Lawyers

Eugene Jayaraj Williams

  • Email: ej@hikpartners.com

With over 28 years of experience, Eugene has established himself as a seasoned practitioner in civil, commercial, and corporate litigation, with a strong focus on complex, high-value disputes. He maintains an active trial and appellate practice, frequently appearing before the higher courts.

His practice spans a wide range of litigation, including land law and fraud disputes (such as land office liability, caveat proceedings, and challenges to fraudulent transfers), construction and engineering matters, shareholder and corporate disputes, equity and trusts, contractual claims, tort actions, and judicial review proceedings.

Eugene is highly regarded for handling multi-party commercial litigation involving significant financial exposure, where he has successfully represented clients in disputes exceeding RM100 million. In addition, he maintains an active arbitration and construction disputes practice, regularly advising employers, main contractors, and subcontractors in commercial arbitration and CIPAA adjudication proceedings. He excels in managing intricate facts, coordinating extensive documentary evidence, and developing comprehensive litigation strategies for swift court deployment.
Beyond his legal practice, he serves as Vice Chairman of the Gandhi Memorial Trust, reflecting his commitment to community service

Email Eugene

LL.B (Hons) University of London
Advocate & Solicitor, High Court of Malaya

The following are some of the cases Eugene has been involved in:

1. Skrine & Co v MBF Capital Sdn Bhd & Anor [1998] 3 MLJ 649
– (Consolidated appeals before the Court of Appeal involving interrogatories, amendment of pleadings, further and better particulars, security for costs)

2. Syarikat Kejuruteraan Letrik Sin Foh Sdn Bhd v Perbadanan Putrajaya [2002] 3 AMR 2678
– (High Court decision on equitable assignment of a debt)

3. Electcoms Sdn Bhd v Internet Technology Asia Ventures Sdn Bhd [2002] 8 CLJ 253
– (High Court decision on declaratory orders calling for the interpretation of an Investment Agreement involving the issue of variation of contract)

4. Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd v NS Water Sdn Bhd & 2 Ors [2004] 5 MLJ 430
– (High Court decision on setting aside of an ex-parte injunction)

5. Keystone Valve (M) Sdn Bhd v Low Wah Keong [1998] 3 ILR 1029
– (Industrial Court decision dealing with a claim for constructive dismissal)

6. Dato’ Seri Abdul Rahman Maidin v Tan Sri Dato’ Chong Chin Soong [2011] 5 AMR 254
– (A landmark High Court decision dealing with a claim on a promissory note made under the Bills of Exchange Act 1949)

7. Hew Kiang Hoe & Anor v Shencourt Properties Sdn Bhd [2012] 7 CLJ 158
– (High Court decision on an application to remove a liquidator of a company)

8. Dato’ Khalid Hj Ahmad v Dato’ Seri Abdul Rahman Maidin [2012] 10 CLJ 32
– (High Court decision dealing with a claim for the balance of monies due from a sale of shares)

9. Tenaga Nasional Berhad v JCY HDD Technology Sdn Bhd [2013] 7 CLJ 799
– (High Court decision dealing with disposal of action without trial. A claim by Tenaga Nasional Berhad under the Electricity Supply Act 1990 and Licensee Supply Regulations 1990)

10. V Medical Services M Sdn Bhd v Swissray Asia Healthcare Co Ltd [2025] 2 MLJ 744
– (Landmark Federal Court decision on the appropriate test to be applied to a Fortuna Injunction in respect of a dispute falling within an arbitration agreement.)

11. Kerjaya Prospek (M) Sdn Bhd v BCM Holdings Sdn Bhd [2025] MLJU 4725
– (High Court decision dealing with an application to recuse a judge.)

12. NZ Bina Sdn Bhd v Reaplite Industry Sdn Bhd [2025] MLJU 2239
– (High Court decision in a construction dispute involving a claim in excess of RM31 million.)

13. Part of the legal team acting for Australian security handlers in a litigation before the High Court for a claim of USD14 million involving the liability of a carrier under the Carriage by Air Act 1974 incorporating the Warsaw Convention.

14. Advised a major American tobacco company on potential health care cost recovery litigation in Malaysia.

15. Acted for a major Indonesian sarong manufacturer in an action for infringement of trademark and passing off.

16. Acted as co-counsel on behalf of a leading German manufacturer of fire extinguishing systems in a suit before the High Court involving a claim in excess of RM50 million.

17. Acted for a leading multinational consumer goods design, development, sourcing, and logistics company in a suit before the High Court against its former Senior Vice-President and Director for breach of confidentiality, breach of fiduciary duties and conspiracy to injure.

18. Acting in an arbitration proceeding against a state government in a claim in excess of RM70 million arising out of a breach of a Reclamation Agreement.

Upon being admitted to the Malaysian Bar in 1996, Ashok joined Messrs. A. Zahari Kanapathy Thulasi as a Legal Assistant where he remained for six years eventually heading its Litigation Department supervising a team of lawyers and support staff. In February of 2002, he established Messrs. Harniza & Kandiah and subsequently changed its name to Kandiah Partnership, which was later changed to Haris Ibrahim Kandiah Partnership, to reflect the new partnership and the entry of Haris Ibrahim as senior partner.

Ashok’s area of practice is in Arbitration, Defamation, Commercial and Corporate Litigation, Criminal Litigation and Industrial Relations. Ashok regularly handles trials and interlocutory applications at the High Court and appears regularly before the appellate courts. Ashok is also routinely appointed by firms of solicitors to as act as counsel in trials and appeals.

Ashok has also acted for the Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation in an arbitration involving a claim in excess of RM300 million. Apart from acting for several State Government Agencies, Ashok had also been engaged by the State Government of Selangor by issuance of Fiat to act for the State in various matters in the High Court and Court of Appeal. Ashok has acted for clients in adjudication disputes under the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act 2012 as well as employers, main contractors and sub-contractors in litigation and arbitration.

Ashok also advices and acts for Joint Management bodies, Management Corporations and parcel owners in respect of matters concerning or related to the Strata Management Act 2013. This includes acting as counsel in all levels of the courts in disputes between parcel owners and Management Corporations or local authorities.

Over the years and since the coming into force of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 Ashok has acted for and advised numerous private hospitals on a variety of matters concerning compliance with the provisions of the Act and matters relating to agreements with consultants, nurses and other employees. He also advises hospital managements on the Medical and Dental Advisory Committee By-laws and compliance of the same including of acting for hospitals in recovery of debt claims, disputes with consultants and industrial relations actions.

He also has a keen interest in Criminal Law and has represented clients charged for a variety of Penal Code offences as well as offences under the Dangerous Drugs Act, Immigration Act and Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act, Sedition Act and Kidnapping Act.

Some judgements of the Courts in cases which Ashok was involved are:

  1. MPG Career Sdn Bhd V Bukit Beruntung Golf & Country Resort Bhd & Ors [2025] MLJU 1016
  2. Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd V Gammerlite Sdn Bhd [2024] MLJU 2525
  3. CTOS Data Systems Sdn Bhd V Suriati Bt Mohd Yusof [2024] 5 MLJ 811
  4. Datuk Parmjit Singh A/L Meva Singh & Ors V Ekuiti Nasional Bhd [2024] MLJU 2059
  5. Tan Kim Chuan V. Tan Kim Tian & Ors And Another Appeal [2022] 10 CLJ 503
  6. SCP Assets Sdn Bhd V Perbadanan Pengurusan PD-1 [2024] MLJU 168
  7. SCP Assets Sdn Bhd V Pengarah Tanah Dan Galian Selangor & Ors [2023] MLJU 2624
  8. RPH Global Property Management Sdn Bhd V Badan Pengurusan Bersama Residensi PV21 [2023] MLJU 1812
  9. Permodalan Masteron Sdn Bhd V Stanley Saw Boon Leong & Anor [2023] MLJU 2504
  10. Bespoke Motoring Sdn Bhd V AM General Insurance Bhd [2023] 11 MLJ 621
  11. Mah Sau Cheong V Wee Len @ Wai Shiang Liang — [2024] 12 MLJ 671
  12. TH Properties Sdn Bhd & Anor V Knight Frank Malaysia Sdn Bhd [2021] CLJ 134
  13. Benjamin Ho V Ctos Data Systems Sdn Bhd [2023] MLJU 594
  14. Re Mariayee A/P Ratnam; Ex Parte Kuari Pati Sdn Bhd [2021] MLJU 2592
  15. SCP Assets Sdn Bhd V Perbadanan Pengurusan PD2 [2021] MLJU 623
  16. Tan Kim Tian & Anor V Tan Kim Chuan & Anor [2020] MLJU 86
  17. Optimis Dinamik Sdn Bhd V Sri Manjung Granite Quarry Sdn Bhd [2019] MLJU 1892
  18. SCP Assets Sdn Bhd V Perbadanan Pengurusan Megan Avenue (1) [2017] MLJU 1081
  19. Tan Cheng Leng V Tropicana Medical Centre (M) Sdn Bhd [2017] 1 ILR 383
  20. M Mohandas Gandhi & Anor V Ambank (M) Berhad & Anor [2014] CLJU 1025
  21. Arun Kumar Bag V Hospital Pantai Indah Sdn Bhd [2015] 3 ILR 580
  22. Yogiswaren Kandiah V Tropicana Medical Centre (M) Sdn Bhd [2014] CLJU 1714
  23. Seetha A/P Vijayaratnam V Vicknesh A/L Visvalingam [2013] 5 MLJ 347
  24. Perbadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Selangor V PKPS Bukit Tinggi Fishfarm Sdn Bhd [2012] CLJU 789
  25. Chempro Technology (M) Sdn Bhd V. Wee Eng Hock & Ors [2010] CLJU 1857
  26. Tham Lin Chan V. Quality Bakers (M) Sdn Bhd [2011] ILRU 1816
  27. Muhammad Hilman Idham & Ors V. Kerajaan Malaysia & Ors [2011] 9 CLJ 50
  28. Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri V Raja Petra Kamarudin [2009] 4 MLJ 484
  29. Saravanan Rengeyen V. CS Metal Industries (M) Sdn Bhd; Official Receivers/Liquidator & Cim Capital Sdn Bhd (As A Party) [2008] ILRU 1276
  30. Wong Leng Hung V Krishnamurthy A/L Nagaratnam [2005] 8 CLJ 745
  31. Pollution Engineering Sdn. Bhd. V Chan Wai Foong — [2003] ILJU 84
  32. Ng Chong Meng V Pustaka Sistem Pelajaran Sdn Bhd [2006] 1 ILR 210
  33. R Ramachandran V Koperasi Perumahan Kuala Lumpur [2001] 2 MLJ 177
  34. Ismail Bin Mohd Yunos & Anor V First Revenue Sdn Bhd [2000] 5 MLJ 42
  35. Abdul Rahim Bin Abdul Kadir & Anor V Twenty First Century Products Sdn Bhd [1998] 7 MLJ 222