Partner
Chok Zhin Theng
Chok Zhin Theng has more than 13 years of experience in dispute resolution involving diverse areas of law.
Profile
Chok Zhin Theng is a Partner at Cheah Teh Su with more than 13 years of experience in dispute resolution. He has a broad litigation practice, with an emphasis on disputes involving corporate and commercial law, land law, contracts, torts, administration of estates, strata management, and compulsory land acquisition.
He regularly advises on high-value and complex disputes, including matters requiring crisis management, and is experienced at all levels of the superior courts. He adopts a meticulous, responsive, and pragmatic approach to his practice, with clients describing him as "excellent", "sharp", and "dedicated".
Beyond practice, Chok has contributed to legal discourse on corporate governance, directors' duties, shareholder disputes, land disputes, strata law, and civil procedure through journal articles and conference talks. He also represents the Bar Council in disciplinary proceedings matters.
Work Highlight
Commercial Litigation
- Acted for shareholder in arbitration proceedings in respect of a company with contract value of USD200 million.
- Acted in shareholder disputes and oppression proceedings for both private and public companies, which one such dispute giving rise to 15 lawsuits (excluding appeals), arbitration proceedings and involving 16 entities.
- Acted for directors involving serious allegations of breach of directors' fiduciary duties with damages claimed in excess of RM12 million.
- Acted in proceedings involving various types of injunctions and/or interim preservation measures e.g.:
- to restrain transfer of shares
- to restrain transfer of monies or entering into commercial transactions
- to restrain alteration of articles of association
- to restrain appointment and/or removal of director
- to add additional directors
- to restrain changes in share capital
- anti-arbitration injunction
- Erinford injunction
- Mareva injunction
Civil Litigation
- Acted in various property disputes and land fraud and forgery disputes.
- Acted in various types of contractual disputes involving inter alia:
- shareholder agreements
- sale and purchase agreements
- distributor agreements
- employment agreements
- confidentiality agreements
- non-compete clauses
- tenancy and lease agreements, etc.
- Acted in tortious claims e.g.,:
- civil fraud
- conspiracy to injure
- negligence
- trespass
- inducing breach of contract
- knowing receipt and dishonest assistance
- unlawful interference of trade
- defamation
- Acted in contentious high-stakes probate proceedings.
- Acted in disputes relating to stratified and non-stratified properties, including judicial review proceedings against the Strata Management Tribunal.
- Acted for landowners in compulsory land acquisition proceedings (and obtaining compensation in excess of RM38 million in one such case) and also, enforcing payment of compensation obtaining compensation for loss arising from withdrawal of acquisition, etc.
- Acted for the Bar Council in disciplinary proceedings matters involving gross monetary dishonesty for use of monies without client’s authorization
- Acted in various execution and/or enforcement proceedings e.g.,:
- garnishee proceedings
- writs of seizure and sale
- prohibitory orders
- writ of possession
- judgment debtor summons
- committal proceedings, etc.
News & Articles
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4
Mar 2025
March 4, 2025
Case Highlight
Abuse of process: forum shopping and duplicity of proceedings
10
Jul 2025
July 10, 2025
Case Highlight
Pleading collateral contract / liability for inducing breach of contract is not dependent on judgment against contract-breaker – Jaya Sudhir a/l Jayaram v. Dato’ Seri Timor Shah Rafiq & Ors and another appeal [2025] MLRAU 199
4
Oct 2024
October 4, 2024
Case Highlight
Developer who sold stratified properties but remains the registered proprietor is liable for maintenance charges
29
Nov 2023
November 29, 2023
Case Highlight
Much ado about a will - Kong Kin Lay & 5 Ors v. Kong Kin Siong & Ors And Other Cases [2023] MLRHU 1427, [2023] MLJU 1858; [2023] 1 LNS 1528
28
Feb 2022
February 28, 2022
Case Highlight
Directors’ pursuit of good corporate governance is neither a conspiracy nor in breach of duties – Nautilus Tug & Towage Sdn Bhd v. Nautical Supreme Sdn Bhd & Ors [2022] 4 CLJ 594
Testimonials
“Chok Zhin Theng is sharp and reliable.”
Collated independently by Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific (2026)
“Chok Zhin Theng is a highly hardworking and dedicated lawyer.”
Collated independently by Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific (2026)
“… good team partner to work with. He uses his knowledge to produce quality strategy for the case”
Collated independently by Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific (2026)
“From the perspective of client service, he is the first person to be there whenever you need advice, especially related to legal matters. He will try his best to solve all the issues arising from the case. Working with him will create an environment that feels like everyone is playing a role in the team, even though I am a client and know nothing about legal matters. Thanks to him, I have at least learned something about laws and regulations in Malaysia.”
Collated independently by Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific (2026)
Qualifications
- Advocate and Solicitor, High Court in Malaya (2013)
- Certificate in Legal Practice (2011)
- LLB (Hons), University of London (2010)
Contact
Selected Reported Cases
Acclime Corporate Services Sdn Bhd & Anor v Wong Youn Kim & Anor [2026] MLRHU 1167, HC
Text LinkRepresented former director / employee in obtaining discovery order against former employer in suit initiated by former employer.
Bangi Resort & Development Corporation Sdn Bhd v Himpunan Sinar Sdn Bhd [2026] MLJU 1609, HC
Text LinkRepresented landowner in trespass suit involving issues of assessment of boundary lines, damages, limitation, laches and consent.
Siva Subramaniam Shanmugam v Chin Kam Seng; Majlis Peguam Malaysia (Proposed Intervener) [2025] CLJU 1876, HC
Text LinkRepresented Bar Council in intervening in an appeal against decision of the Disciplinary Board involving gross monetary dishonesty for use of monies without client’s authorization.
Acclime Corporate Services Sdn Bhd & Anor v Wong Youn Kim & Anor [2025] 12 MLJ 441, HC
Text LinkRepresented former director / employee in resisting an application for a protective order over documents and communications in relation thereto.
Kong Kin Lay & Ors v Kong Kin Siong & Ors [2025] 5 MLJ 891, CA
Text LinkRepresented propounders of a Will in defending allegations of lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence and suspicious circumstances in relation to a testator of extreme old age.
Jaya Sudhir a/l Jayaram v Dato’ Seri Timor Shah Rafiq & Ors and another appeal [2025] CLJU 1575, CA
Text LinkDefended appeals against High Court’s judgment on various causes of action e.g., breach of a collateral understanding, breach of fiduciary duties, dishonest assistance, knowing receipt, and inducing breach of contract.
S L Ng Trading Agency Sdn Bhd v Tohtonku Sdn Bhd [2025] 9 MLJ 946, HC
Text LinkRepresented supplier in (i) resisting an injunction to terminate distributorship and (ii) applying to strike out suit on grounds of abuse of process and forum shopping .
Nautilus Tug & Towage Sdn Bhd v Nautical Supreme Sdn Bhd & Ors [2025] 3 MLJ 573, CA
Text LinkDefended appeal from High Court’s judgment on conspiracy to injure and breach of directors and fiduciary duties.
Perbadanan Pengurusan Marina Crescent v Tribunal Pengurusan Strata, Putrajaya & Anor and another case [2024] 12 MLJ 790, HC
Text LinkRepresented management corporation to recover outstanding statutory contributions from developer who sold stratified properties but remained as registered proprietor.
Nautilus Tug & Towage Sdn Bhd v Nautical Supreme Sdn Bhd & Ors [2022] 4 CLJ 594, HC
Text LinkRepresented a minority shareholder and its 2 nominee directors against a claim by a joint venture company for conspiracy to injure and breach of directors and fiduciary duties.
Jaya Sudhir Jayaram v Dato’ Seri Timor Shah Rafiq [2020] MLJU 2197, HC
Text LinkRepresented a minority shareholder and its representative in 2 consolidated suits to defend a claim of breach of a collateral understanding, breach of fiduciary duties, dishonest assistance, and knowing receipt; and to prosecute a claim for torts of inducing breach of contract and dishonest assistance.
Tahps Group Bhd v Pentadbir Tanah Daerah Raub [2019] 2 MLJ 62, CA
Text LinkRepresented landowner in land acquisition proceedings on the bar on appeals to the Court of Appeal.
Nautical Supreme Sdn Bhd v Jaya Sudhir a/l Jayaram & Ors [2019] 3 MLJ 166, CA
Text LinkOpposed an injunction by a stranger to restrain arbitration proceedings between parties to an arbitration agreement.
Jaya Sudhir a/l Jayaram v Dato’ Seri Timor Shah Rafiq & Ors [2018] MLJU 1024, HC
Text LinkObtained an Order for stay of a counterclaim for the dispute to be referred to arbitration pursuant to section 10(1) of the Arbitration Act 2005.
Suresh Emmanuel Abishegam & Anor v Nautilus Perak Marine Services Sdn Bhd [2017] 7 CLJ 250, HC
Text LinkRepresented proposed contemnors in setting aside an ex parte leave order granted by Court to commence committal proceedings.
Pasupathy A/L Kanagasaby v Masterskill (M) Sdn Bhd & Anor and Another Appeal [2017] MLJU 129, CA
Text LinkRepresented purchaser in disputes on sale and purchase agreement and with third parties claiming rights over subject property.
Talks and Lectures
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Temple Land Disputes in Malaysia: Demolition, Relocation & Legal Risk Management
Negotiating Property Deals: Strategies, Legal Safeguards & Managing Commercial Risks
Lessons learned – an overview of recent and trending decisions by courts on stratified property management
Law on landlord-tenant and its development in Malaysia
Trespass, nuisance and fraud : common wrongs relating to land
What to expect from the Proposed Residential Tenancies Act?
Brief legal review on the law of landlord and tenancy
Indefeasibility of title of immediate purchaser and its vitiating elements