Johanan Auseph Puthucheary

Managing Partner
Johor Bahru

JOHANAN joined Kuok & Puthucheary (as it was then known) in 1991. In 2001, NKPT was founded with Johanan as one of the four founding partners. Since then, he has built on the conveyancing foundation that the firm was once known for, to be the household name in litigation in Johor Bahru.

In the field of dispute resolution, Johanan has over 30 years of litigation knowledge and experience in a wide area of law. His portfolio includes advising and representing clients in matters relating to banking law, construction and contractual disputes, company law, employment law, family law, insurance law, intellectual property as well as taxation.

On the corporate advisory front, he has vast experience in advising major corporate and foreign companies on the procedural aspects and regularity of meetings and resolutions, negotiation of settlements, license agreements, as well as advice and drafting of trusts deeds and intellectual property matters.

He also specialises in asset management, succession planning including wills and trusts, and handles disputes regarding the administration of estates and trust assets.

Despite his seniority in the bar, Johann’s characteristic warmth and wit, never fails to set his clients, colleagues, and other members of the bar at ease. His confidence and candour are evident in his advocacy in court.

A firm believer in excellence, Johanan holds the principle of integrity and humility to be central to his life, and to his legal practice. Despite his many years of experience and expertise, he believes that the knowledge that he has acquired does not belong to him, and he advocates the concept of ‘paying it forward’ through his pro-bono work as well as his involvement in NKPT’s corporate social responsibility activities.

Qualifications

Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya (1987)
Certificate of Legal Practice (1986)
LLB (Hons), University of London (1985)

Areas of Practice

Arbitration & Alternative Dispute Resolution
Banking Law
Litigation
– Enforcement of Contracts
– Insolvency / Bankruptcy
Corporate Advisory
– Procedural aspects and regularity of meetings and resolutions, negotiation of settlements, license agreements
General Litigation
Contract Law (Advisory / Litigation)
Construction Law
Corporate & Commercial Law (Advisory / Litigation)
Employment Law / Industrial Relations (Advisory / Litigation)
Family Law (Advisory / Litigation)
Intellectual Property Law
– Advisory & Litigation (Trademark / Copyright / Breach of Confidence / Passing Off / Franchise / Patent)
Insurance Law (Advisory / Litigation)
Land Law (Advisory) – Conveyancing
Tax & Revenue Law (Advisory / Litigation)
Private Wealth & Trusts
Wills, Probate & Administration (Advisory / Litigation)

Significant Pieces of Work

Employment Law – Post-employment duties; confidential information Was counsel during the High Court stage. The legal legwork done during the trial, especially on the Re-examination was quoted during the appellate stages. The Federal Court agreed with the Court of Appeal’s decision, and his client won the case. This case was reported in Dynacast (Melaka) Sdn Bhd v Vision Cast Sdn Bhd [2016] 3 MLJ 417.Johanan’s personal takeaway from his involvement in the case: It was a hard battle, but he learned to never give up. He also learnt to use all his avenues, including making the most of the re-examination stage during trial.
Company law – breach of fiduciaries dutiesRepresented the 7th defendant in a case which involved US$38 million. Trial had gone on for 56 days, and subsequently the case was brought all the way to the Federal Court. Johanan won the case for his client.During the trial stage, Yang Arif Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Bin Md Yusof singled Johanan out and quoted the summary of his client’s case from his submissions ‘which stands as a model of clarity and brevity’ in his judgment.

Past Events

Malaysian Bar talk on the Malaysian Bar Professional Indemnity Scheme at DRB-HICOM Berhad (2020)

Testimonials from Clients

On behalf of my mother and family, I would like to express my deepest thanks to Mr. Johanan Puthucheary and to his team of lawyers for the excellent job done. My deepest gratitude to the team for displaying high professionalism and dedication in my case.
Chin Soo Khoon

On behalf of Jit Offshore, I would like to record our profound thanks to Mr. Johanan Puthucheary and his team for the excellent handling of my case which commenced in 2012 and was handled by several law firms before NKPT. I made the right decision to terminate the previous law firm and engage NKPT. Finding Mr. Johanan Puthucheary was a blessing. The success in the case was due to Mr. Johanan Puthucheary’s expertise without which we would have had a slim chance of succeeding. I would certainly recommend Mr. Johanan Puthcheary to my friends.
Nadung Silian A/L R Patamalay
Managing Director, JIT Offshore Pte Ltd

Johanan’s presentation on the topic of “Sexual Harassment at the Workplace” at the Company was a resounding success and it has made a significant impact to organization as a whole. We appreciate the amount of work put into the presentation which is a good indication of the quality of work the firm can produce.
There was an overwhelming response within the company after the presentation and we look forward to working together with Johanan and his team to ensure that our workforce is equipped with the necessary awareness and knowledge regarding sexual harassment at the workplace.
We also look forward to collaborate further on other services which the firm can offer to the Company hopefully in the near future.
Legal Team, Transshipment Port Company

We have the utmost respect and appreciation for Mr. Johanan Puthucheary and his team for their unwavering passion and commitment in handling our cases. That always gave us the assurance that our risks are being managed professionally with care and attention. Indeed, we have made the right choice in having Messrs Nadazarin Kuok Puthucheary & Tan on our panel of counsel.
From a prominent property developer based in Johor Bahru.

Thank you for the time and good explanation on the above cases. It has taken loads off our minds, and we have a clear sense of direction from now, on the way forward.
From the Vice President of a major manufacturing company in Johor Bahru.

Personal Quotes

I love reading the stories which make up a case. It’s not just a law report about a principle. It’s about people’s lives.

JOHANAN
on how he reads case law
Read the facts. It’s king. Not the law.

JOHANAN
on how he approaches his cases
You will always have a choice between money and reputation. If you have both, you’re lucky. Which one is it? Not for me to tell you.

JOHANAN
on what he recalls his father advising him when he was called to the Malaysian Bar
Sometimes what you have to say is louder when you speak with a soft voice.

JOHANAN
on a quote that he remembers vividly from the well-respected Raja Abdul Aziz bin Raja Addruse

Johanan Auseph Puthucheary