BEHIND the desk of Penang lawyer Chan Ju Jin stands a small statue of Lady Justice on the bookshelf, a prized gift from a private hospital after he successfully defended it in a landmark medical negligence case several years ago.
Lady Justice, often portrayed as a blindfolded woman holding a set of scales and a sword, symbolises fair and equal treatment under the law that perfectly mirrors his own approach to law and life. The blindfold represents impartiality, ensuring that justice is administered without bias, regardless of a person’s appearance or stature; the scales signify the careful weighing of evidence to reach a fair decision; and the sword denotes authority and the power to punish wrongdoing.
JJ, as he is better known, and his team acted for the hospital and succeeded in overturning the High Court’s earlier decision. The Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the hospital, setting aside the finding of liability for negligence and the award of damages amounting to RM6,037,600 together with interest.
This case marked the first decision by the Court of Appeal in a medical negligence matter that referred to and applied the relevant landmark cases by the Federal Court on the applicable standard of care, as well as the doctrines of vicarious liability and non-delegable duty. JJ had also been involved in those landmark Federal Court cases.
This was one of the several landmark cases JJ has won in his almost 25 years of legal practice.
JJ was also involved in court cases that received press coverage, including two recent medical negligence matters, wherein his firm successfully defended an obstetrician and gynaecologist in one case and an ENT surgeon in another. Both are primary doctors, thereby dispelling the predisposed notion that primary doctors would invariably be liable for medical negligence.
Most recently, JJ made Penang and Malaysia proud when he and his firm, Chan Ban Eng & Co (CBE), named after his father, received recognition in the prestigious Asian Legal Business awards and rankings.
JJ has been named Finalist (Top 3) for ‘Managing Partner of the Year’ at the Asian Legal Business (ALB) Malaysia Law Awards 2025, while CBE has been named Finalist (Top 5) for ‘Dispute Resolution Boutique Law Firm of the Year’ making him the first and only Penang (or Northern Region) lawyer to be named Finalist for these awards.
He has also been named Finalist for ‘Managing Partner of the Year’ at the ALB South East Asia Law Awards 2025, with CBE named Finalist for ‘Regional Litigation Law Firm of the Year,’ again, a first for a Penang lawyer and firm.
The ALB Awards, widely regarded as the most prestigious in the Asia-Pacific region, recognise outstanding achievements and contributions by individual legal practitioners and law firms to the legal industry while celebrating the excellence and innovation driving the legal profession forward.
JJ was also recently named one of the Top 30 Litigators in Asia by ALB, being one of only two lawyers from Malaysia to be listed and marking this as the first and only occasion a Penang lawyer has been recognised and included in this prestigious Asia ranking.
JJ expressed his thanks to his father, and partners Fazleeza Azli, Ho Chi Yuen and Phoebe Ng and his team, for their hard work and commitment.
“These awards and rankings are by Asian Legal Business, and I’m very honoured to share that this is the first and only occasion a Penang lawyer has made it to the finals in the Malaysian and South East Asian Awards, and more importantly been ranked as one of the Top 30 Litigators in Asia. It is a privilege to have this opportunity to represent my home state, Penang, and Malaysia for these legal accolades at the international level,” JJ Chan told Buletin Mutiara in a recent interview.
At the age of 15, JJ was sent to England for boarding school by his parents. He was given the option to read law or medicine. However, after cutting open a rabbit during one of his biology classes, he was turned off by the sight of blood and his career path was very much decided. He called his parents and was granted permission to switch to law studies.
Called to the English Bar in 2001 after graduating from Gray’s Inn, London, JJ was graded ‘very competent’ by the Inns of Court School of Law, London (now named City St George’s, University of London).
His alma mater, Inns of Court School of Law, has notable alumni including 16 UK Prime Ministers, Malaysia’s first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, and Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, whereas Gray’s Inn is one of the four prestigious Inns of Courts in London (the others being Lincoln’s Inn, Inner Temple, and Middle Temple), whose patron was Queen Elizabeth I, with notable members and Honorary Benchers, including the current King of the UK, King Charles III and former UK Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill.
Upon his return to Penang, he joined Shearn Delamore & Co., one of Malaysia’s leading law firms, for 13 years before joining Chan Ban Eng (CBE) and taking over the reins from his father as Managing Partner.
Known as a workhorse, JJ loves challenging cases and handles niche and complex matters, particularly in financial lines, including medical negligence, insurance/reinsurance, directors and officers’ liability, corporate, commercial and construction litigation, defamation, banking and finance, and land matters, including acquisition cases.
Because of his extensive practice and knowledge, JJ is much sought after by international companies from New York, London, Asia Pacific, and so on. Lloyd’s of London, the world’s leading insurance market, also consults him, not only on medical negligence, corporate, directors and officers liability, but other aspects of insurance/reinsurance matters as well.
“They now come to us in Penang, and I am proud of that. As far as I know, we are the only one in Penang which advises and/or acts for more than 70 Healthcare Institutions/Hospitals on niche and complex matters, particularly on medical negligence, directors and officers’ liability insurance, financial lines and insurance/reinsurance,” JJ said.
These include IHH Healthcare (Pantai & Gleneagles), KPJ Group of Hospitals, Sunway Healthcare Group, charitable hospitals such as Lam Wah Ee, Adventist, Mt Miriam, and Tung Shin Hospital, as well as government-owned or teaching hospitals like IJN, UMMC, HUKM, and HUSM, and professionals such as doctors and medical personnel.
Last year, JJ became the first and only legal practitioner from the Asia Pacific (or at least from Malaysia) to be invited by Lloyd’s of London to conduct a webinar with them and share his insights on the landmark medical negligence cases (in which he was involved) with international audiences. Lloyd’s has never done that before and will collaborate with JJ in other upcoming webinars.
He strongly believes that you don’t necessarily have to leave for Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, London or New York to do well and have a successful career.
“We are the same as them, if not better. In fact, we are of international standards. Hopefully, we can contribute towards reversing the brain drain and show that it is entirely possible to do it from Penang and be recognised internationally. You don’t have to go away. Penang lang boleh!”
“Penang is well known for its char koay teow, laksa, semiconductor industry or Silicon Valley of the East, and medical tourism, which is great. These are the few things people keep saying. But what I am hoping for is that with the recognition given and all of our endeavours, Penang would also be well known for our legal industry and intellectual prowess, including education.”
Another high point in JJ’s career is that City St George’s, University of London (formerly known as the Inns of Court School of Law) recently interviewed him and will be featuring him in an article – the first for an Asian.
“I’m very pleased to do this with my alma mater. It is the first time they are going to feature a legal practitioner from Malaysia. And I am proud to represent Penang, and every time I speak to them, I speak fondly of my home state.”
JJ also loves writing and has authored several books, including Directors & Officers Liability Insurance: Selected Articles, Cases and Materials with American Kevin LaCroix, a world-renowned and authoritative figure in the D&O industry. It is the first publication of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region.
His other publications include Landmark Cases on Medical Negligence, Effectiveness of Agreed Liquidated Damages Clauses, and Significant Matters Relating to Directors & Officers Liability Insurance.
JJ recently presented the first print of the D&O book to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. He also shared his publications, research, and materials with Ministry of Higher Education director-general Datuk Prof Dr Azlinda Azman, deputy director-general Prof Dr Zainal Amin and Universiti Malaya’s Dean of Faculty of Law Prof Dr Jason Chuah.
JJ’s publications are primarily for the purposes of academia and not for sale. He sees them as a way to give back to the state and the government. Even when he shares them with organisations and corporations, it is solely for educational purposes.
“This is part of our ongoing initiative, educating and making people better. I have conducted more than 100 briefings and trainings, and my whole team probably 150 to 200 – all for free. When you educate people, you increase social awareness or understanding. Then, the whole state and country will benefit and grow.”
Efforts are being made to organise more knowledge-sharing sessions and webinars on significant legal developments and more engagements with our local higher education institutions, including Universiti Malaysia to help further increase the visibility of the same, both locally and internationally.
“I used to love whisky and wine. Then, more than eight years ago, I decided to give up drinking – cold turkey style because I love challenges. I believe that the olden values like hard work and integrity still work.
“I decided to get involved in significant cases involving novel legal issues which may shape the law, write books, write articles, give briefings, give trainings – all for free. Contribute to education, contribute to charity, contribute to hospitals. Do things the proper way. Don’t rely on alcohol and entertainment. Just work hard, and I am glad to see that my team and I have received recognition for all our hard work and efforts.
“Maintaining integrity can be challenging in the commercial world, and I don’t believe in shortcuts. You work hard and give your best.
“Do something very well and it will bear fruit. 95% of our clients are institutionalised clients, and 50% are from outside Malaysia. They go on merits, and they really appreciate our work.
“I hope that whoever you are, wherever you come from, whatever race, regardless of how old you may be, if you work hard and go to the right place with the right mentor, you can be anything you can be as long as you commit to the cause and don’t give up.”
Despite his growing reputation, JJ remains humble. Learning from his philanthropic father, Dato Chan, JJ has contributed significantly to various charitable organisations and state governmental initiatives, and so on, including serving as legal adviser for Hospital Lam Wah Ee, Penang Adventist Hospital, the Penang Home for the Infirm and Aged, and the Penang Chinese Clan Council, noted for organising the Penang Chinese New Year (Miao Hui) celebration.
With so much to do, JJ makes it a point to spend time with his seven-year-old son, taking him for joyrides and playing games on his tab after school and especially at weekends to build a strong bond.
Looking at life more philosophically as he grows older, JJ believes in having a sense of duty to help, encourage, and empower others to put Penang and the country on the map.
“I have a sense of duty to empower people, starting with those around me – that is what really motivates me now to work even harder to achieve greater heights. And I always tell my team members and whoever I speak to that we should be resilient, purposeful and never give up.
“We have one life, we have one chance given by God, our parents and our grandparents; we should be the best we can be. Being the absolute best that we can be, and contributing to our home state, country and society, might just be the truest and best form of patriotism,” JJ shared.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting and courtesy of Chan Ju Jin