Malaysian law firm, Halim Hong & Quek has appointed Siva Kumar Kanagasabai as Senior Partner and Head of its Dispute Resolution Practice with effect from 1 January 2026, marking a significant senior lateral hire from Skrine.
Kumar joins after more than 30 years at Skrine, where he was a partner and a longstanding member of its dispute resolution practice. He is consistently recognised by international legal directories and is known for his work in complex, high-value disputes. His practice spans commercial litigation and arbitration, fraud and asset recovery, maritime and shipping matters, and employment disputes.
The appointment comes amid rising demand for sophisticated dispute resolution services, particularly in cross-border and commercially sensitive matters. By bringing in a senior practitioner with deep experience, the firm is reinforcing its disputes capability at leadership level.
Commenting on his move, Kumar said:
“I am excited to join Halim Hong & Quek, which has grown tremendously over the last few years both in size and stature. Although I am only joining HHQ as a partner now, I have known some of the founding partners of HHQ from the time we were students in university and I was even present when the firm was first launched.
I was at the same law firm for 30 years and it felt like it was time for me to embrace a new challenge. Ultimately, it was HHQ which appealed to me the most with their clarity of purpose and unwavering commitment to finding innovative ways to deliver exceptional work for clients in a collaborative environment. HHQ’s ambition to grow specialist practice areas and to provide bespoke legal services in line with the needs of the legal market, also very much resonated with me. I look forward to teaming up with my new colleagues in HHQ in continuing to find ways to serve our clients better.”
Kumar has acted in a number of high-profile and complex disputes, including serving as counsel in one of Malaysia’s most widely reported fraud cases involving large-scale misappropriation of public funds. His experience covers both litigation and arbitration across a range of industries.
Managing Partner Dato’ Quek Ngee Meng said:
“As the disputes landscape grows increasingly complex, clients need advocates who combine technical expertise with commercial understanding. Further, demand for sophisticated dispute resolution services continues to accelerate, particularly in cross-border, commercial, and industry-specific matters. Kumar’s excellent reputation as a litigator and his strong track record in complex commercial dispute resolution, especially in maritime, fraud recovery, employment and contract disputes, made him and his team a natural fit for HHQ’s vision. We are confident that with Kumar joining us, it will enhance our capability to deliver immense value to our clients in line with the firm’s aspirations.”
