BERNADETTE NIRMALA MARISWAMY
MANAGER, LEGAL & CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Air Itam
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Languages
Work History
MANAGER, LEGAL & CORPORATE AFFAIRS
ASPEN (GROUP) HOLDINGS LIMITED
01.2024 - Current
- Demonstrated proficiency in legal matters including contract negotiation, drafting, and review. Experienced in ensuring compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards
- Skilled in supporting board meetings, resolutions, and corporate filings
- Successfully managed legal disputes and litigation matters. Collaborated with external counsel and stakeholders to develop litigation strategies, negotiate settlements, and represent the company's interests in legal proceedings
- Proficient in managing the lifecycle of contracts, from drafting and negotiation to execution and enforcement
- Effective communicator with the ability to liaise with internal and external stakeholders, including senior management, government agencies, and legal counsel. Skilled in presenting complex legal concepts in a clear and concise manner
- Strong leadership skills with experience in managing legal teams and cross-functional collaboration. Fostered a culture of excellence, mentorship, and professional development within the legal department and other departments
- Sole Contributor in a Managerial Role: Lead and execute projects independently, managing the entire lifecycle from initiation to completion without direct reports.
- Expanded Legal & Corporate Affairs Expertise: Handle litigation matters, corporate announcements, Board meetings, and AGMs despite no prior experience, demonstrating adaptability and self-learning.
- High-Level Drafting & Review: Draft complex legal agreements, term sheets, and technical contracts with minimal precedent, ensuring precision and compliance.
- Autonomous Execution & Strategic Impact: Work directly with senior leadership, providing timely and high-quality deliverables under tight deadlines.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Assume additional responsibilities in the absence of the Team Lead, ensuring seamless operations and continuity.
- Effectively managed the winding-up process of a subsidiary by coordinating with external counsel and government authorities, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and facilitating the appointment of a private liquidator.
- Continuous involvement in high-profile contract negotiations by reviewing and drafting definitive agreements, coordinating meetings, and facilitating discussions, ultimately ensuring the successful execution of agreements that supported the company’s strategic growth objectives.
- Successfully defended the company in a legal dispute at the Strata Management Tribunal, securing a favorable outcome by demonstrating that the Tribunal lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter. This achievement highlights expertise in legal strategy, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance.
SENIOR EXECUTIVE, LEGAL & CORPORATE AFFAIRS
ASPEN (GROUP) HOLDINGS LIMITED
09.2022 - 12.2023
- Draft, vet through and review contracts, agreements, letters, policies, proposals and other documents related to corporate, commercial or conveyancing activities e.g. share sale agreement, subscription agreement, joint-venture agreement, lease agreement, tenancy agreement, supply agreement etc
- Liaise with the company secretary, directors, shareholders, key management and other departments for preparation of board resolutions, minutes of board meetings and board papers etc
- Overseeing board meetings, board committee meetings, AGM, EGM and etc
- To carry out research, summarize information and contracts and general advisory work for various departments
- Research regulations e.g. Singapore Listing Rules, laws, and legal articles as and when required by the company
- To assist in any negotiations pertaining to claims and disputes
- Participate, oversee and liaise with external solicitors on litigious issues
- Assist in drafting and coordinating the release of company announcements, reports, resolutions, memorandums and circulars in relation to corporate activities
- Assist subsidiaries and affiliated companies in handling various legal affairs
- To maintain proper, accurate and up-to-date registers and records of all agreements, contracts and working files
- Manage and assist legal unit in day-to-day administrative task including copying and scanning
- Collect and retrieve information from files as needed
- Assist and support Divisional Director and Team Lead in executing their tasks and responsibilities
- Successfully negotiating with vendor’s/supplier’s/merchant’s solicitors in settling disputes amicably and obtaining Notice of Discontinuance against Writs and Statement of Claims issued against the subsidiary company and reducing the legal cost incurred by 50%-60%
- Overseeing and coordinating the drafting and preparation of the company’s Annual Report and Sustainability Report
FREELANCING
09.2021 - 09.2022
- Will writing
- Drafting and reviewing contracts
- Facilitating meetings and liaising with clients and government departments
- Collaborating with legal firms on the preparation of sale and purchase agreements, loan documentation and legal correspondences
- Coaching and mentoring chambering students on various conveyancing matters
PARALEGAL
GHAZI & LIM
07.2021 - 09.2021
- Supported the Partner and senior legal staff with the drafting and amendment of corporate legal documents
- Communicated with foreign and external legal firms to ensure the provision of reliable support for the Partner, legal staff and clients
- Solitarily collaborated with all team members and the Partner, consulted with authorities and internal and external customers while working on-site during the COVID-19 pandemic
CONVEYANCING CLERK
TEOW SAW & ASSOCIATES
01.2013 - 02.2021
- Maintained client database and updated online platforms
- Researched cases and jurisprudence, drafted, formatted and amended contracts including Software License Agreement, International Swaps and Derivatives Master Agreement (ISDA), Joint Venture Agreement, Memorandum and Articles of Association (M&A) and other legal documentation
- Assisted the Partner with the renewal of the firm’s panel ship and due diligence with banks, insurance coverage and practicing certificates of the partners
- Clients returned and specifically requested that I attend to and deal with their matters
- Increased client referrals of their friends and families to utilize the firm’s legal services
- Completed a land transaction that took 2 years to settle in Kedah
- Coached colleagues on how to use online legal platforms
- Self-studied and obtained my law degree with the University of London while working on a full-time basis
CLERK
SAVV HOTEL
07.2018 - 01.2019
- Supported the CEO/COO with the preparation and application for Composite License, car lot rental, confirmation letter from Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), renewal of membership with the Malaysian Association of Hotels, the Sijil Pendaftaran Projek Pelancongan from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and submission of advertisement plans
ASSISTANT PARALEGAL
GHAZI & LIM
06.2010 - 12.2012
- Managed project works from Developers and strengthened networks with Bankers and Developers
- Led, trained and managed attachment pupils, chambering pupils and junior legal staff in an intense environment to ensure the efficient and expedient completion of the legal documentation for the projects
- Received oral recognition and bonus for meeting datelines imposed by the Developers
- Initiated a standard operating procedure to meet the datelines imposed by the Developers efficiently
- Demonstrated ability to work under intense pressure, handle customer complaints and solve problematic situations as and when they arise
CONVEYANCING CLERK
GHAZI & LIM
07.2008 - 12.2009
- Supported 1 Partner and 2 Associates simultaneously/multi-tasking with the preparation of sale and purchase agreements, tenancy agreements, loan documentation and intellectual property application
CLERK
CH’NG SUAT PING & CO
09.2006 - 06.2008
- Independently managed / administrated the overall running of the firm
- Familiarised myself with the conveyancing process, learnt drafting and became skilled in communication
Education
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Hons) -
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
01.2020 - 12.2020
Professional Certificate in Project Management - undefined
VERITAS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
01.2021 - 12.2021
Certificate of Completion - Lexis Advance Training
LEXISNEXIS
01.2021 - 12.2021
International English Language Testing System - undefined
BRITISH COUNCIL
01.2008 - 12.2008
Skills
- Legal research
- Drafting
- Meticulous
- Attention to detail
- Cross cultural communication
- International communication skills
- Client rapport
- Client relations
- Strong leadership
- Mentoring
- Coaching
- Exceptional organization skills
- Prioritization
- Collaborative team player
- Critical thinking
- Positive
- Enthusiastic
- Resourceful
- Time management
Websites
Preferences
True, True, True
Personal Information
- Age: 42
- Gender: Female
- Nationality: Malaysian
- Marital Status: Single
Timeline
MANAGER, LEGAL & CORPORATE AFFAIRS
ASPEN (GROUP) HOLDINGS LIMITED
01.2024 - Current
SENIOR EXECUTIVE, LEGAL & CORPORATE AFFAIRS
ASPEN (GROUP) HOLDINGS LIMITED
09.2022 - 12.2023
FREELANCING
09.2021 - 09.2022
PARALEGAL
GHAZI & LIM
07.2021 - 09.2021
Professional Certificate in Project Management - undefined
VERITAS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
01.2021 - 12.2021
Certificate of Completion - Lexis Advance Training
LEXISNEXIS
01.2021 - 12.2021
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Hons) -
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
01.2020 - 12.2020
CLERK
SAVV HOTEL
07.2018 - 01.2019
CONVEYANCING CLERK
TEOW SAW & ASSOCIATES
01.2013 - 02.2021
ASSISTANT PARALEGAL
GHAZI & LIM
06.2010 - 12.2012
CONVEYANCING CLERK
GHAZI & LIM
07.2008 - 12.2009
International English Language Testing System - undefined
BRITISH COUNCIL
01.2008 - 12.2008
CLERK
CH’NG SUAT PING & CO
09.2006 - 06.2008
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