��������Ƶ

A Litigation Hold Notice tells people and organizations to stop deleting or changing specific documents and data when legal action might be coming. Under Singapore's Rules of Court, companies must preserve all potentially relevant evidence once they reasonably expect a lawsuit.

The notice typically lists what needs to be kept (like emails, files, and chat messages), who needs to follow these instructions, and how long the hold stays in place. Breaking these rules can lead to serious penalties in Singapore courts, including monetary sanctions or having the judge make negative inferences about destroyed evidence.

Issue a Litigation Hold Notice immediately when your organization faces potential legal disputes in Singapore. Common triggers include receiving a legal demand letter, discovering serious employee misconduct, or learning about workplace accidents that might lead to claims. Send it as soon as litigation becomes reasonably foreseeable - don't wait for formal court papers.

The notice becomes crucial when dealing with electronic evidence that could be automatically deleted, like email auto-deletion policies or chat message expiration. Fast action helps protect your organization from accusations of evidence tampering under Singapore's Evidence Act and prevents costly sanctions from courts.

• Standard Legal Hold: Basic notice requiring preservation of specific documents and data, typically used in straightforward commercial disputes
• Department-Specific Hold: Targeted notice for particular business units, customized to their data types and retention practices
• Enterprise-Wide Hold: Comprehensive notice covering all departments when facing major litigation or regulatory investigations
• Project-Based Hold: Focused on preserving materials related to specific transactions, contracts, or business initiatives
• Regulatory Investigation Hold: Specialized notice aligned with MAS, PDPC, or other Singapore regulatory requirements

• Legal Department: Drafts and issues Litigation Hold Notices, coordinates with IT teams on data preservation
• Company Directors: Approve hold notices and ensure organizational compliance with preservation requirements
• IT Teams: Implement technical measures to preserve electronic data and suspend automatic deletion policies
• Department Managers: Distribute notices to their teams and monitor compliance within their units
• Employees: Must follow hold instructions and preserve specified documents in their possession or control
• External Counsel: Advises on scope and helps draft notices for complex litigation matters

• Identify Scope: List all potentially relevant documents, data types, and systems that need preservation
• Map Recipients: Create a complete list of departments and employees who handle relevant materials
• Set Timeframe: Determine the date range for preserved materials and expected duration of the hold
• Detail Procedures: Outline specific steps for preserving different types of records (email, paper, chat)
• Draft Instructions: Write clear preservation steps using our platform's legally-vetted templates
• Review Systems: Check all auto-deletion policies and backup schedules that need modification

• Purpose Statement: Clear explanation of why the hold is being issued and its legal significance
• Scope Definition: Specific description of documents and data that must be preserved
• Preservation Instructions: Detailed steps for suspending deletion and maintaining records
• Time Parameters: Start date and expected duration of the hold obligation
• Recipient List: Names and roles of all individuals subject to the hold
• Compliance Requirements: Explanation of legal duties under Singapore's Evidence Act
• Contact Information: Designated person for questions about hold obligations

A Litigation Hold Notice differs significantly from a Notice of Intent in both purpose and timing. While both documents signal upcoming legal action, they serve distinct functions in Singapore's legal framework.

• Primary Purpose: A Litigation Hold Notice focuses on preserving evidence and preventing document destruction, while a Notice of Intent declares a party's plan to take specific legal action
• Timing of Issue: Hold notices must be sent as soon as litigation becomes foreseeable, but a Notice of Intent typically comes after deciding to pursue legal action
• Legal Effect: Hold notices create immediate preservation obligations under Singapore's Evidence Act, whereas Notice of Intent mainly serves as formal communication of future actions
• Recipients: Hold notices go to internal stakeholders who control documents, while Notice of Intent targets external parties who will be subject to legal proceedings