Winning Before You Start: Taking a Strategic Approach to Cross-Border Disputes

Adam Maniam, Director, Drew & Napier (Moderator)

Adam has a very active practice handling complex litigation and arbitration matters as well as white-collar crime and investigations. The disputes that he handles cover various industries and include powerplant infrastructure projects, oil and gas, joint venture / shareholder disputes and cryptocurrency disputes. He has acted for high-profile clients at all levels of the Singapore Courts, including the SICC, as well as in both international and domestic arbitrations. 

He has received numerous rankings and accolades, including being named Young Lawyer of the Year by Asian Legal Business, an Up and Coming Lawyer for Dispute Resolution by Chambers, a Next Generation Partner for Commercial Litigation by Legal 500, a Global Elite Thought Leader (Under 45) by Who’s Who Legal as well as being identified as one of Asia’s most highly recommended arbitration and litigation practitioners in ALB’s Super 50 Disputes Lawyers on multiple occasions. His rankings cover several practice areas including commercial litigation, international arbitration, white-collar crime and investigations.

Adam graduated on the overall Dean’s List from the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Rudy Andreas Sitorus, Partner, Makarim & Taira S.

Rudy Andreas Sitorus is a Partner specializing in Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution, Insolvency & Restructuring, Corporate Governance & Compliance, and Employment.  He regularly advises on compliance, as well as criminal litigation at the advisory, preliminary and investigation stages. His recent work includes successfully representing a major state-owned construction company in arbitration over a contract dispute, and defending a company’s former President Director in criminal proceedings, resulting in a full acquittal. Rudy’s work has been lauded in Asialaw Profiles for his quick and clear responses, and highlighted in Legal 500 as an up-and-coming lawyer. He has also been named a Next Generation Lawyer, Rising Star, and Future Legal Leader by various legal directories.

Jimmy Liew, Partner, Shearn Delamore & Co.

Jimmy is a Partner of Shearn Delamore’s Dispute Resolution Practice. He has acted in a wide range of corporate and commercial disputes, both in Court and in arbitration. He has also acted in disputes involving fraud and forgery, probate and administration, landlords and tenants, and is experienced with liquidation and insolvency matters.  Jimmy has been ranked in several prestigious legal publications including Who’s Who Legal where he is recognised as a “Global Leader” in Commercial Litigation and Lexology Index – Southeast Asia where he was “Recommended” in Commercial Litigation. He is also described in Asialaw Profiles by clients as a “Very responsive and resourceful” lawyer, with the “Ability to provide the advice and also put it in practice.”  Jimmy is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators. He is also on the panel of Bar Council Malaysian Mediation Centre, a member of eBRAM’s Panel of Arbitrators and the SIAC List of Rising Arbitrators.

Eduardo Martinez, Senior Partner, MVGS

Eduardo specializes in the practice of Dispute Resolution. As head of the Firm’s Dispute Resolution group, Eduardo assists clients in civil, criminal, and commercial litigation, both in the original and appellate levels. He is actively involved in the Firm’s family law practice, having advised and represented clients on legal proceedings involving adoption, annulment of marriage, legal separation and other domestic relations cases.  Eduardo has extensive experience in succession law practice, having handled proceedings relating to probate of will and intestate proceedings. He is also involved in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice, and is an Appeals Court Mediator accredited by the Philippine Judicial Academy.  Prior to co-founding the firm’s predecessor Martinez & Mendoza in 2000, Mr. Martinez was a partner in Castillo & Poblador, specializing in litigation, immigration, and intellectual property. He was also the Philippine delegate to the Intellectual Property Rights Training Course of the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, Tokyo, Japan, in 1998.  Eduardo is regular contributor to the Daily Tribune, a local newspaper of national circulation, where he has a column – the Anteroom.

Pongpalin Chantrapirom, Senior Associate, Tilleke & Gibbins

Pongpalin Chantrapirom is a senior associate in Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution department, based in Bangkok. His core area of expertise is financial litigation, which includes banking, securities, insurance, payment systems, and other financial products. He also has extensive experience in litigating consumer protection, construction, labour and employment and criminal matters. Pongpalin is a proficient litigator in both court and arbitration proceedings.  Pongpalin is committed to providing business-driven legal solutions to his clients, and blends practical and proactive commerciality with an in-depth understanding of contract negotiations and drafting, the genesis of most legal transactions, to provide well-rounded and practicable advice when it comes to dispute resolution.

Jayne Kuriakose, Head of Disputes (Asia), DXC Technologies

Jayne leads the Commercial Disputes & Litigation function for Asia & ANZ at DXC Technology, a global IT services company. She manages a broad spectrum of complex and high-stakes contentious matters, working to proactively mitigate legal risk, resolve disputes early where possible, and protect the company’s interests when litigation becomes necessary.  In her role, Jayne actively leverages data, digital tools, and emerging AI capabilities to enhance decision-making, improve dispute outcomes, and drive efficiencies in legal operations. By embedding analytics into risk assessment and adopting digital strategies for case management, she and her team are redefining how legal functions can deliver more precise, faster, and commercially attuned results.  She collaborates closely with external counsel to develop dispute resolution strategies that are industry-specific, jurisdiction-aware, and digitally enabled—an approach that has directly contributed to recovering lost profits and revenues.  Jayne’s practice is grounded in practical, commercially driven solutions, with a strong emphasis on preserving key relationships and enabling long-term business growth. She is based in Singapore.