Members Of Optimus

LL.B. (Hons) (Singapore)
Barrister-at-law (Middle Temple)
Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore

Irving Choh is the founder and Managing Director of Optimus Chambers LLC, and has had an illustrious career spanning over two decades with well-known large local firms.

Irving graduated from the University of Buckingham, U.K., in 1991. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1992, and to the Singapore Bar in 1994.

At Optimus, Irving’s practice spans many areas of law, ranging from civil litigation, matrimonial practice, to criminal work. Indeed, Irving is a well-known figure in the Family Justice Court, having conducted numerous divorce cases for high net-worth clients. Many of Irving’s cases have been reported in the Singapore Law Reports. Apart from family work, Irving also represents industry players in commercial and construction cases.

Although predominantly a litigator, Irving has expanded his practice to include corporate and conveyancing matters. He has built a team of diligent and capable lawyers and support staff in these areas of practice.

Irving is also an accredited associate mediator specialising in family matters with the Singapore Mediation Centre. He has also co-authored a chapter in the book “Injunctions and the Law of Singapore” on injunctive relief in Family Law.

Outside of legal practice, Irving sits as the lead independent director in A-Sonic Aerospace Ltd, and as an independent director in Goodland Group Ltd. Both companies are listed on the SGX Main Board. Irving’s passion also lies in toy collecting. He hopes to open a toy museum in the near future.

LL.B. (Hons) (University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom)
Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore​

Peter graduated from the University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdo in 1975 and was admitted to the English Bar in 1977. He worked with the then-Midland Bank Trust Company as a Trust Officer until 1981. He returned to Singapore in 1982 and started his legal career after he was admitted to the Singapore Bar in 1983.

His main areas of practice over the last 30 years include general civil litigation, corporate and commercial law, employment, tenancy law, real estate and conveyancing law, probate, and other general corporate advisory work.

Over the past 20 years, Peter has acted in residential development projects as well as the sales and acquisition of residential, commercial and industrial properties. Peter has also represented most of the local banks (including, amongst others, CIMB) and finance companies in numerous property financing transactions.

Most of his clients comprise of small and medium local and foreign enterprises, foreign multi-national companies (most of which are from Japan or Europe), local listed companies, local corporate financial institutions and individuals.

Peter has also acted as an independent director for three public listed companies between 1997 and 2008.

He is currently a member of the Singapore Institute of Directors as well as the Singapore Trustees Association. He was one of the Honourary Legal Advisors to the Ren Ci Hospital from 1993 to 2005, and to the Singapore Buddhist Federation from 1993 to 2000.

LL.B. (Hons) (King’s College, London)
Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore

Stephanie is the Director specializing in matrimonial law practice at Optimus. She read law in King’s College London, and was subsequently called to the Singapore Bar in 2005.

She has represented clients in a broad spectrum of matrimonial matters, including divorces involving foreign and cross-border marriages and parties. She has also handled a range of local matrimonial law cases involving complex legal arguments relating to the division of matrimonial assets of high net worth individuals.

Stephanie also has particular expertise in matters concerning children on issues of custody, care and control, as well as relocation and parental alienation.

Apart from her experience in litigation and heavily contested matters, Stephanie also has much experience in facilitating amicable agreements between parties relating to financial disputes and children’s issues and drafting Settlement Deeds and Deeds of Arrangement.

Some of the notable legal cases Stephanie has been involved in include:-​

• Teh Kah Weng David v Chow Lai Meng Nina [2015] 3 SLR 469
• Tan Cheng Guan v Tan Hwee Lee [2011] 4 SLR 1148
• WX v WW [2009] 3 SLR(R) 573; [2009] SGHC 70
• Chua Siew Siew v Liang See Hing – [2014] SGHC 216
• ABW v ABV [2014] 2 SLR 769; [2014] SGHC 29
• TBC v TBD [2015] SGFC 27
• TDU v TDV [2015] SGFC 79
• Andy Eirwan Bin Ismail v Bartropp Nicola Jane [2015] SGFC 87
• TDU v TDV [2015] SGFC 101
• TEU v TEV [2015] SGFC 115
• TEA v TEB [2015] SGFC 105
• TGZ v THA [2015] SGFC 130
• THV v THW [2015] SGFC 144
• BHH v BHI [2013] SGDC 94
• BHT v BHU [2013] SGDC 121
• BJO v BJP [2013] SGDC 150
• Poh Wee Tin v Tan Teck Leong [2013] SGDC 345
• BBL v BBM [2012] SGDC 209
• BBZ v BCA [2012] SGDC 233
• AMG v AMH [2010] SGDC 412
• AKL v AKM [2010] SGDC 300
• Gangesh Kumar Chawla v Prerna Dave [2010] SGDC 501
• YY v YX [2010] SGDC 135
• Loh Yian Wei (Luo Yanwei) (m w) v Chua Hwee Peng (Cai Huiping) [2009] SGDC 475
• ET v ES [2007] SGDC 319

Outside law, Stephanie’s passion lies in music and dance. She holds an ABRSM diploma in piano as well as a diploma in ballet with the Royal Academy of Dance. She had hoped to instill some of her interest in her two children, but to no avail. Every year since 2005, her new-year resolution is to learn to bake, and she hopes to achieve this goal sometime in the not-too-far future.

LL.B. (Hons) (University of Manchester)
Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore

Bee Li is a Director in Optimus Chambers LLC.

She graduated from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, and was admitted to the Singapore Bar in 2008.

Bee Li has been in private practice since being admitted to the Singapore Bar. She started her career as a general litigation lawyer, dabbling in matrimonial law, probate, criminal law and civil litigation.

Her experience includes handling contractors’ claims, libel claims, employment disputes, insolvency matters, contentious probate matters, contractual disputes, shareholders disputes, disputes under the Companies Act and construction litigation, including proceedings under the Building & Construction Industry Security For Payment Act.

Other than her litigation work, Bee Li had also represented various parties in both local and international arbitration across a wide spectrum of matters which involve construction related disputes, cross-border investment projects and oil and gas agreements.

Bee Li also handles the corporate work for the firm with Irving (aka “Optimus Prime”) and the recent deals which she has advised on includes advisory work for a medical facility in Bangkok, Thailand and a hospitality infrastructure in Penang, Malaysia.

Melissa is an Associate Director with Optimus. She graduated from the Singapore Management University in 2013, and was admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 2014.

Melissa has been involved in a range of civil and criminal cases, and has represented clients in various high-value matters, including employment, shareholder, construction and banking disputes.

Some notable cases that Melissa has assisted in include the following:

Civil/Commercial Disputes

• SRS Commerce Ltd and another v Yuji Imabeppu and others [2015] 1 SLR 1
• Ishak bin Abdul Kadir v Khoo Hui Ying [2015] SGHC 181
• Turf Club Auto Emporium Pte Ltd and others v Yeo Boong Hua and others and another appeal and other matters [2017] SGCA 21
• CAA Technologies Pte Ltd v Newcon Builders Pte Ltd [2017] SGCA 53
• Tan Wei Leong v Tan Lee Chin and others [2020] SGHC 124

Criminal Matters:

• Public Prosecutor v Project Lifestyle Pte Ltd [2015] SGHC 251
• Sim Yeow Kee v Public Prosecutor and another appeal [2016] SGHC 209
• Melissa is a devout Roman Catholic, and believes in the integration of her faith in all aspects of her life, including her legal practice.

Practice areas:
Civil and Commercial Litigation
Criminal Litigation
Corporate and Personal Insolvency

Zhen Yang trained at Optimus Chambers LLC from January to June 2019 and joined as an Associate after gaining admission as an Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore in August 2019. He has represented parties in the State Courts and the Supreme Court for a large number of civil and criminal matters covering many areas of law.

Apart from giving legal advice, Zhen Yang is also a fast food connoisseur and can also advise you on anything related to fast food, from the best burgers to be had to the appropriate soda pairings for every meal.

Recent Notable Reported Judgments:-

1. Tan Wei Leong (Chen Weilong) v Tan Lee Chin and others [2020] SGHC 124
2. RJC Resource Pte Ltd and another v Koh Lee Hoo [2018] SGHC 278
3. Turf Club Auto Emporium Pte Ltd & others v Yeo Boong Hua & others [2017] SGCA 31
4. CAA Technologies Pte Ltd v Newcon Builders Pte Ltd [2017] SGCA 53
5. TNL v TNK [2017] SGCCA 15
6. Sim Yeow Kee and another v Public Prosecutor [2016] SGHC 209
7. Public Prosecutor v Yang Yin [2016] SGDC 279

(Kent Chen LL.B (Singapore Management University), Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore)

Kent is an Associate with Optimus. He graduated from the Singapore Management University in 2018, and was admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 2019. Following his admission, Kent decided to gain a deeper understanding of the commercial law by pursuing a Master of Laws (LLM) programme at Duke University School of Law in the US. He returned to Singapore in June 2020. Kent has since been involved in a range of civil and criminal cases, and has represented clients in various high-value matters including construction, corporate and shareholder disputes.

Outside of practice, Kent is a huge history buff. He enjoys reading a wide range of historical novels and dissertations. Further, he is also a huge James Bond enthusiast who has managed to finish watching all the James Bond movies since Dr.No, which came out in 1962.