WHAT WE DO BEST

We are a boutique law firm in Malaysia best known for its vibrancy, innovation and excellent service standards.

Corporate & Commercial

Dispute Resolution

Employment Law

RECOGNITION

Legal 500 Asia Pacific

Leading Firm
– Labour & Employment

Chambers and Partners

Ranked Firm (Band 4)
– Employment and
Industrial Relations

Asialaw Profiles

Recommended Firm,
Labour and Employment

IFLR1000

Recommended
Firm, M&A

Benchmark Litigation

Litigation Star
(Donovan Cheah)

IN SOME OTHER WORDS

What sets Donovan & Ho apart from other law firms I have worked with is that personal touch. They not just specialise in giving sound legal advice, but they take pride in their work… It feels like it’s tailor-made to suit the needs of their clients. Much effort is made to understand their clients, their business and their needs.

G. Ramakrishnan, Senior Employment Counsel

From the get go, we were able to establish a professional, trusting working partnership with the firm. Donovan & Ho have been my “go to” employment and corporate lawyer… As well as providing the legal tools we needed, we received extensive support, guidance and advice … we go into situations with our eyes open, fully briefed on business ramifications from a legal perspective.

S. Baxendale, Founder

I appreciate Donovan & Ho’s timely and easy-to-grasp client updates, robust yet practical legal solutions, and their affable professional team of lawyers who understand and seek to address their clients’ needs. Their work is grounded on a strong foundation of the law, with a firm grasp of commercial reality and the empathy of experienced employment lawyers.

S.Y. Lee, Regional Labour Counsel

Donovan & Ho have not only been our legal counsel, but also our trusted partner in navigating complex legal matters in our business, and their dedication to client satisfaction is truly remarkable. Their unique blend of friendliness and professionalism sets them apart from others.

H.K, Manager

Provides clients with practical solutions built on a foundation of strong legal and cultural understanding of the employment landscape in Malaysia.

Chambers Asia Pacific

Excellent. The firm has always provided accurate and helpful legal advice. They are responsive to our needs and a true partner.

Asialaw Profiles

Advice is balanced against commercial considerations, with practical bent… Extremely cooperative, fast response, extra mile intention on getting the client fully knowledgeable of all pros and cons of every single term, patiently. Lastly, eager to help. No weaknesses… Has strong business acumen and industry knowledge. Considerate and fair in judgement… Value for money, great professionalism and good/pleasant user experience…

IFLR1000

(specialising) in employment litigation… the team is winning plaudits from the market for its labour expertise and is quickly climbing the ranks as a go-to firm for these matters.

Benchmark Litigation

Donovan & Ho might be young (launched 2014) and small, but the firm is hard to miss online thanks to its robust social media strategy… And by the looks of it, the approach is working.

Asian Legal Business’ “Firms to Watch”

ARTICLES

Case Spotlight: Remuneration of Independent Non-Executive Director Not Subject to Employment Income Tax

Gains or profits made from employment are subject to income tax payments under section 4(b) of the Income Tax Act 1967 (“ITA 1967”).  However, does this requirement also apply to remuneration of independent non-executive directors?   Recently, the High Court had to...

Case Spotlight: Non-Deposit of Agreements with Trade Unions at the Industrial Court

Once a collective agreement is signed between the employer and the trade union, section 16 of the Industrial Relations Act 1967 (“IRA 1967”) requires parties to jointly deposit such agreement with the Industrial Court for the purposes of cognizance.  However, does...

Case Spotlight: Voluntary Separation Scheme or Unfair Dismissal?

In Tan Chin Lin v. Seagate Global Business Services (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd  [2023] MELRU 2260, the Industrial Court of Malaysia was tasked with determining whether the Claimant had been unfairly dismissed or had voluntarily ended his employment through the company's...

Case Spotlight: Exorbitant Interest on Friendly Loan is Illegal Money Lending

Friendly loans are common and are generally enforceable in Court. Illegal money lending, however, is not. The Court will not enforce illegal moneylending agreements, and could even deny the lender the right to recover the principal sum. The distinction between...

Case Update – Unfair Dismissal Claims Against Wound-Up Employers

We previously wrote about the High Court’s decision in Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd (Dalam Penggulungan Sukarela Pemiutang) v Menteri Sumber Manusia & Ors and other applications [2023] 1 CLJ 804.  There, the High Court held that employees are required to obtain...

Removal Of Directors In A Private Company And Pitfalls To Avoid

What does the Companies Act 2016 provide regarding the removal of a director? For companies in Malaysia, the removal of a director is governed by the Companies Act 2016. In particular, Section 206(1) reads: "A director may be removed before the expiration of the...

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