Sign In

Tai-Heng Cheng

Global Co-Head, International Arbitration & Trade; & Co-Managing Partner, Singapore Sidley Austin LLP

Tai-Heng Cheng is a prominent international lawyer and co-managing partner of Sidley Austin LLP's Singapore office.13 He is also the global co-head of the firm's Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy practice.34

Professional Experience

Cheng joined Sidley Austin LLP in April 2019.3 Prior to this, he was the head of New York international arbitration practice at Quinn Emanuel from 2012 to 2019.3 He also served as a tenured professor of law at New York Law School from 2007 to 2012.3

Expertise and Recognition

Cheng is recognized as a preeminent disputes lawyer across multiple continents.4 He has:

  • Been named a "U.S. Thought Leader" by Who's Who Legal4
  • Received Law360's "MVP" award for international arbitration in 20234
  • Been recognized by Chambers in all three categories for International Arbitration: Counsel, Arbitrator, and Enforcement (2024)4

Notable Achievements

  • Won and collected nine-figure awards in North and South America and Europe4
  • Won the first investor-state arbitration under a Singapore treaty against Mexico4
  • Successfully defended clients before U.S. regulators, including the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission4

Education and Languages

Cheng holds a J.S.D. and LL.M. from Yale Law School and first-class honors in law from Oxford University.2 He is bilingual in English and Mandarin.23

Civic Engagement

Cheng is actively involved in various philanthropic and civic activities, including:

  • Trustee of the Frick Museum
  • Board member of the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of Asian Art
  • Chair of the board of American Friends of St. James's Church in Piccadilly
  • Trustee of the Foreign Policy Association
  • Co-founder of the Cheng-Harrell Institute for Global Affairs4

Highlights

Nov 10 · linkedin

For the first time in my 25 year career, I gave up an oral argument in court for a client, which is what I love the most in my job, to another partner.

I’m glad I did. Watching Eamon Joyce, the head of Sidley Austin LLP’s appellate practice in New York, deliver an appellate oral argument before a hot bench of judges was a masterclass in advocacy.

Thanks Eamon, and Melissa Colon-Bosolet for second chairing!

Aug 5 · linkedin

At a recent panel of managing partners in Asia, I readily conceded that the attorneys who put their personal safety at risk to join the DOJ team that indicted Donald Trump this week have achieved excellence far beyond the deals I assembled and cases I won recently.

In my opinion, law firms that broaden what it means be excellent stand to do even better financially while doing good. We will recruit and retain more talented lawyers. Stronger lawyers doing what they care most about will lead to better outcomes for clients and the communities around us.

SMU Yong Pung How School of Law Singapore Academy of Law #excellence #talentretention #trumpindictment #smulawschool #sal

Related Questions

What are some of the most complex cases Tai-Heng Cheng has worked on?
How has Tai-Heng Cheng's role evolved since he joined Sidley Austin LLP?
What makes the Singapore office unique compared to other Sidley offices?
How does Tai-Heng Cheng stay motivated in his role?
What are Tai-Heng Cheng's future goals for the Singapore office?
Tai-Heng Cheng
Tai-Heng Cheng, photo 1
Tai-Heng Cheng, photo 2
Add to my network

Location

New York, New York, United States