Akesh Abilash – Silvester Legal

Meet our team.

Akesh

Abilash

LLM, LLB (Hons) – Singapore Management University

Director

Akesh leads the disputes practice team, specialising in Civil and Commercial disputes, International Arbitration, Criminal Law, and Sports and Media. He read law at Singapore Management University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2013, before graduating with a Master of Laws from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa in 2014. He was called to the Bar in 2015. During his time at SMU, Akesh was awarded the prestigious Drew & Napier Prize for being the Top Student in Advocacy and was a finalist in both the Bain & Co Case Competition 2012 and the 7th ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition.

Before joining the firm, Akesh practiced for 8 years at a leading local firm. He has also participated and/or spoken in prominent industry events, including the 13th APAC ADR Conference, the International Bar Association Arbitration Group Event in Seoul (2024), and Cryptoflow 2018.

Outside the courtroom, Akesh is a passionate advocate for animal welfare and a devoted supporter of Liverpool Football Club.

Areas of Expertise

Civil and Commercial
Litigation
Corporate, Business & Regulatory Advisory
Shareholder & Minority Rights Disputes
International Arbitration, SIAC/SICC Disputes
Criminal Defence
Sports and Media Advisory
Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Employment Disputes

REPRESENTATIVE CASE EXPERIENCE

Advising and acting for an international logistics company in a multi-million-dollar dispute in mediations and arbitrations before SMC and SIAC – ARB 127/128 of 2019;
Acting on behalf of the Law Society in Disciplinary Tribunal Proceedings in 2023;
Lead counsel acting for the successful Defendant in Absolute Maintenance Services Pte Ltd v S11 Granuity Management Pte Ltd [2023] SGDC 173.
Lead counsel representing an estate agency and its director in Haw Wan Sin & Anor v Faber Property Pte Ltd & others [2018] SGDC 143, and acting in the appeal of the same representing the said director before the High Court in Haw Wan Sin David and anor v Sim Tee Meng and anor [2018] SGHC 272;
Lead counsel acting for a high net worth individual in proceedings commenced in actions for defamation and malicious falsehood in Fok Kah Hon v Quek Ban Tung Edmund [2022] SGDC 92, successfully obtaining judgment in favour of the Plaintiff, and resisting the appeal before the General Division;
Lead Counsel acting for a local social media personality, Rachel Wong, taking over an action for defamation which was then resolved successfully;
Lead counsel in PP v Tang You Liang, Andruew and anor [2021] SGDC 266 and the appeal of the same in Tang You Liang Andruew v PP and anor [2023] 3 SLR 229, defending an accused person against charges of cheating various banks by failing to declare beneficial ownership of bank accounts;
Acted for Sean Tan (known as Dante Chen) in negotiations with World Wrestling Entertainment, as he became the first professional wrestler from Singapore to be signed by WWE;
Acting for high-net-worth corporate clients in a matter heard before 5 judges at the Court of Appeal concerning inter alia, sanctioning of schemes of arrangement in SK Engineering Construction Co Ltd v Conchubar Aromatics Ltd and another appeal[2017] SGCA 51;
Acting for various corporate clients and statutory bodies in debt recovery matters from commencement of proceedings up to enforcement of judgment and committal proceedings;
Advising local statutory bodies on regulatory and compliance matters;
Advising on compliance with the United Nations (Sanctions – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Regulations 2010 and anti-money laundering regulations;
Acting as appointed prosecutor on behalf of the Energy Market Authority and the Council for Estate Agencies;
Acting in a broad range of criminal matters through participation in the CLAS scheme; and
Invited panellist speaking on matters relating to regulatory compliance at a private cryptocurrency investor conference – Cryptoflow 2018.

Appointments & Memberships

Singapore Mediation Centre – Accredited Mediator
Bangalore International Mediation, Arbitration, and Conciliation Centre – Empanelled Mediator (2022 – 2025)
Law Society Mediation Scheme – Associate Mediator (2022-2025)
Singapore Mediation Centre – Appointed Adjudicator (2022 – 2025)
Law Society Neutral Evaluation and Determination Scheme – Panel of Neutrals (2024-2025)
Association for Persons with Special Needs – Legal Advisory Panel (2023-2025)
Member of the Young International Arbitration Group
Member, Singapore Academy of Law
Member, Law Society of Singapore
Legal Assistance Scheme for Capital Offences
Criminal Legal Aid Scheme
Law Society Anti-Money laundering Committee (2020 – 2025)
Law Society Admissions Committee (2024 – 2025)

NOTABLE CASES & REPORTED JUDGEMENTS

SK Engineering & Construction Co Ltd v Conchubar Aromatics Ltd and another appeal– [2017] 2 SLR 898
Haw Wan Sin David and Yee Ai Moi Cindy v Faber Property Pte Ltd and Sim Tee Meng and another– [2018] SGDC 143
Haw Wan Sin David and another v Sim Tee Meng and another– [2018] SGHC 272
Public Prosecutor v Tang You Liang Andruew and another– [2021] SGDC 266
Fok Kah Hon and others v Quek Ban Tong Edmund and another– [2022] SGDC 92
Tang You Liang Andruew v Public Prosecutor and another appeal– [2023] 3 SLR 229
Absolute Maintenance Services Pte Ltd v S11 Granuity Management Pte Ltd– [2023] SGDC 173
Public Prosecutor v CRH [2024] SGHC 34
CRH v PP [2024] SGCA 29
Public Prosecutor v Muhammad Hairul Nizam Bin Mohd Halim [2024] SGDC 27
Public Prosecutor v Wan Ying Ming [2025] SGMC 5

Our clients’ words. Not ours.

Siraj Shaik Aziz, Tyler Ng Yan Hao, Vanessa Wong and Tristan Silvester worked day and night on the Appeal. For many months. And we won. And so client got back all that he lost at trial. Over $4m. And $69,000 in costs to boot.  

It really doesn't get much better than this.

RMApr 2025
Civil litigation

I had some legal issues that needed immediate attention. I called up Walter Silvester and he attended to my matter right away. They were extremely professional and responsive. I am extremely grateful to them for their good work. I would for sure call them if I ever need and would recommend them very highly.

Kamal GillFeb 2025
Shareholder Advisory & Disputes