-star hotel near Kolkata, India, worth in excess of US$120 million
a global aviation and aerospace company in several international arbitrations relating to agreements governed by French, Singapore and Indonesian law
a US based multinational food company in an international arbitration with its Asian franchisee across multiple jurisdictions
an Indonesian conglomerate in an international arbitration against a leading global IT software company concerning a licensing dispute
an American multinational company on a dispute arising out of its acquisition of telecommunications assets in India and the potential actions for resisting the exercise of an option by a counterparty for the forced purchase of an asset devalued by the counterparty's actions
In regulatory investigations, Kabir has acted for:
a major US financial institution in a complex regulatory investigation relating to its client facilitation trading business across various APAC jurisdictions including Singapore, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan.
a major European private bank in relation to the global regulatory investigation in connection with the 1MDB scandal. Media reports have stated that the matter is without doubt the most complex cross-border investigation that Singapore regulators have conducted, involving multiple transactions, multiple entities in several jurisdictions as well as sensitive information
a US based bank in relation to allegations of bribery, corruption and employee harassment in one of their major operations in South India. The matter involved a protracted investigation lasting more than a year, and engagement with several Indian regulators and law enforcement agencies, as well as home regulators in the US.
a global software company involved in one of the most high-profile corruption scandals in Singapore in recent times, in relation to alleged bribes provided by an employee of the company to a government official in Singapore
a leading European bank in relation to their disclosure obligations viz a viz foreign regulators in a large cross border investigation involving regulators in the US, Europe and Singapore
a major European insurer in relation to a regulatory investigation concerning potential claims of mis-selling and breach of various insurance regulations in Asia
a US based international bank in conducting internal investigations into potential contraventions of regulatory and tax laws in India
a major telecommunications operator in Malaysia in relation to a high-profile scandal relating to corruption and coercion allegations made by the Central Bureau of Investigation in India and additional inquiries by the income tax authorities and anti-money laundering commission
a major UK based private bank in relation to investigations surrounding potential money laundering by one of their employees
a major international bank in relation to an independent review arising out of MAS investigations into setting of SGD SIBOR, USD SIBOR, SGD swap offer rates and other FX benchmark rates in the period between 2007 and 2011
a major financial institution in relation to a large internal investigation looking into various allegations of market misconduct, and front running by their employees
a major international bank in relation to two high profile regulatory investigations in Indonesia – involving allegations of breach of AML laws, fraud and other serious misconduct by some of their employees
a major European conglomerate in relation to anti-bribery and corruptions investigations across various APAC jurisdictions including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Korea
a European based insurance provider in relation to an anti-trust investigation by the Singapore regulators
a Thai based company in relation to various allegations of corruption in their joint venture with foreign investors
a leading HK based fund in relation to a compliance investigation resulting from tax fraud allegations made overseas against one of their major investors
a major Canadian bank in relation to a corruption related investigation by the Indian anti-corruption authorities
In contentious employment cases, Kabir has acted for:
a major US financial institution in unfair dismissal claims brought in Singapore, arising from a broader cross-border regulatory investigation relating to its client facilitation trading business
a major international bank in relation to the termination of employment of their senior employee for misconduct, in a case that was widely reported in the local media
one of the world's largest financial institutions in disciplinary proceedings against a very senior employee, in relation to allegations that he sexually harassed and had improper relationships with female subordinates
a leading US financial institution on an unfair dismissal action arising from the termination of a senior trader due to allegations that he had sexually harassed a junior female employee
a global internet and entertainment company on the termination of employees due to restructuring
a French MNC regarding the termination of employment of a senior employee resulting from a reorganisation of the business
an India linked technology company in relation to matters resulting from a large-scale departure of their employees to a competitor, which involved issues such as non-solicitation, breach of confidentiality obligations and inducement of breach of contract
a former employee of a US hedge fund in an LCIA arbitration and Singapore legal proceedings commenced against his former employer alleging wrongful termination
a major international bank in relation to employee misconduct involving the theft of confidential information from the bank's computer systems
a hedge fund in relation to claims made against the management by two former employees, and attempts by those employees to extort money and make false reports to the regulators
News and client work
View all news and client work featuring Kabir Singh
Setting the stage: selecting suitable stadia for shareholder battles (Singapore Court of Appeal)
"Interviewing Prospective Arbitrators", Kluwer Arbitration Blo
"Singapore High Court clarifies ambit of tribunal's jurisdiction to determine existence of arbitration agreement where forgery is alleged", PLC Arbitration
September 2015 Olga Boltenko, Kabir Singh, "Enforcement of Treaty Awards against Russia in Asia: A Safe Haven for Russian Assets?", Kluwer Arbitration Blog
View more briefings featuring Kabir Singh
View more blog posts featuring Kabir Singh
View more podcasts featuring Kabir Singh
Clifford Chance, Singapore
Speaks English, Malay, Bahasa Indonesia, Hindi & Punjabi
Practice area Employment - advisory, litigation & transactional, Regulatory enforcement & white collar, Litigation, dispute resolution & risk management, Arbitration
Sector Power & energy networks, Banks, Automotive, Aerospace & defence, Oil & gas, Capital goods, Mining & metals, Materials
Career and qualifications
National University of Singapore (LLB) 2002
Admitted as an advocate and solicitor in Singapore 2003
Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales 2009
Joined Clifford Chance 2009
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Member, Law Society of Singapore
Member, Singapore Academy of Law
Alternate Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration
Kabir Singh is an outstanding lawyer who is always hands on. He is very well recognised in arbitration circles as a counsel as well as arbitrator and is involved in ICC, SIAC and LCIA cases related to India.
Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021, India – Foreign Firms
Kabir was described by his clients as a stand out lawyer, who is "Thorough professional. Fully committed to matters and client". Another client remarked that "Kabir Singh is an outstanding lawyer who is always hands on." … "Kabir Singh…noted for insider trading, data breaches and cyber hacking matters, among others."
Legal 500 2021: Financial Services Regulatory: Foreign Firms – Singapore
He is "one of the finest legal minds", says a client, who adds that Kabir is his "go-to lawyer" for cross-border disputes. "His hands-on approach is par excellence, and his commitment to a case is very inspiring," ... "He should surely be on the A-List of lawyers."
India Business Law Journal, 2021, International "A" List of India Focussed Lawyers
"He is very composed, inspires a certain degree of comfort in his clients, and is able to follow complex legal arguments."
Chambers Asia Pacific 2020
Dispute Resolution (International Firms) - India
He is "extremely sharp and knowledgeable, and is able to grasp the complexities of the subject".
India Business Law Journal, 2020
"a cross border arbitration specialist" in relation to Indonesian disputes.
Impresses peers with his "deep experience and strategic thinking" in high-value disputes.
Who's Who Legal: Arbitration - Future Leaders 2017, & 2018 aged 45 and under