Biography
Francis is Rajah & Tann’s Regional Head of Disputes Group; he practises cross-border commercial litigation and international and treaty arbitration.
A veteran in the field, Francis has 33 years of legal practice and has a track record of being involved in novel and unprecedented cases. He has appeared before the SICC on numerous occasions (at both trial and appellate levels) and was in fact involved in the very first case heard before the SICC.
Francis is recognised as a leading disputes lawyer – Asia Law Profiles (2017-2021); Asia Pacific Legal 500 (2014-2019, 2021); Ranked Lawyers Chambers Global (2016-2021); Dispute Resolution Chambers Asia-Pacific (2016-2021); Best Lawyer in Litigation Practice, Best Lawyers International (2015-2020); Global Arbitration Review (2010); Best Litigation Lawyers in Singapore (2013); Asia Law Leading Lawyers (2009). He was recently named as one of Asia’s Top 15 Litigators by Asian Legal Business (2021).
Francis was also recognised by Asia Business Law Journal 2018 as amongst Singapore’s top lawyers and is the winner of a Business Excellence Award (2019) issued by Corporate Insider, the Gateway to the World of Business; named as a dispute resolution star by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific (2019-2020). He was recently ranked as a leading disputes lawyer by Chambers Asia Pacific (2020); Labour, Employment & Benefits, Who’s Who Legal (2016, 2018, 2019); Who’s Who Legal : Thought Leaders – Labour & Employment (2020); Who’s Who Legal : Arbitration (2020, 2021); The Best Lawyers (2020 Editions) Singapore; the 5th Annual Global Business Edition of Best Lawyers (2020); Who’s Who Legal : Litigation (2020).
He is the immediate past global President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and also the immediate Past President of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association. He is a Chartered Arbitrator and also a Past Chairman of the Singapore branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
He is the General Editor of two major publications - “Civil Litigation in Singapore” (Sweet & Maxwell, 2017) and “Arbitration in Singapore: A Practical Guide” (2nd Edition, Sweet & Maxwell, 2018).
In order to make compliance with GST, effective from 1st July, 2017, the fees and charges of ICA have been slightly changed. The GST charges @18% will henceforth be applicable on the membership and case fees and charges.