Faculty Profile

Darius CHAN

Full-time Faculty

Associate Professor of Law (Practice); Deputy Director, Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy (SIDRA)

Yong Pung How School of Law YPHSL

LL.M., New York University (Distinction in International Business Regulation, Litigation & Arbitration specialisation)
LL.B., National University of Singapore (First Class Honours)
Advocate and Solicitor (Supreme Court of Singapore)
Attorney and Counselor-at-law (State of New York)
Solicitor-Advocate (Civil) (England & Wales)
Barrister (Inner Temple, England & Wales)

Academic Positions Held

Current Appointment:

Associate Professor of Law (Practice), Singapore Management University, December 2019 to Present
Deputy Director, Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy, December 2019 to Present
Fellow, SMU Academy, April 2021 to present

Previous Appointment:

Director, SMU Law Academy, July 2020 to February 2024
Adjunct Faculty, Singapore Management University
Teaching Fellow, National University of Singapore
Adjunct Faculty, National University of Singapore
Counsel, Norton Rose Fulbright Ascendant, Singapore
Associate, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Hong Kong & Singapore
Associate, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr, London
Associate, Chambers of Michael Hwang Senior Counsel, Singapore
Justices’ Law Clerk and Assistant Registrar, Supreme Court of Singapore

Other Positions

Amicus Curiae, Anupam Mittal v Westbridge Ventures II Investment Holdings [2023] SGCA 1
Vice-Chair, ICC Singapore Arbitration Group Core Committee (2022 to 2024)
Member, ICC Singapore Arbitrator Selection Committee (2022 to 2024)
Member, ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR (2022 to present)
Member, Supreme Court of Singapore Arbitration Court Users' Committee (2022 to present)
Member, Singapore Academy of Law Law Reform Committee (2022 to present)
Member, Thailand Arbitration Centre Academic Council (2022 to 2024)
Member, Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE) CPD Programmes Committee (2020 to present)
Panel of Assessors, Singapore COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act (2020)
Door Tenant, Fountain Court Chambers (2019 to present)
International Editorial Board, Journal of International Arbitration (2014 to present)
Panel of Arbitrators, Thailand Arbitration Centre (2019 to present)
Singapore International Arbitration Centre Users’ Council (2014)
Singapore International Arbitration Centre Reserve Panel of Arbitrators (2013 to present)
Member, Law Society of Singapore Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (2009 to present)
Young Singapore International Arbitration Centre Committee (2015 to 2018)
National University of Singapore Law Alumni Mentor Programme (2014)
Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2014 to 2015)
Young Amicus Curiae, Supreme Court of Singapore, 2014
Public and International Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committees of the Law Society of Singapore, 2014
Graduate Editor, New York University Journal of Law and Business (2010 to 2011)
Co-Chair of Private Practice, New York University International Law Society Board (2010 to 2011)
Member, Singapore Academy of Law Committee on the Supply of Lawyers (2008 to 2009)
President, Singapore Chapter of International Law Students Association (2006 to 2007)

Accolades and Awards

Professional Accolades and Awards:

Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation (2024)
Band 1, Leading Junior, Legal 500 (2024)
"A junior with a keen analytical mind and impressive knowledge of Singaporean law", Legal 500 (2024)
Ranked as a Global Elite Thought Leader by Who's Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leader (2022-2023)
Ranked as a "Most Highly Regarded Individual” in Asia-Pacific by Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leader (2022-2023)
Ranked as a recommended Arbitration practitioner by Who’s Who Legal Southeast Asia (2022-present)
Dean's Teaching Excellence Award (2023)
Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist: South-East Asia (2022)
"Attention to detail, great social skills yet an uncanny ability to see the big picture", Legal 500 2023
The “very intelligent and diligent” Darius Chan ... is well regarded for his “outstanding counsel and arbitration work”, Who's Who Legal 2023
Darius Chan is highly esteemed as "a sagacious and knowledgeable lawyer" who "responds quickly to enquiries while remaining direct and to the point". He possesses "in-depth knowledge of arbitration" and is considered "first-rate as counsel", Who's Who Legal 2022
Darius Chan “is a bright legal mind who regularly navigates his clients through complex legal issues” with his “incredibly thorough understanding of international arbitration”, Who’s Who Legal 2021
“Darius Chan is extremely diligent and very experienced for his age. He is not only good at communication and people skills, he reverts promptly and is a caring human being.”, Legal 500 2020
Darius Chan has ‘a great future ahead of him’, is ‘excellent with clients’, ‘hard working’, ‘bright’ and ‘very articulate’, Legal 500 2019
Darius Chan stands out as “a very bright, hardworking and articulate lawyer” who “always knows how to fight and keep calm when facing complex cases” ... he “is meticulous about every detail and demonstrates dedication throughout”, Who's Who Legal 2019
“Darius Chan impresses peers with 'his sharp legal insight, client-friendly manner and consistently high work ethic"', Who’s Who Legal 2018
“a very, very smart guy and a great all-round lawyer who is building a strong reputation in the market”, Who’s Who Legal 2017
“very clever” with “collaborative, clear communication on sensitive arbitration mandates”, Chambers Legal 2017
Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award, Singapore Management University (2020)
Most Outstanding Adjunct Award, Singapore Management University (2018)
Singapore Business Review, Top 40 under 40 most influential lawyers in Singapore (2016)
Excellence in Advocacy Award, Singapore International Arbitration Academy (2012)
Ranked 3rd in the nationwide qualifying exams for admission to the Singapore bar (2008)
Lai Kew Chai Prize for the best candidate in the Commercial Practice examination for admission to the Singapore bar (2008)

Academic Awards - New York University:

IBRLA Award for Distinction in the International Business Regulation, Litigation & Arbitration Specialization (2011)
Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship awarded by Public Service Commission of Singapore (merit-based, bond-free scholarship) (2010)
Arthur T. Vanderbilt Scholarship awarded by New York University (merit-based, full tuition scholarship) (2010)
Highest Ranking Team, Best Respondent Memorial, 2nd Place Oral Finals, Foreign Direct Investment International Arbitration Moot Competition 2010

Academic Awards - National University of Singapore:

Chief Justice’s Prize awarded to best graduating student throughout course of study (2007)
Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation Undergraduate Scholar (2003 - 2007)
Consecutive Dean's Lists & Final Dean's List (2003 to 2007) awarded to top 10% of cohort
M. Karthigesu Memorial Gold Medal & Prize for Shipping Law (2007)
Law Society of Singapore Book Prize for First in Level (2006)
Rajah & Tann Insolvency Law Prize for Corporate Insolvency (2006)
First Runner-up for Respondent Memorandum & Honourable Mention for Claimant Memorandum, Williem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (Vienna) (2006)
Winner, NUS-University of Malaya Moot Competition (2005)
LexisNexis Best Memorial Prize for B.A. Mallal Moot Competition (2004)
NUS Student Achievement Award (Language) (2006)

Speaking & Training Engagements

Trainer, Singapore International Arbitration Centre Academy (Nov 2019)
Speaker, “Currents of Change in International Dispute Resolution” Seminar, Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy (Oct 2019)
Speaker, Singapore International Arbitration Centre-National University of Singapore Centre for International Law Academic-Practitioner Colloquium on "Attribution of the conduct of State-owned Entities to the State" (Sep 2019)
Speaker on “Dispute Resolution on Regional Projects” Panel Event, Singapore Regional Business Forum (Aug 2019)
Trainer, Thailand Arbitration Centre International Arbitration Training Program (Jun 2019)
Moderator, Singapore Management University Law Academy Panel Event ‘To Challenge or Not, and When: Complications and Issues in Dealing with Objections to an Arbitral Tribunal's Jurisdiction’ (May 2019)
Moderator, Delos Dispute Resolution Inaugural Panel Event, Singapore (Mar 2019)
Speaker, International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA) 10th Annual Arbitration Conference Singapore (Oct 2018)
Speaker, DSNLU CARDS Tour de Arbitration Program in Singapore (Dec 2017)
Moderator, Young SIAC Club Event: Investment Arbitration in Asia (Jun 2016)
Speaker, National University of Singapore Law School Practice of Law Event (Jul 2015)
Speaker, Law Society of Singapore - Young ICCA workshop on Managing Cross Cultural Issues in International Arbitration (Jun 2015)
Moderator, Young SIAC Conference: The Dynamics and Challenges of International Arbitration - The Road Ahead (Jun 2015)
Speaker, CIArb Singapore Centenary Conference (Sep 2015)
Speaker, ICC YAF-YAAP Conference, Vienna (2013)