Other Areas We Practice In
Services / Other
Our core practice is litigation, civil, commercial, contract, and construction disputes. But the law does not always stay in one lane. Many of the matters we handle involve practice areas that sit alongside or flow from litigation.
This page covers the full scope of what we do beyond the four core pillars. If your matter is not listed on one of our main service pages, it may be covered here. If you are not sure, call us or send an email and tell us what is happening. We will tell you honestly whether it falls within our practice.
Criminal
Defence
Dato’ Rabinder Singh has handled high-profile criminal proceedings throughout his 24 years at the bar. PP v Kenneth Lee Fook Mun and PP v Dato’ Balwant Singh are among the confirmed criminal matters on the public record.
Criminal defence at RBA operates at the level the matter demands, from the Sessions Court through to the High Court and, where necessary, the Court of Appeal. If you or someone you know has been charged, is under investigation, or is required to attend a police station for questioning, the right time to speak to a lawyer is before you say anything.
Employment and Industrial Relations
Employment disputes, wrongful dismissal, constructive dismissal, retrenchment, and breach of employment contract, can be heard at the Industrial Court, the High Court, or both, depending on the nature of the claim. We act for employers and employees.
Our lawyers have handled industrial relations matters with experience across the Industrial Court and the civil courts. If you have received a dismissal letter, a show cause notice, or are facing an Industrial Court reference, speak with us before responding.
Family and
matrimonial
Family and matrimonial matters, divorce, division of matrimonial assets, custody and access, maintenance, require lawyers who can handle the legal proceedings and the human reality of the situation at the same time.
Our lawyers handle family and matrimonial litigation. We act in both contested and uncontested proceedings. Family matters are handled with discretion. What you tell us stays with us.
Probate and estate administration
When someone dies, their estate needs to be administered, debts settled, assets distributed, and in some cases, the validity of a will challenged or defended. Probate proceedings can be straightforward or deeply contested.
Our lawyers handle probate and estate administration matters, including contentious probate. Whether you are an executor who needs to administer an estate, a beneficiary whose entitlement is being disputed, or
Intellectual
property
Intellectual property disputes, including trademark infringement under the Trade Marks Act 2019, passing off under common law, and copyright claims under the Copyright Act 1987, are increasingly litigated matters in Malaysia. We handle IP disputes in the context of our broader litigation practice. If you are facing an infringement claim, have received a cease and desist letter, or your IP rights are being actively violated, we advise on the litigation options and the strength of your position before you act.
Corporate insolvency and bankruptcy
We act in corporate insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings, winding-up applications, judicial management, and personal bankruptcy. Our lawyers have handled insolvency matters. Whether you are a creditor seeking to wind up a debtor company, a company facing a winding-up petition, or an individual dealing with bankruptcy proceedings, we advise on the full range of options.
Land
disputes
Land disputes in Malaysia are governed by the National Land Code 1965. They include adverse possession claims, boundary disputes, caveat lodging and removal, indefeasibility of title challenges, and disputes over registered land dealings such as charges, liens, and transfers. We act in land dispute matters before the High Court and, where necessary, the Court of Appeal. The firm has specific experience in land dispute litigation, including matters involving high-value commercial properties.
Maritime
matters
The firm handles maritime matters as part of its broader litigation practice. Maritime disputes in Malaysia, cargo claims, vessel arrests in rem, charterparty disputes, and bills of lading claims, are governed by the admiralty jurisdiction of the High Court and require familiarity with specialised procedure distinct from ordinary civil litigation. This experience sits alongside RBA’s broader dispute practice.
Strata
management
Strata management disputes, between management corporations, joint management bodies, parcel owners, and developers, are governed by the Strata Management Act 2013 and the Strata Titles Act 1985.
Dato’ Rabinder Singh has extensive firsthand experience in strata management, having served as Chairman of the Joint Management Body of Plaza Sentral since 2010 and Chairman of the Management Corporation of Q Sentral since 2016. He successfully negotiated a RM2.2 million settlement from the Q Sentral developer and resolved a decade-long service charge dispute at Plaza Sentral. This is not textbook knowledge, it is practical experience.
Commissioner for Oaths
Dato’ Rabinder Singh is an active Commissioner for Oaths (appointment ref. [W 614], valid 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2027). A Commissioner for Oaths is authorised to administer oaths and take statutory declarations, required for a wide range of legal and administrative purposes, including statutory declarations, affidavits, and sworn statements for use in Malaysian proceedings or institutions.
Commissioner for Oaths services are available at the firm’s office at Plaza Sentral during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM). No appointment required for simple declarations, call ahead for complex or time-sensitive matters.
Notary Public
Dato’ Rabinder Singh is also an active Notary Public (appointment ref. PN(S)30/222/2 Jld.9 (54), valid 2 October 2025 to 1 October 2027). A Notary Public is authorised to certify documents for international use, including certified true copies, apostilles, and notarisation of documents required by foreign authorities, institutions, or courts.
Common uses include: notarisation of powers of attorney for overseas use, certified copies of qualifications or identity documents for foreign educational institutions or employers, and authentication of commercial documents for international transactions.
What Our Clients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rabinder Budiman & Associates handle criminal defence cases?
Yes. Criminal defence is one of the practice areas handled by the firm. Dato’ Rabinder Singh has handled high-profile criminal proceedings throughout his 24 years at the bar, including PP v Kenneth Lee Fook Mun and PP v Dato’ Balwant Singh. Criminal defence at RBA operates from the Sessions Court through to the Court of Appeal where the matter demands it. If you or someone you know has been charged, is under investigation, or is required to attend a police station for questioning, the right time to consult a lawyer is before making any statement.
What services does the Commissioner for Oaths at RBA provide?
Dato’ Rabinder Singh is an active Commissioner for Oaths (appointment reference [W 614], valid 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2027). A Commissioner for Oaths is authorised to administer oaths and take statutory declarations, required for statutory declarations for court use, affidavits, and sworn statements for use in Malaysian proceedings or institutions. No appointment is needed for straightforward declarations during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM). Call ahead for complex or time-sensitive matters.
When do I need a Notary Public rather than a Commissioner for Oaths?
A Commissioner for Oaths is typically sufficient for documents intended for use within Malaysia. A Notary Public is required when documents must be recognised outside Malaysia, for example, notarising a power of attorney for overseas use, certifying true copies of qualifications for a foreign university or employer, or authenticating commercial documents for international transactions. Dato’ Rabinder Singh is an active Notary Public (appointment valid until 1 October 2027) and can certify documents for international use.
Does RBA handle employment dismissal cases?
Yes. RBA handles employment and industrial relations matters, wrongful dismissal, constructive dismissal, retrenchment disputes, and breach of employment contract. Our lawyers have handled industrial relations matters with experience across the Industrial Court and civil courts. If you have received a dismissal letter, a show cause notice, or are facing an Industrial Court reference, speak with us before responding or accepting any terms. Limitation Act 1953, the standard limitation period for a contract claim in Malaysia is six years from the date of the breach. After that period, the claim may be time-barred. There are exceptions, fraud, concealed defects, and other circumstances can extend the period, but the six-year rule is the general position. If you are aware of a potential breach, it is important to take advice promptly rather than wait.
What family and matrimonial matters does RBA handle?
RBA handles family and matrimonial litigation, divorce proceedings (both contested and uncontested), division of matrimonial assets, custody and access applications, and maintenance matters. Our lawyers handle family and matrimonial litigation. Family matters at RBA are handled with discretion.
Does RBA handle strata management disputes under the Strata Management Act 2013?
Yes. RBA has both legal and practical experience in strata management disputes. Dato’ Rabinder Singh has served as Chairman of the Joint Management Body of Plaza Sentral since 2010 and Chairman of the Management Corporation of Q Sentral since 2016, positions in which he dealt directly with strata management law, service charge disputes, and developer non-compliance. He successfully negotiated a RM2.2 million settlement from the Q Sentral developer and resolved a decade-long service charge dispute at Plaza Sentral. This is firsthand experience of the Strata Management Act 2013 in practice, not textbook knowledge.
Can RBA handle a trademark infringement or IP dispute in Malaysia?
Yes. Trademark infringement, passing off, and copyright claims fall within the firm’s litigation practice. Trademark disputes in Malaysia are governed by the Trade Marks Act 2019, with infringement proceedings brought in the High Court. Passing off claims rely on common law and require establishing goodwill, misrepresentation, and damage. Copyright disputes are governed by the Copyright Act 1987. If you are facing a claim or you believe your IP rights are being infringed, the first step is understanding the legal basis of the claim and the strength of your position before taking any action.
What is a caveat and when should I lodge one over land in Malaysia?
A caveat under the National Land Code 1965 is a protective entry on the land register that gives notice of a claim or interest in land and prevents the registered owner from dealing with the property without the caveat being addressed. A caveat can be lodged by a person with a caveatable interest, for example, a purchaser under a sale and purchase agreement, a party with an equitable interest, or someone with a claim that affects the land. Wrongly lodging a caveat, or allowing a legitimate caveat to lapse, can have serious legal consequences. We advise on when to lodge, how to challenge, and how to remove caveats as part of land dispute proceedings.
Not Sure if We Handle Your Matter?
You do not need to know which practice area applies before contacting us. Most people call before they are certain they even need a lawyer. That is the right time.
Tell us what is happening. We will tell you honestly whether it falls within our practice and what the next step looks like.