T. Bhg Dato’ Awang Bemee has served as the Consultant and Senior Partner of the firm since his election as the Honourable Member for Nangka in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, a seat he held for three consecutive terms beginning in 1996.

He graduated from the University of Malaya in 1983 with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons). He completed his pupillage under Dr Andrew Chew Peng Hui of Messrs Battenberg & Talma, Sibu and was admitted to the Sarawak Bar in 1984.

He commenced legal practice in the same year as a Legal Assistant with Messrs Battenberg & Talma. In 1991, he established Messrs Jaini Mardi & Associates in Sibu as its resident partner. He subsequently joined Messrs Lai & Co in 1994 as Senior Partner, following which the firm adopted the name Messrs Awang, Lai & Co.

Dato’ Awang Bemee has extensive litigation experience, with particular emphasis on criminal and commercial matters. He currently serves as Chairman of the Kuching Port Authority and acts as Legal Adviser to various corporate bodies, charitable organisations, and associations throughout Sarawak.

Y. Bhg Datuk Lawrence Lai has served as Partner and Head of the Conveyancing Department since 2016. Prior to this, he acted as consultant to the firm during his tenure as Datuk Bandar or Mayor of the Miri City Council from 2009 to 2016.

Datuk Lai graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Sheffield, England. He was admitted as a Barrister at Law of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn and was called to the English Bar in 1983. He was subsequently admitted to the Sarawak Bar in 1984 and to the Sabah Bar in 1986.

Datuk Lai commenced his legal career in 1983 with Messrs Battenberg & Talma Advocates, Sibu. In recognition of  his capability and performance, the firm entrusted him with establishing its Miri branch, where he was appointed Managing Partner in 1984. In 1988, he founded his own firm, then known as Messrs Lai & Co, as a sole proprietorship.

He has extensive experience in both litigation and conveyancing, with a strong focus on corporate and commercial work. His areas of expertise include vessel financing, corporate banking documentation, information technology agreements, and large scale property and development projects. He also has specialist experience in defamation matters.

Datuk Lai has served as a Notary Public and Commissioner for Oaths since 1994 and became an Accredited Mediator in 2002.

Public service appointments

Datuk Lawrence Lai has also contributed significantly to public sector and community institutions through the following roles:

1. Member, Curtin Council, Curtin University Malaysia (2009 to 2016)
2. Board Member, Northern Sarawak Water Board or LAKU (2009 to 2016)
3. Board Member, Miri Port Authority (1999 to 2004)
4. Vice President, Sarawak Advocates Association (2001 to 2004)
5. Advisor to various societies and associations in Miri, Sarawak

Ms Jagjeet Kaur Sandhu, was born in Kuching, Sarawak and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Buckingham, England in 1984. She completed the Certificate of Legal Practice in Kuala Lumpur with Honours in 1986 and was admitted to the Sarawak Bar in 1987.

She commenced her legal career as a Legal Assistant with Messrs. Sandhu & Co., Miri, where she practised from 1987 to 1992. She later joined Messrs Awang, Lai & Co., Miri in 1992. In early 1995, she co founded Messrs Sandhu & Urud Advocates, Miri, serving as Managing Partner until the firm merged with Messrs Awang, Lai & Co. in 1999 to form the present firm of Messrs Awang, Lai, Sandhu & Co Advocates.

Ms Sandhu is the Partner and Head of the Litigation Department and has extensive experience across a broad range of civil and commercial disputes. She regularly acts in trials involving banking, commercial, admiralty, hire purchase and leasing matters, as well as execution proceedings including foreclosure, property auctions, company winding up and bankruptcy. She is also well known for her trial work in personal injury and fatal accident claims and has significant experience in family and matrimonial proceedings.

In addition to litigation, she is conversant with conveyancing matters, commercial loan documentation and Islamic banking consumer facilities.

Ms Sandhu has served as a Commissioner for Oaths since 1996 and has been an Accredited Mediator since 2002.

Ms Sanjeet Kaur Sidhu was born in Miri, Sarawak and graduated from the University of Buckingham, England with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours). She completed the Professional Legal Training Program at Bond University and was conferred the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice on 15 April 2016. She was admitted and enrolled as a Lawyer of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia on 6 June 2016.

She subsequently returned to Miri, Sarawak and completed her pupillage under Ms Jagjeet Kaur Sandhu of Messrs Awang, Lai, Sandhu & Co. Advocates, Miri. She was admitted to the Sarawak Bar on 26 May 2017.

In 2019, Ms Sanjeet Kaur Sidhu obtained a Master of Business Administration specialising in Strategic Management from Birmingham City University, England.

Ms Sanjeet Kaur Sidhu practices in civil litigation and regularly handles personal injury and fatal accident claims, as well as commercial and banking matters including loan recovery, hire purchase, leasing, and foreclosure proceedings. She is also conversant with conveyancing matters and commercial loan documentation.

Mr Larry Lai Hsien We was born in Miri, Sarawak and graduated from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand with a Bachelor of Laws. He completed the Professional Legal Studies Course conducted by the College of Law on 27 August 2019 and was issued a Completion Certificate by the New Zealand Council of Legal Education on 30 September 2019. He was admitted and enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand on 13 December 2019.

He subsequently returned to Miri, Sarawak and commenced his pupillage under Ms Jagjeet Kaur Sandhu of Messrs Awang, Lai, Sandhu & Co. Advocates, Miri. He was admitted to the Sarawak Bar on 23 October 2020.

Mr Larry Lai practises in the areas of conveyancing, debt recovery and divorce proceedings.

His conveyancing practice includes the preparation of sale and purchase agreements, transfers, assignments, banking and loan documentation, tenancy agreements and other property-related documents. He also acts in debt recovery matters involving unpaid debts, hire purchase defaults, consumer loans and credit card disputes.

Mr Larry Lai also handles divorce and matrimonial matters, including proceedings relating to the dissolution of marriage, custody, maintenance and other related family law issues.