Description

Synopsis

Ever wondered how lawyers help shape the skylines and infrastructure we see every day? This panel offers a behind-the-scenes look at construction law: a practice area where contracts meet real-world impact and legal work often goes far beyond the office. From resolving complex disputes to navigating on-site challenges and collaborating with professionals from different industries, our panellists will share insights into the skills, mindset, and opportunities unique to this specialisation.

About the Speakers

Joanna Seetoh
Director, Legal & Compliance, Changi Airport Group
Vice-Chair, Society of Construction Law (Singapore)

Joanna is presently a Director (Legal & Compliance) in Changi Airport Group, with 17 years of experience as a disputes resolution practitioner. Having practiced in both Singapore and Hong Kong, Joanna frequently advised and represented clients as lead counsel in a variety of international disputes, including rail and metro, power plant, solar plant, mining, integrated resorts, and commercial and residential building projects. Joanna’s accolades include being ranked in 2022 and 2023 as a Future Star in Construction by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific, in 2023 by Asialaw as a Notable Practitioner in Construction, in 2024 as one of the Singapore Business Review’s Most Influential Lawyers under 40, and in 2025 by Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner (Projects and Energy) and by Chambers & Partners as an Up and Coming practitioner (Construction: Domestic). She is also accredited as a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators, and is amongst the inaugural batch of practitioners recognized as an Accredited Specialist in Building and Construction Law by the Singapore Academy of Law.

Lesley Tan
Partner, WongPartnership
Council Member, Society of Construction Law (Singapore)

Lesley Tan is a Partner at WongPartnership LLP, with a focus on the specialist areas of Energy, Projects, and Construction. With extensive expertise in both front-end advisory and contentious dispute resolution, she has been involved in major infrastructure projects, including integrated resorts, petrochemical plants, and airport developments. Lesley has represented notable clients such as ExxonMobil, Changi Airport Group, various statutory boards and Resorts World Sentosa in high-profile matters ranging from contract negotiations to complex litigation and arbitration. Recognized for her commercial acumen and exceptional legal expertise, Lesley is highly regarded in the areas of project development and construction, as noted by leading legal directories such as Chambers, The Legal 500 and IFLR1000.

Jacob Quek
Head of Legal, Woh Hup (Private) Limited

Jacob Quek is the Head of Legal at Woh Hup Group, a leading construction and developer conglomerate in Singapore. Prior to this, he was with AirTrunk, a multinational data centre developer, where he led the global portfolio across construction, procurement, energy and utilities. Jacob began his legal career in private practice (working with both local and international law firms) specializing in infrastructure and energy projects. His diverse experience across legal practice and in-house roles gives him a unique perspective on pursuing a legal career in the construction space.

Ng Si Ming
Partner, Chua & Partners

Si Ming is a partner and co-founder of Chua & Partners, a boutique dispute resolution law firm based out of Singapore. He has a diverse dispute resolution practice with a focus on international arbitration in the infrastructure, construction, and energy sector. Si Ming has acted in arbitrations arising out of major projects within the Southeast Asian region; appearing before tribunals constituted under differing arbitral rules and seated in multiple jurisdictions. In addition to the infrastructure, construction, and energy sector, Si Ming has represented clients from other industries on a broad spectrum of contentious issues ranging from shareholder rights to liquidation.

About the Moderator

Damien Xing
Senior Lecturer, NUS Business School
Council Member, Society of Construction Law (Singapore)

Damien Xing is a Senior Lecturer at NUS Business School, where he teaches and writes on company law and applied contract law, focusing on employment and construction contracts. He is admitted to practise law in Singapore and England & Wales, and holds an advanced degree in infrastructure project management and finance.

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