Sapna is a leading advocate based in Asia, specialising in commercial and international disputes (both arbitration and litigation).

    From 1 September 2021, Sapna accepted a 3-year role in public service as International Legal Counsel at the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Singapore. On 1 September 2024, she was appointed to the Panel of Advisors to the Attorney-General of Singapore. On 4 September 2024, Sapna was appointed a (part-time) Judge of the Court of Appeal of the DIFC Courts by the Ruler of Dubai.

    From 2006 to 2011, Sapna practised at Clyde & Co Dubai, a tier 1 commercial disputes practice in the UAE, where she focused on litigation before the DIFC Courts, as well as international litigation and arbitration. Sapna transferred to Clyde & Co Clasis Singapore in 2011 and was called as an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 2019.

    Sapna’s expertise has been recognised by key legal directories, and she has been described as follows: “excellent”, “a top name for international arbitration in Singapore”, “a charming advocate, who is well respected within the arbitration fraternity”, “an esteemed figure” (Who’s Who Legal); “true all-rounder”, “well-prepared, thorough, and pleasant to work with yet tough - a strong advocate for her clients” (Legal 500); “excellent written advocacy which underlines precisely why Sapna has deservedly taken silk”, “excellent advocacy skills”, “tenacious in the pursuit of her client’s interests” (Chambers & Partners).

    Sapna was the first female lawyer in Singapore to be awarded Silk in the UK and she has been identified as one of the top 15 female lawyers in Asia by Asian Legal Business.

    Experience

    Shortlist

    International Arbitration

    Sapna is a renowned expert in international arbitration procedure, practice and advocacy, and has been recognised as a thought leader in the field.

    Sapna has substantial multi-jurisdictional and cross-border experience, having been involved in high-stakes arbitrations seated in diverse jurisdictions such as London, Singapore, India, Hong Kong, Dubai, Thailand, PRC, Vietnam, Indonesia, Paris and Mauritius.

    She has appeared in both ad hoc and institutional arbitrations under the auspices of the ICC, SIAC, LCIA, HKIAC, DIAC, AIAC and DIFC, LCIA, amongst other institutions.

    She has a wealth of experience in cases governed by both common and civil law.

    Cases

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    • HKIAC and LMAA arbitrations

      USD 500 million dispute between a Chinese shipyard and the Singapore purchaser of two offshore jack-up rigs in four related HKIAC and LMAA arbitrations

    • SIAC arbitrations and anti-suit injunction application

      Representing an Indian high net worth individual as advocate in a SIAC arbitration in Singapore concerning the interpretation of a USD 500 million English law guarantee called upon following a shareholders’ dispute; acting in separate SIAC proceedings relating to the shareholders’ dispute, in which one of the key issues was whether the Tribunal could issue an anti-suit injunction to restrain a party from pursuing claims for minority oppression and unfair prejudice before the National Company Law Tribunal in India.

    • Banyan Tree Corporate Pte Ltd v Meydan Group LLC

      Lead Counsel representing the Singapore-based hotel operator in DIAC arbitration proceedings against the government-owned Meydan; Counsel in the reported enforcement proceedings which reached the DIFC Court of Appeal and made new law

    • Airline corruption dispute

      Representing an aircraft leasing firm in several rounds of difficult and politically sensitive negotiation meetings in an effort to resolve disputes involving fraud and corruption arising from leases each worth approximately USD 500 million with government-owned regional airlines in Asia

    • AIAC arbitration

      Successfully represented a syndicate of insurers as Lead Counsel in AIAC arbitration proceedings in Malaysia concerning liability for the dangerous collapse of an offshore crane. The case involved difficult questions of Malaysian tort law, as well as cross-examination on complex technical issues

    • Ad hoc arbitration

      Ad hoc arbitration in Delhi, India between a contractor and subcontractor in relation to the construction of a pipeline in North Africa for a South-Asian government

    • SIAC arbitration

      Representing and co-ordinating strategy for a large Indian multinational in a high-value SIAC commodity dispute against a Zambian party, with concurrent injunction proceedings in the Zambian Courts

    • Hospitality Arbitrations

      Over 15 arbitrations seated in Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai relating to management or franchise agreements between leading international hotel operators and owners, relating to hotels in diverse jurisdictions such as Myanmar, PRC, India, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, UAE, India, Mauritius, Zanzibar and Vietnam

    • LCIA Coal arbitration

      USD 50 million LCIA arbitration in London between an Indian steel conglomerate, a commodities trading company based in the Middle East and an Australian mining company arising from a dispute relating to a contract for the supply of coal

    • Shipbuilding Dispute

      Lead advocate in a USD 50 million shipbuilding dispute between a Singapore shipyard and a UAE purchaser, involving a ship arrest in China, injunction proceedings in Singapore, and an arbitration seated in Singapore

    • ICC arbitration

      ICC arbitration in Paris and governed by French law in relation to a joint venture dispute between an Italian chemicals multinational and a company incorporated in Dubai

    • DIAC arbitrations

      Over 20 DIAC arbitrations seated in Dubai on behalf of UAE real estate developers arising from cancelled or delayed projects

    • LCIA arbitration

      LCIA arbitration in London between a seismic surveying company and an oil exploration start-up in relation to surveys in an oil field off Egypt.

    • LCIA arbitration

      LCIA arbitration in London in respect of a consultancy agreement for services provided in relation to the Qatar gas-to-liquids project

    • SIAC arbitrations and SIMC mediation for large MNC

      Representing an Indian multinational in over 10 SIAC arbitrations and one SIMC mediation relating to commodity disputes with parties throughout Asia – the cases involved a number of interim applications such as a successful application for security for costs

    • LCIA arbitration

      Instructed as advocate in LCIA proceedings seated in Singapore involving a jurisdictional objection based on an argument of abuse of process on Henderson v Henderson principles

    • SIAC arbitration

      Representing a large commodities house in emergency arbitrator proceedings relating to a SIAC arbitration for unpaid invoices, after a fraudster intercepted emails between the parties, and the purchaser made payments to the fraudster’s bank account

    Shortlist

    Commercial

    Sapna’s experience spans a broad spectrum of commercial disputes seated all over the world in arbitration or litigation.

    Her experience includes disputes relating to shareholder agreements, private equity investments, hedge funds, licensing and distribution, data protection, product liability, shipbuilding, aviation leasing, sale of goods, consultancy agreements, construction, real estate, and hospitality.

    Cases

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    • HKIAC and LMAA arbitrations

      USD 500 million dispute between a Chinese shipyard and the Singapore purchaser of two offshore jack-up rigs in four related HKIAC and LMAA arbitrations

    • SIAC arbitrations and anti-suit injunction application

      Representing an Indian high net worth individual as advocate in a SIAC arbitration in Singapore concerning the interpretation of a USD 500 million English law guarantee called upon following a shareholders’ dispute; acting in separate SIAC proceedings relating to the shareholders’ dispute, in which one of the key issues was whether the Tribunal could issue an anti-suit injunction to restrain a party from pursuing claims for minority oppression and unfair prejudice before the National Company Law Tribunal in India.

    • Banyan Tree Corporate Pte Ltd v Meydan Group LLC

      Lead Counsel representing the Singapore-based hotel operator in DIAC arbitration proceedings against the government-owned Meydan; Counsel in the reported enforcement proceedings which reached the DIFC Court of Appeal and made new law

    • Airline corruption dispute

      Representing an aircraft leasing firm in several rounds of difficult and politically sensitive negotiation meetings in an effort to resolve disputes involving fraud and corruption arising from leases each worth approximately USD 500 million with government-owned regional airlines in Asia

    • Gulf Merchant Group v ADCB

      Representing an asset management firm in a dispute with its largest shareholder in the largest case to come before the DIFC Courts at that time

    • UNCITRAL investor-state arbitration

      UNCITRAL investor-state arbitration proceedings between a UK multinational and a State government in the Middle East

    • AIAC arbitration

      Successfully represented a syndicate of insurers as Lead Counsel in AIAC arbitration proceedings in Malaysia concerning liability for the dangerous collapse of an offshore crane. The case involved difficult questions of Malaysian tort law, as well as cross-examination on complex technical issues

    • Ad hoc arbitration

      Ad hoc arbitration in Delhi, India between a contractor and subcontractor in relation to the construction of a pipeline in North Africa for a South-Asian government

    • USD 135 million claim in the Cayman Islands’ courts

      USD 135 million claim in the Cayman Islands’ courts brought by a prominent UAE citizen against a hedge-fund manager

    • SIAC arbitration

      Representing and co-ordinating strategy for a large Indian multinational in a high-value SIAC commodity dispute against a Zambian party, with concurrent injunction proceedings in the Zambian Courts

    • Hospitality Arbitrations

      Over 15 arbitrations seated in Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai relating to management or franchise agreements between leading international hotel operators and owners, relating to hotels in diverse jurisdictions such as Myanmar, PRC, India, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, UAE, India, Mauritius, Zanzibar and Vietnam

    • LCIA Coal arbitration

      USD 50 million LCIA arbitration in London between an Indian steel conglomerate, a commodities trading company based in the Middle East and an Australian mining company arising from a dispute relating to a contract for the supply of coal

    • Shipbuilding Dispute

      Lead advocate in a USD 50 million shipbuilding dispute between a Singapore shipyard and a UAE purchaser, involving a ship arrest in China, injunction proceedings in Singapore, and an arbitration seated in Singapore

    • ICC arbitration

      ICC arbitration in Paris and governed by French law in relation to a joint venture dispute between an Italian chemicals multinational and a company incorporated in Dubai

    • DIAC arbitrations

      Over 20 DIAC arbitrations seated in Dubai on behalf of UAE real estate developers arising from cancelled or delayed projects

    • Amwal Al Khaleej Commercial Investment Co Ltd v the Abdullah Brothers and others

      Lead advocate representing the private equity firm in a shareholders' dispute in the DIFC Courts

    Shortlist

    Public International Law

    Sapna is a member of the Panel of Advisors to the Attorney-General of Singapore. From 2021 to 2024, she was International Legal Counsel at the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Singapore. She has experience of both public international law and public and regulatory law.

    Recent experience in public and regulatory law includes assisting in Reed v Bellingham (Attorney-General, intervener), a landmark Singapore Court of Appeal case on the right of private action under Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act and the meaning of “loss of damage”, drawing on jurisprudence from other common law jurisdictions.

    Cases

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    • Ng Kok Wai v Public Prosecutor

      Lead Counsel in Singapore appeal proceedings before the Chief Justice regarding extraterritoriality under Singapore and international law of a crime committed by a Singapore citizen on a foreign-flagged cruise ship

    • UNCITRAL investor-state arbitration

      UNCITRAL investor-state arbitration proceedings between a UK multinational and a State government in the Middle East

    Achievements

    Education

    Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration, Queen Mary University of London, 2006

    Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law, 1999

    Diploma in Law, City University, 1998

    M.A. and B.A (Joint Hons) Philosophy & French, Jesus College, Oxford University, 1997

    Scholarships

    Viscount Sankey Bar Scholarship, Jesus College Oxford (1997, 1998 & 1999)

    Peter Duffy Human Rights Scholarship – four months at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg (2000)

    Sunley, Eastham, CPE & Hardwicke Scholarships, Lincoln's Inn

    Pegasus Scholarship - Allen & Overy, New York (2003)

    Publications

    Court Admissions and Affiliations

    • Judge of Appeal, DIFC Courts
    • Past Chair, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Singapore branch)
    • Honorary Overseas Member, COMBAR
    • Vice Chair, ICC Commission on Arbitration & ADR, 2023
    • International Law Association, Council member (Singapore branch)
    • Chartered Arbitrator, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, 2022
    • Editor, Investor State Law Guide
    • Member, SICC Arbitration Court Users' Committee
    • SIMC Specialist Mediator
    • SIMI Accredited Mediator
    • SIAC Users' Council
    • IBA (Arbitration Committee)
    • IPBA
    • LCIA
    • ICCA
    • ICC Singapore Group

    VAT registration number: 000

    Barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board

    +44 (0)207 5831770

    Clerks

    Staff