Partners

Yee Mei Ken

Partner
Dispute Resolution
Private Client & Family Business
Regulatory Compliance & Enforcement
Arbitration & Mediation
Head, China Desk

Key Practices

Qualifications

  • LL.B (Hons), University of Wales (Cardiff)
  • Barrister-at-Law, Lincoln’s Inn
  • Advocate & Solicitor, High Court of Malaya

Corporate and commercial litigation, family business feud, shareholders and directors’ disputes, banking and insolvency litigation, winding-up proceeding, asset and debt recovery and arbitration.

Ken has advised on schemes of arrangement for creditors and syndicated lenders and has been involved in matters relating to anti-money laundering, anti-corruption and breach of trust. He is highly experienced in advising private clients, UHNW and family corporations, mental health proceeding, wills and probate action.

Defamation and libel including online publication claims. Ken often defends the media and news publishers. He also has the niche experience of conducting a globally unique market research and readership litigation. He is involved in pre-publication vetting and consulted for his legal opinion by the media. He frequently appears as Counsel at the High Court and Appellate Courts.

Effectively trilingual, he delivered talks on shareholders’ rights and directors’ liabilities and frequently conducted training for editors and journalists at both English and Chinese media organizations.

Ken is the Head of our China Desk.

  • Acted as lead counsel in the high profile and contentious Genting dispute involving multiple litigation ranging from shareholders’ dispute, trust litigation and probate action. Advising on administration of the estate of the late founding matriarch of the Genting family.
  • Acted as counsel for Nielsen in a globally unique market research and readership litigation up to the Federal Court and successfully defended a RM300 million claim premised on negligence, defamation and malicious falsehood. Also recovered trial costs of RM600,000 for Nielsen by reason of the complexity and expertise involved in the dispute.
  • Acted as lead counsel in multiple corporate litgation involving shareholders’ oppression of a leading Spa and Wellness Group and successfully defended the holding company from hybrid trademark claims and the appointment of receivers and managers. Also representing the company in multi-million claims against former directors for breach of fiduciary and statutory duties under the Companies Act 2016.
  • Acted as defence counsel for the Star Media Group and its Editor in Chief in a high profile libel claim filed a Malay Rights Group and successfully struck out the action.
  • Acted for Singapore Press Holdings Ltd in a libel claim and successfully set aside an injunction with damages awarded to SPH and defended The Straits Times’ freedom in reporting news of public interest concerning the Penang Undersea Tunnel project.
  • Acted for a leading Real Estate Agency in an online publication claim premised on defamatory Facebook and social media postings and successfully claimed damages against the defendant and established a novel point of law regarding secondary liability of online commentaries.
  • Acted for Tropicana Corporation Berhad’s subsidiary in a real estate dispute and successfully removed a private caveat and concluded a RM30 million property transaction.
  • Acted for HSBC Bank in a multi-million Quincecare claim arising from scammed investment transactions by customer and successfully defended the bank by striking out the action concurrently at the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
  • Advised an established property developer on a tenancy dispute of an office tower and successfully negotiated a settlement of a potential USD10million claim.
  • Advising the Receiver and Manager of a Regional Oil and Gas entity for recovery of RM150 million loan indebtedness and charged assets for the benefit of syndicated and secured lenders.

Asialaw Profiles 

“Ken is quite superb - a total professional. Very committed and industrious, and charming. He is user friendly and has a vast knowledge of the relevant case law.” – Asialaw Profiles 2022

Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 

“Excellent Strategy and good tactical approach as plaintiff or defendant. Clear and precise advice. He knows how to hit the right notes for legal arguments. Also, prompt and knowledgeable in his field.” – Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2022

“Thorough, strategic and very astute commercially.” – Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2021

Chambers Asia-Pacific 
Dispute Resolution 2024 - Band 4 Lawyer for 5 consecutive years

A client appreciates that Yee Mei ken is “very knowledgeable and provides commercial solutions for clients.” - Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024

A client notes that “He is incredibly knowledgeable about the law and writes incredibly clearly.” - Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024

Yee Mei Ken is "very prompt, capable and a pleasure to work with; someone to have in your corner," attests a client. - Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 
Dispute Resolution - Leading Individual (2019 - 2023); Previously Recommended Lawyer from 2016 - 2018

“Yee Mei Ken’s knowledge of the industry is vast as is his ability to provide sound strategic advice. He is always available as and when required. Outstanding”. - The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2021

… heads the team that includes the ‘speedy, approachable and smart’ Yee Mei Ken, who is defending Star Publications in a libel suit brought by the president of a Malay rights group. - The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2016

The Legal 500 Private Practice Powerlist - Arbitration - Southeast Asia 
Leading Arbitration Practitioners in 2023

Who’s Who Legal National Guide Southeast Asia 
National Leader in Commercial and Litigation 2023

  • Disciplinary Committee Panel Member, Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board
  • Commerce Committee Member, Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of KL and Selangor (KLSCCCI) 2018 – 2021/ 2021- 2024
  • Member, Malaysian Bar
  • Member, The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
  • Member, Belt and Road International Lawyers Association (BRILA)
  • Member, World Law Group (WLG)
  • Member, International Bar Association (IBA)
  • Member, Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA)
  • Firm Representative, Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of KL and Selangor (KLSCCCI)
  • Member, The English-Speaking Union of Malaysia
  • The Legal 500 & The In-House Lawyer Comparative Legal Guide, Malaysia: Litigation (2nd Edition), 2019