LAWYER, author and educator JJ Chan may not have been able to attend the Lexology Index Client Choice Awards 2026 ceremony in London yesterday, but being named the No. 1 Professional Negligence Lawyer in Malaysia remains a deeply meaningful achievement.
In a LinkedIn and Facebook post marking the occasion, Chan reflected on his longstanding ties to London, where much of his legal foundation was formed — from his early years at boarding school at 15, to reading law at Inns of Court School of Law, London which, since its founding in 1852 as the Council of Legal Education, has trained many distinguished figures, including sixteen UK Prime Ministers, Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew.
He was called to the English Bar at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, London, whose Patron was Queen Elizabeth I and whose members have included Sir Winston Churchill and His Majesty King Charles III.
“It is therefore particularly significant to receive this recognition in that same city,” he wrote.
Chan, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to professional commitments and ongoing nation-building engagements in Malaysia, said that the award is especially meaningful as it is based entirely on client feedback — reflecting not only professional standards, but also trust, responsibility, and long-standing relationships built across jurisdictions from Malaysia to London and New York.
The past year marked an unprecedented milestone in Chan’s career, as he became the first Malaysian lawyer to be recognised across six professional accolades. These include honours by Thomson Reuters Asian Legal Business as one of Asia’s Top 30 Litigators and Super 50 Disputes Lawyers, the Malaysia and South-East Asia Law Awards 2025, inclusion in Asia Business Law Journal’s A-List: Malaysia’s Top Lawyers 2025, and the Lexology Index Client Choice Awards 2026.
Earlier this year, he was also named Finalist for ‘Managing Partner of the Year’ (for consecutive years) and ‘Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year’ at the prestigious ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2026.
“I’m deeply humbled by all these awards. Thank you to all our clients, friends, and business partners for your continued support and for being part of our professional journey.
“And thank you to our Consultant, Dato’ Chan Ban Eng, and our partners — Fazleeza Azli, Ho Chi Yuen and Phoebe Ng — for your unwavering support and trust, and to Lexology for this recognition of our work,” said Chan, the managing partner of CBE (Chan Ban Eng & Co).
But for Chan, the awards tell only part of the story. What drives him, he says, is something larger — a conscious commitment to nation-building through law, education, governance and public discourse.
Over the past year, Chan has spent significant time in Kuala Lumpur to support and contribute meaningfully to national-level professional, educational and institutional engagements. He describes this as driven by duty or a form of “national service”, as it were, rather than personal preference, recognising that many policy and institutional discussions affecting the country take place in the capital.
“I reflected carefully on whether to take on this additional commitment. Ultimately, we only live once, and we should strive to be the best version of ourselves. I believe that contributing to society and the nation may well be the highest form of patriotism,” he said.
One of the most significant highlights of the past year was the launch of the book “Directors & Officers Liability Insurance: Selected Articles, Cases and Materials”, authored by Chan with international D&O expert Kevin LaCroix, alongside CBE’s celebration of over five decades of legal service. The book carries a foreword by Tan Sri Zainun Ali, Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Malaya, former Federal Court judge, and member of the Judicial Appointments Commission.
The publication, the first of its kind in Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific region, addresses a longstanding gap in legal literature on directors’ and officers’ liability, an area of increasing relevance in today’s corporate, regulatory and public-sector landscape. Not for sale, the book has been distributed to key stakeholders, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Chief Justice Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, Cabinet ministers, regulators, policymakers and leading universities, as part of efforts to strengthen governance, accountability and risk management.
A special edition of the publication was presented to Anwar at a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in March 2026, where Chan and Zainun discussed pro bono legal scholarship, legal education, and the advancement of Malaysia’s professional and educational standing globally.
Chan and his firm, CBE, which has a presence in both Penang and Kuala Lumpur, have consistently shared legal insights, commentaries, publications and materials — made freely accessible — on governance, healthcare, insurance and regulatory developments. One such thought leadership piece on LinkedIn recorded more than 360,000 impressions across jurisdictions from the Middle East to London and the United States — demonstrating how Malaysian perspectives can resonate globally.
They have also conducted over 200 pro-bono briefings and trainings in Malaysia, Singapore, and the UK, and authored over 50 articles on topics such as financial lines, medical negligence, corporate, directors & officers liability, insurance/reinsurance, constitutional law, and other areas of governance and regulatory practice.
This reflects a belief that knowledge, when shared responsibly and accessibly, can strengthen institutions and elevate public understanding beyond professional circles.
He has also been appointed as Subject Matter Expert for Financial Lines, including Medical Negligence, Corporate, Directors & Officers Liability, Insurance/Reinsurance by the Asian Institute of Insurance and Singapore College of Insurance, both of which are leading professional training and education bodies for insurance and financial services in the region.
His expertise has been recognised by government publications, his alma mater, and the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, making him the first Malaysian legal practitioner to be recognised by these two institutions of such long and distinguished history.
He was also recently featured by City St George’s, London, as one of its selected alumni from 170 countries as part of Global Week, and later among its Top 5 Alumni Features of 2025.
These recognitions represent a proud moment for Malaysia’s legal fraternity, and particularly for Penang, where Chan’s professional roots were shaped.
A significant focus of Chan’s work has been the healthcare sector, with CBE advising more than 90 hospitals on medico-legal issues, governance frameworks and regulatory compliance.
Beyond advisory work, Chan and his team regularly conduct pro-bono briefings for healthcare institutions, aimed at improving understanding of medical-legal risk, patient safety, and governance standards. He also serves as legal adviser to and/or sits on the board of several charitable/not-for-profit hospitals, reflecting a commitment to improving healthcare outcomes beyond commercial engagement.
Alongside professional and educational efforts, Chan continues to support a wide range of non-governmental organisations, leading universities, welfare initiatives and public causes. These include contributing to, holding positions in, and regularly donating to NGOs, education funds, healthcare institutions, and the state government, supporting the underprivileged and vulnerable community, as well as causes related to culture, education and community development.
Chan, the legal adviser of the Penang Chinese Clan Council and a long-time supporter of the annual Penang Miaohui, is also the sole Gold Partner of the inaugural Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) Conference 2026: Lawyering 2030, jointly organised with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Insolvency Department of Malaysia, to be held on April 2 and 3 at the Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
“Responsibility is inseparable from opportunity. Where one has the opportunity, the means, the platform, or the ability to effect positive change, one should do so. Beyond professional responsibility lies a broader duty — to give back in ways that are meaningful, sustainable, and beneficial to future generations.
“With responsibility comes a duty — not just to succeed, but to contribute meaningfully. If what we do today helps strengthen institutions or creates opportunities for the next generation, then it is time and effort well spent,” Chan told Buletin Mutiara.
Looking forward, Chan’s focus remains unchanged. His priorities include continuing to contribute to governance, education, healthcare, and institutional development while mentoring younger professionals and strengthening Malaysia’s standing at the regional and international stage.
In an increasingly complex world, his message is a quietly patriotic one: that nation-building is sustained not by grand gestures, but by professionals across sectors who serve consistently with integrity and purpose.
“Nation-building is a journey and commitment. If each of us does our part — thoughtfully and consistently — we contribute, in our own way, to a stronger Penang and Malaysia,” he said.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting / JJ Chan Facebook