Case Update: Singapore High Court on what constitutes confidential information
The General Division of the Singapore High Court analysed certain categories of information to determine if they were subject to implied general confidentiality obligations post-employment.
Covenant Chambers acted in partly successful appeal in the Appellate Division
Director Ronald JJ Wong and Associate Stuart Peter recently acted for the appellant in a rare case of a successful claim for the equitable remedy of rectification and in particular as to the identity of the parties to the contract, likely a first in Singapore.
Recognition in Legal 500 for Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) practice
Covenant Chambers LLC was recently recognised in leading London-based ranking publication Legal 500 for its Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) practice.
Tax treatment of payment of salary or business goods or services in cryptocurrency
Should an employee accept payment of her salary in cryptocurrency or digital tokens? Should a business accept digital payment tokens as payment for goods or services? What are the tax implications? What is the best way to structure such payments?
Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) regulatory advice and consultancy
ESG stands for environmental, social and governance. Businesses will increasingly be scrutinised based on ESG metrics. The global and national regulatory frameworks are shifting towards mandatory disclosure and reporting on ESG metrics. This article considers ESG issues, ESG-related regulations and obligations in Singapore, and what businesses should consider doing regarding ESG and ESG-related risks.
Buyers Beware: Foreign Ownership of Indonesian Residential Property
The recent dispute in Indah Puri Golf Resort in Batam, which was reported to have affected foreigners including Singaporeans, highlights a case of a lease which expired in 2018. When the resort was launched in 1993, the apartments were not available for foreign ownership. This article discusses types of title available for foreign ownership in Indonesia and possible legal recourse in event of a dispute.
Incentive Payment to Minority Owners
When incentive payments are made to minority owners to secure their consent to a collective sale, is the ‘good faith’ of the transaction impugned such that an application for collective sale will not go through?
Pitfalls to Avoid When Co-Investing in a Property
When family members or friends co-fund the purchase of a property, disputes might arise over the beneficial ownership of the property if their intentions are not properly documented. Avoid the risk of protracted legal tussles by seeking competent legal advice.
5 Things to Note in a Collective Sale
As en bloc fever sweeps by again, unit owners should understand the processes and people involved in collective sales.
If employees steal data, confidential information or trade secrets
A study found that more than half of employees steal confidential company information when they leave their employment. Data taken include customer email addresses and contact lists. Some of these may include personal data.
Competition Appeals Board slashes financial penalty imposed by the Competition Consumer Commission of Singapore by more than $1 million
Our Lee Ee Yang, Ronald JJ Wong, Wilbur Lua and Charis Wong successfully represented the second appellants, Gold Chic Poultry Supply Pte Ltd and Hua Kun Food Industry Pte Ltd in the appeal, which resulted in the reduction of the penalty payable by our clients by more than $1 million.
Understanding the options available under the Re-Align Framework
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Singapore government has launched several schemes to help provide relief to businesses in Singapore adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest scheme implemented by the Singapore government is the Re-Align Framework, launched on 15 January 2021. In this article, we seek to address some of the frequently asked questions about the Re-Align Framework.
Case Update: VGF v VGE [2020] SGFC 22 - Successful enforcement of maintenance arrears for ex-wife
Successful enforcement of maintenance arrears for ex-wife
10 Simple Steps to Secure Personal Data in Your Organisation’s IT Systems
Fines for breaches of the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (“PDPA”) are going to get heftier: up to 10% of annual Singapore turnover or up to S$1 million (whichever higher). We set out 10 simple steps to secure your organisation’s information technology (IT) systems to reduce the risk of PDPA breaches.
What can directors of a company in financial distress or insolvency do?
If you are a director or owner of a company in substantial debt, financial distress or becoming insolvent, you may want to do your best to resuscitate the company. If you seek to restructure debts, rationalise assets and reorganise the firm early, you may be able to avoid the company’s downfall.
What to do if a company that owes me money has been wound up?
In this article, we address some questions you may have if you are a creditor of a Singapore company that has entered or is entering into liquidation or winding up due to insolvency or otherwise.
Report: Applying Ethical Principles for Artificial Intelligence in Regulatory Reform
Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) systems, automated decision-making, and autonomous vehicles are become increasingly ubiquitous. While these can benefit society, there can be significant risks of harms and unfair outcomes from their use.
COVID-19: 6 Ways Businesses Can Maximise Their Downtime
If your business is experiencing a slow-down because of the Circuit Breaker and social distancing measures during this COVID-19 outbreak, now is the best time to repair legal foundations, review internal systems, and position your business for when things pick up again. Here are 6 key areas you should review.