
About
Tris Xavier is the head of the Integrated Property Group at Yuen Law. Tris specialises in Real Property, Intellectual Property and Insolvency law, Tris thrives on seeing interconnected solutions for clients, and believes that law cannot be approached in silos but must be seen holistically. His breadth of experience in diverse fields is testament to Tris’ ability to find and finetune effective solutions to solve problems and issues as they arise.
Prior to joining Yuen Law, Tris served in the Insolvency and Public Trustee’s Office and the Ministry of Law. In his time in civil service, Tris undertook a breadth of work including court work, policy planning and stakeholder management, and was heavily involved with the 2015 reforms of the then-“Bankruptcy Act”, and the 2018 passing of the new omnibus Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act. He then joined the Singapore University of Social Sciences as a lecturer, teaching subjects as diverse as Equity and Trusts, Wills, and Constitutional Law, as well as spearheading the inaugural Legal Clerkship Programme.
Tris enjoys explaining and demystifying what the law can mean for businesses and individuals.
Featured Services
Winding Up of Companies
We advise and assist creditors on serving statutory demands, enforcement of judgment orders and other forms of debt recovery. We also advise on compulsory winding up applications. During the liquidation process, we guide clients on matters arising at creditor’s meetings and liaising with liquidators.
MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING UP AND LIQUIDATION | SIMPLIFIED INSOLVENCY PROGRAMME
We advise steps which may be taken, when a company is insolvent, or the business has ceased activities, or when shareholders are at deadlock. We advise members of a company on initiating both creditors' winding up and members' voluntary winding up. We also assist companies in applications for the Simplified Winding Up Programme (to allow companies to be wound up quickly and summarily without needing to go to Court) and Simplified Debt Restructuring Programme (to assist the company in restructuring and rehabilitating its debts).
JUDICIAL MANAGEMENT | SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT
We advise companies, directors and shareholders when companies are in financial distress on alternative solutions to deal with debt. These include applying for judicial management proceedings to protect the company from legal proceedings by third parties and giving it the opportunity to restructure its debt obligations and rehabilitate. Alternatively, we can advise parties wishing to enter into a scheme of arrangement on the necessary procedures for creditors and applications to Court.
PERSONAL INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY
We can act for creditors – institutional and non-institutional – to apply to Court to make a debtor bankrupt, and advise on the appointment of private trustee to administer a bankrupt’s estate. We can also act for private individuals to propose and facilitate individual voluntary arrangements with creditors so as to pre-emptively avoid bankruptcy proceedings.
Conveyancing
We represent individuals and companies in real estate transactions, including the sale and purchase of various properties like commercial, industrial, JTC leases, and residential (private and HDB flats). Our services include reviewing and drafting agreements, loan and financing documents, conducting due diligence and title searches, and advising on legal implications and stamp duties during a sale of property, drafting of power of attorney. Our goal is to ensure a seamless conveyancing process while protecting our clients' interests throughout the entire process.
MORTGAGE REDEMPTION
We act for clients in the redemption of mortgages, including preparing and filing the necessary documents with the bank to finalise the discharge of mortgage, and request for the release of title deed of the property. We are able to act in the redemption of mortgages for most major local banks.
MORTGAGE REFINANCING
We act for clients in refinancing transactions when they switch their existing home loan to a new lender to reduce interest and monthly instalment payments. Other situations where refinancing may be required include altering the terms of the loan, such as extension in length of the loan, or consolidation of a few smaller mortgage loans.
TRANSFER OF PROPERTY
We advise families on decoupling of properties, by severing jointly-owned properties such that one party can buy over the other spouse’s share in the property. We advise clients on the legal implications of transfers by way of gift. We handle property transfers pursuant to a divorce court order, and transmission of properties to executors, administrators or beneficiaries of a deceased estate.
Intellectual Property
We specialize in providing comprehensive legal support for protecting and registering our clients' intellectual property assets, including trade marks, geographical indications, and designs. To ensure a smooth and successful process, we conduct conflict searches to minimize objections and oppositions. We offer customized filing strategies tailored to each client's unique needs. Additionally, our team is experienced in managing and renewing international intellectual property portfolios to keep them in good standing.
ENFORCEMENT OF IP AND INFRINGEMENT ISSUES
We are experienced in handling trade mark, copyright, and design disputes as well as infringement issues. We have the skills to handle all types of IP disputes and provide effective solutions through various dispute resolution methods such as hearings (opposition, revocation and invalidity actions), arbitration, mediation, private negotiations, and litigation. Our team can also obtain injunctions, search and seizure orders, and advise on domain name disputes and managing anti-counterfeiting programs to ensure our clients' assets are protected.
LICENSING OF IP AND TECHNOLOGY
We provide legal assistance for intellectual property, technology, and business transactions, including contract formation, drafting, negotiation, and regulatory guidance on IP licenses and assignments, franchises, technology transfers, and R&D partnerships. Our clients are in industries such as life sciences, medical technology, robotics, fintech, and e-commerce. We also support clients in media and entertainment on issues such as copyright, merchandise, sponsorship, advertising, and royalty revenues.
Media & Publications
- Contributed two chapters (the Constitution and the Moneylenders’ Act) to LexisNexis’ Annotated Laws of Singapore.
- Featured as one of Singapore Academy of Law’s “Legal Personalities who get personal on LinkedIn”.
Services & Fees
Fees
Legal Services
- Deed Polls (Name Change)
- Commercial Disputes
- Patents
- Debt Recovery
- Conveyancing
- Trademark Infringement
- Shareholder Disputes
- Landlord-Tenant Disputes
- Intellectual Property Advice
- Drafting IOU / Debt Acknowledgment
- Building and Construction Claims
- Bankruptcy
- Renovation Claims
- Trade Mark Registration
- Civil Litigation
- Contractual Disputes
- Copyright Infringement
- Winding Up of Companies
- Power of Attorney
- Debt Recovery for Companies
- Housing
- Trusts
- Defamation
Write a review