KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 31, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Malaysian law firm David Gurupatham & Koay (DGK) has established a dedicated Cross-Border Commercial Dispute Practice in Jinan, Shandong Province, expanding the firm’s services for businesses involved in commercial matters between China, Malaysia and the broader ASEAN region. Operating through DGK’s regional office in Jinan, the practice will focus on cross-border litigation, international arbitration and commercial advisory services.
The new practice builds on DGK’s presence in China and its existing work in cross-border disputes involving businesses and parties across multiple jurisdictions. Its establishment comes as commercial and investment activity between China and Southeast Asia continues to develop under frameworks including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Belt and Road Initiative.
As businesses operate across increasingly complex legal and regulatory environments, DGK’s Jinan-based practice will support clients dealing with commercial disputes and other legal matters involving multiple jurisdictions.
The Shandong Cross-Border Commercial Dispute Practice focuses on high-stakes contentious and advisory matters, including:
- International Commercial Arbitration & Mediation: Navigating proceedings under major arbitral institutions (such as AIAC, CIETAC, SIAC, and HKIAC) and ad hoc tribunals.
- Enforcement of Foreign Judgments and Arbitral Awards: Streamlining reciprocal enforcement across Malaysian, Chinese, and regional courts.
- Joint Venture & Shareholder Disputes: Resolving ownership, governance, and contractual conflicts arising from inbound and outbound ventures.
- Trade, Supply Chain & Maritime Claims: Managing international trade defaults, freight carriage liabilities, demurrage, and cross-border distribution conflicts.
- Energy, Infrastructure & Mining Advisory: Providing regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and contentious dispute management for large-scale industrial projects.
“Cross-border commercial activity demands legal counsel that combines deep jurisdictional acumen with authentic cross-cultural fluency,” said Dato’ David Gurupatham, Co-founder and Managing Partner of DGK. “Our presence in Shandong bridges the gap between Chinese commercial reality and ASEAN legal frameworks. By establishing this dedicated practice group, we ensure our clients receive prompt, commercially viable, and enforceable solutions on both sides of the border.”
Koay Eng Hooi, Co-founder and Senior Partner, added: “Shandong is a vital manufacturing and trading engine for China. As local enterprises partner with Malaysian and ASEAN entities, dispute avoidance and efficient dispute management become critical safeguards for capital and enterprise value. Our team is positioned to protect our clients’ commercial interests at every stage.”
The Jinan practice operates seamlessly with DGK’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya and regional offices across Malaysia, offering clients dual-jurisdiction capabilities, bilingual negotiation support, and localized dispute-management strategies.
About David Gurupatham & Koay
Founded in 2002, David Gurupatham & Koay (DGK) is a premier full-service Malaysian law firm known for its cross-border commercial practice, international arbitration, corporate advisory, and civil litigation. With a significant presence across Malaysia and mainland China, DGK delivers pragmatic, culturally attuned, and robust legal solutions to multinational corporations, state-owned enterprises, and private businesses.
Website: www.dgklegal.com
Contact
David Gurupatham & Koay
david@dgklegal.com
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