Vu Lan Nguyen
Counsel
Vu Lan is a Counsel in the firm’s Dispute Resolution practice, with a focus on complex cross-border litigation and international arbitration.
He has extensive experience acting in high-stakes commercial disputes across areas including shareholder and contractual disputes, construction, banking and financial services, and trust and private wealth. He regularly represents multinational corporations, financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals. He also has particular experience in Vietnam-related matters, supported by his native fluency in Vietnamese and strong regional network.
After graduating from the National University of Singapore with First Class Honours, Vu Lan practised at one of the top dispute teams in Singapore under Senior Counsel, as well as in a prominent international law firm, before joining Providence Law Asia. Vu Lan was recognised as one of Singapore’s “20 Most Notable Lawyers Under 40” by Singapore Business Review in 2025.
Vu Lan is active in the international arbitration community, particularly in relation to Vietnam, and has spoken at Vietnam ADR Week and other regional forums. He has also contributed to leading publications, including the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators’ flagship journal. In his free time, he actively volunteers with the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and other legal pro bono initiatives to enhance access to justice.
Vu Lan is fluent in English and Vietnamese.
Professional Experience
- Acted as lead counsel for a Vietnamese media conglomerate in a S$10 million international arbitration against a US counterparty in the education technology sector, involving alleged breaches of contract and issues of Vietnamese law.
- Acted for a South Korean contractor in defending a S$20 million arbitration arising from one of Singapore’s largest hospital infrastructure projects. Advised on issues such as delay, acceleration, extension of time, and variation claims under the Public Sector Standard Conditions of Contract.
- Successfully resisted a setting-aside application in a Singapore-seated arbitration (DLV and another v DLX and others [2025] SGHC 29), while simultaneously tracking and coordinating enforcement proceedings in India.
- Acted for a subsidiary of one of the world’s largest sugar companies in arbitration proceedings arising from a joint venture sugar business in Myanmar, involving allegations of minority oppression and breaches of joint venture agreements. Successfully secured interim relief from the Singapore International Arbitration Centre’s Emergency Arbitrator.
- Acted for an international steel company in arbitration proceedings against one of Japan’s largest steel corporations, in a dispute over a joint venture in Malaysia. Advised on complex contractual and corporate governance issues.
- Acted for an international company in the infrastructure, telecommunications and power industry in a shareholder dispute involving contractual breaches and minority oppression, both in the Singapore High Court (for interim relief) and in arbitration.
- Acted for the claimants in a multimillion-dollar contractual dispute relating to the supply of electricity, in the Singapore Court of Appeal: Denka Advantech Pte Ltd and another v Seraya Energy Pte Ltd and another and other appeals [2020] SGCA 119. Successfully secured S$30.8 million in liquidated damages. The decision is now a leading authority on liquidated damages in Singapore.
- Defended one of the leaders in the insurance industry against a S$2.8 billion claim by Prudential Assurance Company Singapore, involving allegations of mass solicitation of over 240 agents: Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Limited v Peter Tan Shou Yi and another [2021] SGHC 109. Successfully reduced damages to under S$5 million.
- Defended a subsidiary of the world’s largest manufacturer of aluminium electrolytic capacitors against a contractual claim exceeding S$250 million brought by a global household technology corporation in the Singapore International Commercial Court.
- Acted as Singapore counsel for Asia’s largest private healthcare group in a S$1.74 billion tortious dispute involving multiple jurisdictions including India, Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan.
- Acted for a corporate client of a major global investment bank in a dispute over withdrawals valued at over US$800 million.
- Successfully acted for Guy Carpenter, a leading US reinsurance company, in a lawsuit against its former employees and competitors, involving allegations of conspiracy, breaches of employment contract / codes of ethics and breach of confidence: Guy Carpenter & Co Pte Ltd v Choi Okmi and others [2025] SGHC 241.
- Advised offshore companies in proceedings involving trust assets worth US$600-800 million, including those before the Singapore Court of Appeal: Ernest Ferdinand Perez De La Sala v Compañia De Navegación Palomar, SA [2018] 1 SLR 894 and subsequent proceedings.
- Successfully defended the defendant in an action concerning alleged beneficial ownership of company shares: Liang Xihong v Loong Soo Min and another and another suit [2023] SGHC 80. Acted as lead counsel in the appeal arising from this matter before the Appellate Division of the High Court.
- Successfully acted for the plaintiffs in a testamentary trust dispute involving the Shankar’s Emporium group: Devin Jethanand Bhojwani and others v Jethanand Harkishindas Bhojwani [2024] SGHC 310. Successfully secured equitable compensation of approximately S$15 million. Subsequently assisted in developing the appeal strategy and crafting the Appellant’s Case, resulting in a favourable appeal judgment that increased equitable compensation to nearly S$30 million.
- Advised the CEO of a Singapore-based robo-advisory company on regulatory breaches identified by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), including on strategy to remediate and appeal aspects of MAS’ findings.
- Advised a leading global social media platform on Singapore data protection compliance in the context of a foreign class action. Drafted multiple expert statements on Singapore’s personal data protection laws.
- Advised a German technology investment company on the data protection aspects of a cross-border forensic investigation into suspicious transactions, involving Singapore, Germany and China.
- Advised a private equity firm on key KYC requirements under MAS guidelines, and on managing money laundering and terrorism financing risks.
- Acted for the Judicial Managers of a Singapore company in relation to a court-approved scheme of arrangement. Advised on issues arising from the management of a property in Vietnam and disputes with a dissatisfied creditor. Successfully defended the Judicial Managers against the creditor’s application for their removal.
- Acted for a Singapore automobile company in its application for judicial management, and subsequently secured a compulsory winding up order on behalf of the company.
- Acted for a former director of an insolvent hotel company in defending claims brought by the liquidators, involving issues of unfair preference and avoidance transactions: Park Hotel Management Pte Ltd (in liquidation) and others v Lam Ching Hung and others [2025] SGHC 149.