Two Singapore lawyers receive global awards

Cavinder Bull wins for commercial litigation; Blossom Hing, restructuring and insolvency

- Selina Lum

When Senior Counsel Cavinder Bull was a year old, his father died. His mother, a primary school teacher, had to raise three young children on her own.

Her doggedness in working hard to provide for the family, despite having to be very frugal, had a lasting impression on him.

On Nov 7, Mr Bull, the chief executive officer of Drew & Napier, and the firm's director, Ms Blossom Hing, both Singaporeans, received accolades at the worldwide Lexology Index awards. It was held at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London.

Once described by an international legal ranking guide as a litigator who was doggedly determined in fighting for his clients, Mr Bull believes he learnt that from his mother.

Mr Bull, 56, who won the global award for commercial litigation lawyer of the year, told The Sunday Times: "You can't succeed as a litigator without grit and determination. I think that's where I got it from."

The recognition came on the back of successes in cases such as the claim for more than US$1 billion (S$1.34 billion) brought by former Georgian prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili against a unit of international bank Credit Suisse.

Mr Bull also represented the liquidators of collapsed oil trading firm Hin Leong in getting a judgment for US$3.5 billion against former oil tycoon Lim Oon Kuin, 82, and his two children.

Ms Hing, 51, was named restructuring and insolvency lawyer of the year.

She is currently advising on a confidential US$2 billion case involving cross-border corporate restructuring.