Mr. Christopher Bridges graduated from the University of London in 1988 and was called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple in 1989 after sitting for the Bar Finals where he won a Book Prize for Best Overseas Student in General Paper 1. He was admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor to The Supreme Court, Republic of Singapore on 6th June 1990. He is a Notary Public and a Commissioner for Oaths.

Mr. Bridges has over 27 years’ experience as a litigator and practices General Litigation. His field of practice as a General Litigator is wide and varied. He is accredited on the List of Leading Counsel maintained by the High Court of Singapore which appoints on behalf of the State, senior criminal practitioners who are assisted by an assistant Counsel from a similar List of Assisting Counsel to represent a Defendant facing the Death Penalty and whose fees are paid for by the High Court.

As an active General Litigator, Mr. Bridges has acted for clients in various settings, ranging from successful criminal motions to contract cases. His cases include:

• Leefon Corporation Pte Ltd v Office Planner Pte Ltd [2014] SGDC 357

- Acted successfully for the defendant in a contractual term dispute.

• Sin Hwa Dee Foodstuff Industries Pte Ltd v Christabel Ang Hoo Hui [2013] SGDC 376

- Acted successfully for the defendant in a restraint-of-trade employment contract dispute.

• Ratnam Alfred Christie v Public Prosecutor [1999] 3 SLR(R) 685

- Successfully argued the Cut-off date for a sentence of caning to be imposed.

• Central Christian Church and another v Chen Cheng and others [1997] SGHC 292

- Successfully acted for the plaintiffs in the High Court of Singapore in a defamation suit against the New Paper.

He has served on various sub-committees in the Law Society of Singapore and has been recognized by the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme for his contributions to this Scheme in 1997. On 19th Oct 2011, he was awarded the 'Minister for Law' Appreciation Award for his services to the Legal Aid Bureau of the Ministry of Law.

He is also involved in the Academic Field as a Part Time Lecturer and has lectured at both the Singapore Polytechnic and Murdoch University where he conducts tutorials for Diploma Students in Business Law, covering topics on creation of contracts, employment rights and Law of International Trade which covers Carriage of Goods by Sea and Air, Maritime Insurance and Sale of Goods as well as Australian Consumer Law and Hospitality and Tourism Law.

Mr. Bridges is a member of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators in a time when arbitral proceedings are gaining a momentum in Singapore, having passed its entrance examinations in 1995.

He has developed a keen interest in Fintech and has advised C.O.S.S. Pte Ltd with regards to their recent Token Swap both in regards to the relevant Securities/Futures legislation and Anti-money Laundering/Anti Terrorist Funding legislation.  He also assisted in drafting the terms of the Token Swap Agreement. Additionally, he has advised C.O.S.S. Pte Ltd on their KYC requirements with regards to users of their platform.  The opinion that he provided for the ICO has been forwarded to the Monetary Authority of Singapore who are in the midst of developing compliance and regulatory frameworks for this fast developing market.

He has also acted in the Zilla, Puregold and Bittwatt Token Swap including providing advice on AML/ATF and KYC requirements as well as compliance with Securities/Futures legislation here in Singapore.

Having a strong conviction in giving our wayward youths a second chance, Mr. Bridges works tirelessly to rehabilitate them. He is also a gazetted volunteer Probation Officer with the Ministry of Community Development Youth and Sports (MCYS).  

Experience arising out of service in the first joint venture of China makes David quite acquainted with working manner and mentality of domestic and international clients to whom David and his team provide long-term and ad hoc legal and counseling services. David started legal career from contentious and non-contentious issues related to shipping industry. Focus has been placed more on corporate and commercial, international trade, intellectual property, etc. since late 90’s. David advises clients of diverse industries on doing business in China and investing globally. He is very active in dispute resolution related to civil and commercial matters, and has been appointed to shed light on the Chinese law-related issues and issues in China for the courts and arbitration tribunals in many other jurisdictions.

David is featured in Who’s Who Legal, a recommended individual by Legal 500, a leading legal practitioner in China by Euromoney and Expert Guide, a highly recommended leading lawyer in China by Chambers Asia-Pacific and the team leader of the Maritime Law Firm of the Year in China by CorporateINTL. He retains extensive and close relationship with various professional organizations and business associations worldwide. As a qualified practicing Chinese lawyer, David has vast experience in protecting and enforcing foreign clients’ rights in China. And also with local expertise and knowledge, David is better to interpret those cross-cultural issues and will provide practical solution for the clients when they have legal needs in China and abroad.

Atty. Teodoro B. Cruz, Jr., Esq., the Firm’s founding partner, holds economics and law degrees from the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University. After passing the bar in 1973, he immediately went into an extensive practice of law, particularly in litigation and corporate practice. He is the current chairman of the Ateneo Law Alumni Association, Inc. (ALAAI). He was a two-term president of the Ateneo Law Alumni Foundation (1996-1998), president of the Philippine Cable Television Association (1996), and former Administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority (May 2001-January 2004). He is the managing partner of the Firm and handles special projects, including mergers and acquisitions.