Ben Chester Cheong

Graduated from the University of Cambridge, Churchill College, with a Master of Law in June 2015. Graduated from the University of Exeter with a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Hons) in 2014, with Dean’s Commendations (AY12/13, AY13/14), Stones Prize for best LLB dissertation, highest mark for Commercial Law module, and ranked 2nd out of 241 students in the cohort. Completed Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations in 2016 (Qualifying Law Exams in Singapore) and ranked 3rd out of 664 students with 3 distinctions in Advanced Corporate Practice, Ethics and Professional Responsibility, and Family Law Practice, and placed on the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE) Commendation List for the Top 11 candidates in the cohort. Completed all stages of the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme in 2018 (Qualifying Law Exams in England & Wales) to qualify as a Solicitor in England & Wales. Dual-qualified lawyer in both Singapore (‘17) and England & Wales (‘19). Accredited Mediator with the Singapore International Mediation Institute

Currently an Of Counsel, Financial Services (Regulatory) at RHTLaw Asia LLP and Lecturer, School of Law at Singapore University of Social Sciences. Previously, an Associate, Finance & Projects at Baker McKenzie.Wong & Leow. Formerly, a Relevant Legal Trainee, Corporate Finance at Shook Lin & Bok LLP

(1) The Governance of SPACs and DCS Companies, SID Bulletin 2022 Q3; (2) Judiciary and Law Enforcement in Singapore Inc., Singapore Policy Journal (19 June 2022); (3) Oppression claims in family businesses and the appropriate remedy (2022) 33(7) International Company and Commercial Law Review 399-408; (4) Rectification of Contracts Arising from Common Mistake: Sun Electric Pte Ltd v Menrva Solutions Pte Ltd [2021] 5 SLR 648, Singapore Academy of Law Journal (published on e-First 10 June 2022); (5) Avatars in the metaverse: potential legal issues and remedies (2022) International Cybersecurity Law Review (published online on 7 June 2022); (6) Is There a Basis to Punish Parents for Their Children’s Misbehaviour?, Singapore Law Gazette (May 2022); (7) A Look into China’s Common Prosperity Model, SUSS Social Sciences Blog (26 May 2022); (8) Tokenisation and Trading in the Metaverse, Lexology Webinar (25 May 2022) [as moderator]; (9) Reinventing the conveyancing process with blockchain, The Business Times (17 May 2022); (10) Inquorate meetings- Recent developments in Singapore (2022) 43(6) The Company Lawyer 196-202; (11) How the SGX is Wooing Asia’s Tech Listings, SUSS Social Sciences Blog (1 April 2022); (12) Benefits and pitfalls of blockchain marriages, The Straits Times (25 March 2022); (13) Investing in NFTs, Metaverses and Digital Assets, Trends in Tech Investments: RHTLaw Asia (23 March 2022) [as panellist]; (14) Clarifications from the Singapore Court of Appeal – Directors’ Duties, Causation and Abuse of Process, Oxford Business Law Blog (25 February 2022); (15) Facilitating Singapore’s Success: The Legal System, SUSS Social Sciences Blog (24 February 2022); (16) Case Note – The Quintet of Cases on Breaches of Fiduciary Duties, Causation and Abuse of Process Clarifications from the Court of Appeal in Beyonics Asia Pacific Ltd v Goh Chan Peng [2021] SGCA(I) 2 (2022) 34 Singapore Academy of Law Journal 213-228; (17) Book Review – Trade Finance: Technology, Innovation and Documentary Credits, Singapore Academy of Law Journal (published on e-First 19 January 2022); (18) Application of Blockchain-enabled Technology: Regulating Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs) in Singapore, Singapore Law Gazette (January 2022); (19) Time to rethink directorial duties, The Business Times (1 December 2021); (20) Granting legal personhood to artificial intelligence systems and traditional veil-piercing concepts to impose liability (2021) 1(9) SN Social Sciences 231, pp 1-20; (21) Legal Risks Beneath Blockchain-enabled Smart Contracts, Singapore Law Gazette (January 2021); (22) Teaching Law in a Lockdown, The Post-Pandemic University (5 December 2020); (23) Oppression – personal wrongs or corporate wrongs: A commentary on Ascend Field Pte Ltd and others v Tee Wee Sien and another appeal [2020] SGCA 14, Singapore Law Blog (6 July 2020); (24) Context is the Most Important Factor: One-man Companies and Corporate Attribution in Singapore, Oxford Business Law Blog (12 June 2020); (25) More needs to be done to protect consumers against errant car dealers, TODAY (11 December 2019); (26) Director’s appointment clauses: The Wellness Group Pte Ltd v Paris Investment Pte Ltd and others [2018] SGCA 47, Singapore Law Blog (13 January 2019); (27) The decision in Re J (Care proceedings: Possible perpetrators) [2013] UKSC 9 is appalling and means that vulnerable children can no longer be sufficiently protected. Did the Supreme Court have no option but to conclude that the threshold criteria had not been made out? (2015) 4(1) Westminster Law Review; (28) SMRT: Duty of Care of a Public Body (2014) 6 The Student Journal of Law; (29) What is the Role and Purpose of Parliamentary Select Committees? (2012) United Kingdom-Singapore Law Students’ Society Law Review 24-26

Cambridge-educated legal academic and corporate finance lawyer. Currently with RHTLaw Asia as an Of Counsel, advising on financial services regulatory and compliance matters that govern financial institutions. Concurrently a Lecturer in Law at the School of Law, Singapore University of Social Sciences. Course leader for Law of Business Organisations, a compulsory module covering partnership and company law. Other subjects taught include Contract Law, Legal Methods & Singapore Legal System and Mediation Advocacy. Published papers in leading international peer-reviewed journals, including International Company and Commercial Law Review (by Sweet & Maxwell), International Cybersecurity Law Review (by Springer Nature), Company Lawyer (by Sweet & Maxwell), SN Social Sciences (by Springer Nature) and the Singapore Academy of Law Journal (by Academy Publishing). Received university-level Teaching Excellence Award in 2022. Prior to entering full-time legal academia, practised at an international law firm, Baker McKenzie, as an attorney, with a practice focus in the areas of international securities and financing-related transactions. Represented both public and private issuers and underwriters in equity and debt offerings and exchange listings. This included US offerings pursuant to Rule 144A, offerings outside the US under Regulation S, initial public offerings, and traditional private placements. Advised clients on international debt restructurings and liability management. Advised lenders and borrowers on domestic and international banking and finance transactions. Formerly with Shook Lin & Bok, a 100-year old law firm in Singapore. Trained in corporate finance and assisted on matters such as mergers & acquisitions, cross-border dual listings as well as debt listings for local corporations. Assisted listed clients and financial institutions on further capital raising, corporate governance, regulatory, and corporate compliance issues

(1) Accredited Mediator, Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI); (2) Treasurer, Asia Pacific Institute of Experts (APIEx); (3) Committee Member, Corporate Committee, Singapore Institute of Directors; (4) Committee Member, Community Legal Clinics, Law Society Pro Bono Services; (5) Member, The Law Society of Singapore; (6) Member, The Society of Legal Scholars; (7) Member, Law Society of England & Wales; (8) Member, Singapore Academy of Law; (9) Life Member, The Oxford & Cambridge Society of Singapore

Admitted as Solicitor, Senior Courts of England & Wales; Admitted as Advocate & Solicitor, Supreme Court of Singapore; SUSS Award for Teaching Excellence 2022; SUSS Award for Teaching Excellence 2021 - Honourable Mention; Placed on the SILE Commendation List for coming in joint 3rd (with one other) out of 664 candidates in Part B of the Singapore Bar Course and Examinations 2016 with 3 distinctions in Advanced Corporate Practice, Family Law Practice, and Ethics & Professional Responsibility; First-class in the International Commercial Litigation module on the LL.M; Stones Solicitors LLP Prize for the best LL.B. dissertation; 2nd highest in the cohort (overall weighted average mark) out of 241 students on the LL.B; Dean's Commendation 2013/14 (awarded to less than 1 in 40 students); Dean's Commendation 2012/13 (awarded to less than 1 in 40 students); Highest mark in the Commercial Law module

English, Mandarin

Interest in Artificial Intelligence Law; Corporate, Contract & Commercial Law; Public Law; Current Affairs; Politics; Technology

Youngest academic from the School of Law to ever receive the SUSS Teaching Excellence Award at age of 32 in July 2022; Youngest Lecturer of Law ever appointed at the School of Law, Singapore University of Social Sciences at age of 28 in December 2018

LinkedIn: Ben Chester Cheong.

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