21-8-2024 (SINGAPORE) M. Ravi, a disbarred lawyer with a chequered professional history, has been directed to return $120,000 to his former law firm, K. K. Cheng Law. The ruling, handed down by District Judge Chiah Kok Khun on 21 August, marks the latest chapter in a complex saga involving client funds, professional misconduct, and mental health issues.
The case stems from events in 2021 when Ravi, practising under K. K. Cheng Law, secured a substantial retainer from 11 clients for a $6.2 million case. The clients paid $120,000 to the firm as partial payment for Ravi’s services. However, Ravi’s conditional practising certificate was revoked in December 2021 for failing to adhere to his prescribed psychiatric medication regimen.
Following Ravi’s disbarment, the clients successfully sued K. K. Cheng Law for a refund. The firm, in turn, sought recompense from Ravi, citing an email in which he had pledged to “take personal and professional responsibility” and “indemnify the firm accordingly”.
Judge Chiah’s ruling hinged on two key points. Firstly, the court interpreted Ravi’s email as a binding indemnity agreement. Secondly, the judge determined that Ravi had been unjustly enriched at the firm’s expense.
Ravi’s defence, presented by lawyer Joseph Chen, attempted to invalidate the indemnity by arguing that Ravi lacked mental capacity due to his bipolar disorder when writing the email. This argument was ultimately rejected by the court.
The case sheds light on the complexities of legal practice supervision and mental health management within the profession. Despite being under the nominal supervision of Mr Cheng Kim Kuan, the firm’s sole director, Ravi operated from a separate office with his own staff. Mr Cheng has since served a six-month suspension for inadequate supervision.
This ruling comes amid a turbulent period for Ravi, who was struck off the rolls in June and sentenced to 14 weeks’ imprisonment with a $5,500 fine in early August for various offences committed between 2021 and 2023.
