Strategic Merger and New Leadership to Boost CLO’s Disputes Practice
Highly regarded specialist disputes and arbitration firm Sanjay Mohan Advocates & Solicitors will merge with Rajah & Tann Asia member firm Christopher & Lee Ong (CLO) effective January 1, 2026, bringing together two complementary teams with a shared commitment to legal excellence, commercial insight and client-focused solutions.
As part of the merger, Sanjay Mohan will head CLO’s Disputes Practice. With over three decades of experience, Mohan enjoys high repute as a disputes lawyer, particularly in construction and energy matters, having acted in numerous high-profile arbitrations and court proceedings locally and abroad.
“The merger represents a natural and forward-looking step, combining our boutique precision and personalised service with CLO’s depth, regional resources and institutional strength,” Mohan said.
The merger comes at a pivotal time, as businesses navigate an upswing in cross-border transactions, regulatory shifts and increasingly complex disputes. Arbitration has also become more entrenched as the dispute resolution mechanism of choice, particularly for international parties seeking speed, neutrality and confidentiality.
“With the integration, we are elevating our disputes and arbitration capabilities to a new level, offering clients solutions that bring together legal knowledge and industry insight. It also expands our ability to anticipate risks, manage complex proceedings, and achieve the best possible outcomes for clients,” noted John Mathew, the senior partner in CLO’s Disputes Practice, as he spoke on the prospects unlocked by this merger.
Managing partner Kuok Yew Chen added, “Sanjay and team are a welcome addition to the family, not just for the skills and expertise they bring to the table, but for their work ethics and principles, which clearly align with the culture and objectives of CLO and the RTA network.”
With this move, CLO reinforces its commitment to clients to deliver legal services of depth and breadth. The merger reflects the firm’s ambition to continually raise the standard of service, offering clients solutions that combine scale with precision across different facets of corporate and disputes work.
