Contact
james.tan@covenantchambers.com · LinkedIn
Office: +65 6635 8885
Focus Areas
Commercial & Property Disputes
Business, Shareholders & Partnership Disputes
Competition & Antitrust
Fraud & Asset Recovery
Property Ownership & Trust Disputes
Data Privacy & Protection
IP, Media & Entertainment
IP & Confidentiality Infringement Disputes
IP Registration & Licensing
Legacy Planning: Wills & Trusts
Probate & Estate Administration
Matrimonial Law
Civil Litigation
Criminal Defence
Mediation
Medical Negligence & Personal Injury
Personal Injury & Accident
Memberships
Member, Singapore Academy of Law
Member, Law Society of Singapore
Accolades & Awards
Finalist, BlackOak LLC Transactional Competition (2017)
Education / Qualifications
Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore (2021)
LLB, SMU (2020)
James Tan
Associate
James obtained his Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Singapore Management University in 2020 with 14 Distinctions. In July 2021, James began his advocacy journey as a part-called practice trainee. He was called to the Singapore Bar in August 2021 and has since amassed a depth of experience in both disputes and corporate work.
In March 2022, just half a year after he was called to the Bar, James argued as lead counsel in the High Court of the Republic of Singapore (the High Court) and successfully obtained an urgent interim injunction against a Statutory Board. This was a crucial first step in achieving a favourable result for a client, which was reported in [2023] SGHC 55. James has also represented clients in mediation and has argued contested ancillary matters and Mental Capacity Act hearings.
Despite being in a relatively early stage of his legal career, James has advised and acted for clients at various levels of Court and Tribunals, including the State Courts, the Family Justice Courts, the Family Division of the High Court, the High Court, the Appellate Division of the High Court, the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, and the Competition Appeals Board.
He was part of the team that successfully advised and acted for clients in a set of hotly contested cross-deputyship applications. The team prevailed at the Family Division of the High Court (reported in [2021] SGHCF 41) and subsequently again in the Appellate Division of the High Court in 2023.
James also believes that there is much work to be done in the area of access to justice. Under the firm’s Community Access to Justice Initiative (CAJI), James has advised and acted for numerous clients on a low-bono or pro-bono basis. For the years 2021 and 2022, James was the firm’s top contributor to CAJI. In one matter on which the firm collaborated with Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), James advised and acted for a foreign worker who was injured in a traumatic lift car accident which resulted in the loss of vision in one eye after he was repatriated in WICA proceedings, and successfully obtained a favourable settlement. As a practice trainee, James also assisted in CLAS and LASCO matters, including a capital trial under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Having run a business throughout his time at University, James is keenly aware of and sensitive to the needs of SMEs and business owners. He taps on this experience to tailor bespoke solutions for clients.
He has assisted clients with a wide variety of corporate work, including FinTech advisory, fundraising agreements, SAFE, shareholders’ agreements, PDPA policies, and Trade Mark Registration.
James has also advised and acted for clients entering into a Joint Venture Agreement with a subsidiary of a ListCo and for vendors in the sale of a Company with a deal value of S$13.8m.
James believes in doing everything with a spirit of relentless commitment to excellence, without compromising on his core values – to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly.
Outside of work, James actively mentors youth in Church and dabbles in music and video production. James also recently co-authored a chapter of a book titled “Assault on the Body: Sexual Violence and the Gospel Community” which was published by Graceworks, addressing several legal implications and processes that victims of sexual violence would need to face.
Sample Cases
Acted in a High Court application to declare a procedurally irregular CPF nomination as legally valid and to restrain the CPF Board from disbursing the CPF funds pending the determination of the matter by the High Court
Advising client on various intellectual property assignments, royalty arrangements and service agreements regarding music production, recording and artiste services
Advised and acted for a company in a claim against a former CEO and other employees for wrongful assignment of patents and registration of trademarks in a foreign jurisdiction and various breaches of directors and fiduciary duties
Advised and acted for various claimants in an SIAC arbitration claiming breach of warranties and non-compete covenants arising from the acquisition of majority shareholding in a waste treatment and environmental consultancy company
Advised and acted for parties in hotly contested cross-deputyship applications
Advised and acted in several matrimonial matters
Advised and acted for a Plaintiff in an application for an order for the sale of a property pursuant to Section 18(2) read with the 1st Schedule of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act
Advised and acted for a tour operator against another company in the business of organising tours for the recovery of monies paid pursuant to false representations
Advised and acted for a party seeking to vary an interim judgment in relation to clauses pertaining to the matrimonial flat, which under the SERS Scheme
Assisted in a High Court Criminal Trial for capital offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act
Assisted in several Matrimonial Appeals at the Family Division of the High Court of Singapore
Assisted in successfully obtaining an ex parte injunction at the High Court of Singapore for a company against a former CEO and other employees
Assisted in an application for a Stay of Proceedings on the ground of forum non conveniens at the High Court
Assisted in several applications for Judgements in Default under Order 13 of the Rules of Court
Assisted in an intellectual property dispute over trademarks of track-guided blinds
Assisted in a dispute between a landlord and tenant regarding tenancy renewal clauses in the tenancy agreement and COVID-19 Regulations pertaining to rent relief
Assisted in obtaining a settlement for a Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) Matter
Assisted in drafting representations and mitigation pleas for various criminal matters
Drafting of Wills and Lasting Power of Attorney Applications
Published Judgments
Toh Tun Li Adeline v Central Provident Fund Board and another [2023] SGHC 55
VUW and others v VUT and another and other appeals [2021] SGHCF 41
VUT and another v VUV and another [2022] SGFC 63
Media Mentions
Articles
James Tan
Associate
James obtained his Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Singapore Management University in 2020 with 14 Distinctions. In July 2021, James began his advocacy journey as a part-called practice trainee. He was called to the Singapore Bar in August 2021 and has since amassed a depth of experience in both disputes and corporate work.
In March 2022, just half a year after he was called to the Bar, James argued as lead counsel in the High Court of the Republic of Singapore (the High Court) and successfully obtained an urgent interim injunction against a Statutory Board. This was a crucial first step in achieving a favourable result for a client, which was reported in [2023] SGHC 55. James has also represented clients in mediation and has argued contested ancillary matters and mental capacity act hearings.
Despite being in a relatively early stage of his legal career, James has advised and acted for clients at various levels of Court and Tribunals, including the State Courts, the Family Justice Courts, the Family Division of the High Court, the High Court, the Appellate Division of the High Court, the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, and the Competition Appeals Board.
He was part of the team who successfully advised and acted for clients in a set of hotly contested cross-deputyship applications. The team prevailed at the Family Division of the High Court (reported in [2021] SGHCF 41) and subsequently again in the Appellate Division of the High Court in 2023.
James also believes that there is much work to be done in the area of access to justice. Under the firm’s Community Access to Justice Initiative (CAJI), James has advised and acted for numerous clients on a low-bono or pro-bono basis. For the years 2021 and 2022, James was the firm’s top contributor to CAJI. In one matter on which the firm collaborated with Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), James advised and acted for a foreign worker who was injured in a traumatic lift car accident which resulted in the loss of vision in one eye after he was repatriated in WICA proceedings, and successfully obtained a favourable settlement. As a practice trainee, James also assisted in CLAS and LASCO matters, including a capital trial under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Having run a business throughout his time at University, James is keenly aware of and sensitive to the needs of SMEs and business owners. He taps on this experience to tailor bespoke solutions for clients.
He has assisted clients with a wide variety of corporate work, including FinTech advisory, fundraising agreements, SAFE, shareholders’ agreements, PDPA policies, and Trade Mark Registration.
James has also advised and acted for clients entering into a Joint Venture Agreement with a subsidiary of a ListCo and for vendors in the sale of a Company with a deal value of S$13.8m.
James believes in doing everything with a spirit of relentless commitment to excellence, without compromising on his core values – to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly.
Outside of work, James actively mentors youth in Church and dabbles in music and video production. James also recently co-authored a chapter of a book titled “Assault on the Body: Sexual Violence and the Gospel Community” which was published by Graceworks, addressing several legal implications and processes that victims of sexual violence would need to face.
Sample Cases
Acted in a High Court application to declare a procedurally irregular CPF nomination as legally valid and to restrain the CPF Board from disbursing the CPF funds pending the determination of the matter by the High Court
Advising client on various intellectual property assignments, royalty arrangements and service agreements regarding music production, recording and artiste services
Advised and acted for a company in a claim against a former CEO and other employees for wrongful assignment of patents and registration of trademarks in a foreign jurisdiction and various breaches of directors and fiduciary duties
Advised and acted for various claimants in a SIAC arbitration claiming breach of warranties and non-compete covenants arising from the acquisition of majority shareholding in a waste treatment and environmental consultancy company
Advised and acted for parties in hotly contested cross-deputyship applications
Advised and acted in several matrimonial matters
Advised and acted for a Plaintiff in an application for an order for the sale of a property pursuant to Section 18(2) read with the 1st Schedule of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act
Advised and acted for a tour operator against another company in the business of organising tours for the recovery of monies paid pursuant to false representations
Advised and acted for a party seeking to vary an interim judgment in relation to clauses pertaining to the matrimonial flat, which under the SERS Scheme
Assisted in a High Court Criminal Trial for capital offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act
Assisted in several Matrimonial Appeals at the Family Division of the High Court of Singapore
Assisted in successfully obtaining an ex parte injunction at the High Court of Singapore for a company against a former CEO and other employees
Assisted in an application for a Stay of Proceedings on the ground of forum non conveniens at the High Court
Assisted in several applications for Judgements in Default under Order 13 of the Rules of Court
Assisted in an intellectual property dispute over trademarks of track-guided blinds
Assisted in a dispute between a landlord and tenant regarding tenancy renewal clauses in the tenancy agreement and COVID-19 Regulations pertaining to rent relief
Assisted in obtaining a settlement for a Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) Matter
Assisted in drafting representations and mitigation pleas for various criminal matters
Drafting of Wills and Lasting Power of Attorney Applications
Published Judgments
Toh Tun Li Adeline v Central Provident Fund Board and another [2023] SGHC 55
VUW and others v VUT and another and other appeals [2021] SGHCF 41
VUT and another v VUV and another [2022] SGFC 63
Media Mentions
Articles
Contact
james.tan@covenantchambers.com · LinkedIn
Office: +65 6635 8885
Focus Areas
Commercial & Property Disputes
Business, Shareholders & Partnership Disputes
Competition & Antitrust
Fraud & Asset Recovery
Property Ownership & Trust Disputes
Data Privacy & Protection
IP, Media & Entertainment
IP & Confidentiality Infringement Disputes
IP Registration & Licensing
Legacy Planning: Wills & Trusts
Probate & Estate Administration
Matrimonial Law
Civil Litigation
Criminal Defence
Mediation
Medical Negligence & Personal Injury
Personal Injury & Accident
Memberships
Member, Singapore Academy of Law
Member, Law Society of Singapore
Accolades & Awards
Finalist, BlackOak LLC Transactional Competition (2017)
Education / Qualifications
Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore (2021)
LLB, SMU (2020)
What Our Clients Are Saying
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"We had contacted Covenant Chambers for a trademark registration, James and Ronald were very informative and helpful with our request and with our follow ups on the trademark registration. It was a smooth and easy experience with their help. We really appreciate all the assistance here at Giift! Thank you!"
P. Perera
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"Thankful to the team, especially James Tan who assisted in providing my HDB Power of Attorney duly accepted by the Court!"
I. Ang
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"I really love Ronald and his team's work as they are super detailed and patient. I am also thankful to Ronald for the first phone consultation and he explained to me his team's style of work. Everything was liaised over email instead of calls and meetings, so it was very clear to me."
A. Tan