John Yap
Call: 2024
Practice Overview
John joined Chambers as a tenant in October 2025, following his successful completion of pupillage. He is building a broad practice across Chambers’ specialisms, with a focus on commercial disputes and international arbitration. He also takes a keen interest in Asian legal markets, especially those of Singapore and Hong Kong.
Since commencing practice, John has been instructed in high-profile and significant litigation, international arbitration, mediation, and advisory matters. Highlights of his current and recent led instructions are:
- The Supreme Court appeal from SKAT v MCML Ltd[2025] EWCA Civ 371: acting for MCML in seeking to uphold the Court of Appeal's decision to strike out SKAT’s c. £70 million claim on the grounds of issue estoppel.
- A widely reported c. USD 1 billion investor-state treaty arbitration: acting for the investor in pursuing a claim for expropriation, discrimination, and breach of the fair and equitable treatment obligation.
- A high-value investment management dispute: instructed by an investment manager in the digital asset sector in relation to a potential up-to-eight-figure USD claim against, and nine-figure USD counterclaim by, an investor.
John also accepts instructions as sole counsel. He recently acted unled for Barclays Bank UK Plc in successfully resisting a set aside application and obtaining judgment on personal guarantees in the sum of c. £140,000. He is currently acting unled (alongside a top solicitors’ firm under the aegis of Advocate / Pro Bono Connect) in advising and representing a pro bono client in pursuing a six-figure negligence claim and enforcement proceedings.
Before coming to the Bar, John was a lecturer in law at Mansfield College, University of Oxford. He was previously a visiting researcher at the National University of Singapore and a scholar of Des Voeux Chambers in Hong Kong.
John’s research has been published in leading law journals and cited in academic and practitioner texts. His article on class actions won the Australian Academy of Law’s Annual Essay Prize in 2023. He is a co-author of the upcoming expanded and retitled second edition of Prof. Andrew Higgins’ Legal Professional Privilege for Corporations (OUP 2014).
John obtained his BA in Jurisprudence (First Class, 2nd in Year) and Bachelor of Civil Law (Distinction) from the University of Oxford – winning, among other accolades, the Martin Wronker Proxime Prize. He won awards at international moots (including the Willem C Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot) and helmed the Law Faculty’s pro bono legal advice clinic. He completed his Bar Vocational Studies (Distinction) as a Gray’s Inn scholar.
Outside of work, John regularly volunteers his time to advancing access to justice and education. Previously, he served national service as a lieutenant in the Republic of Singapore Air Force, winning the Sword of Honour and National Serviceman of the Year Award. Having lived and grown up in Singapore and Hong Kong, he maintains close personal and professional connections in both jurisdictions.
Commercial Dispute Resolution
Supreme Court appeal in SKAT v MCML (formerly ED&F Man Capital Markets Ltd): Currently acting for MCML in the upcoming Supreme Court appeal seeking to uphold the Court of Appeal’s decision [2025] EWCA Civ 371 to strike out SKAT’s c. £70 million claim on the grounds of issue estoppel. Led by Ali Malek KC and Adam Temple.
Confidential investment management dispute: Instructed by and advised an investment manager in the digital asset sector in relation to a potential up-to-eight-figure USD claim against, and nine-figure USD counterclaim by, an investor. Led by Adam Kramer KC.
Highlights of matters assisted with as a pupil:
- SKAT v MCML (formerly ED&F Man Capital Markets Ltd) [2025] EWCA Civ 371: Assisted Ali Malek KC and Adam Temple in acting for MCML in its successful appeal before the Court of Appeal, which reversed Bright J’s decision [2024] EWHC 148 (Comm) and struck out SKAT’s c. £70 million claim on the grounds of issue estoppel.
- Confidential advice on a shareholder dispute: Assisted Hefin Rees KC in advising on a high-stakes dispute between rival shareholder factions over the control and governance of a leading NASDAQ-listed company.
- Confidential advice on a shareholder dispute: Assisted Yash Bheeroo in advising on a shareholder dispute in relation to the exercise of share options and construction of “bad leaver” provisions in a shareholder agreement.
International Arbitration
Investor v State: Currently acting for an investor in the financial services sector in relation to a c. USD 1 billion treaty arbitration for expropriation, discrimination, and breach of the fair and equitable treatment obligation.
Highlights of matters assisted with as a pupil:
- Water Seller v Water Purchaser: Assisted Richard Hanke in acting for a Middle Eastern water purchaser in a UNCITRAL arbitration concerning the operation of inflation price adjustments under a long-term desalinated water supply agreement.
- Republic of Kosovo v Selmani: Assisted Yash Bheeroo and Ravi Jackson in acting for the claimant, the Republic of Kosovo, in recognition and enforcement proceedings in the Commercial Court.
- Investor v State: Assisted Cameron Miles in acting for and advising the respondent, a Latin American State, in relation to proceedings for the registration and enforcement of an ICSID award.
- Challenge to an arbitral award: Assisted Yash Bheeroo and Ravi Jackson in a procedural challenge to a DIAC arbitral award under Article 41(2)(a)(ii) and (iii) of the DIFC Arbitration Law (based on Articles 32(2)(a)(ii) and (iii) of the UNCITRAL Model Law).
Civil Fraud
Defending at trial an unlawful means conspiracy / dishonest assistance claim: Currently acting for an individual in defending a c. £7 million claim for unlawful means conspiracy and dishonest assistance. Led by David Simpson.
Highlights of matters assisted with as a pupil:
- Pleading a defence to a high-value, complex civil fraud claim: Assisted Peter de Verneuil Smith KC in pleading a defence to a c. USD 80 million claim for (among other things) unlawful means conspiracy in relation to the acquisition of a mining company.
- Alawwal Capital JSC v Rasmala Investment Bank Limited: Assisted Yash Bheeroo and Ravi Jackson in an appeal from DIFC CFI 038/2023 involving a c. USD 7 million claim for misrepresentation and financial mis-selling.
- Confidential advice on potential claims for financial mis-selling: Assisted Adam Temple in advising on potential claims for misrepresentation and financial mis-selling in the fallout of a high-profile Ponzi-type scheme.
Banking & Financial Services
Barclays Bank UK Plc v Ellis: Acted unled for the claimant, Barclays Bank UK Plc, in successfully resisting the defendant’s set aside application and obtaining judgment on personal guarantees in the sum of c. £140,000.
Highlights of matters assisted with as a pupil:
- IDBI Bank Limited v Axcel Sunshine Ltd and Siva Industries and Holdings Ltd [2025] EWHC 442 (Comm): Assisted Adam Temple (led by Nigel Tozzi KC) in acting for IDBI Bank in successfully pursuing a c. USD 67 million claim against Axcel Sunshine and Siva Industries and Holdings under a credit facility and guarantee / indemnity.
- Litasco SA v Banque El Amana SA [2025] EWHC 312 (Comm): Assisted Will Day in acting for Litasco in an application for summary judgment raising novel issues on the application of the Ralli Bros foreign illegality rule to cross-border payment obligations.
- Lay v Independent Vetcare Limited [2025] EWHC 1098 (Comm): Assisted Richard Hanke in acting for Independent Vetcare Limited in an application for strike out / summary judgment raising novel issues under the Payment Services Regulation.
Recognition
