Fountain Court Chambers

Darius is an independent arbitrator, advocate and academic. He is concurrently Associate Professor of Law (Practice) at Singapore Management University (SMU) School of Law, Deputy Director of the Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy and Director of the SMU Law Academy.  He is bilingual in English and Mandarin Chinese. Having read computer science at junior college, Darius has been increasingly approached for technology disputes.

Darius’ practice and teaching interests focus on international commercial and investment arbitration, private and public international law.  In addition to commercial arbitration, Darius is especially well-regarded for his expertise involving States and State-Owned Entities. Darius is accustomed to collaborating with local counsel on both advisory and contentious mandates.

Darius is consistently recommended by Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leaders as a “Most Highly Regarded Individual” in Asia-Pacific since the inception of the publication to date.

Prior to commencing independent practice, Darius spent a decade practising with international law firms in London and Singapore. He served as a Justices’ Law Clerk and Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court of Singapore between 2007 to 2009. In 2014, Darius was appointed amicus curiae in an appeal, where the Chief Justice of Singapore described Darius’ contribution in the judgment as being “careful”, “excellent and invaluable”.

Appointments

2009 – Advocate & Solicitor (Supreme Court of Singapore) 2010 – Counselor & Attorney at Law (New York) 2013 – Solicitor (England & Wales) 2015 – Solicitor-Advocate (Civil) (England & Wales) 2018 – Barrister (Inner Temple, England & Wales)

 Memberships

Panel of Assessors, Singapore COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act Panel of Arbitrators, Thailand Arbitration Centre (2019 to present) Singapore International Arbitration Centre Users’ Council (2014 to present) Singapore International Arbitration Centre Reserve Panel of Arbitrators (2013 to present) Member, Law Society of Singapore Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (2009 to present) Young Singapore International Arbitration Centre Committee (2015 to 2018) National University of Singapore Law Alumni Mentor Programme (2014) Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2014 to 2015) Young Amicus Curiae, Supreme Court of Singapore (2014) Public and International Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committees of the Law Society of Singapore (2014) Co-Chair of Private Practice, New York University International Law Society Board (2010 to 2011) Member, Singapore Academy of Law Committee on the Supply of Lawyers (2008 to 2009) President, Singapore Chapter of International Law Students Association (2006 to 2007)

Prizes

Professional

Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award, Singapore Management University (2020) Most Outstanding Adjunct Award, Singapore Management University (2018) Singapore Business Review, Top 40 under 40 most influential lawyers in Singapore (2016) Excellence in Advocacy Award, Singapore International Arbitration Academy (2012) Ranked 3rd in the nationwide qualifying exams for admission to the Singapore Bar (2008) Lai Kew Chai Prize for the best candidate in the Commercial Practice examination for admission to the Singapore Bar (2008)

Academic 

IBRLA Award for Distinction in the International Business Regulation, Litigation & Arbitration Specialization (2011) – New York University Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship awarded by Public Service Commission of Singapore (merit-based, bond-free scholarship) (2010) – New York University Arthur T. Vanderbilt Scholarship awarded by New York University (merit-based, full tuition scholarship) (2010) – New York University Highest Ranking Team, Best Respondent Memorial, 2nd Place Oral Finals, Foreign Direct Investment International Arbitration Moot Competition 2010 – New York University Chief Justice’s Prize awarded to best graduating student throughout course of study (2007) – National University of Singapore Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation Undergraduate Scholar (2003 – 2007) – National University of Singapore Consecutive Dean’s Lists & Final Dean’s List (2003 to 2007) – National University of Singapore M. Karthigesu Memorial Gold Medal & Prize for Shipping Law (2007) – National University of Singapore Law Society of Singapore Book Prize for First in Level (2006) – National University of Singapore Rajah & Tann Insolvency Law Prize for Corporate Insolvency (2006) – National University of Singapore First Runner-up for Respondent Memorandum & Honourable Mention for Claimant Memorandum, Williem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (Vienna) (2006) – National University of Singapore Winner, NUS-University of Malaya Moot Competition (2005) – National University of Singapore LexisNexis Best Memorial Prize for B.A. Mallal Moot Competition (2004) – National University of Singapore NUS Student Achievement Award (Language) (2006) – National University of Singapore

2007 – B. (First Class Honours), National University of Singapore, Singapore 2011 – M. in International Business Regulation, Litigation & Arbitration, New York University, New York