Specialist & Private Client Disputes; Private Wealth

Aw Wen Ni is a Partner in the Specialist & Private Client Disputes Practice and in the Private Wealth Practice.

Wen Ni advises high-net-worth individuals and families on their diverse needs ranging from succession and estate planning across generations, asset protection, estate and trust administration. Wen Ni also acts for her clients in contentious disputes.

Wen Ni advises high-net-worth individuals and families on the setup of trust structures, preparation of pre- and post-marital agreements as well as preparation of testamentary instruments. Wen Ni also advises her clients on the full life cycle of the establishment and management of family offices and fund vehicles, from structuring and incorporating the family offices and fund vehicles, communications with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, making the requisite tax incentive applications to advising on related immigration and employment matters and CRS reporting requirements.

Other than front-end work, Wen Ni also regularly appears as Counsel before the Singapore Courts in complex and high value disputes which include contested probate / estate matters, shareholders’ disputes, banking and financial disputes and proceedings under the Mental Capacity Act 2008.

Work Highlights

Matters of significance in which Wen Ni has been involved in include acting/advising for the following:

An ultra-high-net-worth Indonesian businessman on succession and estate planning including restructuring of a 200-year-old business conglomerate and setting up of trust for future generations. An ultra-high-net-worth senior management of a tech company in estate planning and asset protection including preparation of prenuptial agreement and testamentary instrument. An ultra-high-net-worth individual, whose estate is in excess of S$600 million, to defend proceedings commenced under the Mental Capacity Act 2008 before the Singapore High Court and the Singapore Court of Appeal. A prominent businessman in a shareholders’ dispute in a family-owned company which is valued in excess of S$300 million. Deutsche Bank in successfully defending the largest private banking claim (in excess of US$250 million) brought by a former client before the Singapore High Court and the Singapore Court of Appeal.  A Committee of Person appointed by the Hong Kong High Court in contested proceedings before the Singapore Courts which were commenced to obtain the requisite Singapore Court orders for the discharge of duties in Singapore.

Publications & Legal Updates

Viva la Singapore Trusts: Lessons from La Dolce Vita (LegisWatch, 2023) Changes to the Global Investor Programme (LegisWatch, 2023) The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Private Client – Singapore Chapter (Global Legal Group, 2023) A Wealth Tax For Singapore? (IFC Review, 2023) Singapore High Court Outlines Factors for Granting Permission to Continue or Commence Proceedings Against Bankrupt Individuals (CaseWatch, 2022) The Private Wealth and Private Client Review (11th Edition) - Singapore Chapter (The Law Reviews, 2022) Practical Law Private Client Global Guide – Singapore (Thomson Reuters, 2021) Singapore Court of Appeal Clarifies Principles Relating to Accounts of Profits for Breach of Fiduciary Duty (CaseWatch, 2020) Lasting Power of Attorney – Beyond the Standard Form (LegisWatch, 2020) Enhancements to the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 – Two New Categories of Scheduled Contracts, Prohibition on Unilateral Increase of Charges (LegisWatch, 2020) Singapore Court of Appeal Clarifies Law on Unconscionability in Landmark Decision (CaseWatch, 2019)

English

Wen Ni is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (Singapore) and the Wealth Management Institute’s Global-Asia Family Office Circle. Wen Ni is also an examiner for Probate in Preparatory Course Leading to Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations and regularly contributes to publications and legal updates on Private Wealth.

Admitted, Singapore Bar; National University of Singapore (LL.B., Hons.)