Standing ready to help you through the legal maze

Cornelius graduated from the Singapore University of Social Sciences and is admitted to the Bar as an Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore.

Prior to joining private practice, Cornelius served as an in-house Chief Compliance & Legal Counsel for a Parent Company and its nine Subsidiaries. In this role, he collaborated with instructed solicitors to settle a wide range of contractual and commercial disputes including debt recovery, specific performance applications, injunction to prevent the dissipation of assets and general litigation. 

Cornelius was also responsible for protecting the companies’ interests by ensuring compliance with various government bodies including IRAS, HDB, MOM and SFA. As the appointed Legal Representative for the group of subsidiaries, he successfully mediated employment-related disputes with MOM and negotiated settlements exceeding SGD 200,000 with property agencies and international suppliers in Sale and Purchase disputes. 

Since coming into practice, Cornelius has handled heavily contested divorce cases involving matrimonial assets worth over SGD 12 million. He is also well-versed in representing clients in simplified and uncontested divorce proceedings. 

Cornelius has advised and represented clients before the Family Justice Courts in enforcement proceedings and the mirroring of foreign judgments. His expertise extends to cross-border disputes concerning child custody and maintenance, which often arise from highly contentious international divorce proceedings initiated in the parties’ country of domicile. 

One of Cornelius’ key areas of specialization is probate and administration proceedings. He has successfully handled probate matters involving estate assets worth millions of dollars, both locally and internationally. With his expansive knowledge of succession laws and estate distribution procedures in Singapore, China, Malaysia, and other common law jurisdictions, he provides invaluable guidance to international clients navigating complex cross-border inheritance and estate matters.

 More recently, Cornelius successfully facilitated the settlement of a civil matter in his foreign client’s favour, which was initially set to be heard in the Singapore Court of Appeal. He also played a key role as part of the legal team that settled a highly contentious investment-related case before the High Court of Singapore, which involved establishing a breach of fiduciary duties—both under statutory tort and common law—against financial advisers, ultimately achieving a resolution through mediation. Following that, Cornelius was appointed to act in, and managed to secure a settlement in his client’s favour for, another matter involving the breach of fiduciary duties and negligent misrepresentations made by a financial adviser, for which the financial institution was also vicariously liable. 

Apart from his practice areas in family law, estate matters, and civil litigation, a bulk portion of Cornelius’ portfolio also includes representing clients in road traffic and industrial accident claims, personal injury cases, and medical negligence. In this regard, he thoroughly assesses the merits of the claim(s) and advises clients on possible courses of action. Cornelius then effectively represents clients in negotiations with insurance firms to secure fair compensation for damages, injuries, and losses sustained. 

Should negotiation efforts fail, he is well-prepared to take cases to court. Cornelius has the litigation experience necessary to present a compelling case, utilizing expert testimonies, accident reports, and medical documentation to substantiate claims of damages. His understanding of Workplace Safety Regulations allows him to identify lapses in safety protocols and establish liability when representing injured workers.

 Every so often, Cornelius dabbles in drafting work. He has drafted Legal Opinions for clients on issues that deal with Tenancy Agreements/Disputes and Non-Compete Clauses in Employment Contracts. Additionally, his extensive knowledge of Estate and succession laws makes him capable of, advising clients on and, drafting complex Wills that concern moveable and immoveable assets held within and without the jurisdiction of Singapore. 

With his strong grasp of the law and his client-centric approach, Cornelius is a valuable asset to the firm. Whether advocating in court, negotiating settlements, or offering strategic legal counsel, he remains committed to securing the best outcomes for his clients.