Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel obtained his LLB (Hons) - 2nd Upper Division, in Singapore in 1981. He was the top student in the 1st (1977 – 78) year and was awarded The Law Society Book Prize. He was then awarded the Australian National University Master’s Degree Scholarship pursuant to which he was conferred a Master of Laws degree by the Australian National University, Australia. His thesis formed the subject matter for his book “LEGAL ASPECTS OF SYNDICATED LOANS” published in 1986 by Butterworths of London as part of their Banking Law series. This book is still cited as authority on the subject matter both in England and Singapore. Peter has also contributed to the Finance and Banking section of Halsbury’s Laws of Singapore volume 12, which is published under the patronage of the Singapore Academy of Law.
Peter Gabriel was admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor to The Singapore Bar in 1982. He was admitted as a Solicitor, England and Wales (UK) in 2003. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators.
He has also taught commercial law in the Business Administration Faculty at the National University of Singapore and the Law Faculty at the Australian National University.
Peter Gabriel started his legal career at M/s Donaldson & Burkinshaw
followed by M/s Arthur Loke & Partners (then associated with M/s Baker
& McKenzie). He specialises in finance and banking (in particular structured
trade finance and loan syndications), and also practises corporate law,
including the handling of capital market instruments. He has undertaken
complex corporate litigation work in Singapore, Switzerland and the Bahamas.
Work previously carried out include structured trade finance, note issuance facilities, negotiable certificates of deposit, cross border lease finance, ship financing, mortgage loan financing, joint venture agreements, corporate restructures, share option schemes, liquidations, distributorship and licensing agreements, leasing and hire-purchase agreements, mergers and acquisitions, repossession of vessels and equipment. Peter has also undertaken a significant amount of regional work, particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia and China. Some of the major works done or currently being done by him include the financing of the acquisition of hotels, the setting up of the whole of a lottery system, the financing of the Promenade Building in Singapore, structured trade finance involving commodities and receivables. Peter also advises and regularly provides legal opinions to a major London City commercial law firm on finance and corporate matters.
Some recent work include a major International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration on a complex finance structure in Singapore, SIAC Arbitration, advising a financial institution on certain complex aspects of stamp duty, commodity financing deals in China, joint venture agreements, bilateral loans involving clients in Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore, trade finance litigation (letters of credit and trust receipts) and advising public accountants in relation to the operations of listed companies. Peter has successfully completed the acquisition of a public listed company in Singapore for a European conglomerate, which is now poised to enter into further mergers and acquisition in Asia. He has advised venture capital companies on regional mergers and acquisitions, having recently completed one such major acquisition. Current documentation work undertaken by the firm includes a multi-million dollar oil and natural gas structured financing in the region.
Peter has been extensively involved in litigation and arbitration work at the highest corporate level. The claims involved banking institutions or large corporate bodies as clients. The litigation is specialised in that the matters required a thorough knowledge of banking and documentation, trade financing, shipping, corporate and commercial laws. Peter has also conducted many trials in the Singapore High Court, most of which involve financial institutions.
Peter was appointed as Regional Arbitrator by Singapore International Arbitration Centre in May 2003. Peter was involved as one of three arbitrators in a major dispute between European and Indonesian parties. He wrote the final award. He has sat as a sole arbitrator under SIAC rules in respect of 2 major international arbitrations and is also having another.
Recent Court work includes acting for client against a local financial institution in a trade finance matter. In this case Peter succeeded in defeating the local institution’s appeal against amendments to pleadings. Also Peter succeeded in obtaining an injunction against the said financial institution based on contempt of Court. Further, the summary judgment obtained by the financial institution was set aside subject to condition. Peter has also completed a 1 week trial before V K Rajah J on issues of Moneylending and Bills of Exchange. Several of these cases have been reported in the law reports.
Now the former Government of Yugoslavia is instructing the firm in a major
international dispute involving more then 50 million pounds