About
Jonathan believes that access to justice is for everyone, and that lawyers are gatekeepers who play a crucial role in ensuring that this is available and achieveable for everyone. His goal is journey with others to rightly understand how the law impacts their daily lives and to work with them in resolving the situation they are in.
With training and experience in litigation and dispute resolution, Jonathan is well-acquainted with advocacy before all levels of court and is familiar with various dispute resolution processes, including “Alternative Dispute Resolution” (ADR) such as negotiation and mediation. He is also an Accredited Mediator under the Singapore Mediation Centre. This marks his commitment to holistic problem-solving through the practice of law, to bring about true reconciliation and resolve to matters that will best satisfy his clients’ interests and needs.
His practice areas includes both contentious and non-contentious matters, such as wills drafting, estate and inheritance planning, private client matters as well as general corporate advisory work, such as contract review and drafting. He also has experience working with statutory boards on a broad range of legal advisory matters.
Jonathan is conversant with both institutional and individual clients, and is agile in his approach to the conduct of cases so as to account for all aspects of his clients’ needs.
As part of his mission to make justice accessible to all, Jonathan regularly takes on pro bono and ‘low bono’ legal matters to represent the vulnerable and under-served communities in society, including providing advisory work to non-profit organisations, charities, and being a panel lawyer under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (“CLAS”).
When he is not advocating in Court, Jonathan also invests his time in mentoring the younger generation both within the profession as mentor/module facilitator for the Singapore Bar Examinations and Prepatory Course, as well as in his other communities.
Reviews (9)
Featured Services
Civil Litigation
Advice and representation for a wide range of civil dispute matters, pertaining to all aspects of life involving the interests of corporate/institutional clients and individual clients. This includes (see below for more):
- Commercial-related disputes (contractual disputes, loan/debt-recovery, directors or shareholders disputes, insolvency and winding up applications)
- Contract review, drafting and advisory work
- Employment matters (Restrictive Covenants and Restraint of Trade, Termination-related disputes and Salary claims)
Jonathan also has experience advising and representing individual and private clients on a range of matters including (but is not limited to):
- Divorce and Matrimonial matters (including ancillary matters, maintenance claims, custody-child related disputes, personal protection orders, etc.)
- Immigration-related and/or National Service (NS) related concerns
- Personal injury claims
- Community-related disputes, such as landlord-tenant disputes, protection from harassment matters (POHA), magistrate's complaints and private prosecutions
- Medical-related claims (such as claims and disciplinary proceedings against medical professionals)
- Consumer financing matters (including hire-purchase agreement disputes and bankruptcy-related matters)
- Private wealth and Estate-management matters
- Drafting and preparation of Wills, Powers of Attorney and/or Lasting Power of Attorney
- Estate-related disputes and/or potentially contentious Probate and Estate matters
- Applications for the Grant of Probate
- Applications for the Grant of Letters of Administration
- Applications under the Mental Capacity Act for Deputyship
Commercial Disputes
Jonathan has experience advising and representing institutional and individual clients on various commercial-related matters, which include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Commercial-related disputes
- Contract review, drafting and advisory work
- Contractual disputes
- Loan/debt-recovery matters
- Enforcement measures
- Directors or Shareholders disputes
- Insolvency and Winding-up applications
- Employment matters (including):
- Advice on Restrictive Covenants and Restraint of Trade
- Termination-related disputes
- Salary and related claims for damages
Criminal Defence
Criminal defence, advice and representation at the investigation-stage or in criminal proceedings, and pre-emptive advisory work on compliance or potential criminal offences.
He has handled matters involving (not an exhaustive list):
- A wide-range of offences under the Penal Code
- Employment of Foreign Manpower Act
- Securities and Futures Act
- Misuse of Drugs Act
- Road Traffic Act
- Moneylenders Act
- Prevention of Corruption Act
- Corruption, Drug Trafficking Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act
He is also an active volunteer lawyer with the Law Society’s Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (“CLAS”) assisting in pro bono matters for individuals in need.
Media & Publications
Articles & Publications
- “How the Law can help domestic violence victims in Singapore” (2019)
- “Penalties for Shoplifting in Singapore – As Explained by a Lawyer” (2019)
- “Magistrate’s Complaints in Singapore: A Comprehensive Guide” (2018)
- “Medical Treatment gone wrong: What are your rights as a patient” (2018)
- “Paid in full: Why I Practice Criminal Law” (2018)
- Editorial team, “Good News for Bruised Reeds – Mental Health & The Gospel Community” (Graceworks, 2019)
Media Mentions
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/woman-jailed-5-months-setting-mattress-fire-after-husband-asked-divorce
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/music-teacher-molested-teenage-student-during-cello-lessons
Services & Fees
Fees
Please contact me directly so that we can work out a fee arrangement that best suits your needs.
Legal Services
- Debt Recovery
- Criminal Law
- MCST Disputes
- Contract Review
- Commercial Disputes
- Data Protection
- Criminal Defence
- Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
- Personal & Family
- Divorce
- Commercial Crime and Regulatory Compliance
- Business Disputes
- Employment Disputes
- Business
- Employment
- Legal Advisory
- Wills
- Landlord-Tenant Disputes
- Magistrate's Complaint
- Incapacity and Inheritance
- Medical Negligence
- Drafting IOU / Debt Acknowledgment
- Building and Construction Claims
- Bankruptcy
- Drafting Contracts
- Contractual Disputes
- Cybercrime
- Personal Legal Procedures
- Civil Litigation
- Personal Protection Order
- Civil Claims
- Corporate
- Protection From Harassment Order
- Debt Recovery for Companies
- Personal Injury
- Power of Attorney
- Defamation
My experience with Covenant Chambers has been a very positive one. Prior to taking on my case, Mr Jonathan Cho took the initiative to arrange for a non-obligatory 30min phone consultation to listen and understand my case before offering practical and sound advice towards handling it. Upon appointment, he is also professional and attentive to the case, seeing it through from the start to the end. I’d definitely recommend Covenant Chambers/Jonathan to anyone who needs legal advice.
My experience with Covenant Chambers has been a very positive one. Prior to taking on my case, Mr Jonathan Cho took the initiative to arrange for a non-obligatory 30min phone consultation to listen and understand my case before offering practical and sound advice towards handling it. Upon appointment, he is also professional and attentive to the case, seeing it through from the start to the end. I’d definitely recommend Covenant Chambers/Jonathan to anyone who needs legal advice.
I recently came across Mr Jonathan Cho via the Singapore Legal advice website. He was by far the best & most understanding lawyer I have had the honour to consult with; he helped me by mitigating some of the enormous stress that I was facing with difficult tenant issues. For me, he’s truly a rare gem in the legal industry & I just can’t say enough about his professionalism, empathy & non-combative approach. I would not hesitate to recommend him to my family & friends! Thank you, Mr Cho, for your continuing support & expert advice. Much appreciated as always.
Jonathan has been kind and understanding in all our interactions. During our consultation, he explained and clarified all my concerns about my rights , criminal law and possible charges regarding my situation. I was lucky to have consulted him before heading down to give my statement to the police.
Responsive with replies, clear plan of possible actions before any charges were brought up and has an answer or defense for any question no matter how paranoid or stupid. This combination of qualities in his work and approach towards his clients greatly assured me and gave me the confidence to deal with my mistake.
I was lucky to be given a second chance after a fine.