With a diverse legal background and a focus on providing tailored, strategic solutions, Mark Cheng has a proven track record in a variety of legal areas. From sensitive personal disputes to complex corporate matters, he is committed to delivering results for his clients.

​​

Practice Areas

​

Will, Probate, and Estate Litigation

Mark helps clients navigate the complexities of contested wills, probate disputes, and executor misconduct. Whether you are dealing with a contested will or need to defend against executor misconduct claims, Mark’s approach ensures your rights are protected.

 

Family Law and Divorce

Offering compassionate advice on sensitive family matters, Mark specializes in divorce, division of assets, child custody, and estate planning. He also assists clients with prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, ensuring a fair and clear outcome.

​

Dispute Resolution (Insurance & Personal Injury)

Mark represents clients in a broad range of insurance claims, including personal injury, motor accidents, workmen’s compensation, and public liability. His experience extends to business interruption claims and environmental damage cases, helping businesses and individuals secure favourable outcomes.

​

Criminal Law

Specializing in defending clients accused of criminal offences, Mark has extensive experience with cases involving road traffic offences, including drink driving and careless driving. His in-depth understanding of both criminal law and civil car accident claims offers comprehensive defense strategies.

​​

Bankruptcy Protection

For those facing financial difficulties, Mark advises individuals seeking voluntary bankruptcy protection and provides critical assistance in discharging bankruptcy, helping clients navigate this challenging process with ease.

​​​

Corporate and Commercial Law

With expertise in foreign investment and complex corporate structures, Mark advises clients on joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, franchising, and licensing across various industries, including energy, mining, and agriculture, particularly in Indonesia.

​​​

Employment Law Disputes

Mark advises on employment disputes, ensuring both employers and employees navigate their legal rights in issues such as wrongful termination, discrimination, and workplace disputes.

​

International Arbitration

Mark represents clients in high-stakes international arbitrations related to energy, trade finance, and commodities trading, helping resolve disputes under major arbitration rules with an emphasis on strategic and effective representation.​

​​​

Initial Public Offerings (IPOs)

Mark brings significant experience in the IPO process, having worked on successful listings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, including high-profile companies like ZACD Group Limited and LHN Limited.

​​

In-House Counsel Experience

​

Mark’s experience as in-house counsel for the Asia Regional Head Office of the Rakuten Group gives him a unique insight into corporate legal affairs, compliance, and cross-border transactions. His ability to advise C-suite executives in both English and Japanese sets him apart as a versatile and multilingual legal professional.

​

Professional Experience

​

Mark's professional highlights include:

​

Wills, Probate and Estate Litigation

​

• Representing a beneficiary to demand an account of profits from the administrator for undue influence and misuse of almost $3 million of the deceased's assets.

• Representing an executrix to successfully resist a $300,000 demand from the relative of a beneficiary who was alleged to lack capacity. The relative was not a named beneficiary under the testator's will.

​

Family Law and Divorce

​

Mark advises clients on divorce and family law matters, including division of matrimonial assets, custody, care and control of children: WTL v WTM and another appeal [2024] SGHCF 40. This matter was reported in The Straits Times: Why work-from-home parents will score better in matrimonial disputes.

​

He also advises his clients on prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and estate planning.

​

Dispute Resolution (Insurance and Personal Injury)

​

• Representing and advising the public liability insurers of an engineering company whose negligence resulted in damage to a subterranean sewage pipe belonging to the Singapore government, causing environmental losses and resulting in over S$300,000 in repair costs.

• Representing the public liability insurers of a prominent local food chain in a business interruption claim involving the temporary closure of the claimant’s outlet allegedly due to a sub-contractor’s negligence, causing water damage.

• Representing the public liability insurers of a global hospitality chain who faced a complaint by a holiday goer for loss of enjoyment of holiday.

• Representing the Motor Insurers’ Bureau in an originating application before the Court regarding the ambit of the Public Trustee’s powers. The preliminary issue was whether the application if heard and determined would constitute a fettering of the Public Trustee’s discretion by the Court. The Court received written submissions on points of administrative law.

• Representing the insurers of a negligent motor car driver in a personal injury claim whereby the claimant claimed for government subsidies and grants which were applied towards her medical expenses, as an exception to the doctrine of collateral benefits.

  • The claimant sought to expand the established categories of exceptions under the doctrine: Eng Beng v Lo Kok Jong [2022] SGDC 130.

  • Successfully resisting the claimant’s appeal to the District Judge in chambers: Eng Beng v Lo Kok Jong [2022] SGDC 214.

  • Delivering oral arguments in the General Division of the High Court alongside young amicus curiae: Eng Beng v Lo Kok Jong [2023] SGHC 63. The outcome was reported in The Straits Times: Accident victim can claim govt medical subsidies but has to return sum to MOH.

  • The matter was finally decided by a 3-judge panel of the Court of Appeal including The Honourable the Chief Justice: Lo Kok Jong v Eng Beng [2024] SGCA 28.

​

Dispute Resolution (Commercial)

​

• Acting for an F&B group against an errant shareholder in relation to the shareholder’s fraudulent misappropriation of funds in the group’s Indonesian subsidiary, and conducting substantial rectification and restructuring work on the Indonesian subsidiary.

• Acting for the Indonesian subsidiary of a German MNC and advising on Indonesian manpower laws and regulations in the dismissal of a senior employee for misconduct and embezzlement.

 

Bankruptcy Matters

​​

• Acting for individuals who are seeking protection under self-bankruptcy or protection under the Debt Repayment Scheme.

​

M&A / Corporate and Commercial

​

• Acting for a SGX mainboard-listed company in the food and beverage line of business, in its joint venture in Indonesia for its franchising business.

• Acting for an established Singapore medical group in its investment into Indonesia via a joint-venture structure.

• Acting for a Singapore company in the international courier line of business in its joint-venture transaction in Indonesia.

• Acting for a Hong Kong company in the agriculture line of business in its joint venture with an Indonesian partner.

• Acting for a Hong Kong bank to issue a legal opinion on a facility letter entered between the bank and a borrower.

• Advising a Hong Kong government agency on the renewal of its commercial lease in Singapore.

 

Legal Due Diligence (Public Offering)

​

• Acting as Singapore legal advisor to the Sponsor in relation to Singapore law for the listing of ZACD Group Limited on the GEM of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and reviewing and commenting on the legal due diligence report prepared by ZACD Group Limited’s legal counsel in respect of its businesses in Singapore, namely fund management, property management, project management and real estate agency.

• Acting for LHN Limited in conducting legal due diligence on its Indonesian subsidiaries whose businesses include property investment and development and logistics operations, for the purposes of dual listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Legal due diligence work included, amongst others, business license verification, reviewing the Indonesian entities’ commercial contracts, and verification of assets claimed to be owned by the Indonesian entities.

​​​​​

Languages

​​

Mark is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Japanese, and has a working knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia, making him ideally suited to assist clients with cross-border legal issues in multiple jurisdictions.

​

Why Choose Mark Cheng?

​

Mark’s extensive experience, personalized approach, and deep understanding of both local and international legal landscapes make him a trusted advisor for clients facing complex legal challenges. Whether you’re dealing with a business dispute, facing criminal charges, or navigating family matters, Mark is dedicated to achieving the best possible outcome for you.

​

Media Features

​​​

• #TalkBack: If you’re having drinks, why are you still driving? — CNA938 Rewind

• Jail, fine for drink driver who lost control of vehicle and collided into stationary police car — The Straits Times

• Falling concrete in flats: Who is responsible for maintenance — town council, HDB, or homeowner? — AsiaOne

• Brain injury, fractures: Cyclists recount the dangers of riding along Tanah Merah Coast Road — The Straits Times

• Man drove through playground and into swimming pool after drinking alcohol — The Straits Times

• What should I do if I am travelling by bus to Malaysia and get into an accident? — The Straits Times

• Traffic injuries: Courts may clarify on insurers reimbursing subsidies — The Straits Times

• Sanctions clauses in trade finance: a clash between law and practice? — Global Trade Review

• Security of Banks in Trade Finance – Fact and Fiction — EW Barker Centre for Law & Business​​​​

​​

Recognition