Professional Experience

Thomas is an experienced and dynamic lawyer dedicated to finding the best solutions for his clients in both contentious and non-contentious matters. His practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on intellectual property (IP) and employment work. When Thomas takes on a case, his clients reap the benefit of his considerable knowledge, experience and willingness to go the extra mile.

Employment disputes

Thomas has advised corporate organizations extensively on employment-related matters and has broad experience in handling contentious employment disputes.  He has provided expertise in advising on issues relating to termination of employees, enforcing non-compete clauses, protecting employer’s confidential information and taking remedial action in relation to employment fraud. Thomas has also worked closely with companies to provide support in relation to non-contentious employment matters such as advice on employment policies, drafting and reviewing employment contracts and issues arising from restructuring, reorganisation and retrenchment.

Intellectual property disputes

Thomas manages an active regional trade mark portfolio, and regularly advises clients on the suitability of marks for registration, the prospects of obtaining registration of marks, the selection and use of trademarks, and oppositions to pending trademark applications. He files and prosecutes domestic as well as international trade mark applications (under the Madrid Protocol), and advises on the documentation required for the assignment and licensing of trade mark rights.

Education

Thomas graduated from the University of Singapore in 1997 with an LLB (Hons) and was admitted to the Singapore bar in 1998. Thomas has also been admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales.

Notable Cases

Thomas has been involved in several notable reported cases in the High Court and the Court of Appeal in Singapore, including:

• Yeo Cheng Hay Andrew v Yo Mie Yoen Theresa and Another [1998] SGHC 279
• MP-Bilt Pte Ltd v Oey Widarto [1999] 1 SLR(R) 908
• Zulkifli Baharudin v Koh Lam Son [1999] 2 SLR(R) 369
• Chuang Uming (Pte) Ltd v Setron Ltd and another appeal [1999] 3 SLR(R) 771
• Microsoft Corp and others v SM Summit Holdings Ltd and another [2000] 1 SLR(R) 423
• Tan Tiang Hin Jerry v Singapore Medical Council [2000] 1 SLR(R) 553
• Business Software Alliance and others v SM Summit Holdings Ltd [2000] 1 SLR(R) 819
• De Souza Tay & Goh v Singapore Press Holdings Ltd [2001] 2 SLR(R) 201
• Thomson Plaza (Pte) Ltd v Liquidators of Yaohan Department Store Singapore Pte Ltd (in liquidation) [2001] 2 SLR(R) 483
• Subbiah Pillai v Wong Meng Meng and others [2001] 2 SLR(R) 556
• Keimfarben GmbH & Co KG v Soo Nam Yuen [2004] 3 SLR(R) 534
• Yee Hong Pte Ltd v Tan Chye Hee Andrew (Ho Bee Development Pte Ltd, third party) [2005] 4 SLR(R) 398
• XP v Public Prosecutor [2008] 4 SLR(R) 686
• Doctor’s Associates Inc v Lim Eng Wah (trading as SUBWAY NICHE) [2012] 3 SLR 193
• Motherhood Pte Ltd v Lau Elaine and others [2014] 1 SLR 1008
• Public Prosecutor v Paradise Group Holdings [2016] SGDC 179
• Re Marvelous AQL Inc. [2017] SGIPOS 3

T vs G (March 2020)

Dear Thomas,

Trust you are doing fine.

This is in regards to the dispute – T vs G. (names have been redacted)

We presented the case to the management for seeking approval to commence arbitration and management is of the opinion that the ratio of benefit to efforts are not attractive. Therefore, we have decided not to take this case further.

Your support and expertise in this matter have been tremendous. During the case, you were always agile, responsive and alert, this gave me a lot of confidence in dealing with the situations which was really stressful. Thank you.

I am sure, we will get in touch with each other, if the need arises  in any other matter.

Please let me know how do we wrap up the file of G.