Burton graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1993 and was admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of Singapore in 1994.

He started practice in the reputable firm of Tan Rajah & Cheah (TRC) and was made a partner in 1999.

After 27 years in TRC, he left his position as senior partner to helm Burton Chen Legal.

Burton is an experienced advocate in civil & commercial dispute resolution for both Court and Arbitration proceedings of local and international nature. A preferred mediator by peers in the legal profession, he has facilitated local and international parties in exploring settlement solutions. Burton is also a well-regarded commercial transactional lawyer, advising clients on private equity investments, Joint Ventures and Mergers & Acquisitions.

Whether in a court room, an arbitral tribunal or at a negotiation table, Burton presents his client’s position clearly and practically, with persuasion and persistence. As a mediator, he helps parties come to a common interest towards finding a solution for their dispute.

Some of his notable cases include:

• Acting for new owners in the highly publicised Raffles Town Club case to defend against allegations made by former owners, which involved issues of conspiracy, unjust enrichment and breach of contract and duties.

• Acting for key management personnel in the National Kidney Foundation saga, which involved issues of de-facto/shadow directorship, breach of fiduciary duty and corporate governance.

• Acting for the majority consenting owners in a highly contentious collective sale of the well- publicized Horizon Towers development.

• Acting in defamation suits involving the Tanglin Club.

• Acting for liquidators from large auditing firms such as the Big-Four in matters which involved investigation into the whereabouts of assets, creditor claims other contentious issues.

• Acting for a major public accounting firm on potential exposure to negligence claims by third parties in relation to their auditing of the accounts of a listed company.

• Acting for senior executives of major banks and other MNC in restraint of trade cases.

• Advising high net worth clients in relation to wealth management and investment structuring issues.

• Advising major shareholders of the Imperial Treasure Group in their merger and acquisition transaction.

• Acting for key management personnel of City Harvest Church in the highly publicised criminal proceedings.

• Acting for key management personnel of China Aviation Oil in the high-profile Securities and Futures regulatory case.

• Acting for the Singapore Medical Council, Singapore Dental Council and other professional boards in the medical sector in their disciplinary inquiries.

• Acting in international arbitral proceedings for: a leading European airline in an investment dispute with an national airline in the Asia; a European supplier of fast- moving consumer goods in a trade dispute with a local importer; and for an Indian steel supplier in a trade dispute with a local buyer.

• Acting as the Mediator in: a cross-border dispute involving the supply of industrial machinery; in a corporate banking dispute; and an automobile import trade financing dispute.

Professional memberships:
The Law Society of Singapore and a Member of its Inquiry Panel
Singapore Academy of Law and a Member of its Professional Affairs Committee

Appointments:
Tribunal Magistrate, Small Claims Tribunal of the State Courts of Singapore
The Secretary of the Synod of the Diocese of Singapore