Introduction & Welcome

We at Global Law Experts are pleased to welcome Poonaam Bai as our Exclusive Member for Construction Disputes in Singapore. Poonaam joins the network as a recognised courtroom advocate and specialist in construction adjudication, arbitration and litigation, bringing practical, court tested expertise to clients across the construction sector. Her admission to practice and steady progression to partnership reflect a deep, sustained engagement with construction dispute resolution in Singapore’s mature legal market. We are proud to feature her as a leading practitioner in Construction Disputes law in Singapore.

Professional Background & Qualifications

Poonaam graduated with an LL.B. (Honours) from the National University of Singapore and was admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 2007. She began her practice at a specialist dispute firm, moved through associate and senior associate roles, and became a partner at Eldan Law LLP in April 2014, consolidating extensive experience in contentious and advisory construction matters. Her professional record includes sustained work on high value disputes across court, arbitral and adjudication forums.

The Firm & The Practice

Eldan Law is a boutique origin firm that has developed into a full service practice with a strong specialist emphasis on construction, arbitration and contentious litigation. The firm’s focus on construction and engineering disputes creates an environment where specialist practitioners, like Poonaam, operate alongside teams that handle industry specific legal and commercial challenges. Eldan’s growth since its founding reinforces the firm’s capacity to handle complex multi party construction matters and cross border enforcement issues.

Areas Of Expertise In Construction Disputes

Poonaam’s principal practice centres on construction adjudication, arbitration and litigation, with particular experience in adjudication challenges, delay and extension of time disputes, defects and remediation claims, and professional negligence arising from design and consultancy work. She acts for a broad cross section of parties, including main contractors, subcontractors, developers and management corporations, and is experienced in multi party disputes that raise complex contractual and technical issues. Her work routinely involves urgent injunctive relief, enforcement of adjudication determinations, and strategic advice to preserve cashflow and project continuity.

Notable Case Involvement & Reported Decisions

Poonaam has been counsel in reported decisions that have helped shape Singapore’s approach to adjudication and the limits of adjudicators’ jurisdiction. Her involvement in High Court and appellate matters demonstrates hands on experience with jurisdictional challenges and natural justice issues in adjudication proceedings. Such reported matters illustrate her familiarity with judicial scrutiny of statutory adjudication and the practical interplay between adjudication outcomes and court review.

  • Millenium Pharmaceutical Inc & Johnson & Johnson Pte Ltd v Zyfas Medical (a firm) [2023] SGHC 360;
  • Deniyal Bin Kamis v Niew Bock Leng & ors [2023] SGHC 183;
  • Matthew Benjamin Cape v James Thomas Glynn [2022] SGDC 267;
  • Lee Wee Lick Terence (alias Li Weili Terence) v Chua Say Eng (formerly trading as WengFatt Construction Engineering) and another appeal [2013] 1 SRL 401 (COA);
  • Australian Timber Products Pte Ltd v A Pacific Construction & Development Pte Ltd [2013] 2 SLR 776 (HC);
  • Mansource Interior Pte Ltd v Citiwall Safety Glass Pte Ltd [2014] 3 SLR 264 (COA);
  • Quanta Industries Pte Ltd v Strategic Construction Pte Ltd [2015] SGHC 2 (HC);
  • Audi Construction Pte Ltd v Kian Hiap Construction Pte Ltd [2018] SGCA 4 (COA);
  • Milan International Pte Ltd v Cluny Development Pte Ltd and others [2018] SGHC 33;

Teaching, Thought Leadership & Professional Service

Beyond practice, Poonaam contributes to legal education and professional development, including tutoring advocacy modules and participating in industry briefings and firm webinars on construction litigation, adjudication and dispute avoidance.

Why Global Law Experts Is Proud To Feature Poonaam BAI

Global Law Experts is proud to feature Poonaam because she combines reported case experience, procedural acumen in adjudication, and persuasive courtroom advocacy with a client focused, commercially pragmatic approach. Her record of handling multi forum disputes and successfully navigating complex enforcement and jurisdictional issues aligns with the needs of businesses and individuals who require decisive, technically grounded representation. Poonaam’s balance of litigation skill and strategic dispute avoidance advice makes her an outstanding Exclusive Member for Construction Disputes law in Singapore.

The Construction Disputes Landscape In Singapore

Construction Disputes law in Singapore is shaped by a statutory emphasis on adjudication for interim cashflow relief, widespread use of arbitration for complex contractual problems, and a well developed body of court jurisprudence addressing jurisdictional and procedural issues. The Building and Construction Authority’s Security of Payment framework underpins quick interim remedies that are essential to keeping projects moving, while arbitration and court proceedings remain central for final resolution of larger, more complex claims. These complementary mechanisms make Singapore an internationally respected seat for resolving construction disputes, but they also create practical challenges for parties managing parallel proceedings.

Key Challenges For Parties In Construction Disputes

Parties frequently face tight adjudication timeframes that demand rapid evidence preparation and focused legal strategy, the potential for jurisdictional disputes about whether an adjudicator had power to decide a matter, and the practical realities of enforcing awards and judgments across jurisdictional supply chains. The interplay between adjudication determinations and concurrent arbitration or court proceedings can create tactical and procedural traps if not managed proactively. Advice from a specialist who understands statutory adjudication, arbitration rules and court review is therefore critical to protect cashflow and preserve enforcement options.

Practical Guidance For Businesses & Individuals

Early legal involvement is critical: specialist counsel can advise on contract drafting to limit disputes, prepare or challenge payment claims, and design pragmatic strategies to secure interim relief under the Security of Payment framework. In adjudications, parties should preserve contemporaneous project records, ensure notice requirements are met, and seek legal advice on whether to resist enforcement or apply to set aside a determination on grounds such as jurisdictional error or breach of natural justice. For multi jurisdictional projects, planning for cross border enforcement and coordinating parallel proceedings is essential to protect commercial positions and project cashflow.

How Poonaam Bai Helps Clients Navigate These Risks

Poonaam brings a practical, advocacy led approach that translates technical construction issues into persuasive legal arguments and practical settlement strategies. Her experience in resisting or setting aside adjudication determinations where jurisdictional or procedural defects exist means clients benefit from focused, court tested advice when challenges to adjudicators’ decisions are necessary. She also prioritises strategies that protect cashflow and minimise project disruption, whether by securing urgent injunctive relief, enforcing determinations, or negotiating commercially acceptable outcomes.

Who Should Consider Engaging A Specialist Construction Disputes Lawyer

Contractors, subcontractors and developers confronting payment claims, delay and disruption disputes, defects remediation or professional negligence should seek specialist legal advice early. Management corporations and owners facing complex remedial or contractual issues also benefit from counsel who can handle multi party claims, coordinate technical experts and manage parallel adjudication, arbitration and court proceedings. Engaging a practitioner with reported case experience and a deep understanding of industry standard contracts materially improves outcomes and preserves commercial options.

Conclusion & Final Welcome

Construction Disputes law in Singapore demands technical fluency, procedural precision and commercial judgement. Poonaam BAI exemplifies the blend of skills and experience required to litigate, adjudicate and arbitrate complex construction matters effectively. We at Global Law Experts welcome her as our Exclusive Member for Construction Disputes in Singapore and look forward to the value she will bring to businesses and individuals seeking authoritative legal counsel in the construction sector.