Litigation – need a civil lawyer or the small claims court?

Looking for a lawyer in Singapore? Do you need a civil lawyer for litigation or can you manage your issue through the Small Claims Court? We are fortunate to live in a country with clearly defined laws to protect our interests. That being said, sometimes disputes are inevitable. As a former British colony, civil law in Singapore is based on English common law and is usually referred to when dealing with private disputes between parties.

Civil law covers a range of professional disputes. These can range from employment matters and labour disputes, to banking, financial and also insolvency disputes. It also covers issues arising between landlords and tenants, and consumer protection.

Civil Lawyers in Singapore

BMS LAW

Along with many years of experience and a reputation for representing their clients vigorously, this boutique law firm can deal with litigation and other legal matters across Singapore, Australia and Malaysia.

Bachoo Mohan Singh heads the team at BMS LAW both in Singapore and in Perth, Western Australia, and has over 48 years of legal experience in criminal and civil litigation. He has expertise in many areas of law in Singapore and Australia and has handled complex cases in all areas of dispute resolution, including civil litigation, criminal defence and arbitration. Mr Singh strives to offer real solutions to every client, and is well known in the legal industry here, while also having appeared in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, Federal Court of Australia, Wardens Court of Australia, and the Privy Council UK.

The longstanding Singapore team of Sunanda Koh and Too Xing Ji are lawyers with long experience appearing in the Subordinate and Supreme Courts of Singapore. They have expertise in various areas of the law with a strong focus on dispute resolution and litigation.

Talk to them first, if you want their expertise in your corner.

Singapore: 6255 1963 | firm@bmslaw.com.sg
Australia: +61 8 6389 0270 | info@bmslaw.com.au

Eugene Thuraisingam LLP

This premier dispute resolution firm has a reputable team of civil and criminal lawyers based in Singapore. The firm has been recognised for various practice areas. These include ‘White-collar Crime’ and ‘Commercial and Transactions’ by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2020, and ‘Dispute Resolution’ by Asialaw Profiles 2020. It was also named as one of the ‘Firms to Watch 2019’ by Asian Legal Business.

As civil litigators with an accomplished criminal practice, they bring specialist trial skills to pursue claims – particularly where factual or expert evidence is strongly contested. They are experienced in dealing with a wide array of disputes ranging from professional, to financial, insolvency, banking, employment and labour cases.

Email eugene@thuraisingam.com for more information.
6557 2436 | thuraisingam.com

IRB Law LLP

This full-service law firm offers the full breadth of legal services to private individuals and businesses of all sizes. Founded in 2012, it has grown organically to over 50 employees. Boasting one of the biggest family law teams, it has a strong reputation for corporate and criminal law services. Another speciality is employment law, assisting with employment and labour disputes.

The IRB Law team are well versed working with individuals and small businesses to larger companies and corporations. They consider themselves to be a contemporary practice offering legal solutions instead of mere legal advice.

Email them here for more information.
6298 2537 | irblaw.com.sg

And while some matters might call for a civil lawyer, there are other non-legal options too.

Small Claims Tribunal

For example, you can approach the Small Claims Tribunal as a first option to settle cases with a value of up to $20,000. It’s an efficient system where you represent yourself, and resolve matters relatively quickly using the court’s online document uploading service. Depending on the situation, there may also be an option to e-negotiate final settlements, avoiding a hearing altogether.

Once a claim is filed, a consultation date is arranged for both parties to attend. At the consultation, your claim will be assessed. If it’s within the tribunal’s jurisdiction, you’ll get a chance to discuss your situation and hopefully resolve it amicably with the other party.

If the matter isn’t settled, a hearing date will be set. That’s when a Tribunal Magistrate will hear both sides and make an order.

CASE (Consumer Association of Singapore)

Bought a dodgy TV and the retailer is refusing to refund it? For all matters relating to consumer protection, you can lodge a complaint with the Consumer Association of Singapore.

You can access a walk-in consultation, and opt for assistance or file a case. Unresolved matters can be escalated for mediation or referred to the Small Claims Tribunal.

If you find yourself needing legal advice in Singapore around any civil law or litigation issues, it’s best to consult a professional legal firm specialising in civil law disputes specifically.

Read on for more helpful information about setting up a business in Singapore