Senior Associate Profiles

Lai Hwa Shen

Background

Hwa Shen graduated with an LL.B (Hons) from the University of London (External Programme) and obtained her Certificate of Legal Practice. She was admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 2021.

Hwa Shen is conversant in Malay, English, and Chinese.

Experience

Hwa Shen’s practice covers commercial and civil disputes, land disputes, debt and loan recovery, employment disputes and advisory, advisory on contract interpretation, and advocacy in interlocutory and trial proceedings. She has been involved in many complex trial and appellate Court disputes in Malaysia.

She has experience in dispute resolution at the various Courts of Malaysia, including the Industrial Court, and has worked with multinational companies and large corporations in complex legal disputes involving employer-employee relationships.

Notable Work Highlights

  • Initiated legal proceedings for developers and assisted clients in commencing legal proceedings to recover outstanding payment from contractors, including preparing demand notices, drafting pleadings, and managing follow-through litigation. These included claims involving defective, substandard, or incomplete construction works and breaches of contractual obligations.
  • Defended developers in tortious and statutory claims, representing developers in defending claims premised on tort of negligence, private nuisance, and other related statutory or contractual disputes. This involved conducting detailed factual and legal analysis, liaising with technical experts, and preparing comprehensive cause papers and submissions.
  • Advised developers on rights and obligations under housing regulations and drafted complete sets of cause papers for proceedings before the Housing Tribunal.
  • Assisted in drafting and reviewing tenancy agreements for leasing teams to protect developers' commercial and legal interests. Also managed tenancy-related disputes by initiating or defending actions for rental arrears, breaches of tenancy terms, eviction processes, and settlement negotiations.
  • Participated in mediation sessions on behalf of clients to resolve disputes efficiently and cost-effectively. Facilitated amicable settlements by identifying common ground and negotiating mutually acceptable terms.
  • Prepared and reviewed employment contracts, employee handbooks, and various internal policies to ensure compliance with Malaysian employment laws and industry practices. Provided tailored solutions for both local companies and multinational corporations.
  • Guided employers through the legal and procedural requirements for terminating employees on grounds of underperformance. Advisories included performance improvement plans, documentation standards, compliance with natural justice, and risk-mitigation strategies.
  • Provided strategic counsel to a multinational corporation on implementing a Mutual Separation Scheme, including drafting MSS documents, advising on communication strategy, supporting voluntary participation, and mitigating potential post-separation claims.
  • Defended employers in Industrial Court proceedings involving claims of wrongful dismissal. Responsibilities included case strategy planning, evidence preparation, examination of witnesses, and drafting submissions to support lawful termination decisions.
  • Represented a major utility supplier in civil proceedings involving allegations of dishonest consumption of utilities, tampering of meters, and unrecorded usage. Work included preparing and reviewing cause papers, analysing technical reports from inspection teams, quantifying back-billing claims, and pursuing recovery of outstanding charges through negotiation or litigation.
  • Acted for a utility supplier in claims for outstanding utility charges, including chronic arrears, disputed billing assessments, and recovery actions against both residential and commercial consumers. Drafted demand notices, initiated legal proceedings, and advised on appropriate remedies to support efficient recovery of sums due.
  • Attended mediation sessions on behalf of the utility supplier to facilitate early and cost-effective settlements. Engaged with consumers and their representatives to negotiate repayment terms, resolve disputes over usage calculations, and reach mutually acceptable resolutions to avoid prolonged litigation.
  • Advised clients on estate planning strategies and drafted Wills involving the disposition of sizeable or complex asset portfolios. Ensured testamentary intentions were clearly documented to reduce the risk of future disputes.
  • Handled both uncontested and contested probate and administration cases, including estates with high value, multi-jurisdictional elements, and complex asset structures. Responsibilities included preparing probate applications, liaising with beneficiaries, and ensuring compliance with statutory timelines.
  • Prepared and filed various specialised applications such as extensions of time for asset distribution, substitution of executors or administrators, amendments to existing Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration, and applications for judicial interpretation of ambiguous Will provisions.
  • Applied for various applications such as extension of time for the distribution of assets under a Will, substitution and amendment to Grant of Probate, and interpretation of a Will.
  • Initiated legal proceedings for developers and assisted clients in commencing legal proceedings to recover outstanding payment from contractors, including preparing demand notices, drafting pleadings, and managing follow-through litigation. These included claims involving defective, substandard, or incomplete construction works and breaches of contractual obligations.
  • Defended developers in tortious and statutory claims, representing developers in defending claims premised on tort of negligence, private nuisance, and other related statutory or contractual disputes. This involved conducting detailed factual and legal analysis, liaising with technical experts, and preparing comprehensive cause papers and submissions.
  • Advised developers on rights and obligations under housing regulations and drafted complete sets of cause papers for proceedings before the Housing Tribunal.
  • Assisted in drafting and reviewing tenancy agreements for leasing teams to protect developers' commercial and legal interests. Also managed tenancy-related disputes by initiating or defending actions for rental arrears, breaches of tenancy terms, eviction processes, and settlement negotiations.
  • Participated in mediation sessions on behalf of clients to resolve disputes efficiently and cost-effectively. Facilitated amicable settlements by identifying common ground and negotiating mutually acceptable terms.
  • Prepared and reviewed employment contracts, employee handbooks, and various internal policies to ensure compliance with Malaysian employment laws and industry practices. Provided tailored solutions for both local companies and multinational corporations.
  • Guided employers through the legal and procedural requirements for terminating employees on grounds of underperformance. Advisories included performance improvement plans, documentation standards, compliance with natural justice, and risk-mitigation strategies.
  • Provided strategic counsel to a multinational corporation on implementing a Mutual Separation Scheme, including drafting MSS documents, advising on communication strategy, supporting voluntary participation, and mitigating potential post-separation claims.
  • Defended employers in Industrial Court proceedings involving claims of wrongful dismissal. Responsibilities included case strategy planning, evidence preparation, examination of witnesses, and drafting submissions to support lawful termination decisions.
  • Represented a major utility supplier in civil proceedings involving allegations of dishonest consumption of utilities, tampering of meters, and unrecorded usage. Work included preparing and reviewing cause papers, analysing technical reports from inspection teams, quantifying back-billing claims, and pursuing recovery of outstanding charges through negotiation or litigation.
  • Acted for a utility supplier in claims for outstanding utility charges, including chronic arrears, disputed billing assessments, and recovery actions against both residential and commercial consumers. Drafted demand notices, initiated legal proceedings, and advised on appropriate remedies to support efficient recovery of sums due.
  • Attended mediation sessions on behalf of the utility supplier to facilitate early and cost-effective settlements. Engaged with consumers and their representatives to negotiate repayment terms, resolve disputes over usage calculations, and reach mutually acceptable resolutions to avoid prolonged litigation.
  • Advised clients on estate planning strategies and drafted Wills involving the disposition of sizeable or complex asset portfolios. Ensured testamentary intentions were clearly documented to reduce the risk of future disputes.
  • Handled both uncontested and contested probate and administration cases, including estates with high value, multi-jurisdictional elements, and complex asset structures. Responsibilities included preparing probate applications, liaising with beneficiaries, and ensuring compliance with statutory timelines.
  • Prepared and filed various specialised applications such as extensions of time for asset distribution, substitution of executors or administrators, amendments to existing Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration, and applications for judicial interpretation of ambiguous Will provisions.
  • Applied for various applications such as extension of time for the distribution of assets under a Will, substitution and amendment to Grant of Probate, and interpretation of a Will.

Admission & Education

  • Advocate & Solicitor, High Court of Malaya (2021)
  • University of London, External Programme (LL.B Hons)
  • Certificate of Legal Practice (Malaysia)