Faculty Profile

• D.Phil., University of Oxford, 2017
• B.C.L., University of Oxford, 1998
• LL.B., National University of Singapore, 1994
• Solicitor (England & Wales), 2000
• Attorney and Counselor-at-law (New York), 2000
• Advocate and Solicitor (Singapore), 1999

Academic Positions Held

Current Appointment:

1. Professor of Law, School of Law, Singapore Management University, 2019-Present

Previous Appointment:

1. Associate Professor of Law, School of Law, Singapore Management University, 2007-2018

• Associate Dean (Research), School of Law, Singapore Management University, Jan 2012-Dec 2013
• Assistant Professor of Law, School of Law, Singapore Management University, 2006-2007
• Assistant Professor of Law, School of Business, Singapore Management University, 2001-2006

Other Positions

• Member, Editorial Board, Singapore Law Reports (Reissue), 2007-2009
• Associate, US Securities Law Practice Group (Singapore Office), Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, 2000-2001
• Associate, Global Securities Practice Group (Singapore Office), Baker & McKenzie, 2000
• Magistrate, Deputy Registrar and Coroner at Subordinate Courts, Singapore, 1995-2000

Courses Taught in SMU

• Business Law
• Contract Law

Research Areas / Areas of Specialisation

• Contract Law
• Conflict of Laws
• Unjust Enrichment and Restitution

Current Projects

• Assignment of choses in action

Selected Publications

Monograph

• Understanding the Law of Assignment (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press: 2019)

Journal Articles, Case Notes and Contributed Chapters to Books

• "Assignments, assignees, and the burden of an arbitration clause" [2022] Lloyd's Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly 382 - 411.
• "Assignees of the benefit of a deed and ‘black holes’ – Orchard Plaza Management Company Ltd v Balfour Beatty Regional Construction Ltd [2022] EWHC 1490 (TCC)" [2022] Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly 562 – 566.
• "Burdening assignees with arbitration agreements via ‘conditional benefits’" [2022] Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law 234 – 238 (Feature article).
• "Understanding assignments: English, comparative and private international law: some possible implications" [2020] Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law 314 – 318 (Feature article).
• "Equitable fraud and double liability of a debtor following notice of equitable assignment of the debt" (2019) 13 Journal of Equity 237 – 265.
• "Different debts for different purposes – Taurus v SOMO [2017] UKSC 64; [2017] 3 WLR 1170" [2018] Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly 210 – 217.
• "Joinder of equitable assignors of equitable and legal choses in action" [2017] Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly 537 – 565.
• "Exploding the myth that sub-trustees ‘drop out’" (2017) 31 Trust Law International 76 – 92.
• "The ‘Trustee Exception’ in Lloyd’s v Harper: Loss, Liability and ‘Black-Holes’" (2016) 132 Law Quarterly Review 148 – 158.
• "Notice of assignment and discharge by performance" [2010] Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly 38 – 80.
• "Ancillary liquidations and pari passu distribution in a winding up by the court" [2009] Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly 113 – 134.
• "Piercing the corporate veil: searching for appropriate choice of law rules" [2007] Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly 22 – 43.
• "Careless Share Giving" (2006) 70 Conveyancer and Property Lawyer 411 – 431.
• "Unjust Enrichment and Unlawful Dividends: A Step Too Far?" (2005) 64 Cambridge Law Journal 177 – 211.
• "Damages for breach of English jurisdiction clauses: more than meets the eye" [2004] Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly 46 – 71.
• Chapter 20, "Debt Collection and Assignment of Debts: Navigating the Legal Maze" (with Dr Jodi Gardner (St John’s College, University of Cambridge), in Intermediaries in Commercial Law, Paul S. Davies and C. H. Tan, Gen Eds (Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2022).
• Chapter 17, "The Mechanics of Equitable Assignments: One Engine or Two?", in Contract in Commercial Law, J. Edelman, S. Degeling, J. Goudkamp, Gen Eds (Sydney: Law Book Co, 2016).
• Chapter 14, "The Nature of Equitable Assignment and Anti-assignment Clauses", in Exploring Contract Law, J. Neyers, R. Bronaugh, & S. Pitel, Gen Eds (Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2009).
• The Law of Contract in Singapore, 2^nd ed, Justice Andrew Phang Boon Leong, Gen. Ed. (Singapore: Academy Publishing, 2022):
  • Chapter 8, "Formalities and the Effect of Non-Compliance" (with Goh Yihan);
  • Chapter 14, "Privity of Contract" (with Justice Andrew Phang Boon Leong);
  • Chapter 15, "Exceptions to the Rule of Privity"(with Justice Andrew Phang Boon Leong);
  • Chapter 16, "Discharge by Performance, Tender of Performance, and Partial Performance";
  • Chapter 17, "Discharge by Breach";
  • Chapter 18, "Discharge by Agreement";
  • Chapter 19, "Frustration" (with Tan Zhong Xing);
  • Chapter 20, "Introduction to Judicial Remedies and Common Law Damages" (with Tan Zhong Xing);
  • Chapter 21, "Damages Based on Compensation I – Quantification of Loss" (with Tan Zhong Xing);
  • Chapter 22, "Damages Based on Compensation II – Quantification of Damages to be Awarded" (with Tan Zhong Xing);
  • Chapter 23, "Non-compensatory Remedies I: Specific Remedies at Common Law and in Equity" (with Tan Zhong Xing);
  • Chapter 24, "Non-compensatory Remedies II: Remedies arising under the Law of Restitution" (with Tan Zhong Xing).