31 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS – AUGUST 2024 WWW.LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM now so that we are ready to collaborate and assist when the time calls for it. Huang: Strategic priorities are to fortify and build the firm’s regional presence, particularly, in the ASEAN region. Singapore has always been a commercial hub and increasingly, we see Singapore playing a role as regional headquarters for enterprises looking to enter the SEA region. Accordingly, familiarity with the local law and having strong law firms that we can tap on for expertise will become almost a necessity of practice in the region. In this connection, our hiring policies and our goals must be alive to the fact that Singapore must play a commercial hub role – and the skillset that is necessary to achieve that role is one that must not only be developed but scouted for and prioritised. Yeo: We want to adopt technology as quickly as we can, in terms of preparing for our cases, and the conduct of trials and hearings. It is exciting to see how efficiency can be increased through technology, which is vital to smaller teams like us. Teo: We aim to continue our expansion in terms of numbers and practice offerings - capitalising on emerging trends across key practice areas. To achieve this, we will prioritise hiring top talent and senior experts who can drive innovation and navigate the complexities of these markets, ensuring our services remain relevant and competitive. This strategic investment in human capital will empower us to meet the evolving needs of our clients and enhance our market positioning. “Due to our size, we can remain very cost-efficient and competitive whilst maintaining quality. Our lawyers have regularly litigated at all levels of the Singapore court system and are familiar with the nuances of each forum. We could be conducting an arbitration one day and conducting a trial in the State Courts the next. Hence the concept of being “value-driven” is critical. The emphasis is to understand the client’s concerns and what they have come to you for.” — Nichol Yeo, Nine Yards Chambers BROUGHT TO YOU BY NINE YARDS CHAMBERS LLC A conversation with Nichol Yeo How does Nine Yards Chambers LLC’s boutique structure allow for greater agility and personalized service in handling complex litigation cases across all levels of Singapore courts? There is a flat hierarchy which means that our lawyers within a team take on tasks interchangeably. It is not uncommon to have a senior lawyer preparing first drafts or taking instructions. Our clients are familiar and comfortable with every lawyer within the team. This makes client management and communication easier. When the entire team moves and understands what the client goals are, it is much easier for us to move the same direction. Can you share an example of how your firm’s practical and strategic approach has led to a successful outcome for a client, both in the courtroom and beyond? We had a case where the counterparty was particularly litigious, and had more resources than our client. Litigation was being launched in multiple jurisdictions, quite possibly to temperature and parties eventually settled. Quite thankfully, the client’s businesses and operations survived and thrived after the litigation. Nine Yards Chambers LLC offers expertise in various specialized areas, from disputes involving listed companies to urgent injunctive relief. How does this diverse range of expertise benefit clients facing multifaceted legal challenges? We add value when our key knowledge areas come together. For example, in a hostile takeover situation involving a listed company, timing is crucial. Our on-the-ground knowledge of how much time we have to prepare for an injunction and to get a hearing date is crucial to the viability of the application and to meet the client’s goals. In that same context, being able to understand and deal with the impact of queries of other stakeholders and regulators also allow us to anticipate how litigation unfolds. This prepares the client for a wider range of outcomes, reducing any unpleasant and unexpected surprises. exhaust our client’s resources. We had to conserve our client’s resources to ensure that its operations continued and to ensure the viability of its businesses. We successfully applied for an anti-suit injunction to stop foreign proceedings, leaving a single set of proceedings. This brought down the Nichol Yeo Director, Counsel E: nichol.yeo@nineyardschambers.com Nine Yards Chambers LLC 1 Coleman Street, The Adelphi #05-03, Singapore 179803 W: www.nineyardschambers.com
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