The ALB Asia Super 50 Disputes Lawyers 2026 recognizes top advocates across Asia for their work in complex litigation, arbitration, and insolvency cases. The list celebrates the region’s standout advocates, chosen for stellar client feedback that shows their winning records and courtroom prowess.
Cross-Border Insolvency and Banking Litigation
Dharmendra Chatur, a partner at Poovayya & Co., has handled some of the region’s most significant insolvency and civil proceedings. Over the past year, he represented a major Indian public sector bank in multi-billion-dollar insolvency and civil proceedings before the Abu Dhabi Global Market and English courts, arising from the administration of the NMC Group. These cases, among the largest claims ever brought against an Indian bank in any jurisdiction, raised novel cross-border insolvency and banking issues and were successfully resolved by settlement in July 2026.
Chatur’s practice includes winding-up proceedings for clients such as United Breweries and Devas Multimedia, as well as arbitrations under SIAC, ICC, and DIAC rules. Clients praise Chatur for an “unparalleled work ethic” and a “brilliant legal mind,” noting his “conceptual clarity,” “vigor and enthusiasm in court,” and ability to “instantly win confidence.” They describe him as “very commercial” and “a real class act” who “works seamlessly as part of a cross-border team,” valuing his “attention to detail, promptness and clear strategy.” Clients also highlight his “availability,” composure under pressure, and commitment to “give every brief 110%,” calling him “a safe pair of hands” on high-stakes matters.
Beyond litigation, Chatur contributes to thought leadership in insolvency and arbitration, leads pro bono and access-to-the-profession initiatives, and is pursuing a part-time doctorate at Durham University on comparative civil procedure and international litigation. Chatur has also endowed scholarships and gold medals for first generation law students at his alma mater, Christ University.
Malaysia’s Dispute Resolution Leader
Kho Sze Jia, managing partner and head of dispute resolution at Izad Kazran & Co. (IKC), has achieved notable victories in commercial and construction disputes across Malaysia. In recent cases, he secured a $2,052,607 (RM 8,344,052.87) award for Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia in an AIAC arbitration despite enforcement challenges. His work also includes defeating a contractor’s claim of $398,649 (RM 1,620,546.02) in Regal Elite Letrik v Country Garden Danga Bay [2026] 5 CLJ 136 and dismissing a $570,050.27 claim in Rushoe v Advanced Innergy [2026] MLJU 2323 based on an English jurisdiction clause and contractual liability limits.
Sze Jia leads defense strategies in nine CIPAA adjudications for China-linked developers, with claims totaling $2,107,722 (RM 8,568,098.70), and represents a Thai insurer in a $1.2 million cross-border facultative reinsurance dispute. His practice covers demand-guarantee enforcement under URDG 758 and acts as sole arbitrator in an ongoing $6,395,907 (RM 26,000,000) mining dispute. Clients describe him as “highly professional and responsive,” “able to identify issues quickly and provide suitable solutions,” and “never talks down to the client.”
Sze Jia’s expertise extends to ESG and sustainability, including completion of the University of Oxford’s Certificate in Law and Sustainability. His firm’s recognition reflects his influence on Malaysia’s dispute resolution environment, particularly in construction, banking, and cross-border enforcement.
Lawyers on this list demonstrate a recurring ability to blend legal precision with commercial pragmatism. Their work often focuses on resolving disputes without prolonged litigation, reflecting Asia’s increasing reliance on alternative dispute resolution methods.
He also represented a private investment company and secured the discharge of an injunction over $500 million in assets before the Appellate Division of the High Court. Meanwhile, Christy Leung of Eric Chow & Co. defended a client against a HK$700 million investment claim in Hong Kong’s High Court. Their cases illustrate the region’s shifting disputes environment, where cross-border coordination and technical expertise are essential.
White-Collar Defense and Regulatory Enforcement
Adam Maniam, a director in Drew & Napier’s dispute resolution practice, has led high-profile matters at the intersection of criminal law and corporate governance. His recent work includes securing the first Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) under Singapore’s framework—a landmark achievement for the jurisdiction’s criminal justice system. The case involved parallel investigations tied to the prosecution of a former Singapore minister, as well as allegations of $40 million in stolen gasoil from Bukom Island. Maniam’s skills in managing cross-border regulatory coordination, digital forensics, and crisis communications have made him a key advisor in complex enforcement actions.
Beyond criminal matters, Maniam has handled disputes with significant financial stakes, including a potential arbitration arising from a $4 billion acquisition and a $600–800 million trust dispute involving the De La Sala family, where he prevailed in both the High Court and Court of Appeal. His record also includes discontinuing one of Singapore’s largest representative actions—valued at $1.48 billion with over 145,000 claimants—and securing emergency SIAC relief to preserve a licensing agreement worth $39 million. Clients, including Seatrium, emphasize his ability to deliver “strong results” while maintaining a “strategic perspective” that avoids tactical errors.
Indonesia’s Dispute Resolution Leaders
In Indonesia, Mulyadi of Nurjadin Sumono Mulyadi & Partners has managed disputes with broad commercial implications. His recent cases include defending a major financial institution against claims involving defective authority and representation, successfully working through the matter through the cassation stage and defeating a renewed civil claim on procedural grounds. He also resolved a high-value tort dispute involving a state-owned enterprise and a contested land appraisal, securing the restoration of a favorable judgment through judicial reconsideration. Clients value his “experienced approach,” which combines legal rigor with operational risk awareness, ensuring strategies are both defensible and commercially sound.
Farih Romdoni Putra of Romdoni & Rajab has shaped Indonesia’s insolvency and enforcement environment. His recent work includes defending clients in criminal proceedings linked to PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) and the Gregorius Ronald Tannur case, as well as representing creditors enforcing a share-pledge against a leading peer-to-peer lender, resulting in a negotiated resolution. Romdoni’s expertise covers PKPU (suspension of debt payment obligation) and bankruptcy proceedings, where he advises over 20 Chinese companies involved in the PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry case.
His ability to anticipate dispute risks in transactions, such as guiding a nickel industrial park company through a port construction agreement with a state-owned contractor, demonstrates his dual role as litigator and strategic advisor. Clients consistently praise his “business-oriented mindset” and “rigorous case preparation,” describing him as someone who transforms uncertainty into clarity through meticulous analysis and clear guidance.
