Davinder Singh SC
About Davinder Singh SC
Davinder Singh SC is the founder and Chairman of Davinder Singh Chambers LLC and one of Singapore's most prominent litigators. Appointed Senior Counsel in the inaugural 1997 batch, he is also the Chairman of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre and the first lawyer from the Asia-Pacific region inducted into the Benchmark Litigation Hall of Fame.
Singh read law at the National University of Singapore on a DBS Bank scholarship before joining Drew & Napier as a pupil under Joseph Grimberg in 1983. Over a 37-year career at the firm, he rose to become its CEO for 17 years and subsequently Executive Chairman. In January 2019, he departed to establish Davinder Singh Chambers, which now fields a team of 18 lawyers from its offices at Guoco Tower. Outside the law, Singh served as a People's Action Party Member of Parliament from 1988 to 2006, representing Toa Payoh and later Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC — the first Sikh parliamentarian in Singapore's history.
Between May 2025 and March 2026, Singh appeared as counsel in 4 cases before Singapore courts, with 3 cases heard in the Singapore International Commercial Court and 1 in the High Court. He acted predominantly for defendants in arbitration-related proceedings, with his recent caseload also encompassing criminal law and criminal procedure matters. His career is defined by a series of landmark briefs: he represented Singapore Press Holdings in the defamation suit that triggered the 2005 National Kidney Foundation scandal, acted for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in defamation proceedings against blogger Roy Ngerng, and has served as defence counsel in the criminal trials of former minister S. Iswaran and Hin Leong founder Lim Oon Kuin. He has been named Asian Legal Business Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year for Southeast Asia on multiple occasions and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2025.
Education & Career
What areas of law does Davinder Singh practice?
Davinder Singh appeared most frequently in Arbitration (4 cases), Criminal Law (2 cases), and Civil Procedure (1 case) between May 2025 to March 2026, across 4 total case appearances in Singapore courts.
Awards & Recognition
Notable Matters
Professional Memberships & Appointments
How many cases has Davinder Singh appeared in?
Davinder Singh appeared as counsel in 4 cases before Singapore courts between May 2025 and March 2026. Three cases were heard in the Singapore International Commercial Court and one in the High Court General Division.
Which law firm does Davinder Singh belong to?
Davinder Singh is the Chairman of Davinder Singh Chambers LLC, a specialist disputes boutique he founded in January 2019 after 37 years at Drew & Napier LLC. The firm has a team of 18 lawyers based at Guoco Tower in Singapore.
Is Davinder Singh a Senior Counsel?
Yes, Davinder Singh was appointed Senior Counsel in the inaugural 1997 batch. He was also the first lawyer from the Asia-Pacific region to be inducted into the Benchmark Litigation Hall of Fame.
Where did Davinder Singh study law?
Davinder Singh read law at the National University of Singapore on a DBS Bank scholarship. He won the Best Oralist award at the championship round of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in 1982.
What notable cases has Davinder Singh been involved in?
Singh's notable cases include acting for Singapore Press Holdings in the suit that triggered the 2005 NKF scandal, representing PM Lee Hsien Loong in defamation proceedings against Roy Ngerng, and serving as defence counsel in the Iswaran corruption trial and the Hin Leong Trading fraud case involving Lim Oon Kuin.
What awards has Davinder Singh received?
Singh has been named Asian Legal Business Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year for Southeast Asia on multiple occasions and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2025. He holds Benchmark Litigation Hall of Fame status as the first Asia-Pacific inductee and was described by Legal 500 as being 'without peer at the bar' in Singapore.
What areas of law does Davinder Singh practice?
Based on court records, Davinder Singh's recent practice covers arbitration (4 cases), criminal law (2 cases), civil procedure, and criminal procedure. His career spans commercial litigation, defamation, white-collar criminal defence, and international arbitration.
Which courts does Davinder Singh appear in?
Between May 2025 and March 2026, 3 of Davinder Singh's 4 cases were heard in the Singapore International Commercial Court, with 1 in the High Court General Division, reflecting his focus on complex cross-border and international disputes.
What professional bodies is Davinder Singh a member of?
Davinder Singh serves as Chairman of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. He previously served as a People's Action Party Member of Parliament from 1988 to 2006, representing Toa Payoh and later Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC.