WongPartnership LLP

Infrastructure, Construction & Engineering

Lesley Fu is a Partner in the Infrastructure, Construction & Engineering Practice.

She is an Accredited Specialist in Building and Construction Law appointed by the Singapore Academy of Law.

Her areas of practice encompass both dispute resolution and non-contentious drafting & advisory work, with a focus on infrastructure, construction & engineering matters.

On the dispute resolution front, Lesley has acted in a diverse range of matters before the Singapore Courts (including the High Court and Court of Appeal), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Apart from arbitration and litigation, she has acted in numerous adjudications under the Building and Construction Security of Payment Act 2004, and has represented clients in mediations at the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) as well as neutral evaluations. Lesley has also been appointed as arbitrator in SIAC administered arbitrations.

On the non-contentious side, she has been actively involved on retainer in project advisory work for large-scale developments such as a lifestyle community hub, an integrated medical suite and premium / Grade A office and retail spaces (domestic and overseas). She has also advised on iconic projects including the rejuvenation of a major tourist destination in Singapore and the development of a Maldives luxury hotel. She is familiar and experienced in contract drafting and advising on bespoke and standard form construction contracts (including SIA, PSSCOC, REDAS and FIDIC), consultancy agreements, bonds and guarantees.

Lesley was privileged to have been placed in a three-month secondment to a leading barristers' chambers in the United Kingdom specialising in construction, engineering, infrastructure and energy disputes.

Work Highlights

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

A Thai joint venture company (comprising a subsidiary of a public company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand) against its turnkey contractor in an ICC international arbitration involving disputes arising from the design and construction of a Waste-to-Energy plant (valued at approximately THB$1.8billion). A ministry of the Singapore government on a public hospital project (valued in excess of S$640 million) in disputes (exceeding S$150 million) against its main contractor referred to adjudication under the Building and Construction Security of Payment Act 2004 and neutral evaluation. An established domestic contractor against the developer of a CBD-located office and retail tower in a SIAC arbitration involving disputes concerning delays, defects and variation works. A major Japanese main contractor against its subcontractor in a SIAC arbitration involving disputes arising from the Changi Airport Terminal 4 project. A range of contractors and developers on projects from contract inception to completion stage, including a reputable main contractor of both a lifestyle community hub and a mixed development with Grade A office and retail space; as well as a Myanmar-incorporated subsidiary of Shangri-La on a premium office tower in Yangon, Myanmar. As the sole arbitrator in a SIAC expedited arbitration between a main contractor and a subcontractor involving disputes surrounding termination, delay, prolongation costs, defects and backcharges.

Publications

Lesley has contributed as an author to the Lexis Practical Guidance online tool developed to aid legal practitioners and professionals.

English

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