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Siraj Omar, SC

Managing Director, Dispute Resolution

Key Practices

Qualifications

  • LL.B. (Hons), National University of Singapore (1997)
  • Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore (1998)
  • Solicitor, England & Wales (2002)
  • Appointed Senior Counsel (2019)

Siraj specialises in complex, high-value commercial litigation and international arbitration.  He has an active trial and appellate practice at all levels of the Courts in Singapore and in international arbitrations. 

He is a civilian panel member of the Military Court of Appeal and Deputy Commissioner of the Government Procurement Adjudication Tribunal.  He also sits as arbitrator in international arbitrations and as a mediator.

Siraj is a member of the Board of Directors of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and a member of its Board Executive Committee.  He sits on the Practice Advisory Committee of the Singapore Management University School of Law.

He is recognised in all the leading legal directories and has been described as "a star" and "a formidable litigator".  He was appointed Senior Counsel by the Chief Justice of Singapore in 2019, one of a select few to be accorded the honour.

Siraj began his career at Drew & Napier in 1997 before leaving in 2002 to join the corporate practice of an international law firm.  In 2008, he co-founded Premier Law and headed its Dispute Resolution practice.  In 2016, Premier Law entered into a joint venture with the UK law firm RPC, and Siraj was concurrently a Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution at the joint venture firm, RPC Premier Law.  He re-joined Drew & Napier as a Director in 2019.

He sits on the Working Group of the Professional Conduct Council chaired by the Chief Justice of Singapore and the Accreditation Committee of the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE) and was a member of the Singapore International Commercial Court Rules Sub-Committee. He is a past member of the Council of The Law Society of Singapore and has sat as a member of its Inquiry Panel since 2009.

Siraj has acted in several landmark matters before the Courts including:

  • Acting for high net worth individuals and corporates in claims against international private and investment banks, including claims by different individuals for US$40 million against Citibank N.A. and Deutsche Bank, and defending a claim for damages estimated at S$138 million by UOB Ltd.
  • Acting for international insurers in Court and arbitration proceedings, including successfully defending an international insurer in two international arbitration proceedings involving claims totalling approx. US$70 million made by a leading local bank under a trade credit insurance policy.
  • Acting for a group of 212 investors in a representative action in the Singapore High Court against DBS Bank Limited. This was one of very few representative actions launched in the Singapore Courts, and the only one arising out of the 2008 global financial crisis.
  • Acting in a successful application to the Singapore High Court to sanction the restructure of a US$325 million note issued by Blue Ocean Resources Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of a company listed on the Jakarta Stock Exchange. This was the first successful application of its kind in Singapore in relation to the restructuring of such a note using the scheme of arrangement provisions in the Singapore Companies Act.
  • Acting for the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) in a prosecution of 6 entities and individuals under the Singapore Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (CPFTA). This was the first exercise of the CCCS' enforcement powers under the CPFTA.

Chambers Asia-Pacific and Chambers Global

Dispute Resolution: Litigation 2024 – Band 3 (3 years ranked); Recognised Practitioner in 2020

"I regard Siraj very well, and I think he is an excellent lawyer who has handled very prominent cases."

Siraj Omar SC is a well-regarded commercial litigator who attracts plenty of praise from market source, with one describing him as "very practical and a great lawyer," and another noting he is "very talented and a very good litigator."

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

Dispute Resolution 2024 – Leading Individual for 5 consecutive years

International Arbitration 2024 – Recommended Lawyer for 4 consecutive years

‘Siraj Omar SC assisted us in the setting aside of an arbitral award, at the Singapore High Court and Court of Appeal. We are very happy with the outcome, professionalism and level of service.’

“Siraj Omar SC is a leading light and a juggernaut in the industry.”

Sources say, “‘I have worked with the following individual(s) in international arbitration… Siraj Omar SC is very competent.’”

The Legal 500 said that Siraj “provides additional firepower in banking and insolvency disputes” and describes him as 'a formidable litigator'.

Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific

Commercial and Transactions 2023 – Litigation Star for 4 consecutive years

Insolvency 2020 – Litigation Star

“Siraj Omar SC assisted us in the setting aside of an arbitral award, at the Singapore High Court and Court of Appeal. We are very happy with the outcome, professionalism and level of service. They provided timely, commercially useful and clear advice. They are also very user-friendly, and are proactive in proposing solutions that are creative and strategic in nature. They know arbitration and court work well. They are also very professional, polished, and give a very high quality of service.”

“Siraj gives timely and spot on advice, has commercial solutions and has successful outcomes in court.”

“Siraj is very experienced in terms of the types of transaction that we are having trouble with and also he has a great track record on cross-border disputes.”

asialaw Leading Lawyers

Dispute Resolution 2023/2024 – Elite Practitioner

Dispute Resolution 2023 – Distinguished Practitioner for 4 consecutive years

“Siraj provides timely, commercially useful and clear advice. He is also very user-friendly, and is proactive in proposing solutions that are creative and strategic in nature. He knows arbitration and court work well. He and his team are also very professional, polished and give a very high quality of service.”

A client praised Siraj for being “Very knowledgeable. Good disposition. Acts in the client's best interests. Good rapport with other lawyers. Good strategist.”

Best Lawyers International: Singapore 

Arbitration and Mediation 2024 – Endorsed individual for 4 consecutive years

Litigation 2024 – Endorsed individual for 2 consecutive years

Who’s Who Legal

Arbitration 2024 - Recommended Lawyer

Thought Leader Guide: Commercial Litigation 2023 – Thought Leader

Global Guide: Commercial Litigation 2022 – Recommended Lawyer for 2 consecutive years

National Guide: Southeast Asia - Arbitration 2022 – Recommended Lawyer for 2 consecutive years

National Guide: Southeast Asia - Litigation 2022 – Recommended Lawyer for 2 consecutive years

“Siraj ranks among the very elite of practitioners for his expert litigation on complex and difficult commercial cases.”

“Siraj is internationally renowned for his practice which focuses on high-value commercial litigation in the arenas of fraud, insurance and professional negligence.”

Siraj receives a widespread praise from sources who applaud his ability to provide “strong, practical advice about whatever the situation or outcome from the courts”.

  • Member, Civilian Panel, Military Court of Appeal
  • Member, Board of Directors and Board Executive Committee, Singapore International Arbitration Centre
  • Member, Practice Advisory Committee of the School of Law, Singapore Management University
  • Member, Board of Directors, Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA)
  • Member, Board of Governors, Raffles Institution
  • Deputy Commissioner, Government Procurement Adjudication Tribunal
  • Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
  • Fellow, Singapore Institute of Arbitrators
  • Fellow, Singapore Academy of Law
  • Member, Accreditation Committee under the CPD Scheme, Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE)
  • Member, International Association of Defence Counsel
  • Member, Law Society of Singapore