Professional Summary

Vishnu Kumar is a Partner at Rajpal, Firah & Vishnu with 29+ years of experience in civil law litigation at the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Federal Court. His approach is grounded in knowing the facts, documents, and the law. He is best known for cross-examination, succinct arguments, and deep knowledge of the law. Clients can expect thorough and effective representation.

Qualifications

  1. LLB (Hons), University of Newcastle upon Tyne
  2. LLM, University College London, University of London
  3. Barrister, Middle Temple
  4. Advocate & Solicitor, High Court of Malaya (1997)

Areas of Practice

Substantive Matters

Vishnu Kumar has handled cases involving, among others:

  • Common law assault; conspiracy to injure; exclusion and limitation of liability clauses
  • Tort of conversion; monies had and received; claims on mistake; recovery of loan sums
  • Breach of trust; defamation; divorce; foreclosure actions; on-demand guarantee actions
  • Disciplinary proceedings under the legal profession; contempt applications; unlawful interference of trade
  • Minority oppression; res judicata and abuse of court process
  • Interpretation of contracts and statutes; frustration of contracts; specific performance
  • Breach of contract; conditional contracts; assessment of damages
  • Sale and transfer of shares; declarations to declare a company’s AGM null and void
  • Winding up; bankruptcy; negligence including medical negligence
  • Removal of caveats; contested Letters of Administration; opposing malicious prosecution suits
  • Taxation of legal costs

Interlocutory & Appellate Applications

  • Leave applications to the Federal Court and Court of Appeal
  • Injunctions, discovery and pre-action discovery, fresh evidence
  • Execution proceedings, third-party proceedings, striking out, summary judgment
  • Security for costs, stay of executions, stay of proceedings
  • Setting aside of judgments and consent orders

Court & Case Progression

  • Trials and appeals at all levels of the Malaysian courts

Professional Affiliations

Malaysian Bar

  • Member, Malaysian Bar (since 1997)
  • Member, Bar Council of Malaysia (2013–2015)

Advocates & Solicitors Disciplinary Board

  • Disciplinary Committee Member (2010–2017)
  • Disciplinary Board Member (2017–2021)
  • Administration & Finance Committee Member (2017–2021)

Selangor Bar

  • Chairperson, Civil Law Court Liaison Sub-Committee (2010–2013)
  • Committee Member, Selangor Bar (2010–2013)
  • Chairman, Selangor Bar Committee (2013–2015)

Talks & Seminars

  1. The Correct & Practical Approach To Civil Appeals — Selangor Bar, 25 June 2009
  2. Effective Advocacy & Written Submission For Interlocutory Matters — Selangor Bar, 7 May 2010
  3. Drafting An Injunction & its Submissions — Selangor Bar, 8 July 2011
  4. Setting Aside Illegal and Void Contracts — Selangor Bar, 19 October 2012
  5. Advocacy, Decorum In Court & Ethics — Selangor Bar, 27 September 2013
  6. Conducting Appeals & Disciplinary Proceedings — Malacca Bar, 24 November 2017
  7. How to Avoid Disciplinary Complaints & How to Deal with Disciplinary Complaints — Malacca Bar, 4 November 2022
  8. How to Avoid Disciplinary Complaints & How to Deal with Disciplinary Complaints — Johore Bar, 7 December 2023

Reported Cases

Cases handled at the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Federal Court and reported in the following law journals.

High Court 15 cases
  1. Malaysia Automotive, Robotics & IOT Institute & Anor v. Dato TS Mohamad Madani Sahari & Ors [2025] CLJU 511
  2. Sandra Sheagar Chidambaram & Anor v. Subramaniam & Ors [2024] CLJU 2627
  3. In Re: Jessica Valerie Kingham [2023] CLJU 2487
  4. Rahman Sheikh Abdullah & 2 Ors v. Abd Zarin Mohd Yasin [2023] CLJU 1316
  5. Tuanku Nur Zahirah v. Clare Louise Brown & Ors [2023] 4 CLJ 252
  6. Mohd Amar Mohamed v. Shahrul Kamal Roslan & Ors [2022] 1 LNS 2300
  7. Clearpath Marketing Sdn Bhd v. Malayan Banking [2017] 1 LNS 360
  8. Dato Ong Tee Thong v. Sri Putramas Joint Management Body [2015] 1 LNS 1192
  9. Md Aris Rifen v. Muhammad Zarif Abdullah Menon & Ors [2015] 1 LNS 73
  10. Export Import Bank Of Malaysia Berhad v. Harapan Serentak Sdn Bhd & 2 Ors [2014] 10 CLJ 305
  11. RG Q – Tech M&E Sdn Bhd v. Tenaga Tiub Sdn Bhd [2013] 1 LNS 1135
  12. DCX Technologies Sdn Bhd v. China Road & Bridge Corporation & Anor [2013] 9 CLJ 623
  13. N & N Consultants Sdn Bhd v. MBF Property Services Sdn Bhd & Anor [2006] 6 CLJ 618
  14. United Malayan Banking Corp Bhd v. MWE Holdings Bhd (Dato KK Sharma & Malayan Produce Company, third party) [2003] 4 MLJ 88
  15. Omega Holdings Bhd v. Dato Tiah Thee Kian & Ors [2002] 7 CLJ 125
Court of Appeal 11 cases
  1. Tuanku Nur Zahirah v. Clare Louise Brown & Ors [2024] 4 CLJ 733
  2. Ravindhran Kutty Krishnan v. Pro-Tech Interior Design & Construction Sdn Bhd [2019] 1 LNS 2321
  3. Clearpath Marketing Sdn Bhd v. Malayan Banking [2019] 1 LNS 111
  4. Malayan Banking Bhd v. Charanjeet Kaur Kang Sukhbir Singh & Anor [2017] 6 CLJ 617
  5. State of Government of Selangor & Anor v. Murtini Kasman & Ors [2014] 7 CLJ 773
  6. China Road & Bridge Corporation & Anor v. DCX Technologies Sdn Bhd [2014] 7 CLJ 644
  7. Abdul Rashid Maidin & Ors v. Lian Mong Yee [2008] 1 CLJ 1
  8. Maxisegar Sdn Bhd v. Silver Concept Sdn Bhd [2005] 3 CLJ 238 (Appeal Proper)
  9. Silver Concept v. Brisdale Rasa Development [2005] 3 CLJ 259 (Appeal Proper)
  10. Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi (Malaysia) Bhd v. Poong Lim (M) Sdn Bhd & Ors [2005] 3 CLJ 843
  11. Silver Concept Sdn Bhd v. Brisdale Rasa Development Sdn Bhd [2002] 4 CLJ 27 (Interlocutory Appeal)
Federal Court 3 cases
  1. Mahadevi a/p Nadchatiram v. Thiruchelvasegaram a/l Manickavasegar [2001] 3 CLJ 561
  2. Sri Kelangkota-Rakan Engineering JV v. Arab Malaysian Prima Realty Sdn Bhd [2003] 3 CLJ 349
  3. Lim Oh & 6 Ors v. Allen & Gledhill [2001] 3 CLJ 233

In the Press

Selected press coverage featuring Vishnu Kumar.

View all in Media Room (4)