Rajendra Navaratnam

⚒️ What do you do?

My current roles are Counsel and Arbitrator and I lead a disputes team in my firm Azman, Davidson & Co. I enjoy the mix these two roles which give me satisfaction in different ways – the cut and thrust of civilised combat and competition as Counsel and the soft skills of getting Counsel to pull together with me as Arbitrator to resolve disputes in the most efficient way.

The common thread in both roles when I can get it is the challenge of cracking technical disputes, which I enjoy, and which probably stems from my past life as an engineer! 

🏆 What is your proudest achievement?

Professionally, as Counsel in getting satisfaction for the Plaintiffs in the Highland Towers case where we were the underfinanced underdogs and ranged against us were top lawyers, world renowned experts and consultants retained by the defendants which included a bank. Thankfully justice prevailed, although I have a sneaky feeling that it wasn’t due to my brilliant advocacy but rather there were greater forces at work!

As Arbitrator, being appointed one of Malaysia’s two members of the ICC Court of Arbitration. 
 Personally, in my two sons who have been groomed by their (tiger) mum to represent Malaysia in chess, with the elder one now a FIDE International Master, while I bask in the reflected glory (and pay the bills for their travels to exotic locations for chess tournaments!) 

⌛ There are now 25 hours in a day! How do you spend your extra hour?
To practice guitar which I’ve always made solemn promises to myself to do but have never kept up, which explains why I am still a sorry beginner. 

🚀 If you weren't a lawyer, what would you do?
I love tinkering with stuff and repairing them, from computers to TVs to old iPhones, so possibly a technician? But my wife tells me I should keep my day job...

😋 Your favourite food haunt
Serendib in G Tower Kuala Lumpur for authentic Sri Lankan food. Their sweet apam (hoppers) freshly made with jagary (brown sugar) is to die for!