Commercial lawyers in Singapore
Clear contracts and sensible advice prevent most business disputes before they start. We help owners, founders and companies put the right paperwork in place, negotiate from a position of strength, and resolve problems quickly when they arise.
General information on commercial law in Singapore, not legal advice. For advice on your own circumstances, speak with one of our lawyers.
How we work with businesses
A lawyer who knows your business
You deal with the same lawyer each time, so you don't pay to re-explain your company, your contracts or your history on every new matter.
Plain-English drafting
Contracts your team can actually read and follow. Clear obligations mean fewer arguments later about what was agreed.
Ready if it turns into a dispute
Our commercial and litigation work sit under one roof. If a deal goes wrong, the lawyer who drafted it already knows where you stand.
Our commercial law services
From a first company set-up to a contract dispute with a long-standing supplier, we advise businesses of every size.
- Contract drafting & review
- Contract negotiation
- Shareholders' & partnership agreements
- Company incorporation & constitution
- Terms & conditions for goods and services
- Employment contracts & handbooks
- Non-disclosure & non-compete agreements
- Commercial leases & tenancy
- Sale & purchase of a business
- Debt recovery & letters of demand
- Shareholder & partner disputes
- Commercial dispute resolution
Protecting your business in Singapore
Most commercial problems we see trace back to an unclear agreement, or no written agreement at all. A few well-drafted documents go a long way.
Documents every growing business should have
- Shareholders' agreement
- Sets out how decisions are made, how shares can be sold, and what happens if a founder leaves or the owners fall out. The company constitution alone rarely covers this.
- Standard terms & conditions
- Your default terms for every sale: payment, delivery, liability caps and how disputes are handled. They apply across every order without renegotiating each time.
- Employment contracts
- Clear terms on duties, notice, confidentiality and intellectual property, consistent with the Employment Act and the Tripartite Guidelines.
- Confidentiality agreements
- Protect business information you share with potential partners, investors, contractors or buyers before a deal is signed.
- Supplier & client agreements
- Longer-term contracts that set out scope, service levels, pricing changes, termination rights and who bears which risks.
- Personal data policies
- Businesses that collect customer or employee data have obligations under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), including notification, consent and protection.
How a contract matter works with us
- 1.
Understand the deal
We start with what you're trying to achieve commercially, who the other party is, and what would go wrong if things fell apart.
- 2.
Scope and quote
We agree the scope of work and the fee before we begin, so there are no surprises.
- 3.
Draft or review
We draft the document or mark up the other side's draft, and explain the key risks in plain English rather than leaving you to decode tracked changes.
- 4.
Negotiate and sign
We handle the back-and-forth with the other side or their lawyers until the terms are agreed and signed.
Don't wait too long to act
Claims for breach of contract in Singapore must generally be brought within six years of the breach under the Limitation Act. Evidence and leverage both fade with time, so it's worth getting advice early.
Fees
We quote fixed fees for most document work, so you know the cost before we start. Disputes and ongoing advice are scoped and quoted once we understand what's involved.
| Contract reviewReview and mark-up of a contract you've received, with a plain-English risk summary. | Fixed fee |
|---|---|
| Contract draftingA tailored agreement drafted from scratch, such as a shareholders' agreement or standard T&Cs. | Fixed fee |
| Disputes & ongoing adviceLetters of demand, negotiation, mediation, or retained advice for your business. | Quoted upfront |
Every engagement includes
- An initial discussion of your goals and risks
- A clear scope and fee before work begins
- Plain-English explanations of every key clause
- Direct access to the lawyer doing the work
You will have a clear figure at your consultation before you commit to anything.
Talk it through with us
Whether you're setting up, signing a new deal or chasing an unpaid invoice, book an initial consultation. We'll tell you what matters, what doesn't, and what it would cost to deal with it properly.
Common questions
Is a verbal agreement legally binding in Singapore?
Often, yes. Most contracts don't have to be in writing to be binding. Some do, such as contracts for the sale of land. The real problem with a verbal agreement is proving what was agreed if there's a dispute later, which is why a written contract is almost always worth having.
Do I need a lawyer to incorporate a company?
No. You can incorporate a Singapore company yourself through ACRA's BizFile+ portal. Where a lawyer adds value is in the documents that sit around it: a constitution suited to your business, and a shareholders' agreement that sets out what happens if co-founders disagree or someone wants to leave.
Why do I need a shareholders' agreement if we already have a constitution?
The constitution is a public document that sets out the company's basic internal rules. A shareholders' agreement is private and goes further, covering things like:
- Which decisions need unanimous or special approval
- What happens to a founder's shares if they leave
- Rights of first refusal, and drag-along or tag-along rights on a sale
- How deadlock between shareholders is broken
Someone owes my business money. What should I do first?
Gather your invoices, contract and correspondence, then send a formal letter of demand setting out what's owed and a deadline to pay. A letter from a lawyer is often enough to prompt payment. If it isn't, the next steps are usually mediation or a court claim, depending on the amount and the debtor's position.
Can you review a contract the other side has drafted?
Yes, and it's one of the most common things we do. We'll mark up the draft, explain the clauses that put you at risk, and suggest wording that's fairer without derailing the deal.
How much does a commercial lawyer cost?
It depends on the work. For defined tasks like reviewing or drafting a contract, we quote a fixed fee up front. Disputes and ongoing advice are scoped once we understand what's involved. Either way, you'll have a clear figure at your consultation before you commit.
Still have a question? Ask us directly.
Tell us what happened.
Send us a short description of your matter. We will let you know whether it is something we can assist with.