FIRST
The 40 most influential lawyers aged 40 and under
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ingapore’s most influential lawyers aged 40 and under is now on its second year. Due to the overwhelming response to the inaugural list aimed at identifying the city’s power elite in the legal sector, Singapore Business Review doubled the number of lawyers to 40 this year. The list recognizes the 40 young lawyers in the city-state who have shaped the legal industry inside and outside the courtroom, or on the negotiating table. They were selected from a hundred nominees based on three main criteria: thought leadership, influence, and success. Lawyers who have risen through the ranks to secure themselves top level positions at their respective law firms had the advantage in the selection process. Next to them are those who made a name by acting on some of the country’s most controversial cases or advising on one of the major transaction deals in Singapore or abroad. Some may be familiar names as they are most sought after for their legal inputs on certain public and corporate issues. The youngest in the list are two male lawyers aged 30. One is from Tan Kok Quan Partnership who began his legal career as a Justice’s Law Clerk to the Chief Justice and Judges of the Singapore Court. The other one from Peter Low, meanwhile, has built a profile as one of the most recognizable faces of public interest, media and employment litigation in Singapore. They are arranged from the youngest to the oldest.
1 Calvin Liang, 30, Senior Associate, Tan Kok Quan Partnership In 2015, Calvin has successfully acted as lead counsel in an appeal involving offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The case involved one of the largest illegal “U-turn” schemes where Singapore immigration officers received bribes in exchange for extending the social visit passes of foreign performance artists. The case involved novel points of law on the interaction between private sector and public sector corruption. 16 SINGAPORE BUSINESS REVIEW | MARCH 2016
2 Zheng Xi Choo, 30, Director, Peter Low Zheng X handles a diverse range of clients. He is a lead counsel in a case involving a former Managing Director and ex-Director of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Pte Ltd in resisting Springboard injunctions in a first-of-a-kind case in Singapore, involving a team move of 17 employees. He convinced the Singapore High Court to adopt a legal test from Hong Kong and Australia instead of the position in the UK. He is presently acting for 37 former insurances professionals in a rare representative action lawsuit against one of Singapore’s largest insurers.
5 Charmian Aw, 33, Director, Telecommunications, Media and Technology, Drew & Napier Charmian assisted in advising the Infocommunications Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) on regulatory matters including the review of the Telecoms and Postal Competition Codes; and on competition and regulatory issues concerning infrastructure and open access to untra high speed broadband network Singapore’s Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network fibreto-home project, as well as reviewing the dominant licensee’s Reference Interconnection Offer.
3 Lee Xin Mei, 32, Partner, Rajah & Tann Singapore Xin Mei acted as lead counsel to GMG Global, a company listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange in its acquisition of approximately 35% of the shares in the capital of Siat SA (which holds investments in various entities incorporated in Africa, namely Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Gabon) for S$350 million. She also acted as Singapore counsel to Julius Baer in its global acquisition of the wealth management business of Merrill Lynch.
6 Tan Shijie, 33, Partner, Rodyk & Davidson Shijie acted for MGPA in its acquisition of the two significant Marina Bay sites at a record high of over $2 billion for one of the sites. This is where Asia Square Tower 1 and Asia Square Tower 2 now stand. She also acted for Mercatus Co-operative Ltd in its acquisition from a Pramerica Asia fund of a 50% stake in ‘Nex’, the highly popular Serangoon-located shopping mall at S$1.65 billion, making it possibly the biggest property investment deal of that year.
4 Jonathan Lee, 32, Partner, Rajah & Tann Singapore Jonathan is involved in some the country’s high profile litigation. He acted for the estate of the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore. He also acted for the Monitoring Committee of TT International in a unique attempt to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal. Jonathan also successfully acted for OCBC in recovering a debt of RM 7m owed by an individual on the basis of an oral agreement entered into by the parties.
7 Michelle Yong, 33, Partner, Marine and International Trade, Stephenson Harwood (Singapore) Alliance Being dual-qualified in both Singapore and the UK has placed her well to advise on international shipping disputes as well as act in Singapore-based arbitrations. Michelle advised Opus Offshore on the acquisition of the ‘Songa Mercur’ and ‘Songa Venus’, two semi-submersible drilling units totalling over US$200 million, and their existing commitments from Songa Offshore SE.