i. The Practice
A Deliberate Practice.
A Considered Approach.
Murni Counsel conducts civil litigation and commercial work with the care and precision the law demands. The firm's founding premise is that clients are entitled to an honest account of their position — and to counsel who will decline instruction where the matter does not warrant it.
Return to Homeii. History & Mission
About Murni Counsel
Murni Counsel was established in Johor Bahru to meet a particular need in the southern Malaysian legal market: a civil practice willing to state its view on the merits plainly, to quote fees in advance and hold to them, and to decline instruction where the matter is not one the firm can advance properly.
The chambers are situated at Jalan Wong Ah Fook, within the commercial core of Johor Bahru — a location chosen for its proximity to the High Court and for the convenience of clients conducting business in the city.
The firm's litigation practice extends to the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya, where the firm continues to conduct its own matters rather than instructing separate counsel. Commercial drafting engagements are conducted for Malaysian companies of varying sizes, with particular experience in closely held companies requiring carefully structured shareholder and joint venture documentation.
The letter-before-action practice reflects the firm's view that many commercial disputes are amenable to resolution at an early stage, provided the demand is drafted with precision and the procedural options are properly understood by the party making it. The firm approaches these engagements with the same care applied to contested litigation.
Murni Counsel does not accept instruction on matters it considers unlikely to advance properly, and communicates this assessment without delay to the enquiring party. This approach, which some clients initially find unusual, reflects the firm's understanding that its duty to act in the client's genuine interest begins before any retainer is signed.
The firm operates under the oversight of the Malaysian Bar and observes the professional standards and disciplinary framework that govern advocates and solicitors practising in Peninsular Malaysia.
iii. The Practitioners
Counsel
Ahmad Murni
Principal & Advocate
Called to the Malaysian Bar with extensive experience in civil and commercial litigation before the superior courts. Leads the firm's litigation engagements and provides senior oversight on all commercial drafting matters.
Raveena Lim
Advocate & Solicitor
Specialises in commercial drafting and corporate advisory work, with a particular focus on joint venture structuring and shareholder arrangements for Malaysian private companies. Conducts letter-before-action engagements.
Siti Khairunnisa
Legal Associate
Supports the firm's litigation practice with research, court documentation, and pre-trial preparation. Assists with the drafting of commercial agreements and correspondence across all three practice areas.
iv. Professional Standards
How the Practice is Conducted
Malaysian Bar Membership
All practitioners at the firm hold current practising certificates issued by the Malaysian Bar and are subject to its Rules on Professional Conduct and Etiquette.
Client Confidentiality
Information provided by clients and prospective clients is treated as strictly confidential. The duty of confidentiality extends to information received at the enquiry stage, before any retainer is established.
Conflict-Check Protocol
A conflict-check is conducted before any substantive information is exchanged with a prospective client. The firm will not act for a party where a conflict exists with a current or former client.
Written Retainer Terms
Every engagement is governed by a written retainer agreement setting out the scope of work, the fee arrangement, and the basis on which the engagement may be brought to a close by either party.
Data Protection Practices
Personal data provided by clients is processed in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (Malaysia). Data is retained only for as long as the relevant engagement and applicable limitation periods require.
Continuing Professional Development
Practitioners at the firm fulfil the continuing professional development requirements of the Malaysian Bar, with a focus on commercial litigation, contract law, and developments in the Malaysian superior courts.
v. The Firm's Position in Practice
Civil litigation in the Malaysian High Court requires practitioners who understand not only the procedural framework — the Rules of Court 2012, the requirements of pleadings, and the management of interlocutory applications — but also the commercial realities that underlie most private disputes. Murni Counsel's litigation practice is built on both.
Commercial disputes in Johor Bahru frequently arise from the property market, from closely held companies, and from distribution or supply arrangements that were not adequately documented at the outset. The firm's experience across all three of these areas means that it approaches matters with an understanding of how they typically develop and what the viable procedural paths are.
The drafting of commercial agreements is often treated as a formality by parties who have already agreed on the business terms. Murni Counsel's view is that the document is not a formality — it is the record of what was agreed, and it will determine the position of both parties if the arrangement becomes contentious. The firm drafts on that basis.
Located in central Johor Bahru, the firm is accessible to clients conducting business in the Iskandar Malaysia development corridor and to parties whose matters arise from cross-border commercial activity between Malaysia and Singapore.
vi. Enquiry
Discuss your matter with the firm.
A brief outline of the matter is all that is required at this stage. The firm will respond with a preliminary view on whether instruction can be considered and on what basis.
Submit an Enquiry