Chor Leong graduated from the University of Singapore in 1980 with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree. He was called to the Singapore bar and began his legal career in 1981. He set up his own law firm in 1985 and successfully managed it as a sole proprietor (except for a period from 1987–1991 when he had partners) until he merged his practice with another law practice in 2002. He continued as a senior partner of the combined practice until 2016 when he became a consultant. He now acts mostly as an independent arbitrator, adjudicator, mediator, legal assessor and neutral evaluator.  

 

As a lawyer, Chor Leong has advised and acted for clients in a broad spectrum of civil, commercial and corporate matters. In contentious work, he has appeared in all levels of the courts of Singapore. In non-contentious work, he has acted for clients in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Philippines, Pakistan, United Kingdom and the United States of America. His main areas of expertise are in contract law, commercial transactions, company law, and building and construction law. 

 

Chor Leong is on the panel of arbitrators of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, Singapore Institute of Arbitrators, Law Society of Singapore and the Asian International Arbitration Centre. He has acted as arbitrator under the rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and other ad hoc arbitrations. He served for many years as Course Director for the signature arbitration courses conducted by the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators, namely the International Entry Course, the Fellowship Assessment Course and the Maritime Arbitrators Fellowship Assessment Course.  

 

Chor Leong was accredited by the Singapore Mediation Centre in 2005 as an Adjudicator under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2004. He was appointed as Senior Adjudicator and a member of the Professional Conduct Panel of the Singapore Mediation Centre in 2017. To-date, he has acted as adjudicator (and as review adjudicator) in numerous adjudications and adjudication reviews. Many of Chor Leong’s adjudication determinations have been published in the Singapore Construction Adjudication Review, and he has given numerous seminars and lectures on construction adjudication in Singapore. 

 

Chor Leong is accredited as a Principal Mediator of the Singapore Mediation Centre, a Certified Mediator (Tier 4) of the Singapore International Mediation Institute, an Intellectual Property Certified Mediator of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, a Senior Mediator of the Law Society of Singapore, and a Panel Mediator of the Singapore Construction Mediation Centre. He has successfully mediated to full settlement numerous disputes involving a broad spectrum of commercial, tortious and other civil claims. He regularly serves as coach and assessor for mediation courses conducted by the Singapore Mediation Centre. He is also on the Panel of Neutrals of the Law Society of Singapore.     

 

Chor Leong also serves on the disciplinary bodies of the Singapore Medical Council, Singapore Dental Council, Allied Health Professions Council, Council for Estate Agencies and the Singapore Mediation Centre, and has written the grounds of decision for many of their respective disciplinary cases. 

 

Chor Leong has also acted as Assessor, appointed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, to determine applications for reliefs under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020.

 

Chor Leong has performed voluntary public service since 1987 to date, serving in various committees and boards of the Ministry of Home Affairs, including the Criminal Law Advisory Committee (Hearings), Criminal Law Advisory Committee (Review), Road Safety Council, External Placement Review Board, and the Independent Review Panel. In recognition of his public service over the years, he was conferred the Public Service Medal (PBM) in 2000, the Public Service Star (BBM) in 2007, and the Public Service Star with Bar (BBM(L)) in 2020.       

 

Since 1994, Chor Leong has continuously served as an independent non-executive director of public companies listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Singapore and which are engaged in various business sectors. Over the years since 1994, he has served as member of Audit Committees, member of Remuneration Committees and Chairman of Nominating Committees in those listed companies. Chor Leong therefore has extensive experience in corporate governance, risk management and strategic direction.