Conference on the Future of the Legal Profession
 

The  Attorney-General Chan Sek Keong delivering the keynote address.

Mr Kevin Martin, President of the Law Society of England and Wales.

The Law Society organised a day-long conference, ‘Back to Basics. Forward to the Future – the Future of the Legal Profession’ on 16 February 2006 at the Supreme Court Auditorium. The Conference was opened by the Honourable Attorney-General of Singapore, Mr Chan Sek Keong, who delivered his keynote address to an audience of about 200 delegates and invited guests who included Honourable Judges of the Supreme Court, representatives from the Subordinate Courts, Ministry of Law and the Attorney-General’s Chambers. Delegates for the conference included lawyers from India and Indonesia, members of the Judiciary, legal officers, local and foreign lawyers, and law students. 

The Society was honoured to have the President of the Law Society of England and Wales, Mr Kevin Martin, as speaker for the first session of the Conference, sharing the English experience in ‘Structures and Strategies for Growth’. The Singapore experience was next, and this was ably and enthusiastically shared by panellists comprising Dr William Wan (M/s Kelvin Chia Partnership), Mr M Rajaram (Straits Law Practice LLC), Mr George Tan (TSMP Law Corporation), Mr Chia Kim Huat (M/s Rajah & Tann), Mr Tandip Singh (M/s Tan Kok Quan Partnership) and Mr Kevin Wong (Linklaters Allen & Gledhill) with session chair, Mr Alvin Yeo, SC (M/s Wong Partnership).  

The future for small firms was discussed at the next session ‘Size Isn’t Everything – Carving a Future for the Small Firm’ with interesting insights delivered by panellists Mr Peter Low (M/s Peter Low Tang & Belinda Ang), Ms Serena Lim (Bizibody Technology Pte Ltd) and Mr Mark Goh (M/s Goh Aik Leng & Partners). The session was chaired by Mr George Lim (M/s Wee Tay & Lim). 

The afternoon luncheon session was chaired by Mr Jimmy Yim, SC (Drew & Napier LLC) who kept up a lively discussion on ‘Specialisation: Specialists in a Full Service Law Firm or Specialist Law Firms’ amongst the panellists comprising Mrs Lee Suet Fern (Stamford Law Corporation), Dato Jude Benny (M/s Joseph Tan Jude Benny), Mr Thio Shen Yi (TSMP Law Corporation) and Ms Margaret Chew (M/s Allen & Gledhill). 

Panellists for the session, ‘Structures and Strategies for Growth: The Singapore Experience’ (L to R): Mr Tandip Singh, Mr George Tan, Dr William Wan, Mr Alvin Yeo SC (session chair), Mr M Rajaram,  Mr Chia Kim Huat, Mr Kevin Wong.

Mr Jimmy Yim SC	Mrs Lee Suet Fern	Dato Jude Benny	Mr Thio Shen Yi

Ms Margaret Chew	Mr Bryan Tan	Mr Ong Sim Ho

The last session on ‘Issues and Opportunities in Emerging Areas of Law and Practice’ was chaired by Mr Michael Hwang, SC (M/s Michael Hwang). The panellists spoke on a wide range of new areas of law such as sports law (Ms Annabel Pennefather of M/s Harry Elias Partnership), environmental law (Ms Susan de Silva of M/s Alban Tay Mahtani & de Silva), entertainment and gaming law (Mr Lau Kok Keng of M/s Rajah & Tann), competition law (Mr Lim Chong Kin of Drew & Napier LLC) and governance of voluntary welfare organisations (Mr Gregory Vijayendran of M/s Wong Partnership).  

Following closing remarks by the President of the Law Society of Singapore, Mr Philip Jeyaretnam SC, the delegates ended an information-packed day with a round of relaxing cocktails. The Conference would not have been a success but for the unstinting hard work of the organising committee comprising Mr Thio Shen Yi (Chairman), Mr Jimmy Yim SC, Ms Malathi Das, Mr Gregory Vijayendran, Mr Daniel Koh, Ms Jacintha Thannimalai and Ms June Tan.

  
(L to R): Justice Kan Ting Chiu and Justice Chao Hick Tin.

 
The Master of Ceremonies, Mr Sean La’Brooy.              

     
(L to R): Justice VK Rajah and Justice Andrew Ang.

L to R): Mr Yap Teong Liang, Mr Philip Jeyaretnam SC, the Attorney-General Mr Chan Sek Keong and Mr Michael S Chia.
                                                                                                      
                                                                   

Above): Delegates unwinding with cocktails after the conference.

   
(L to R): Justice Andrew Phang, Justice Choo Han Teck, Justice Lai Siu Chiu and Justice Kan Ting Chiu.

The audience included delegates from Indonesia.

 
Panellists for the session on carving a future for small firms, (L to R): Ms Serena Lim, Mr Mark Goh, Mr Peter Low and Mr George Lim (session chair).

Panellists for the session, ‘Issues and Opportunities in Emerging Areas of Law and Practice’ (from left): Mr Gregory Vijayendran, Ms Annabel Pennefather, Mr Michael Hwang SC (session chair), Ms Susan de Silva, Mr Lau Kok Keng and Mr Lim Chong Kin.