David has over a decade of experience in formal insolvency engagements, business advisory and turnarounds. Before specialising in insolvency, he held positions with one of the Big 4 assurance firms in Singapore, dealing with initial public offerings.
Profile
David Ho advises companies, creditors, and directors on some of the most challenging financial and operational issues that businesses can face. His practice spans the full spectrum of corporate insolvency and restructuring matters, including judicial management, schemes of arrangement, liquidations, and receiverships. He also advises on personal bankruptcy and forensic investigation engagements.
David has extensive experience acting in a wide range of corporate and personal insolvency appointments across diverse industries, including retail, investment funds and holding companies, healthcare, food and beverage, software and technology, media, construction, travel, shipping, property development, cryptocurrencies and professional services.
Clients often seek David’s guidance during periods of significant uncertainty and financial distress, when critical decisions need to be made under considerable pressure. He is known for his practical and straightforward approach, helping stakeholders understand their available options, evaluate restructuring alternatives, and assess whether a formal insolvency process may be necessary.
By presenting complex issues in clear and accessible terms, David enables directors, creditors, and business owners to make informed decisions with confidence. His objective is not only to navigate immediate challenges but also to position clients for the best possible outcome and a stronger path forward.
David has been involved in a wide range of insolvency, restructuring, forensic investigation, recovery, and valuation engagements in Singapore, including:
- Publicly listed companies – Advising and acting in matters involving listed entities such as Magnus Energy Group Ltd, Mirach Energy Limited and SBI Offshore Limited, as well as companies operating in the oil and gas sector and other industries.
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – Handling insolvency and restructuring assignments across a broad range of sectors, including investment funds, property development, co-working spaces, professional services, retail, and technology businesses.
- Asset recovery and clawback actions – Pursuing claims against directors and related parties, including the recovery of assets transferred at undervalue.
- Forensic investigations and fraud examinations – Leading investigations into complex financial misconduct, including the dissipation of assets under management exceeding US$500 million, embezzlement of S$37 million by a club employee and S$3 million by a senior executive, fraudulent procurement of S$8 million in bank financing, pre-bankruptcy transfers of S$14 million in assets, and diversion of funds through multi-entity mobile phone businesses.
- Corporate restructurings and enforcement appointments – Assisting in schemes of arrangement, receiverships, and other restructuring engagements involving construction companies, educational institutions, and businesses facing financial distress.
- Business valuation engagements – Conducting valuation exercises for SMEs in connection with shareholder exits, matrimonial proceedings, dispute resolution matters, and investment transactions involving incoming investors.
Through these engagements, David has developed extensive experience in helping stakeholders navigate complex financial situations, preserve value, investigate irregularities, and achieve practical commercial outcomes.
Areas of specialisation
- Corporate Restructuring
- Corporate Insolvency
- Scheme of Arrangement
- Judicial Management
- Creditor Rights and Recovery
- Director Duties and Personal Liability
- Forensic Accounting and Fraud
- Distressed M&A
- Regulatory Insolvency (SGX / MAS-regulated entities)
- Receivership
- Personal Bankruptcy
- and Others
Professional memberships
- Chartered Accountant under the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)
- Fellow member of the Insolvency Practitioners Association of Singapore (IPAS)
- Fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
- Member of Insol International
- Member of IR Global
- Associate Chartered Valuer and Appraiser (CVA)
Notable engagements
- Sale of a professional auditing business – Partnership was to be dissolved, but managed to sell the business to a third party and allowed the existing partners to exit with surplus dividends.
- Clawback against a director – Landmark decision on how Creditor’s Duty is to be weighed up in a director’s decision to repay shareholder loans and to declare dividends.
- Dissipation of assets under management exceeding US$500 million – Cumulated in a conviction of a fund manager for defrauding investors, and a six-month jail sentence was imposed.
