Monica CHONG Wan Yee

Monica CHONG Wan Yee is a Partner in the Commercial & Corporate Disputes and International Arbitration Practices. 

She has an active court and international arbitration practice spanning a range of sectors, including energy, financial services, business consultancy, trade and investment matters and, in the arbitration context, under a spectrum of arbitration rules including SIAC, ICC, UNCITRAL and ICSID.

A key focus of her practice is in the enforcement of judgments and awards, and associated challenges and recovery efforts. She was part of the teams acting in the Sanum v Laos, AKN v ALN, and CBX v CBZ lines of cases – each key in developing Singapore jurisprudence on the topic. She most recently acted in DBX v DBZ where the Court determined a novel time bar issue in the context of award challenges.

Monica graduated with First Class Honours from the National University of Singapore (NUS), where she received the NUS Global Merit Scholarship (2007 to 2011) and a variety of book prizes. She was also awarded the Singapore Institute of Legal Education's Prize for the Top Student in Corporate and Commercial Practice at the 2011 Singapore Bar Examinations. 

Monica served as a Justices' Law Clerk at the Supreme Court of Singapore prior to joining private practice in 2013. In 2017, she was appointed young amicus curiae to assist the High Court on issues of criminal sentencing for the abuse of domestic workers in Tay Wee Kiat and Chia Yun Ling v Public Prosecutor [2018] SGHC 42, where she was commended for "ably assisting the court with her helpful submissions".

Monica is an accredited Associate Mediator at the Singapore Mediation Centre and serves as Co-Chair of the Asia-Pacific Forum for International Arbitration (AFIA) and Principal Examiner for the Civil Litigation module for the Singapore Bar Examinations (Part B Preparatory Course). By appointment of the Ministry of Home Affairs, she is also serving her second term as member of the Criminal Law Advisory Committee (Hearing).

In 2020, Monica was recognised as one out of just five Singapore lawyers to have made the 40 under 40 list, an annual listing of outstanding legal professionals by Asian Legal Business. Monica is also listed as a National Leader in the Lexology Index’s (Southeast Asia) – Commercial Litigation guide, as a Global Elite Thought Leader – Under 45 in Lexology Index Thought Leaders: Global Elite Report and as an Arbitration Future Leader in Lexology Index – Arbitration guide. She is also recognised as a Rising Star in asialaw's 2024 guide and as a Future Star in Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific, 2024.

She is described by clients as "one of the best Singapore lawyers that we have worked with. She is super sharp, calm and always goes straight to the point. She is a pleasure to work with as she also provides solutions to difficult questions with a cultural touch" in the Benchmark Litigation 2021; "an expert in examining and cross-examining foreign law experts" with "the ability to quickly understand legal concepts" in the Lexology Index – Commercial Litigation 2021 (Future Leaders); "client-friendly" and "a strong advocate who is excellent on her feet and a joy to work with" in the The Legal 500 – Asia-Pacific Guide 2022 (International Arbitration).

Monica graduated with First Class Honours from the National University of Singapore (NUS), where she received the NUS Global Merit Scholarship (2007 to 2011) and a variety of book prizes. She was also awarded the Singapore Institute of Legal Education's Prize for the Top Student in Corporate and Commercial Practice at the 2011 Singapore Bar Examinations.