Goh Phai Cheng, S.C.

Work Experience

Mr Goh is a seasoned legal professional with extensive experience as a counsel, arbitrator, mediator, and adjudicator in Singapore. With his deep knowledge and years of practice across various areas of the legal industry, Mr Goh is a versatile and highly experienced lawyer who boasts a sound understanding of the local legal landscape and unparalleled expertise in navigating complex legal challenges.  

Over the course of his distinguished 27-year career in the Singapore Legal Service, Mr Goh held multiple key positions, including Deputy Public Prosecutor, State Counsel, Senior State Counsel, legislative draftsman, Parliamentary Counsel, and Law Revision Commissioner. Among his many judicial appointments, he notably served as Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court for three years. Concurrent with this role, he held appointments as President of the Industrial Arbitration Court of Singapore, President of the Copyright Tribunal of Singapore, Chairman of the Income Tax Board of Review, Chairman of the Valuation Review Board, Chairman of the Hotels Licensing Board, and Chairman of the Tenants’ Compensation Board.

In 1995, Mr Goh represented Singapore on the global stage when he was elected Chairman of the 28th Session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) in Vienna, Austria, where he contributed to the drafting of the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.

After retiring from the Legal Service in 1997, Mr Goh transitioned into private practice. Two years later, in 1999, he was appointed Senior Counsel of the Supreme Court of Singapore.

As an arbitrator, Mr Goh has presided over a wide range of arbitration cases, serving as both sole and co-arbitrator. His expertise spans disputes in building and civil engineering construction, commercial ventures, shareholder agreements, intellectual property, and licensing, and many others. 

While in private practice, Mr Goh has served as a non-executive director of the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre Limited (FIDReC) and as a member of the Competition Appeals Board, Singapore, where he adjudicated appeals against decisions made by the Competition Commission of Singapore.

In the realm of building and construction law, Mr Goh has acted as counsel, arbitrator, and adjudicator in cases under Singapore's Building and Construction Industry Security of Payments Act. From 1998 to 2001, he was an adjunct associate professor at Nanyang Technological University’s School of Civil and Structural Engineering, teaching building and construction law.

Mr Goh is also active in mediation, where he has served as a mediator and co-mediator in numerous domestic and international disputes.

Before joining Shaun Wong LLC as a Consultant, Mr Goh practised at other renowned local firms, including as Managing Director of Goh Phai Cheng LLC and Consultant at Harry Elias Partnership and Ang & Partners.

Educational Background

Mr Goh graduated from National University of Singapore with an LL.B. degree in 1967.

Practice Qualification

→ Advocate and Solicitor, Supreme Court of Singapore
→ Fellow, Singapore Institute of Arbitrators 
→ Senior Counsel and Fellow, Singapore Academy of Law 
→ Certified Mediator, International Mediation Institute and Singapore Mediation Centre 
→ Principal Mediator, Singapore Mediation Centre 
→ Fellow, Society of Construction Law

Working Language

English, Chinese

Professional Field

Arbitration
General commercial litigation
Joint venture disputes
Building & construction disputes
Mediation