Derrick Teo
Associate Director

LL.B / BBM (Magna Cum Laude), SMU
Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore

Derrick was a regular fixture on the Dean’s List until his graduation from Singapore Management University in 2017 with a double degree in Business Management and Law. After starting out at one of the top litigation practices in Singapore, Derrick joined BlackOak and the Restructuring & Insolvency practice area in 2018.

Experienced in dealing with fluid and complex situations, Derrick has continued to hone his dispute management capabilities at BlackOak both before the Singapore Supreme Court and in international arbitrations, while building a solid practice in transactional work, including high-profile restructurings, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate advisory work, in both the larger corporate and SME spaces.

Contact Information
DID: (65) 6521 6745
FAX: (65) 6443 0887
EML: derrick.teo@blackoak-llc.com

Derrick will be on sabbatical leave for a period of six months starting on April 1st 2024.

Derrick has acted for debtors, creditors, funds, financial institutions and insolvency professionals, advising on, designing and implementing commercial transactions and solutions in distressed and near-distressed situations. He has been involved with all aspects of the R&I practice, including contentious and non-contentious matters, and has extensive experience working across and alongside international counsel.

Recent Deals

  • Acting for and advising John Ray III and the Sullivan & Cromwell team dealing with the Singapore-based entities of the FTX Group in connection with the public collapse of the Group.
  • Acting for and advising the liquidators of Three Arrows Capital Ltd in connection with the insolvency of the company.
  • Acting for and advising the liquidators of certain Singapore subsidiaries of the Wirecard Group in connection with the public collapse of the Group, including assisting with investigations into the affairs of the relevant entities and advising on potential claims.
  • Acting for and advising Eqonex Limited, a digital asset technology company, in connection with a potential restructuring involving extensive negotiations with strategic investor Binance. 
  • Acting for and advising the liquidators of the Singapore-based entities of IL&FS Transportation Networks Limited, an India-based company engaged in the development and implementation of transport infrastructure, in connection with the liquidation of the companies.
  • Acting for and advising MMTC Ltd, one of India’s largest international trading companies and its largest public sector trading body, in connection with the liquidation of MMTC Transnational Pte Ltd.
  • Acting for and advising a significant investor of Zilingo Pte. Ltd. and its related companies in connection with the liquidation of the Group and potential claims.
  • Acting for and advising an Informal Steering Committee of syndicated lenders of the Pan Brothers Group in connection with the proposed restructuring of the Group’s debts by way of a Singapore scheme of arrangement.
  • Acting for and advising the Duniatex Group, Mr Sumitro (the controlling shareholder and beneficial owner of the Duniatex Group) and Geoffrey David Simms (foreign representative of the Duniatex Group) in proceedings for the recognition of Indonesian PKPU Orders and, subsequently, an Indonesian restructuring plan in Singapore under the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency and common law.
  • Acting as local counsel for an Ad Hoc Committee of Noteholders of Blue Ocean Resources Pte Ltd in relation to the proposed restructuring of its USD 145 million guaranteed secured notes due 2021.
  • Acting for and advising TransAsia Private Capital, a major secured creditor of Agritrade International Pte Ltd and its subsidiary, Agritrade Resources Limited, in the proposed restructuring of those companies.
  • Acting as local counsel for Riverbed Technology, LLC (f.k.a Riverbed Technology, Inc.) and its related entities, including its Singapore subsidiary, Riverbed Technology Pte. Ltd., in connection with various rounds of financing leading up to a Chapter 11 restructuring of the Group.
  • Acting for and advising NK Ingredients Pte. Ltd. on its proposed restructuring after multiple failed attempts and in the face of considerable creditor pressure.
  • Acting for and advising Kong Hoo (Private) Limited on its proposed restructuring, which involved significant bank creditor pressure and complex regulatory issues.
  • Acting for and advising the liquidator of Midas Holdings Ltd., a company previously listed on the Mainboard of the SGX, in connection with the liquidation of the company and potential claims which may be brought by the company.
  • Acting for and advising the liquidators of Vanguard Energy Pte Ltd, a company previously with revenues in excess of US$1 billion, in various aspects of a complex dispute involving both litigation and arbitration proceedings.
  • Advising and representing the Everstone Group, a private equity firm with over US$5 billion of assets under management, in a claim against certain of its ex-employees before the Singapore Supreme Court, securing a crucial urgent interim injunction and eventually reaching a favourable settlement.

Recent Accolades

  • Future Star (Insolvency, Singapore), Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2023
  • Rising Star (Restructuring and Insolvency, Singapore), Asialaw Profiles 2023