Ivan is the co-head of the Construction and Engineering practice.
His areas of practice lie in the construction industry where he appears as lead counsel in arbitration, adjudication and litigation proceedings on construction related disputes.
Ivan also regularly sits as arbitrator in both international and domestic arbitrations conducted under various rules of arbitration including the Asian International Arbitration Centre (“AIAC”), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (“SIAC”), the International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”), and UNCITRAL.
He also sits as adjudicator under the Construction Industry Payment & Adjudication Act 2012 and as mediator with the Malaysian Mediation Centre.
Key Practice Areas
- International Arbitration
- Construction Litigation, Arbitration and Adjudication
- Oil & Gas, and Energy Disputes
- Construction Inquiries and Investigations
-
Acted as lead counsel for a foreign engineering consultancy in an SIAC Arbitration with the seat of arbitration in Singapore in a dispute concerning an engineering consultancy contract.
-
Acted as sole arbitrator in an SIAC Arbitration with seat of arbitration in Singapore in a dispute concerning the shipment of steel billets with Singapore law being the governing law of the contract.
-
Acted as sole arbitrator in an SIAC Arbitration with seat of arbitration in Singapore in a dispute concerning warehousing and logistics services with Malaysian law being the governing law of the contract.
-
Acted as co-arbitrator in an ICC Arbitration in a dispute concerning the sale and distribution of certain goods for the oil & gas and chemical industry.
-
Acted as lead counsel for a foreign client who was the main contractor in an ICC Arbitration with the seat of arbitration in Singapore in a dispute concerning the design and construction of a manufacturing facility in India with English law being the governing law of the contract.
-
Acted as lead counsel for a major Government-Linked Company who was the employer in arbitration proceedings in a dispute against the main contractor concerning the construction of civil and cable works involving more than 220 contracts with an amount in dispute of more than RM100 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for the employer in arbitration proceedings under the KLRCA Rules in a dispute concerning a mixed development project in Johor Bahru with an amount in dispute of more than RM95 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for the main contractor in arbitration proceedings in a dispute concerning the manufacturing and supply of concrete pre-cast elements for a major government housing project with an amount in dispute of more than RM33 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for the employer in arbitration proceedings under the PAM Rules in a dispute concerning a mixed development project in Selangor with an amount in dispute of more than RM120 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for the main contractor in arbitration proceedings under the KLRCA Rules in a dispute concerning the construction of a major government building project with an amount in dispute of more than RM440 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for a foreign client who was the main contractor in an UNCITRAL arbitration in a dispute concerning a major mixed commercial development project in Kuala Lumpur with an amount in dispute of more than RM950 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for a developer in an arbitration proceeding against the landowner under the KLRCA Rules in a dispute concerning a Joint Development Agreement with an amount in dispute of more than RM30 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for the main contractor in arbitration proceedings in a dispute concerning the construction of a water treatment plant in East Malaysia based on a modified Public Works Department (PWD) contract with an amount in dispute of more than RM18 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for the employer in an UNCITRAL arbitration in a dispute concerning land reclamation works adopting the FIDIC Conditions of Contract with modifications/amendments with an amount in dispute of more than RM90 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for the main contractor against the Government of Malaysia in a dispute concerning a contract for the building of schools based on the PWD form of contract.
-
Acted as lead counsel for the main contractor against the sub-contractor in the construction of road works.
-
Acted as lead counsel in a dispute concerning the discharge of acidic effluent which caused damage to the foundations of a building.
Adjudication / CIPAA
-
Acted as lead counsel for the employer in CIPAA proceedings in a dispute concerning a mixed development project in Johor Bahru with an amount in dispute of more than RM16 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for the employer in CIPAA proceedings in a dispute concerning a mixed development project in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, with an amount in dispute of more than RM100 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for a company controlled by a foreign entity in CIPAA proceedings in a dispute concerning an EPCM contract for a chemical plant with an amount in dispute of more than RM34 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for a company in CIPAA proceedings in a dispute concerning the supply of materials with an amount in dispute of more than RM2 million.
-
Acted as adjudicator in CIPAA proceedings concerning a building development with an amount in dispute of more than RM12 million.
-
Acted as adjudicator in CIPAA proceedings concerning a mixed development with an amount in dispute of more than RM15 million.
-
Acted as adjudicator in CIPAA proceedings concerning certain renovation works for a mixed development with an amount in dispute of more than RM2 million.
-
Acted as adjudicator in CIPAA proceedings concerning certain upgrading works for a mixed development with an amount in dispute of more than RM8 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for an Independent Power Producer in arbitration proceedings under the KLRCA Rules in a dispute concerning a power purchase agreement with an amount in dispute of more than RM300 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for the main contractor in arbitration proceedings in a dispute concerning a Coal Fired Power Plant project in Malaysia with an amount in dispute of more than RM12 million.
-
Acted as lead counsel for insurers under a CAR Policy in defending a claim brought by gas pipeline contractors for damage caused to their Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) borehole due to floods.
- Acted for the subcontractor in a public enquiry before the Commission of Enquiry to investigate into the landslide incident that took place at a housing development site in Tanjung Bungah, Pulau Pinang. The landslide incident resulted in the fatality of 11 construction workers.
- Acted for the architect and superintending officer in a public enquiry before the Commission of Enquiry to assist in the investigation of the collapse of the Menara UMNO building at Pulau Pinang.
Qualifications:
- Advocate and Solicitor, High Court of Malaya (1992)
- Barrister-at-Law (Gray’s Inn) (1991)
- LL.B (Hons), University of Bristol
Professional Affiliations:
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Fellow of the Malaysian Society of Adjudicators
- Panel Arbitrator, Asian International Arbitration Centre
- Panel Arbitrator, International Chamber of Commerce
- Panel Adjudicator, Asian International Arbitration Centre
- Accredited Mediator, Malaysian Mediation Centre
- Panel Member, Disciplinary Committee, Legal Profession Disciplinary Board
- Former President, Malaysian Society of Adjudicators
- Former President, Society of Construction Law (Malaysia)
Authored the following books/chapters:
- Co-author, "Construction Adjudication in Malaysia Second Edition", Sweet & Maxwell
- Co-author, "Construction Adjudication in Malaysia", CCH Asia Pte Limited
- Co-author, "Country Handbook on Malaysia", Kluwer Law & Taxation Publishers
Delivered the following presentations:
- Speaker, “Tackling the Common Legal Construction Issues”, Construction Law Conference, organised by Legal Plus, 2018
- Speaker, the launch of the "SCL Delay and Disruption Protocol (Malaysian Supplement)", organised by the Society of Construction Law, 2017
- Speaker, on "Mediation, Society of Construction Law Conference, Brazil", 2016
- Speaker, "Legal Avenues in Securing Cashflow", Society of Construction Law Conference, Singapore, 2015
- Speaker, “Adjudication and construction delays”, Construction Law seminar, organised by Malaysian Current Law Journal, 2015
- Speaker, "Analysis of Judicial Decisions Relating to CIPAA", Adjudication Workshop, organised by the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration, 2015
- Chair of the Organising Committee, "International Construction Law Conference", organised by the Society of Construction Law (Malaysia), 2014
- Speaker, "International Arbitration Conference", organised by the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration Kuching, Sarawak, 2014
- Speaker, "2014 CIPAA Conference", organised by the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration, Kuala Lumpur, 2014
- Speaker, "Emerging Asian Arbitral Hubs", International Arbitration Conference, organised by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, 2013
- Panel member in a Mock Adjudication, at a Seminar organised by the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration, 2012
- Speaker, "International Construction Law Conference 2012", Melbourne, Australia, 2012
- Tutor, “The Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act 2012”, Adjudication Training Programme, organised by the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration, 2012
- Chair of a Panel Discussion, "Procurement and Conditions of Contract”, International Construction Law Conference 2010, Hong Kong
- Speaker, "Managing Construction Disputes: An overview from Injunctions to Arbitrations", Malaysian Law Conference 2010, organised by the Malaysian Bar Council, 2010
- Speaker, "Liquidated and Ascertained Damages in Construction Contracts", organised by the Chartered Institute of Builders
- Speaker, "Designer's Liability in Construction Industry", organised by the Society of Construction Law (KL & Selangor), Bar Council and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Malaysian Branch)
- Lecturer, "Principles of Construction Contracts", Construction Contracts Course for the Judicial and Legal Training Institute of the Prime Minister's Department, 2009
- Speaker, "Special Challenges facing Malaysian Companies operating in Developing Countries, and Malaysia as a Neutral Venue for Low Costs Arbitrations", KLRCA 301" Anniversary Conference, organised by the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration, 2008
- Speaker, "Challenges in Cross Border Arbitrations. Comity, Culture, Law", Regional Arbitration Conference, organised by the Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators
- Lecturer, "Principles of Construction Contracts", Construction Contracts Course for the Judicial &Legal Training Institute of the Prime Minister's Department, 2008
- Lecturer, "International Arbitral Awards", International Arbitration Course for the Judicial and Legal Training Institute of the Prime Minister's Department, 2007
- Speaker, "Preventing unnecessary disputes with effective contract drafting for trans-national projects”, at a Conference organised by International Quality & Productivity Centre on Contract Risk Management in Upstream Oil & Gas, 2006
- Speaker, "Malaysian Arbitration Act 2005 on International Commercial Arbitration", at a Lecture organised by Malaysian Corporate Counsel Association, 2005
- Listed as "Leading Individual" in Real Estate and Construction by Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020 – 2024.
- Ranked in Band 1 in Construction by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024.
- Ranked in Band 2 in Dispute Resolution: Construction by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2020 - 2023.
- Listed as a “Litigation Star” in Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2022 – 2023.
- “Distinguished Practitioner” in Construction – asialaw Leading Lawyers 2020 – 2023.
- Listed as a “Dispute Resolution Star” in Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2019 – 2021.
- Listed in Asia Business Law Journal 2020 - 2021 as one of “Malaysia Top 100 Lawyers – The A List”
- “Ivan always ensures all aspects of a case are comprehensively addressed. He has a strong analytical mind and demonstrates exceptional skill in applying legal principles to complex cases.” - Chambers Asia Pacific 2024.
- “Ivan Loo is an expert in construction law, he gives clear and precise legal advice and puts forward options that are practical and coherent.” - Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024.
- "He is knowledgeable in disputes related to construction and gives good advice." – Chambers Asia Pacific 2020.
- "very sharp and highly skilled" in construction matters." - Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019.
- Mentioned by Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018 in Real Estate and Construction practice.