Leaders List interview: 60 seconds with Kai Yun Wong, Chia Wong Chambers
This week’s 60-second piece is dedicated to Kai Yun Wong, Chia Wong Chambers.
Read moreKai Yun Wong
Co-Managing Director, Chia Wong Chambers
Location: Singapore,
Singapore,
Expertise: Contentious Trusts, Estate Planning, Family and Matrimonial,
Latest Article
Leaders List interview: 60 seconds with Kai Yun Wong, Chia Wong Chambers
This week’s 60-second piece is dedicated to Kai Yun Wong, Chia Wong Chambers.
Read moreLatest Review
Private Client review:
Divorce can be a very long and tedious process. Ms Wong is a very professional and smart lawyer, and often goes the extra mile in assisting me in every way that she can. What struck me was how she spent her precious time to teach me how to handle some things on my own to prepare for a day when I no longer needed lawyers. I did not understand her intentions at the start but I eventually learnt that she was trying to train me to become stronger to deal with my difficult ex-husband as I was physically, mentally, and emotionally abused by him which led me to fear facing or communicating with him. I really appreciate all the valuable advice and insights which she shared with me. She is more than just a lawyer, she has so much more to offer to anyone who engages her. She does not do it just for money, I can really feel that everything which comes from her is from within her heart. I highly recommend her to anyone who needs a lawyer for his/her legal case.
Sharon Tan - n.a
21 Feb 2023
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Reviews
Private Client review:
Divorce can be a very long and tedious process. Ms Wong is a very professional and smart lawyer, and often goes the extra mile in assisting me in every way that she can. What struck me was how she spent her precious time to teach me how to handle some things on my own to prepare for a day when I no longer needed lawyers. I did not understand her intentions at the start but I eventually learnt that she was trying to train me to become stronger to deal with my difficult ex-husband as I was physically, mentally, and emotionally abused by him which led me to fear facing or communicating with him. I really appreciate all the valuable advice and insights which she shared with me. She is more than just a lawyer, she has so much more to offer to anyone who engages her. She does not do it just for money, I can really feel that everything which comes from her is from within her heart. I highly recommend her to anyone who needs a lawyer for his/her legal case.
Sharon Tan - n.a
21 Feb 2023
Private Client review:
I shall never forget my first impressions of Kai Yun during what was without doubt the toughest period in my life: she listened for almost two hours, asked insightful questions and very quickly I knew that she cared about the case. Her intricate knowledge of the family law (not just in Singapore but internationally) is really impressive. She is confident, thoughtful, sharp, pragmatic with a wonderful sense of humour and an innate desire to help her clients. The more challenging the case, the more Kai Yun excels. While working with her, I often wondered how she and her team dealt so calmly with demanding deadlines and the never-ending twists and turns of my rather complicated and long case, across jurisdictions, multiple interlocutory applications, and everything being appealed by the other side to the highest appellate court. But no matter the time of the day, or the hours left until submission deadlines, Kai Yun never compromised on the superb quality of her work. Besides her superior professional standing, she always took the time to develop her team. I think another of Kai Yun's secrets is her ability to think strategically and to never lose focus of the end goal; this often helped me during some difficult moments.
It is no exaggeration to say that my son and I owe Kai Yun more than we shall ever be able to say. I could not recommend her highly enough.
It is no exaggeration to say that my son and I owe Kai Yun more than we shall ever be able to say. I could not recommend her highly enough.
Anita Nemes - n.a
21 Feb 2023
Private Client review:
In the midst of a difficult separation and urgently seeking to relocate with my children, Kai Yun was recommended to me by my therapist who knew her to be someone who really understood the type of narcissist I was up against. Kai Yun had the experience and the track record to prove her worth as an excellent family lawyer, but her understanding of people is what made her really stand out for me. She helped me see through some of the power games being played and ensured I stayed focused on our end result. Her understanding of the law was second to none and her recall of all the nuances of our case remarkable. Despite the circumstances, she was always a pleasure to work with and often gave me good counsel and wisdom beyond mere legal advice. She put my children's wellbeing first and foremost and acted with dignity in all proceedings from the Family Court, to the High Court and Court of Appeal. Together we approached the case with heads held high, keeping the children's needs central, and steered a steady course. I am grateful to now be back home with my children and ever thankful to Kai Yun and her wonderful team for all their hard work and dedication.
Eleanor Doyle - n.a.
21 Feb 2023
Private Client review:
From the first meeting, I knew that Ms Wong was warm, caring, and sharp. I was a broken wreck then, in deep fear and misery, like a deer caught on the tracks of an oncoming train. It is always refreshing and lifting to speak to her, she taught me how to reframe my perspectives, gave me fresh and wise outlook at the situation at hand and encouraged me to be a better mum, have faith and stand up for my child and myself. What an incredible journey Ms Wong had gone through with me, in this healing journey. I am very touched by her steadfastness and kind counsel!
Clara Lee - n.a.
21 Feb 2023
Private Client review:
I was skeptical anyone could really help me with my case. I rethought my doubts after my initial phone conversation with Kai Yun. She listened and acknowledged my concerns and responded in a grounded, practical, and confident manner. She impressed me to be of balanced, capable, and trustworthy character. Kai Yun proved to me to be not only an expert in international family law, but highly resourceful with her strategic planning, quick thinking, and useful global assets. Kai Yun's results supported her action-orientated approach, and I became to fully trust her direction. I greatly appreciated how she represented herself as a confident attorney but never an arrogant one. Kai Yun was considerate and careful not to overlook my sensitivity as a client, and thoroughly explained her actions and thought processes in detail. I was repeatedly impressed with how she grasped the complexity of the case and the different possible shifts that existed. She was prepared to pivot whenever necessary and ready for all possible outcomes. My case was a particularly unique one that, in some respects, involved a number of different countries and legal systems. At no time, even with the odds seemingly stacked against me, did the the moment ever appeared to be too large for Kai Yun. I believe she got me the best possible result I could have hoped for. In addition, her surrounding staff upheld the standards she set with her leadership. I am grateful that I found her for representation.
Kamau Ferdinand - Silverback Society
21 Oct 2019
Private Client review:
Kai Yun is God-sent legal counsel to me. My divorce case started in 2010 and relocation case started in 2014 in Australia's Court and it is not until I met Kai Yun in 2017 that my life finally is in order. An excellent communicator, Kai Yun's quick grasp of the complexity of my case and her technical knowledge including international family law, are very impressive. And yet she is very compassionate and genuinely has my children's best interests. She is able to successfully turn around my child maintenance case, from being the payer of child maintenance to my ex husband in Australia, to become the recipient of child maintenance from him. She is also successfully representing me for access order review in Singapore Court. Kai Yun and her team are capable of taking care of every detail of my case so that I can concentrate on my job and able to secure higher position and better salary in Singapore, as I do not have to worry about access and children maintenance anymore. I have engaged a total of 4 lawyers (both in Australia and Singapore) before her and in comparison, Kai Yun is outstanding - Truly the best family lawyer in the world!
Imelda Widada - Speedy-Tech Electronics Ltd
02 Oct 2019
Private Client review:
Since my first discussions with Ms. Wong Kai Yun over my personal case (which has lasted 4 years) I have been deeply impressed by her ability to listen intently, rapidly grasp the situation and provide the best advice. Kai Yun has a unique ability to instantly recall the finer details of my complex case and consequently discussions are always highly efficient, productive and due to her positive, energetic personality, thoroughly pleasant. I have complete confidence in Kai Yun and in the past I recommended her to a friend for whom she provided exemplary service. In the future I will strongly recommend her services to others.
James Dobson - NA
12 Jun 2019
Private Client review:
I was deliberating between two law firms and am extremely glad to have gone to Kai Yun despite having committed to and paid for consultation with the other firm. Kai Yun analysed the case keenly from different strategic perspectives while taking care to accommodate the numerous constraints. She was clearly focused on resolving the case in my best interests rather than clocking superfluous legal hours. I am deeply appreciative of Kai Yun's comprehensive analysis and highly professional treatment which brought the case to a satisfactory close. Kai Yun is an astute lawyer whom I trust and will not hesitate to recommend.
Connie Soon - na
07 Jun 2019
Private Client review:
Ms Wong Kai Yun gives her profession a good name. A great counsel, a reassuring presence, and a steady hand to guide me through a most difficult and traumatic period in my life. My first impression from meeting her was a strong assurance and confidence that 'everything will be perfectly alright once Ms Wong acts for me?. Indeed, I appreciate Ms Wong's intelligence, expertise and professionalism in her handling of my case, balanced with her kindness and thoughtfulness, that enabled me to remain focused and emotionally in control throughout the proceedings. Ms Wong and her team are always helpful, prompt and precise in their communications with me. Ms Wong and Chia Wong LLP come with my high recommendation.
Renee Lee - na
07 Jun 2019
Private Client review:
Ms Kai Yun Wong was recommended to me when I was looking for a new lawyer, not being happy with the one I had initially chosen and who I felt was not representing my interests in the best possible way. Right from our first meeting, I knew Ms Wong was different and exactly the one I had been looking for. She is sharp, direct and very focused, yet very empathetic and sensitive. Her very thorough advice has been invaluable. Her team as well has always been very professional and helpful. I have recommended Ms Wong to several friends and will continue to do so with no reserve. She is someone I deeply trust and highly recommend.
Veronique Cornu - '
04 Jun 2019
Private Client review:
I first met Ms.Wong in 2015 when my ex-wife unexpectedly filed for divorce. I had met with other lawyers in Singapore for a consultation, but Ms.Wong immediately stood out from the rest. She was deeply knowledgeable about all aspects of my case and local divorce law in Singapore, as well as being frank and honest about the scenarios and likely outcomes of my case.
Despite the pessimistic start, we then went on a 4-year journey where in every aspect of my relationship with her and her team, the advice she provided was clear, concise, helpful and, for me personally, highly stimulating in the way Ms.Wong approached the issues we had to deal with. She was supportive throughout, and flexible in her approach to meet the various challenges that arose.
What really stood out for me was her strategic thinking, and the manner in which she guided my case through 5 rounds of affidavits, 3 rounds of additional submissions, before the Final Order in 2018 where I was awarded a settlement that was of multiple magnitude higher than we expected at the beginning, 4 years earlier, and which has set a new standard for settlement within Singapore law. A consequent appeal by my ex-wife then took a further 12-months of legal discourse, including additional new evidence, but the Final Order remained in place.
I cannot recommend Ms.Wong highly enough. Although I hope not to use her services again, if the need arose, I would re-engage her and her team without second thought.
Despite the pessimistic start, we then went on a 4-year journey where in every aspect of my relationship with her and her team, the advice she provided was clear, concise, helpful and, for me personally, highly stimulating in the way Ms.Wong approached the issues we had to deal with. She was supportive throughout, and flexible in her approach to meet the various challenges that arose.
What really stood out for me was her strategic thinking, and the manner in which she guided my case through 5 rounds of affidavits, 3 rounds of additional submissions, before the Final Order in 2018 where I was awarded a settlement that was of multiple magnitude higher than we expected at the beginning, 4 years earlier, and which has set a new standard for settlement within Singapore law. A consequent appeal by my ex-wife then took a further 12-months of legal discourse, including additional new evidence, but the Final Order remained in place.
I cannot recommend Ms.Wong highly enough. Although I hope not to use her services again, if the need arose, I would re-engage her and her team without second thought.
Jonathan Halse - Excitant Strategy Consulting Limited
23 Apr 2019
Case Studies
1. Acted for the husband in acrimonious matrimonial proceedings where the parties were locked in litigation for more than 4 years. Successfully represented the husband in a divorce ancillaries matter and obtaining 50% of the matrimonial asset pool worth millions. 2. Acted for the wife in her Relocation application. Successfully represented the wife to relocation from the jurisdiction of Singapore permanently with the child of marriage, and to settle on a permanent basis in Texas, United States of America. 3. Acted for the wife in the divorce proceedings. Successfully negotiated a settlement in awarding the wife almost $10million worth of the matrimonial asset pool in cash, upon taking over of the matter in a month‘s time. 4. Acted for the husband in an urgent Hague application for the return of his child from San Diego, USA to Singapore in accordance with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and also in the wife‘s stay application in Singapore for the divorce proceedingsSuccessfully instructed US lawyers in a trial and multiple other applications to procure the return of his child. Successfully defended the wife‘s application for stay proceedings for husband‘s divorce proceedings in Singapore. 5. [2015] SGFC 52 – Successfully representing a wife in a divorce ancillaries matter and winning 75% of the matrimonial asset pool which was upheld on appeal. 6. [2015] SGDC 343 – Successfully representing the beneficiaries of two estates in suing the executors and trustees of a will for breach of trust. 7. [2014] 2 SLR 1320 – Successfully representing a wife in a short marriage secure a lump sum maintenance. 8. [2011] SGHC 157 – Successfully representing a husband in an appeal against a divorce ancillaries order where the lower court had awarded the whole of the matrimonial home to his wife.
Articles
Awards
Commendations
IFC Powerwomen Top 200 2017
IFC Powerwomen Top 200 2018
IFC Powerwomen Top 200 2018
International Powerwomen Top 100 2019