News & Insights Three Crowns expands into Asia-Pacific...

Three Crowns expands into Asia-Pacific region with launch of Singapore office

News 16th February 2022

Three Crowns, the first global arbitration law firm, has expanded its service in Asia with the opening of an office in Singapore. The new office will meet increased client needs in the Asia-Pacific region and be the regional hub for the firm’s international arbitration and public international law work.

To help lead this expansion, the firm welcomes into its partnership Daryl Chew, effective as of 17 February. Daryl joins the firm from Shearman & Sterling, where he was head of the Singapore office. Daryl, a Singaporean national, has advised and represented clients in arbitrations conducted under all major arbitral rules involving a wide range of applicable laws and venues, arising from energy, construction, M&A, joint venture, and general commercial disputes.  He serves as Chairman of the Board of Maxwell Chambers, an integrated Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) complex. Daryl is recognised in Chambers, The Legal 500, and Who’s Who Legal, and was recently named in the “30 People to Watch in the Business of Law in Asia in 2022” by Asia Law Portal.

Joining Daryl in Singapore are Three Crowns partner Simon Elliot and counsel Penny Martin. Daryl, Simon, and Penny will be joined by Shaun Pereira, who accompanies Daryl from Shearman & Sterling, and will be supported by wider associate and business services teams. Three Crowns lawyers from its existing offices – including Manish Aggarwal, Gaëtan Verhoosel, and Todd Wetmore – will also continue to spend significant time in the region.

“We are thrilled to establish a physical presence in Singapore, an ever-growing popular seat for arbitration, and a place where our Asia-based clients increasingly require assistance with their disputes”, said Three Crowns partner Todd Wetmore. “Daryl is well known to many of us and an obvious choice for our Singapore office. He is a recognised market leader whose depth of experience and expertise will immediately add value for Three Crowns’ clients. We are delighted to welcome Daryl aboard”.

On joining the firm, Daryl said, “I am tremendously excited to join Three Crowns in an undertaking that combines a depth of experience in Asia with the highest calibre of skill and creativity in assisting sophisticated clients with their most challenging disputes. With my new colleagues, I look forward to delivering Three Crowns’ unique blend of incisive strategy and advocacy, and unmatched value and efficiency from our new base in Singapore, which continues to advance as a leading hub for global disputes”.

Since its founding in 2014, Three Crowns has acted for and advised clients across the globe on some of the most significant disputes ever to go to arbitration, and secured for them, in some instances, multibillion-dollar awards.  Excellence in advice, advocacy and client service, and value without waste, delivered by diverse and nimble teams are central to Three Crowns’ ethos.

  • Three Crowns conducts its own oral advocacy, providing clients with a comprehensive advocacy service and ensuring that every advocate is fully acquainted with the client’s objectives and the case.
  • The team boasts lawyers qualified in over 25 jurisdictions and who speak over 20 languages. The firm is committed to developing its lawyers into formidable advocates through ongoing direct interaction and mentorship from senior practitioners and extensive inhouse training programmes.
  • The firm also deploys the collective skills and expertise of its team members as part of a growing pro bono practice that is committed to international causes that make a tangible difference.
  • The Singapore office bolsters the firm’s already extensive practice in the region, having acted on disputes for clients arising out of Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
  • The new office will also give the firm’s clients in the region more immediate access to high-calibre arbitration specialists within the firm, both those who will be based in Singapore, and from the firm’s wider network.

ABOUT SIMON ELLIOT

Simon has provided advice and representation in numerous commercial and investment treaty proceedings conducted under the rules of the major arbitral institutions and ad hoc, with a particular focus on disputes arising out of large infrastructure, and other major projects involving disputed technical, delay, and quantum-related issues. Simon is described in The Legal 500 as a “Rising Star”.

ABOUT MANISH AGGARWAL

Manish is a dual-qualified English solicitor and Indian advocate. He has extensive experience of representing clients in commercial and investment treaty arbitrations in a broad range of sectors and in arbitration-related court litigation. Manish is a co-chair of the LCIA’s Young International Arbitration Group and consistently ranked as a leading practitioner by major legal directories.

ABOUT GAËTAN VERHOOSEL

Gaëtan is a founding partner of Three Crowns and has served as advocate and as arbitrator in a large number of both commercial and investment treaty arbitrations across a wide range of sectors. He is a member of the SIAC Court of Arbitration. Gaëtan has been ranked as a leading practitioner in Chambers, The Legal 500, and Who’s Who Legal.

ABOUT TODD WETMORE

Todd is a founding partner of Three Crowns. Qualified in civil and common law, he has over 25 years of experience handling some of the largest and most complex commercial cases. He regularly acts as counsel in the oil & gas, technology, manufacturing, mining, and commodities sectors, and is a recognised specialist in infrastructure and construction disputes. Todd is a Vice-President of the ICC Court of Arbitration and is recognised as a leading practitioner in Chambers, The Legal 500, and Who’s Who Legal.

ABOUT PENNY MARTIN

Penny is dual-qualified as a solicitor in Australia and England and Wales, and is counsel in the London office. She has over a decade of experience in international commercial arbitration and public international law, in addition to a number of years of experience in academia and human rights. Her primary focus is on energy-related disputes. Penny was named a “Rising Star” in The Legal 500 UK in 2021 and 2022.

Press Contacts:

Sophie Emberson
+44 203 985 6763
[email protected]

Anish Patel
+44 203 530 7956
[email protected]