Overview  

Our Expertise

Skrine’s employment practice group provides exclusive and client focussed legal services. We are a niche team with extensive experience in the Employment and Industrial Relations field. Our trademark is simply the quality of our work. We offer our clients practical, result-oriented and customised legal solutions. The Employment Practice Group has been rated as a leading practice by Chambers Asia 2010, 2011 & 2012 and Tier 1 for Industrial Relations by the Asia Pacific Legal 500 2011 & 2012.

Notable Experience

Dispute Resolution

• Acting for a major telecommunication company in a groundbreaking case which established that the standard of proof in a dismissal case was the balance of probabilities.
• Successfully resolved and managed issues arising from the unauthorised issuance of a multi- billion dollar USD bond by employees of a government linked corporation and subsequently successfully defended the client from unjust dismissal claims brought by the employees.
• Successfully defended direct dismissal and constructive dismissal claims initiated by senior management level employees.
• Acted for a privatised company in the Court of Appeal in relation to a claim brought by its employees under the Government General Orders.

Takeovers, Mergers & Acquisitions

• Advised on the employment law aspects of a transfer of business and acquisition in the largest corporate transactions in Malaysia.
• Was engaged by a multinational telecommunications network supplier to advise on all employment aspects of a takeover operation.
• Advised on the employment law issues arising from the merger of local banks.
• Advised a US based multinational on the employment and labour aspects of a management buy-out as well as the sale of its semiconductor business.
• Advised a multinational insurance company on all employment issues of the transfer of its employees in a local incorporation exercise.
• Advised a large property conglomerate on all employment issues arising from their rationalisation of business exercise.

Outsourcing, Insourcing and Offshoring

• Advised a leading global technology services company on an outsourcing arrangement that was negotiated between that company and a leading bank to ensure that all employment issues were dealt with in compliance with the laws of the country and with minimum exposure to parties.
• Providing legal support in an outsourcing project involving a large telecommunication company in Malaysia involving more than 400 employees.

Employment Contracts and Human Resource Policies

• Engaged by a US based multinational internet solutions company to review and advise on their standard employment contracts, global human resource policies, incentive plans, reduction in workforce exercises.
• Retained by a Malaysian conglomerate that is involved in, amongst others, the communications, oil & gas, industrial,automotive retail and education businesses, to draft their employment handbook/manual for use across their group of companies.
• Advised the world’s leading furniture and DIY company on compliance issues in the engagement of foreign workers through 3rd parties.

Internal Crisis Management

• Provided immediate public relations advice and internal crisis management strategy for multinational corporations in circumstances involving alleged fraudulent practices by employees which would have far reaching implications for clients both locally and internationally.

Publications

Legal Insights Issue 04/2012, December 2012 – “Going Separate Ways”
A recent decision of the Federal Court in Zainon bt Ahmad & 690 others v Padiberas Nasional Berhad on voluntary separation scheme.

Legal Insights Issue 01/2012, March 2012 – "Great Expectations"
A discussion of a landmark decision on gender discrimination in Malaysia.

Legal Insights Issue 3/2010, September 2010 – Dealing with Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Discusses the impending ground breaking amendments to the Employment Act.

Getting the Deal Through – Labour & Employment 2009
This chapter first appeared in "Getting the Deal Through –Labour & Employment 2009", published by Law Business Research Ltd.

Legal Insights Issue 2/2008, June 2008 – Amendments to the Industrial Relations Act 1967
Outlines some of the recent amendments to the Industrial Relations Act 1967.

Legal Insights Issue 2/2006, June 2006 – The worth of unjust dismissal
Commentary on the quantum available for unjust dismissal in light of two diametrically opposite High Court decisions.

Legal Insights Issue 1/2004, March 2004 – Work Till you drop
Discussion on the retirement age issue in employment contracts.

  People  

Siva Kumar Kanagasabai Partner  |  Dispute Resolution Division Tel: 603 - 2081 3999 ext 734  |  Fax: 603 - 2094 3211  |  E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Profile
Selvamalar Alagaratnam Partner  |  Dispute Resolution Division Tel: 603 - 2081 3999 ext 747  |  Fax: 603 - 2094 3211  |  E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Profile