KHOO GUAN HUAT

PRINCIPAL

khooguanhuat@khoochambers.com

+603 2011 1796

Guan Huat read law at the University of Malaya and began his legal career with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Malaysia, in 1987. As a pioneer member of its Arbitration Unit, he contributed to its establishment in 1990 before transitioning to private practice in 1993, focusing on litigation and arbitration matters.

He is frequently engaged as senior counsel in civil and commercial disputes, including those involving intellectual property rights. His portfolio includes having acted at appellate level in 2021 as counsel for the Customs and Tax Administration of the Kingdom of Denmark, as well as the State Governments of Johor and Kelantan, in various litigation proceedings. In 2008, he represented the former Chief Justice, Tun Mohd Dzaiddin, in inquiry hearings conducted by a Royal Commission set up by the Malaysian Government.

Guan Huat sits as an arbitrator and also appears as counsel 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 the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). He was a member of the Malaysian delegation to the UNCITRAL Arbitration Working Group, whose efforts culminated in the publication of the revised UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules in 2010.

Designated by the Malaysian Government, Guan Huat currently serves on the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes’ (ICSID) Panels of Arbitrators and Conciliators (2021–2027). He has also appeared as an expert witness on Malaysian law in arbitration and litigation proceedings in the United States, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

He advises on regulatory and compliance matters, including financial services, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, product liability, and competition law.

Beyond practice, he is an adjunct Senior Lecturer at the Asia School of Business (in collaboration with MIT Sloan Management), where he regularly speaks on corporate liability and corporate governance matters.

    • Ongoing dispute between PETRONAS and PETROS, and between PETRONAS and Shell MDS, before the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

    • The Federal Court examined the issue of whether the Torrens System in Malaysia excludes any doctrine of constructive notice and whether subsequent purchasers and financial institutions have a duty to examine prior transactions or unregistered interests. Malayan Banking Berhad v Mohd Affandi bin Ahmad and Aminah binti Ahmad [2024] 1 MLJ 1.

    • Landmark decision by the Federal Court addressing locus standi in judicial review applications and whether administrative bodies have a duty to provide adequate reasons in their decisions. Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur v Perbadanan Pengurusan Trellises & Ors and Other Appeals [2023] 5 CLJ 167.

    • The Court of Appeal considered whether a forfeiture order could be made against property held by an individual who proved they were a good faith purchaser for valuable consideration. Badan Perhubungan Umno Negeri Pahang v Public Prosecutor and other appeals [2022] 2 MLJ 572.

    • The Court of Appeal determined the functional management deadlock and breakdown of trust between the two shareholders constituted sufficient grounds to order the company’s winding up. Cheah Chee Fong v Yah Kem Chui & Anor [2022] 6 MLJ 674.

    • The Federal Court addressed the extent of the listing regulator's powers to discharge its duties, as well as the duties of a liquidator in control of a listed corporation. Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd v Mohd Afrizan bin Husain [2022] 3 MLJ 450.

    • In this trademark dispute, the Federal Court considered whether honest concurrent use is a relevant factor in an infringement or passing off action when the alleged infringer does not hold a registered mark. Additionally, the Court considered whether a plaintiff must seek variation of a registered mark before initiating such an action.  Munchy Food Industries Sdn Bhd v Huasin Food Industries Sdn Bhd [2022] 1 MLJ 377.

  • Anti-trust / Competition Law

    • Chubb Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd & Ors v Competition Commission [2021] MLJU 472

    Arbitration

    • Government of India v Petrocon [2016] 3 MLJ 435

    • Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia v WJ Construction Sdn Bhd [2013] 8 CLJ 655

    • Bintulu Development Authority v Pilecon Engineering Bhd [2007] 2 MLJ 610; [2007] 2 AMR 593; [2007] 2 CLJ 422

    • Safege Consulting Engineers v Ranhill Bersekutu SdnBhd [2005] 1 MLJ 689; [2005] 1 AMR 247; [2004] 4 CLJ 699

    Banking

    • Perwira Affin Bank Bhd v Lim Weow [1998] 3 MLJ 56

    Constitutional Law

    • Federal Government of Malaysia v State Government of Kelantan (Civil Appeal No. D-01(IM)(NCvC)-471-09/2021)

    Contempt

    • Tiger Powerhitz Sdn Bhd v Guinness Anchor Marketing Sdn Bhd [2003] 1 MLJ 314; [2003] 1 AMR 267; [2003] 5 CLJ 78

    Contracts

    • Dhaya Maju LTAT Sdn Bhd v Kerajaan Malaysia & Ors [2021] MLJU 1253

    Copyright / Industrial Design

    • N2N Connect Berhad & Ors v Chua Tiong Hoong & Ors [2023] 1 LNS 570

    • Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (also known as ‘Honda Motor Co Ltd’) v MForce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd & Anor [2021] 6 MLJ 594

    • DNC Asiatic Holdings Sdn Bhd & Ors v Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha and other appeals [2019] MLJU 2170

    • F & N Dairies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd v Tropicana Products, Inc [2013] MLJU 1591

    Courts and Court Procedure

    • Yong Tshu Khin & Anor v Dahan Cipta Sdn Bhd & Anor and Other Applications [2021] 1 CLJ 631

    • Ho Kok Thin & Ors v The Sheriff/Registrar Of The High Court Borneo & Anor [1989] 3 MLJ 181

    Directors’ Duties, Companies Act 2018

    • Pioneer Haven Sdn Bhd v Ho Hup Construction Co Bhd [2012] 3 MLJ 616; [2012] MLJU 167; [2012] 5 CLJ 169; [2013] 3 AMR 297

    • Lembaga Pelabuhan Kelang v Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd and Another Appeal [2011] 2 MLJ 606; [2005] MLJU 561

    • Perwira Affin Bank Bhd v Lim Weow [1998] 3 MLJ 56

    Franchise

    • LA KAFFA International Co Ltd v Loob Holdings Sdn Bhd and another [2018] 7 MLJ 305

    Insurance

    • Prudential Assurance Malaysia Bhd v Ombudsman Perkhidmatan Kewangan & Anor [2022] MLJU 2366

    • Multi-Purpose Insurance Bhd v Sime Darby Auto Bavaria Sdn Bhd & Satu Lagi [2014] 1 LNS(O) 8 [CA]

    Judicial Review, Public and Administrative Law

    • Islamic Renaissance Front Bhd v The Minister of Home Affairs [2020] 5 MLJ 399

    • Pendaftar Pertubuhan v Datuk Justin Jinggut [2013] 3 MLJ 16; [2013] MLJU 138; [2013] 2 AMR 310; [2013] 2 CLJ 362; [2013] 2 MLRA 611

    Land Law and National Land Code

    • Malayan Banking Berhad v Mohd Affandi bin Ahmad and Aminah binti Ahmad [2024] 1 MLJ 1

    • Maple Amalgamated Sdn Bhd & Anor v Bank Pertanian Malaysia Bhd [2021] 6 MLJ 348

    Land Acquisition

    • Pentadbir Tanah Daerah Johor v Nusantara Daya SdnBhd [2021] 7 CLJ 1

    • Teguh Kemajuan Sdn Bhd v Pentadbir Tanah Daerah Kota Tinggi & Anor and Other Appeals [2020] MLJU 2015; [2021] 3 MLJ 141

    • Kelana Megah Development Sdn Bhd v Pentadbir Tanah Daerah, Kota Tinggi dan satu lagi [2019] 1 MLJ 723

    • Kelana Megah Development Sdn Bhd v Kerajaan Negeri Johor and Another Appeal [2016] MLJU 1649

    • Petroliam Nasional Bhd v Pentadbir Tanah Daerah Kota Tinggi & Ors [2016] 3 CLJ 773

    Legal Profession

    • Malaysia Offshore Mobile Production (Labuan) Ltd v PCPP Operating Company Sdn Bhd & Ors [2022] 8 MLJ 130

    Patents

    • Nokia Technologies OY v Vtalent Business Sdn Bhd & Anor [2023] MLJU 745

    • Pan Asiatic Technologies Sdn Bhd & Anor v Nuctech Company Limited & Anor And Another Appeal [2023] 8 CLJ 36

    • Billion Prima Sdn Bhd & Anor v Nutech Co Ltd & Anor [2017] 10 MLJ 213

    • Nuctech Co Ltd v Pan Asiatic Technologies Sdn Bhd & Ors (Powerscan Co Ltd, third party) and another suit [2016] 11 MLJ 474

    • iRadar Sdn Bhd v Nuctech Company Limited & Anor [2016] MLJU 1248

    • Winthrop Pharmaceuticals (Malaysia) v Astrazeneca UK Limited [2015] MLJU 2014

    • Cadware Sdn Bhd v Ronic Corp [2013] 6 MLJ 19; [2013] MLJU 729; [2013] 1 LNS 484

    Securities

    • Purwadi v MBF Northern Securities Sdn Bhd [2019] MLJU 96

    Torts

    • KHK Advertising Sdn Bhd v Siera Management Sdn Bhd [2018] MLJU 322

    White Collar Crime

    • Badan Perhubungan Umno Negeri Pahang v Public Prosecutor and Other Appeals [2021] MLJU 2608

  • Member (designated by the Government of Malaysia), Panels of Arbitrators and Conciliators, International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) (2021-2027)

  • Listed arbitrator on the panel of arbitrators

  • Asian International Arbitration Centre

  • Thai Arbitration Institute

  • Thai Arbitration Centre

  • Panellist, Domain Name Dispute Resolution,

  • Asian Domain Name Dispute Resolution Centre

  • Asian International Arbitration Centre

  • Member, Compensation Committee (2009–2010), Listing Committee (2010–2011), and Market Participants Committee (2011–2020), Bursa Malaysia

  • Adjunct Senior Lecturer, The ICLIF Executive Education Centre (part of the Asia School of Business, in collaboration with MIT Sloan Management)

  • Member, Board of Studies, Faculty of Law, University of Malaya (2015–present)

  • Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Malaya, Certificate in Legal Practice course (1990–2004)

  • Lecturer, Law of International Trade, LLM Programme, University of Malaya (1990)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS