Sarah Teo

Associate

Sarah is a lawyer who firmly believes in obtaining justice for her clients through ethical legal practice.

Having cut her teeth in litigation at one of the “Big Four” firms in Singapore, Sarah has experience in complex commercial disputes, high-value trust disputes, and novel crypto disputes.

Sarah obtained her Juris Doctor from the Singapore Management University (“SMU”) in 2022 and was called to the bar in 2023. During her time at SMU, Sarah was awarded the Law Society Distinguished Scholar Award for being the top student in her cohort in the core subjects of Ethics & Social Responsibility and Legal Theory & Philosophy. Sarah was also placed on the Dean’s List and awarded the J.D. Term Award several times for obtaining the top 5 GPA in her cohort. In 2022, Sarah was awarded the Spirit of Bro Bono Award for achieving the most number of pro bono hours in her cohort. Sarah is also the recipient of the SMU ASEAN Postgraduate Scholarship.

Sarah also has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the National University of Singapore (“NUS”). During her time at NUS, Sarah obtained the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies Book Prize for being the top student and was also placed on the Dean’s List.

Sample Cases

• Acted for the purchasers to challenge a property developer’s forfeiture of a deposit in an abortive condominium sale (Li Jialin and another v Wingcrown Investment Pte Ltd [2024] SGCA 48). The landmark Court of Appeal decision clarified the law on deposits and penalties.

• Acted for beneficiaries of a trust against a trust company in an application for the production of documents and successfully argued that beneficiaries are entitled to legal advice obtained by trustees and paid from the trust fund as legal advice privilege does not apply to such advice.

• Acted for an employee in the enforcement of an Employment Claims Tribunal Order against an employer for unpaid salaries.

• Acted for a victim of a fraudulent investment scheme in the General Division of the Singapore High Court.

• Assisted a client in taking out a Personal Protection Order under the Protection from Harassment Act 2014.

• Drafted an influencer marketing agreement for a well-known media personality

• Assisted an oil company in a negligence claim against their auditors.

• Assisted a Chinese engineering company in an arbitration at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre in relation to a breach of contract.

• Advised a Chinese hotpot restaurant in relation to lease, guarantees and contractual matters.

• Advised a gaming company in relation to a breach of contract matter.

• Advised a venture capitalist in relation to a breach of investment agreement.

• Applied for letters of administration and drafted wills for clients.

Published Judgments

• Lutfi Salim bin Talib and another v British and Malayan Trustees Ltd [2024] SGHC 85

Publications

• Iskandar bin Rahmat v Law Society of Singapore (Singapore Courts)

• Redress for Legal Misconduct: Iskandar bin Rahmat v Law Society of Singapore [2021] 1 SLR 874 (SMU Lexicon)

• A History of State Family Planning in Singapore, 1966 – 1987

Media Mentions

• Law Society Distinguished Scholar Award - The Singapore Law Gazette (October 2022)

• Providing Pro Bono Legal Services, Zao Bao (30 January 2023)