Gideon Yap

Partner

Conflict is Gideon’s comfort zone. Whether it is a business relationship gone awry, a family dispute over an inheritance, or a defamed reputation in need of defending, Gideon remains unfazed and undeterred. He quickly digests and keenly analyses complicated facts, and has been called upon to conduct cross-examination on experts across various fields, including medicine, digital forensics and private equity compensation. His experience in the cut and thrust of trial has been honed across numerous Supreme Court matters and international and local arbitrations.

Gideon trained under and continues to assist Senior Counsel across numerous and complex high-value disputes at all levels of court, including the SICC Court of Appeal. Gideon has also acted as lead counsel in State Court and Supreme Court matters, including but not limited to Family Court matters.

Gideon is happy to have given back to the community by way of acting for accused persons in need of counsel, speaking to students at his alma mater, and representing individuals against national institutions on issues of judicial review.

Gideon is proficient both in English and Mandarin.

Career Highlights
Notable Cases
Education
Career Highlights

  • Associate / Senior Associate, RHTLaw Taylor Wessing LLP / RHTLaw Asia LLP (2017– 2022)
  • Partner, Martin & Partners LLP (2022 – Present)
  • Instructor (Legal Skills Programme), NUS Law Faculty (2024 – Present)

Notable Cases

  • Ma Kar Sui Anthony and others v Yap Sing Lee and another appeal [2018] SGHC 30

Succeeded on appeal in a defamation claim and overturning a counterclaim, acting for a MCST against a sole proprietor

  • Qilin World Capital Ltd v CPIT Investments Ltd and another appeal [2018] 2 SLR / [2018] SGCA (I) 4

First ever successful cross-appeal from the SICC to the Court of Appeal over a matter relating to a non-recourse loan of shares listed on the Hong Kong Growth Enterprise Market Index; Landmark case on costs to be awarded in the SICC

  • Ng Kong Yeam (suing by Ling Towi Sing (alias Ling Chooi Seng) and others) v Kay Swee Pin and another [2019] SGHC 219 / [2020] 2 SLR 523; [2020] SGCA 5

Acted for the committee of the estate of a non compos mentis individual against his mistress and her daughter.

  • Singapore Airlines Ltd v CSDS Aircraft Sales & Leasing Inc [2019] SGHCR 8 / [2020] 5 SLR 221 / [2021] 5 SLR 26

Acted for an aircraft broker against a national carrier in relation to a claim of approximately US$6.25 million with a successful setting aside of the default judgment

  • Uday Mehra v L Capital Asia Advisors and others [2022] SGHC 23

Acted for a former employee against the private equity arm of a global luxury brand and several of its key executives

  • CIE v CIF [2021] SGHC 12

Acted for a corporation in its application to set aside an arbitral award relating to a joint venture for the retail and distribution of luxury consumer goods gone awry

  • XAB v XAC  [2024] SGFC 53

Landmark decision in the interpretation of Section 28 of the Family Justice Act 2014 relating to the appointment of a psychologist in the assessment of a child; successfully defended the matter on appeal to the Family Division of the High Court (unreported)

  • Ad Hoc Arbitration under the Arbitration Act (2020)

Successfully acted on behalf of a law firm against their professional indemnity insurers

Education

  • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)(Hon), Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore