Royston C. Tan
Biography
Overview
Royston Tan is an Associate in the Firm's dispute resolution and white collar practices based in Hong Kong.
Royston's practice focuses on arbitration, litigation, compliance matters and corporate investigations. He has advised clients in a wide variety of high-profile disputes in Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the Cayman Islands. He has also represented clients in international arbitration cases conducted under various institutional rules (including the ICC, HKIAC, SIAC and CAA) and in arbitration-related court proceedings. Royston also has expertise in distressed situations, having acted for financial institutions and distressed companies on issues related to the enforcement of security, insolvency claw-back, and fraud and asset tracing.
In terms of white-collar investigations and compliance, Royston advises clients on anti-money laundering, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, U.S. economic and trade sanctions, foreign direct investment and related corporate compliance issues. He assists multi-national and listed companies on conducting compliance risk assessments, developing compliance procedures and addressing potential weaknesses and risks.
Royston graduated from the National University of Singapore where he was the recipient of a faculty named scholarship and the Chief Editor of the 31st Singapore Law Review.
Royston is dual-qualified in both Singapore and New York, and is a Registered Foreign Lawyer (Singapore law) in Hong Kong.
Experience
Litigation and International Arbitration
- Acted for a listed multinational technology conglomerate with regards to its international litigation matters in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Acted for a life sciences company in HKIAC emergency arbitration proceedings involving shareholders duties and powers as well as director fiduciary duties.
- Acted for an insurance company in a successful Taipei-seated arbitration proceeding involving fraud and the legality of trust structures spanning various jurisdictions, including Singapore, Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands, with a combined value exceeding US$200 million.
- Acted for a Taiwanese pharmaceutical company in a successful US$120 million "bet the company" joint venture dispute governed by ICC arbitration rules, and involving issues of shareholder oppression, document falsification and violations of pharmaceutical standards.
- Acted for a multinational company in the commodities sector in arbitration proceedings with claims in relation to various cross-border disputes valued in access of US$500 million.
Distressed Situations
- Acted for a Southeast Asian bank on the enforcement of a mortgage over a high-end hotel property valued at above US$100 million.
- Assisted a state-owned financial asset management company with the appointment of an interim receiver over a deceased insolvent estate to administer assets valued in excess of US$50 million.
- Advised a PRC state owned company on cross-border enforcement and insolvency issues relating to share charges, property mortgages and personal guarantees issued under Thai, Hong Kong, PRC and BVI law.
- Advised a Cayman fund LP with regards to the reinstatement of a struck off Cayman fund and appointment of receivers with regards to the fund assets.
- Advised the liquidator of a Hong Kong-listed company with regards to issues in relation to the subrogation of debts in respect of a guarantee governed by English law.
Compliance & Internal Investigations
- Represented the audit committee of a US-listed logistics company in conducting an independent investigation with respect to certain allegations raised by a short seller report regarding alleged falsified financial statements, underreported labor costs, undisclosed related party transactions, and other accounting irregularities.
- Acted for a NASDAQ-listed technology company in conducting an independent investigation with respect to whistleblower allegations into workplace misconduct and potential bribery.
- Represented an industrial technology company in conducting an investigation in relation to allegations of revenue recognition fraud and document falsification by its senior employees in PRC.
- Represented the audit committee of a US-listed, China-based life science company in connection with an independent review of certain issues regarding assessment of related party transactions.
- Advised a public oil and gas conglomerate, providing FCPA and sanctions advice in relation to its proposed investment into an integrated refining and petrochemical complex in the PRC.
- Conducted compliance risk assessment and developed a series of compliance policies for the Indonesian subsidiary of a major East Asian mining and minerals conglomerate.
Economic Sanctions & Export Controls
- Developed export controls and sanctions compliance policies and procedures for the PRC subsidiary of a major public energy conglomerate.
- Conducted an export control risk assessment for an Eastern Asian medical device company.
- Advised a leading Southeast Asian technology company on sanctions issues in relation to the company's transactions in Myanmar.
- Conducted sanctions due diligence for a listed minerals company with regards to potential investments in southern Africa.
