Gobinath Karuppan
Gobinath Karuppan
Partner
Gobi was called to the Malaysian Bar in 2005 after graduating from the University of Malaya. Over the last 18 years, Gobi has been involved in numerous civil, commercial and construction disputes. He regularly appears both in the Malaysian courts and in arbitration.
Civil and commercial litigation
Gobi has regularly appeared as counsel and co-counsel at the High Court and the Appellate Courts. His expertise includes disputes between shareholders involving allegation of fraud and forgery, land disputes, wrongful conversion of shares and employment matters. Gobi’s practice area also includes banking, finance, insurance and judicial review proceedings.
Gobi was part of the team which represented a bank in KCSB Consortium Sdn Bhd v Malaysia Building Society Berhad [2017] 2 MLJ 557 wherein the team successfully argued that a charge which is registered as a 1st party as opposed to a 3rd party is valid and binding. Gobi was also part of the team which successfully argued that unconscionable conduct is one of the grounds to restrain payment of the monies guaranteed by a performance bond in Kejuruteraan Bintai Kindenko Sdn Bhd v Nam Fatt Construction Sdn Bhd [2011] 7 CLJ 442. Gobi was also involved in a dispute between the purchaser and a developer which involved allegations of illegality and want of consideration in Antara Vista Sdn Bhd v Rumaya Properties Sdn Bhd [2017] MLJU 1964.
Construction
Gobi has also developed a specialization in construction litigation & arbitration. He has been involved in numerous construction related disputes. His experience and expertise in relation to construction related disputes includes condominium projects, highways, development projects as well as certain infrastructure projects. He also has significant expertise and experience in court related construction disputes. He is particularly interested in construction insurance, given his background in handling both construction and insurance related disputes.
Gobi also has extensive experience in statutory adjudication. He regularly advises and acts for clients both in adjudications and court related proceedings whether to enforce an adjudication decision or applying to set aside an adjudication decision. He was part of the team which successfully argued that the Construction Industry Payment Adjudication Act 2012 applies prospectively in Jack-In Pile (M) Sdn Bhd v Bauer (M) Sdn Bhd and another appeal [2020] 1 MLJ 174.
