Allyed Gateway at the RICS Singapore Commercial Management of Construction Seminar

Allyed Gateway was pleased to serve as the Exclusive Construction Law Partner for the RICS Singapore Commercial Management of Construction Seminar held on 14 October 2026.

Our Joint Managing Director, Looi Ming Ming 雷敏明, delivered an address on behalf of the firm and participated in a panel discussion on Collaborative Contracting in Practice: NEC4, Early Contractor Involvement and Project Initiation.

Moderated by Shailen Talsania of Currie & Brown, the panel brought together Ngu Wang Chung of JTC Corporation and Sybil Tan of the Building and Construction Authority to share insights and practical experiences in collaborative project delivery.

Drawing on over two decades of experience in construction disputes, Ming shared three observations on what can go wrong on projects – and what might have prevented those problems:

• Clarity beats cleverness.

• Good records beat good memories.

• Good collaboration requires difficult conversations.

Effective collaboration does not mean avoiding disagreement. It requires clear obligations, timely decisions and honest conversations, even when difficult.

As Ming Ming observed, “Collaboration isn't about the absence of disagreement, but the absence of surprises.”

Frameworks such as NEC4 provide mechanisms to support collaboration, but even the best contract cannot have those difficult conversations for the parties. What matters is how issues are managed while there is still time to resolve them.

This also reflects our approach at Allyed Gateway: helping clients manage risks and find practical solutions, rather than simply resolving disputes after they arise.

As Ming Ming put it in closing, “The best case isn't necessarily always the one you win. Sometimes, it's the one you never have to fight.”

Allyed Gateway thanks RICS in Asia Pacific and Lin Tan for organising the seminar, and our fellow panellists and moderator for the candid discussions and engaging exchange of ideas.