Dispute boutiques are the in thing in Singapore

Dispute boutiques are the in thing in Singapore

Toby Landau QC, a top arbitration specialist, decides to go solo saying there is increasing demand for dispute boutiques and independent advocates in the global dispute hub

Top British arbitration specialist QC Toby Landau has decided to go solo because of the increasing demand for dispute boutiques and independent advocates in the global dispute hub Singapore.

Landau's decision has come after he snapped his ties with London's Essex Court Chambers in the wake of it appearing on China's UK sanction list. He will continue to practice both in London and Singapore and be on his own.

While he quit as a member of Essex Court Chambers and Arbitration in London, he along with five fellow advocates have collectively vacated the affiliated Essex Court Chambers Duxton to launch Duxton Hill Chambers (Singapore Group Practice).

"There is a distinct move towards professional models other than large law firms, and in particular smaller operations that are more focused on advocacy," Landau said while putting his confidence in the Singapore disputes market.

According to Landau, several Senior Counsel in Singapore have set up boutiques, labelled as 'chambers'.

"There is an increasing demand for specialist advocates in Singapore, both for work within the country, before foreign courts and tribunals involving Singapore-related matters," Landau added.

Several Singapore advocates offer their models of advocacy services, which are derived from the UK referral Bar, but have a distinct Asian identity, helping them to compete with UK, Australian, and New Zealand advocates based at dispute resolution hub Maxwell Chambers.

Landau would be clerked by former Essex Court senior clerk, David Grief, at Duxton Hill Chambers and would maintain his rights of audience before the Singapore Courts, including the International Commercial Court.

"I will maintain the same practice as counsel before the English courts, foreign courts and in arbitration, alongside my work as an arbitrator. I will continue to work with juniors at the London Bar as before. Aside from no longer being a member of Essex Court Chambers, nothing changes. I now practise in London as a sole practitioner for all purposes," Landau added.