Siew Suet Mei

Suet Mey is a dispute resolution lawyer with a primary focus in construction and engineering related disputes.  Her work experience includes regularly advising and representing clients in a variety of construction and engineering projects at various stages, from the administration of contracts to dispute avoidance and resolution.  Suet Mey’s portfolio also includes general civil litigation matters and she has been involved in, amongst others, disputes relating to the management of stratified buildings, late delivery of vacant possession and winding up proceedings.

Suet Mey graduated from the University of East Anglia with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) in 2011 and thereafter pursued a Master of Laws (LL.M) in International Commercial Law in Cardiff University, before being called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. In 2014, Suet Mey was admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya.

Construction Litigation, Arbitration and Adjudication

Suet Mey’s experience in construction litigation includes being part of the team which represented a Malaysian airport operator in defending a civil suit filed against it by the main contractor in relation to upgrading works at the Penang International Airport with an amount in dispute in excess of RM 60 million and a public listed company in a succession of civil suits filed against it relating to the construction of a building known as Crest Jalan Sultan Ismail in Kuala Lumpur.

Suet Mey represented a Malaysian social security institution in an AIAC arbitration involving disputes relating to defective tiling works on the outer walls of two connected towers located in Penang. She has assisted in arbitration proceedings governed by the Arbitration Rules of Badan Arbitrase Nasional Indonesia (BANI) involving claims relating to the design, build and commissioning of a large-volume parenterals production plant in West Java, Indonesia and an AIAC arbitration relating to the construction of a gas fired power plant in Sabah with an amount in dispute of approximately RM 250 million. She has also been involved in applications to stay court proceedings pending arbitration and applications to enforce arbitral awards.

Suet Mey has also been involved in the conduct of adjudication proceedings under CIPAA, which includes representing a scaffolding company involving claims for rental of scaffolding equipment as well as representing a subsidiary of a Chinese developer in the conduct of an application to set aside an adjudication decision.

Advisory

Suet Mey has advised clients from various industries which includes, amongst others, an airport operator, oil and gas companies, broadcast system providers and banking institutions in relation to construction and engineering related issues.

She has advised clients on issues such as the possible risks and exposure arising from delays in achieving first gas pursuant to a gas supply agreement, issues arising from the design, supply and commissioning of a broadcast system pursuant to a FIDIC standard form contract, overpayment for omissions and issues relating to final accounts in relation to renovation and fit-out works pursuant to a PAM standard form contract and a potential action for misrepresentation in connection with the development and construction of condominiums and houses in Batu Ferringhi, Penang.

Civil Litigation

Suet Mey’s portfolio also includes general civil litigation matters. She has represented clients as counsel in civil suits relating to claims for liquidated damages for late delivery of vacant possession pursuant to HDA sale and purchase agreements, as well as claims for outstanding sums relating to the supply and delivery of ready mixed concrete for a mixed development.

She has also been involved in strata management disputes such as representing a developer in a civil suit filed against it by a joint management body involving claims for maintenance charges, sinking fund contribution and disputes relating to common property. Suet Mey has also been involved in the conduct of competing applications for the appointment of a private liquidator to manage the dissolution of a wound up company at the High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court.

Publications

• Halsbury’s Laws of Malaysia (Building and Construction) (2021 Reissue), Contributing editor
• Malaysian Court Practice Trial Courts (2020 Edition), Contributing editor
• Partnership Act 1961, Annotated Statutes of Malaysia (2020 Reissue), Contributing editor
• “Can Purchasers Collate Claims when Suing for Liquidated Damages for Late Delivery of Vacant Possession?”, Empower Newsletter, Author
• “Remote Hearings in the Time of Covid-19”, Legal Insights, Co-author
• “Federal Court Restates the Law on Deposits and Damages Clauses”, Legal Insights, Co-author
• “Does One Size (Or Rate) Fit All?”, Legal Insights, Author
• “Malaysia’s Landmark Judgment: Government of India v Petrocon India Limited”, CIArb Malaysia website, Author