DIRECTOR
DARRYL CHEW
Darryl is a family law practitioner with a broad litigation practice spanning civil, commercial, and criminal matters, alongside significant experience in contested and non-contentious family proceedings.
Overview
Darryl graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Southampton in 2016. During his practice, he has appeared or assisted in a range of matters at various forums, including the Court of Appeal, High Court, State Courts and Family Justice Courts.
Notable Experience / Focus Areas
Darryl's family law practice covers contested and uncontested matrimonial proceedings for high-net-worth private clients, including complex divorces with cross-border issues and matrimonial assets in excess of $100 million. His practice also extends to maintenance, personal protection order, and children-related proceedings, as well as general probate matters and estate planning.
His civil and commercial litigation work includes Mareva injunctions, domestic arbitration, insolvency proceedings, and disputes involving local banks that raised novel questions of law. He also maintains an active criminal defence and public interest litigation practice, including acting for the Law Society of Singapore in landmark admissions matters.
Awards and achievements
Family Law Rising Star – Recognised in the 2024 Doyle's Guide list of rising stars in Singapore for the area of family law.
Professional memberships and appointments
Current
Council Member, Law Society of Singapore (2022 to date)
Exco Member, Law Society of Singapore (2026)
Co-Chairperson, Task Force on the Fulfilment and Sustainability of Younger Lawyers, Law Society of Singapore (2026)
Co-Chairperson, Middle Category Committee, Law Society of Singapore (2026)
Co-Chairperson, Young Lawyers Committee, Law Society of Singapore (2023 to date)
Chairperson, Japan Chapter of the Foreign Bar Liaison Committee, Law Society of Singapore (2024 to date)
Council Representative, Admissions Committee, Law Society of Singapore (2023 to date)
Council Representative, Mentorship Working Group, Law Society of Singapore (2024 to date)
Council Representative, Hong Kong Chapter of the Foreign Bar Liaison Committee, Law Society of Singapore (2026)
Member, Coordinating Committee for the Advancement of the Legal Profession, Law Society of Singapore (2026)
Member, Court Practice Chairpersons Committee, Law Society of Singapore (2023 to date)
Member, International Relations Committee, Law Society of Singapore (2026)
Member, Small Law Firms Committee, Law Society of Singapore (2023 to date)
Member, Judiciary–Law Society Joint Working Committee (2026)
Member, Training and Adult Educator Professional Pathway (2025 to date)
Previous
Member, Continuing Professional Development Committee, Law Society of Singapore (2023 and 2024)
Member, Media Focus Group, Law Society of Singapore (2023)
Member, Complaints Committee, Law Society of Singapore (2024)
Member, Ethics and Professional Standards Committee (2024)
Notable cases
Matrimonial Litigation
CYH v CYI [2023] SGHCF 4 – This was one of the pilot cases under the Panel of Financial Expert Scheme. Acted for the husband in high court proceedings and secured 60% of the matrimonial assets for the husband. In doing so, the Court rejected the wife's attempt to value the husband's group of private-company shares at its pre-Covid 19 value of approximately $6.8 million and provided practical guidance on valuing and dividing illiquid assets.
WBU v WBT [2023] SGHCF 3 – Successfully represented a mother to increase child maintenance on appeal. It was affirmed that, there should not be a presumption that parents bear a child's expenses equally, and the Court should adopt a broad-brush approach to quantifying a child's needs (including providing a roof for the child) rather than require proof of every expense by individual receipts.
Public Interest Litigation
Acted for the Law Society of Singapore on unprecedented issues in the admission of advocates and solicitors, including Re Tay Quan Li Leon [2022] SGHC 133 and related matters through to Re Gabriel Silas Tang Rafferty [2024] SGHC 82.
Criminal Defence
Public Prosecutor v Tan Kah Heng [2021] SGMC 46 – successful acquittal on outrage of modesty charges.
Abdul Aziz bin Mohamed Hanib v Public Prosecutor and other appeals [2022] SGHC 101 – defence of an individual charged with bribery of a foreign embassy official.
Civil & Commercial Litigation
PEX International Pte Ltd v Lim Seng Chye and another and another appeal [2019] SGCA 82 – acted for a company before the Court of Appeal on private nuisance and the rule in Rylands v Fletcher.
Successfully obtained a mareva injunction against 34 entities in aid of a domestic arbitration, and defended subsequent applications to set aside the injunction and fortification.
