* Clifford Chance Asia is a Formal Law Alliance in Singapore between Clifford Chance Pte Ltd and Cavenagh Law LLP
Kabir Singh is a Partner in the International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution practice of Clifford Chance. He specialises in complex, cross border disputes with a focus on India, Indonesia, and South East Asia. His client roster includes large multinational corporations, international banks and financial institutions with presence across APAC.
Kabir focuses on international arbitration, regulatory investigations and contentious employment disputes. He has acted as counsel on numerous international arbitrations under the rules of ICC, SIAC, LCIA, HKIAC and AAA.
Kabir has been appointed as an alternate member of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (the "ICC Court"), for a three-year term. He is a market leader and is regularly ranked by leading international legal directories such as Legal 500, Chambers & Partners and Who's Who Legal. He has also been involved in various teaching initiatives including with the ICC, SIAC, NUS Centre for International Law, Foundation for International Arbitration Advocacy (FIAA) and Chulalongkorn University (Thailand).
In international arbitrations, Kabir has acted for:
- a leading Dubai based conglomerate in two international arbitrations against a BVI entity backed by an Indian promoter. This shareholder dispute involved allegations of breach of a joint venture agreement and fraud in relation to a power plant in India worth over US$1 billion
- a Singapore state owned entity in a multi-million dollars arbitration commenced by a shareholder and former owner of a group of logistics subsidiaries.
- a major financial institution in two international arbitrations arising out of a shareholder agreement relating to a multi-million dollars equity investment in an Indian media company. The dispute involved allegations of breach of contract and fraud
- a US media conglomerate in relation to a complex and protracted dispute involving several high-profile Indian partners which resulted in an international arbitration in Singapore, and multiple proceedings in India
- a group of Thai investors in an international arbitration involving claims of fraud and breach of contract under a share purchase agreement against a major Australian based construction company
- a leading Japanese conglomerate in relation to 8 parallel international arbitrations against a major Vietnamese state linked entity surrounding the sale and purchase of construction equipment and supplies in Vietnam
- a pair of Norwegian high net worth investors in an international arbitration against various individuals surrounding investments in Thailand
- a leading US energy company in 2 international arbitrations valued at USD130 m arising out of the termination of two development contracts in relation to an oilfield project in India
- one of the largest Chinese state owned entities in relation to an international arbitration against an Indonesian multinational corporation relating to a power plant project in Indonesia
- a major Indian infrastructure company in a Singapore seated international arbitration relating to a project to construct a five-star hotel near Kolkata, India, worth in excess of US$120 million
- a global aviation and aerospace company in several international arbitrations relating to agreements governed by French, Singapore and Indonesian law
- a US based multinational food company in an international arbitration with its Asian franchisee across multiple jurisdictions
- an Indonesian conglomerate in an international arbitration against a leading global IT software company concerning a licensing dispute
- an American multinational company on a dispute arising out of its acquisition of telecommunications assets in India and the potential actions for resisting the exercise of an option by a counterparty for the forced purchase of an asset devalued by the counterparty's actions
In regulatory investigations, Kabir has acted for:
- a major US financial institution in a complex regulatory investigation relating to its client facilitation trading business across various APAC jurisdictions including Singapore, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan.
- a major European private bank in relation to the global regulatory investigation in connection with the 1MDB scandal. Media reports have stated that the matter is without doubt the most complex cross-border investigation that Singapore regulators have conducted, involving multiple transactions, multiple entities in several jurisdictions as well as sensitive information
- a US based bank in relation to allegations of bribery, corruption and employee harassment in one of their major operations in South India. The matter involved a protracted investigation lasting more than a year, and engagement with several Indian regulators and law enforcement agencies, as well as home regulators in the US.
- a global software company involved in one of the most high-profile corruption scandals in Singapore in recent times, in relation to alleged bribes provided by an employee of the company to a government official in Singapore
- a leading European bank in relation to their disclosure obligations viz a viz foreign regulators in a large cross border investigation involving regulators in the US, Europe and Singapore
- a major European insurer in relation to a regulatory investigation concerning potential claims of mis-selling and breach of various insurance regulations in Asia
- a US based international bank in conducting internal investigations into potential contraventions of regulatory and tax laws in India
- a major telecommunications operator in Malaysia in relation to a high-profile scandal relating to corruption and coercion allegations made by the Central Bureau of Investigation in India and additional inquiries by the income tax authorities and anti-money laundering commission
- a major UK based private bank in relation to investigations surrounding potential money laundering by one of their employees
- a major international bank in relation to an independent review arising out of MAS investigations into setting of SGD SIBOR, USD SIBOR, SGD swap offer rates and other FX benchmark rates in the period between 2007 and 2011
- a major financial institution in relation to a large internal investigation looking into various allegations of market misconduct, and front running by their employees
- a major international bank in relation to two high profile regulatory investigations in Indonesia – involving allegations of breach of AML laws, fraud and other serious misconduct by some of their employees
- a major European conglomerate in relation to anti-bribery and corruptions investigations across various APAC jurisdictions including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Korea
- a European based insurance provider in relation to an anti-trust investigation by the Singapore regulators
- a Thai based company in relation to various allegations of corruption in their joint venture with foreign investors
- a leading HK based fund in relation to a compliance investigation resulting from tax fraud allegations made overseas against one of their major investors
- a major Canadian bank in relation to a corruption related investigation by the Indian anti-corruption authorities
In contentious employment cases, Kabir has acted for:
- a major US financial institution in unfair dismissal claims brought in Singapore, arising from a broader cross-border regulatory investigation relating to its client facilitation trading business
- a major international bank in relation to the termination of employment of their senior employee for misconduct, in a case that was widely reported in the local media
- one of the world's largest financial institutions in disciplinary proceedings against a very senior employee, in relation to allegations that he sexually harassed and had improper relationships with female subordinates
- a leading US financial institution on an unfair dismissal action arising from the termination of a senior trader due to allegations that he had sexually harassed a junior female employee
- a global internet and entertainment company on the termination of employees due to restructuring
- a French MNC regarding the termination of employment of a senior employee resulting from a reorganisation of the business
- an India linked technology company in relation to matters resulting from a large-scale departure of their employees to a competitor, which involved issues such as non-solicitation, breach of confidentiality obligations and inducement of breach of contract
- a former employee of a US hedge fund in an LCIA arbitration and Singapore legal proceedings commenced against his former employer alleging wrongful termination
- a major international bank in relation to employee misconduct involving the theft of confidential information from the bank's computer systems
- a hedge fund in relation to claims made against the management by two former employees, and attempts by those employees to extort money and make false reports to the regulators
News and client work
Contact details
- Clifford Chance, Singapore
- +6564102273
- Email me
- Follow me on LinkedIn
- Speaks English, Malay, Bahasa Indonesia, Hindi & Punjabi
- Practice area Employment - advisory, litigation & transactional, Regulatory enforcement & white collar, Litigation, dispute resolution & risk management, Arbitration
- Sector Power & energy networks, Banks, Automotive, Aerospace & defence, Oil & gas, Capital goods, Mining & metals, Materials
Career and qualifications
- National University of Singapore (LLB) 2002
Professional bodies
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Member, Law Society of Singapore
- Member, Singapore Academy of Law
- Alternate Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration
Awards and citations
- India Business Law Journal – The A List – India's International Top Lawyers 2024
- Kabir Singh is well regarded and has solid expertise in international arbitration involving Indonesian entities. He handles disputes as well as representing clients in anti-corruption mandates.
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 – Dispute Resolution (International Firms) – Indonesia - "Kabir Singh is based in Singapore and sought out for his experience handling both arbitration and litigation, with a specialism in contractual disputes."
"He is very good at strategising and understands the Indian white-collar crime landscape. He's great for high-ticket white-collar crime cases in India."
"Kabir is fantastic."
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 – Dispute Resolution (International Firms) – Expertise based abroad – India - "His management is good, his advice is sound, and he provides a good commercial strategy."
"He is very good at strategising and understands the Indian WCC landscape."
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 – Dispute Resolution: Arbitration – Singapore - "Kabir Singh demonstrates extensive experience assisting clients with both internal and authority-led investigations into breach of anti-corruption regulations. His client roster features global financial institutions."
"Kabir is a great lawyer to work with. He has remarkable foresight and is a great strategist."
"Mr. Singh has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to his clients, always going above and beyond to ensure their needs are met."
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 – Corporate Investigations/Anti-corruption: International – Singapore - "Singh maintains a strong record in cross-border mandates, advising multinational companies, banks and financial institutions on regulatory and compliance-related investigations in Asia."
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 – White-collar crime – Foreign Firms – Singapore - Recommended lawyer
Lexology Index – Investigations and Arbitration 2024 - "Kabir does a very fine job of servicing sophisticated, global clients who have high expectations."
"Kabir is very adaptable. As a lawyer, he knows his law well and is very sound on legal principles.“
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024 – Corporate Investigations/Anti-corruption: International – Singapore - "Kabir is a very good orator and is so good at explaining to the client, at problem solving and at reality checking."
"Kabir is excellent in international arbitration, providing sound advice. He is reliable and always very well prepared."
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024 – Dispute Resolution: Arbitration – Singapore - His subject knowledge, domain knowledge and hands-on, solution-oriented approach is exactly what is needed in this day and age of quick fixes to litigation. He is an asset to his firm and to the team where we have worked together. His thought process is truly a game changer.
India Business Law Journal – The A List – India's International Top Lawyers 2023