Sebastian Lee Sheng Hong
- Partner
- Advocate & Solicitor (High Court of Malaya)
Sebastian is one of the Founding Partners of Tan, Siew & Lee (TSL Legal). Focusing on commercial and civil litigation matters, Sebastian advises clients spanning diverse industries. Fluent in English, Bahasa Malaysia, and Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), he has successfully represented multinational corporations at different levels of the Malaysian Courts, handling trials, hearings, and appeals.
Sebastian has served as sole and co-counsel in numerous cases. He has also worked with clients from several jurisdictions including China, United Kingdom, Singapore, Greece, South Korea, and India, among others.
Sebastian earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (Hons) degree from Queen’s University Belfast, UK. During his academic journey, he distinguished himself as the sole recipient of the prestigious “QUB-BAC Exceptional Student Scholarship”, a scholarship granted to a single top achiever from Brickfields Asia College who exhibited unwavering commitment to pursuing higher education at Queen’s University Belfast, UK.
Sebastian earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from City, University of London, UK, and was subsequently called to both the English Bar and the Malaysian Bar. He is a Qualified Mediator accredited by the Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution (AIADR) and the International Mediation Institute (IMI)
Key Practices
Qualifications
- Advocate and Solicitor, High Court of Malaya
- Barrister-at-Law (Lincoln’s Inn)
- Queen’s University Belfast, UK, LL.B.
- City, University of London, UK, LL.M.
- Empanelments: Qualified Mediator, accredited by the International Mediation Institute (IMI), Qualified Mediator, accredited by the Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution (AIADR)
Speaking engagements
Memberships
Member, Malaysian Bar
Highlights
- Successfully acted for an individual in the Malaysia Court of Appeal and resisted the Appellant’s application for a consequential order under Rule 105 of the Rules of the Court of Appeal 1994. This case centred on rectifying the transfer of 1,250,000 shares in a company, addressing jurisdictional issues, the functus officio doctrine, and whether the Court has the jurisdiction/power to cancel and rectify shares owned by a non-party.
- Acted for a substantial shareholder of a prominent Oil and Gas Exploration & Production (“E&P”) Company at the Malaysia Court of Appeal, opposing the Appellants’ motions to introduce fresh evidence in the Appeal proceedings.
- Successfully acted for a Judgment Debtor in opposing the Judgment Creditor’s application for asset disclosure through an affidavit. This case centred on Order 48 of the Rules of Court 2012, the principle of res judicata, and whether a Senior Assistant Registrar has the power/right to grant a Mareva injunction under Malaysia’s prevailing laws and rules.
- Acted for various financial institutions, companies and successfully obtained bankruptcy orders against the judgment debtors.
- Advised multinational clients and public listed companies across diverse industries.
- Successfully acted for a Company in an eight-day trial at the Industrial Court of Malaysia, securing a favourable outcome in a high-profile case concerning the dismissal of a Chief Financial Officer. The Company is a subsidiary affiliated with the largest aeronautics and space company in Europe. The decision is reported at Industrial Court Award No: 2211 of 2023.
- Successfully acted for a Company in a seven-day trial at the Industrial Court of Malaysia, handling the trial related to the retrenchment of a senior employee during the COVID-19 pandemic. The case, which was reported at Industrial Court Award No: 2135 of 2023, not only showcases legal acumen but also highlights Sebastian’s ability to provide strategic advice in an unprecedented economic environment.
- Successfully acted for a Company in a four-day trial at the Industrial Court of Malaysia. This is related to the non-confirmation of a probationer. The decision is reported at Industrial Court Award No.: 1896 of 2022.
- Defending employers against various reinstatement claims arising from alleged unfair dismissals due to misconduct, poor performance, constructive dismissals, and retrenchments.
- Drafting and reviewing essential internal documents including employment contracts, employee handbooks, HR policies, and advising suitable amendments in line with local laws, international standards, and recommended practices.
