Sanjiv Naddan

Introduction

Sanjiv Naddan is a Dispute Resolution lawyer in Malaysia, with a focused practice spanning banking & finance litigation, commercial & contractual disputes, land disputes and various other civil disputes.

He is a founding partner of Messrs Sanjiv Naddan & Huan, a Kuala Lumpur firm focused on dispute resolution, and has contributed to two established practitioner texts on Malaysian company law and injunctive relief.

Professional Background & Credentials

Sanjiv graduated with an LL.B. (Hons) from Cardiff University in 2015 and completed Malaysia’s Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) in 2016. He began his pupillage at Messrs Shook Lin & Bok in 2017, was admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in January 2018, and rose through the firm’s litigation ranks to senior associate. He was made partner of the firm in January 2024.

He practised in the firm’s Banking and Finance Litigation/Dispute Resolution department and was also part of its Technology, Multimedia and Telecommunications (TMT) department, appearing at all levels of the Malaysian courts, gaining exposure to, amongst others, debt recovery, disputes in relation to financial matters, shareholder, contractual & land disputes, and restructuring & insolvency matters.

Dispute Resolution Expertise

As a dispute resolution lawyer in Malaysia, Sanjiv handles a broad array of contentious matters, which include, amongst others, the following:

a) contractual disputes, ranging from breach of software licensing agreements to financial agreements.

b) enforcement of security;

c) fraud & breach of trust claims;

d) commercial disputes such as shareholder & minority oppression claims;

e) landlord and tenant disputes; and

f) land related disputes.

He also advises on insolvency & corporate restructuring and handles any associated disputes that arise from such arrangements. He also regularly advises on probate related matters and matters in relation to the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 in Malaysia.

His practice combines adversarial litigation with realistic and commercial savvy advice on the position of law in Malaysia.

Some of his dispute resolution experience includes, amongst others, the following:

• Acted for a bank sued in negligence by a former Prime Minister of Malaysia;
• Appeared in a Federal Court Reference on the constitutionality of sections 56 and 57 of the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 2009 — heard for the first time in the Malaysian judiciary by a seven-member Federal Court panel;
• Appeared at the Federal Court on the scope of section 281 of the National Land Code 1965;
• Acted for Malaysia’s largest public transport operator in a trespass, nuisance and negligence claim brought by a landowner;
• Acted for financial institutions in recovery actions against debtors;
• Acted in a negligence claim brought by a public-listed confectionery company and its subsidiary, with damages claimed in excess of RM400 million;
• Acted in a shareholders’ dispute involving a property development project in Ipoh;
• Conducted trial as counsel in a negligence suit against a bank for alleged land fraud;
• Handled interlocutory applications, including stay of execution, striking out, summary judgment and security for costs

Reported decisions:

• Citra Tani Sdn Bhd v Public Bank Berhad and another appeal [2020] MLJU 291
• Public Bank Berhad v LH Bintang Development Sdn Bhd & Anor [2020] MLJU 6
• Public Bank Bhd v LH Bintang Development Sdn Bhd & Anor and another suit [2018] MLJU 1511
• JRI Resources Sdn Bhd v Kuwait Finance House & Ors (M) Bhd [2019] 3 MLJ 561
• Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd v Khee San Food Industries Sdn Bhd & Anor [2021] MLJU 1246

Publications

Alongside practice, Sanjiv has contributed to recognised practitioner resources. He is a contributor to the Annotated Companies Act 2016 (by Thomson Reuters) and contributed to Chapter 10, “Bank Guarantees and Performance Bonds,” to Law and Practice on Injunctions in Malaysia (by Sweet & Maxwell Asia).

Speaking Engagements & Professional Activity

Sanjiv has participated in knowledge‑sharing and professional development activities for law students and practitioners. He featured as a speaker in programmes run by his former firm for law faculty orientation, illustrating his commitment to mentoring and legal education. He has also provided talks to various institutions on the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 and various other topics. Following the launch of his own practice, he and his partner have continued to engage in professional fora related to construction adjudication, land acquisition & dispute resolution topics.

Firm Formation & Practice 

In August 2025 Sanjiv co‑founded Messrs Sanjiv Naddan & Huan, a Kuala Lumpur partnership with another Partner from his previous firm with a primary focus on dispute resolution.

The new firm positions itself as a specialist dispute practice that combines litigation experience with practical dispute‑averse drafting and advisory work, aiming to deliver clear, commercially‑focused outcomes for corporate and individual clients.

Sanjiv’s partner, Yee Huan is active in arbitration and adjudication (CIPAA) with particular focus to the construction industry. He also handles various other aspects of dispute resolution work in relation to the construction industry as well as contentious probate and insurance matters.

Together, Sanjiv Naddan & Huan are able to handle all aspects of Dispute Resolution work.

The Dispute Resolution Landscape In Malaysia

Dispute resolution in Malaysia today is characterised by a busy multi‑track environment: active court dockets across civil and commercial lists, growing use of alternative dispute resolution such as arbitration and adjudication (notably under CIPAA for construction payment disputes).

For businesses and individuals, specialist expertise matters because outcomes often turn on well advised procedural steps, technical evidentiary strategy in disputes, and informed risk‑allocation advice. A lawyer with both courtroom experience and published practice guidance is well placed to manage these multi‑dimensional risks.

What Distinguishes Sanjiv Naddan

Sanjiv’s profile combines front‑line litigation experience with practitioner scholarship and client‑facing teaching, a blend that benefits clients who need both robust courtroom advocacy and practical risk management. His experience acting for financial institutions and corporate clients in banking, insolvency and shareholder disputes gives him a commercial perspective on litigation strategy and settlement approaches.

Further, his contributions to authoritative practitioner texts and his public speaking reflect a lawyer who keeps pace with the developments of the law—an important asset in sectors where the law and regulatory frameworks are evolving rapidly. 

Who Should Instruct Him

Businesses and individuals in Malaysia facing any form of civil dispute and/or seeking for advisory in respect of the various matters above can reach out to Sanjiv.

Sanjiv’s experience in handling various types of disputes puts him in the forefront to handle such matters.