Top Law Firms in Singapore

What is a Law Firm?

A law firm is an association of lawyers who practice law. It is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage legal practice. Usually, the members of a law firm share clients and profits.

What are the Different Types of Legal Practice?

Banking and Finance

Banking and finance law involves various facets that are intricate technically and rapidly evolving constantly. Thus, lawyers in this field often specialize in one concentration. A banking and finance lawyer will either service the loan-taker or the creditor, and much of their role will emphasize the transactional aspects of brokering deals.

In all areas of banking and finance, lawyers in this field assist with mutual bargaining, structuring, and managing financial deals, and drafting due diligence reports.

A banking and finance lawyer will be required to oversee compliance by heeding all applicable laws and regulations (which usually straddle many jurisdictions) and balance conflicting parties by assisting them to reach conciliatory terms.

Commercial Law

Solicitors: The clients of commercial solicitors are usually enterprises. Thus, an average day would mean, for example, interpreting contracts and adjusting clauses for the clients, drafting legal papers for businesses, and assessing commercial mergers. It might require high levels of pleading on behalf of the client for heeding their interests, negotiating for client’s advantages in contracts, a legally binding agreement. Thus, the work is diverse and ranges according to the area of legal practice specialized in.

Corporate Law

Corporate lawyers have duties to perform tasks like due diligence (assessing business profitability for possible buyers or partners). They must also discuss contractual terms with diverse parties and ensure the legitimacy of all coffers and financial reserves for commercial transactions. An additional essential duty that corporate lawyers engage in is exploring the binding power, capacities granted by an enterprise’s constitutional laws, shareholder, and directors’ rights.

Criminal Law

To work in criminal law, it is required for one to cope with intense pressure while engaging rapidly evolving, complex cases. Due to the nature of criminal law, you must apprehend complex circumstances and spontaneously respond to sudden complications.

Criminal law also requires copious amounts of tangible evidence retrieval and accumulation. Hence, processing information swiftly and rationally will work to your advantage. An eye for minute detail is also demanded and required, as successful court dealings are gained through heeding minute details in evidence gathered.

Family Law

Family lawyers must work with both adults and children, so you must be comfortable with intense client engagement. These children and adults might display emotional trauma, and stress due to the family conflict, thus you must thrive under explosive, volatile circumstances, and stresses.

You need some drive and passion for serving others, and must manage volatile relationships and confront clients. It is also necessary to detach yourself from the client and their problems to demonstrate impartiality and professionalism.

Media Law

Media lawyers engage in both contentious and non-contentious issues, such as:

• Copyright disputes
• Libel
• Defamation

The Top Law Firms in Singapore

One of the largest law firms in Southeast Asia, Allen & Gledhill LLP has been around since 1902. Bound by their commitment to delivering excellent service, they have continued to grow and become a strong presence in the region.

They add value by providing modern solutions, namely:

• Banking & Finance
• Construction & Engineering
• Investment Funds
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Litigation

Rajah & Tann has over 360 lawyers who are well-known in their respective areas of expertise. Their diverse team is their primary source of strength, helping them add value to their clients and bring a broader perspective to the table. Bringing together law firms and law practitioners in 10 countries, they are one of the region’s legal powerhouses.

They provide legal services in the following areas of practice (but not limited to):

• Appeals & Issues
• Banking & Finance
• Capital Markets
• Commercial Litigation
• Competition & Antitrust and Trade
• Construction & Projects
• Corporate Commercial
• Corporate Real Estate
• Employment & Benefits
• Energy & Resources
• Entertainment & Media
• Family, Probate & Trusts
• Financial Institutions
• Foreign Investment Approvals
• Fraud, Asset Recovery & Investigations
• Funds and Investment Management
• Gaming
• Hospitality
• Insurance & Reinsurance
• Integrated Regulatory Intellectual Property
• International Arbitration
• Islamic Finance
• Medical Law
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Project Finance
• Restructuring & Insolvency
• Shipping & International Trade
• Sports
• Tax
• Technology, Media & Telecommunications
• White Collar Crime

One of the country’s largest legal firms, WongPartnership is a law firm headquartered in Singapore. Through their regional law network, WongPartnership’s clients can work with satellite offices in China and Myanmar, as well as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

With more than 400 legal professionals across the region, they are able to accommodate their clients’ demands throughout Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Practice Areas

• Corporate & Financial Services
• Intellectual Property & Data
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution
• Regulatory
• Tax

Drew & Napier is one of Singapore’s premier law firms. Their network of blue-chip law firms (called DNA, or Drew Network Asia) is a multinational team that operates as a “firm of firms,” bringing their clients an international perspective marked by strong local expertise.

Their practice areas include, but are not limited to:

• Arbitration
• Asset Recovery
• Business Establishment
• Capital Markets
• Commercial Litigation
• Competition Law & Regulatory Practice
• Corporate Litigation
• Corporate Restructuring & Workouts; Mergers & Acquisitions
• Environmental, Social, & Governance
• Financial Services Regulation
• Intellectual Property
• Mediation
• Private Client Disputes
• Projects, Energy & Infrastructure (Dispute Resolution)
• Public International Law
• Real Estate
• Tax & Private Client Services
• Wills, Probate, & Estate Administration

Founded by a group of lawyers who have previously worked in a Big Four law firm, WMH Law Corporation is a fast-rising law firm in Singapore. Their clients include a mix of private individuals, foreign-listed corporations, and local companies.

As a two-time finalist for the Corporate Citizenship Law Firm of the Year Award, the firm’s goal is to provide clients with excellent legal representation.

Practice Areas

• Litigation and Arbitration
• Matrimonial and Private Wealth
• Commercial Disputes
• Construction Disputes
• Criminal Law
• Debt Recovery and Insolvency
• Defamation
• Employment
• Mediation
• Medical Negligence
• Probates and Administration
• Wills

As a part of the global law firm Dentons, Dentons Rodyk has the capability to provide its clients access to expert legal services in 78 countries.

Whether it’s in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Middle East, or the Asia Pacific Region, the firm can provide quality legal counsel in areas where their clients want to do business or resolve a dispute.

Practice Areas

• Banking & Finance
• Islamic Finance
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Intellectual Property
• Health Care

Industries

• Aviation and Aerospace
• Communications
• Construction
• Energy
• Family Office and High Net Worth
• Infrastructure and PPP
• Life Sciences and Health Care
• Media, Entertainment and Sports
• Private Equity
• Real Estate
• Technology
• Transportation

With more than 30 years of operation in Singapore, Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow offers a unique combination of global coverage and local knowledge to help clients effectively manage the challenges and opportunities of doing business in Singapore, Asia, and the rest of the world.

Their practice areas include, but are not limited to:

• Banking & Finance
• Dispute Resolution
• Employment & Compensation
• Compliance & Investigations
• Environment & Climate Change

With a solid network of offices in the Asia Pacific, Clifford Chance provides their clients with the right mix of local and global perspectives and expertise.

In Singapore, their team of more than 120 lawyers is composed of a combination of local and international talent who are specialists in their respective practice areas, which include, but are not limited to:

• Corporate
• Antitrust
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution
• Real Estate
• Tech Group

As a premier Singapore law firm, Shook Lin & Bok has extensive experience with the leading legal and regulatory issues affecting businesses in the country and Asia at large. Their partners have extensive and comprehensive cross-border experiences that help them add value to their clients.

Their practice areas include, but are not limited to:

• Banking & Finance
• Capital Markets
• Litigation & Disputes
• Employment
• Intellectual Property
• Restructuring & Insolvency

Harry Elias Partnership has engaged in a number of construction masterpieces in Singapore and has represented corporations and individuals on complicated cross-border matters. They are well-known for providing practical and proactive counsel to their extremely diversified clientele.

Their services span a broad spectrum of practice areas, which include:

• Banking & Finance
• Construction & Engineering
• Banking and Finance
• Capital Markets
• Construction and Engineering
• Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Data Protection
• Family & Divorce
• Fraud & Financial Crime
• Intellectual Property
• International Arbitration
• Litigation & Dispute Management
• Merger & Acquisitions (M&A)
• Private Client Advisory
• Private Equity & Funds
• Public International Law (PIL)
• Real Estate
• Restructuring & Insolvency
• Aviation & Shipping
• Oil and Gas

Withers KhattarWong LLP is a full-service law firm with a team of versatile and expert lawyers. Their lawyers are qualified to practice in a wide range of jurisdictions aside from Singapore, namely:

• Australia
• The British Virgin Islands
• India
• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom
• United States

Their clients in Singapore include 80% of major international and regional insurance companies, 70% of major banks, funds, Fortune 500 companies, publicly listed and private companies as well as individuals featured in Forbes Asia’s Richest Families list. Their practice areas include, but are not limited to:

• Banking and Finance
• Commercial Litigation
• Corporate
• Divorce and Family
• Employment
• Immigration
• International Arbitration
• IP and Data Protection
• Private Clients
• Public International Law
• Real Estate
• Tax
• Trust, Estate, and Inheritance Disputes
• White-Collar Defence and Investigations

Norton Rose Fulbright is a world-renowned full business law service that operates in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and Africa.

With their extensive industry experience, combined with their knowledge of legal, regulatory, compliance, and governance issues, their team of legal experts provide clients with practical solutions to the legal and regulatory risks that their businesses face.

Their practice areas include, but are not limited to:

• Corporate
• Asset recovery
• Risk advisory
• Investment funds
• Litigation

Key Industry Sectors

• Financial institutions
• Energy
• Infrastructure and resources
• Consumer markets
• Transport
• Technology
• Life sciences and healthcare

Established in 2011, RHTLaw Asia is a technology-driven law firm that provides comprehensive integrated business solutions to corporations, institutions, and individuals.

In 2022, they have been recognised as one of Singapore’s best law firms in The Straits Times’ survey on Singapore’s Best Law Firms for 2022. They received this recognition for their work in the following practice areas:

• Arbitration, Mediation & Dispute Resolution
• Banking & Finance
• Company & Commercial
• Conveyancing
• Intellectual Property
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Real Estate (Commercial Property, Construction, Funds)

Awarded a qualifying foreign law practice (QFLP) licence by the Singapore Ministry of Law, qualified law professionals at Linklaters are allowed to practice Singapore law as well as English and U.S. law.

Their broad range of practice areas include, but are not limited to:

• Antitrust & Foreign Investment
• Business Crime & Investigations
• Capital Markets
• Corporate/M&A and Dispute Resolution
• Environment, Social and Governance
• Intellectual Property, Data, & Cybersecurity
• International Arbitration
• Islamic Finance
• Restructuring and Insolvency
• Risk and Resilience
• Technology, Procurement and Outsourcing
• Trade Law

Allen & Overy has a broad client base, and their partners are well-versed in the following practice areas, among others:

• Corporate
• Banking & Finance
• Employment
• Litigation
• Intellectual Property

Key Sectors

• Automotive
• Banks
• Communications and Media
• Consumer and Retail
• Energy
• Industrial and Manufacturing
• Infrastructure and Transport
• Life Sciences
• Mining and Metals
• Private Equity
• Real Estate
• Technology

Grace Law LLC is a Singapore-based law practice formed to provide dedicated and personalized legal services on a broad range of legal matters. Their clients range from large corporate entities to ordinary individuals.

Services

• Adoption
• Child Custody
• Divorce
• Criminal
• Personal Injury
• Probate

Bird&Bird offers innovative client solutions to corporate entities across the globe. They aim to be the go-to firm for both local and international businesses in the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and the US.

Their practice areas include, but are not limited to:

• Intellectual Property
• Aviation
• Financial Services
• Energy & Utilities
• Healthcare

Emerald Law, formerly known as B RAO & K.S RAJAH, has successfully handled disputes in the excess of millions. Progressively, the firm has contributed to Singapore law.

Practice Areas:

• Litigation
• Syariah Law
• Corporate
• Family Law
• Contractual Disputes

IRB Law has more than 50 employees, allowing them to maintain a highly personalised level of service while enabling them to cover a significant range of service areas across individual and corporate law.

Their practice areas include, but are not limited to:

• Family Law
• Syariah Law
• Estate Planning
• Bankruptcy
• Litigation
• International Arbitrations
• Construction and Infrastructure
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Commercial Agreements
• Asset Tracing
• Enforcement Actions

Linus Law Chambers is dedicated to providing you with the best quality of service at affordable legal costs. They strive to provide practical and effective solutions for your legal problems.

Their practice areas include, but are not limited to:

• Family & Divorce Law
• Litigation
• Corporate Law
• Debt Recovery
• Banking & Finance

Duane Morris & Selvam LLP is a top-rated corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions law practice in Singapore, according to Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Chambers and Partners, Leading Lawyers, and the International Financial Law Review 1000.

Key Services

• Corporate, Securities, Mergers and Acquisitions
• Complex Financial Transactions
• Dispute Resolution
• Anti-corruption Compliance and Investigations
• Energy, Environment, and Resources
• Information Technology & Telecommunications
• Shipping
• Tax
• Corporate Secretarial Services

Aside from homeowners, Cecil Law has worked with some of the country’s major housing developers and financial institutions. In conveyancing and real estate, their lawyers have handled:

• Property sale, purchase, re-financing, redemption, CPF housing withdrawals cases (both private and HDB)
• Transfer by gifts / pursuant to divorce orders
• Purchase in trust / “de-coupling” or part-share transactions

By tradition, law firms are partnerships. Currently, law firms are organized in various ways, depending on the jurisdiction in which the firm practices.

Sole proprietorship, general partnership, professional corporations, limited liability company, professional association, and limited liability partnership are some of the common arrangements.

Most law firms have a hierarchical structure. The partners (shareholders) supervise the senior associates (senior lawyers) who in turn supervise their associates (junior lawyers).

The law firms also employ paralegals to help them. The associates are usually employed on a track to partnership.
Law firms provide legal services to individuals and corporations.

The primary service provided by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent their clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other matters in which legal assistance is sought.

Legal services are an important consideration for any individual or business owner who often faces several legal challenges.

Law is a big service-based business. Business, finance, taxation, litigation, corporate affairs, conflicts, patents, copyrights, antitrust, property, labor, arbitration, as well as administration, political, and social matters all require law expertise.Law firms cater to the interests of companies and private individuals alike, though most of the large law firms deal exclusively with corporate houses, i.e. companies.

Work at a law firm involves dealing with a wide variety of problems that may or may not be restricted to a specific area of the law (depending on the specialization and firm culture).

Major law firms have separate litigation and corporate departments. The litigation department deals with the disputes which the firm’s clients are engaged in.

Working in the litigation department of a law firm or in a firm that does mainly litigation entails interaction with leading lawyers and a taste of the judicial sphere of court practice.

The corporate departments of law firms advise companies on the corporate deals in which they are involved, such as acquisitions of companies, important inter-company agreements, investment in Singapore by foreign clients, financing of large-scale projects undertaken by clients and so on.

Major law firms, both Singaporean and foreign, recruit from the top Singaporean law schools.

Among the major recruiters from the domestic legal schools are top law firms such as Allen and Gledhill, Rajah and Tann, Drew and Napier, Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP, Baker & McKenzie Wong & Leow, Clifford Chance, Shook Lin & Bok, Eversheds Harry Elias, .Withers KhattarWong, Norton Rose Fulbright, RHTLaw Taylor, Wessing Linklaters, Allen & Overy, Bird & Bird ATMD.

Salaries in Law Firms

The top Singaporean law firms offer salaries that can go as high as $20k a month. Foreign law firms (with foreign postings) offer salaries that can go as high as $350 k a year.

Some of these numbers include bonuses, which can be quite generous in most instances. You may wonder why the salaries are lower as compared to those offered by corporates – what you must remember is that most law firms keep the recruit on a ‘retainer’, allowing for more flexible tax management.

Furthermore, salaries in law firms rise faster than in companies. An associate with 2-3 years of experience at a law firm is likely to overtake his classmate at a company. At law firms, you liaise with senior officers of client companies and handle immense responsibility at a young age.

The corporate culture with its jet-setting lifestyle has its own peculiar charm. Competition, and consequently stress, at these law firms is immense since many associates compete for very few partner positions.

The larger the law firm, the fiercer the competition. There is also the possibility of being limited and labelled in a specific practice area i.e. being a specialist in one area and losing the flexibility of doing different things.

Singapore As An International Legal Hub

Singapore has successfully positioned itself at the heart of the Southeast Asia legal market.

As a recognized hub for the region, its lawyers are frequently engaged in jurisdictions from Indonesia in the south to Vietnam and Myanmar in the northern reaches of the region.

As an Asia Pacific hub for projects and project finance, the legal market is also frequently engaged in transactions even further afield, including North Asia, Australia and Africa.

Top Singaporean firms such as Allen & Gledhill LLP, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP and WongPartnership LLP have widened their focus to establish offices in multiple Southeast Asian jurisdictions.

Furthermore, as a major international arbitration centre, its thriving arbitration community handles cases originating from around the world.

The influx of international firms into Singapore to earn part of the international arbitration sector has created a hugely competitive environment with consensus amongst the profession that this market is saturated.

Key recommendations for more efficiency:

• To stop wasting trial time, the court will determine the number of applications that parties may file and when they may file them.
• Parties will first produce the documents that they are relying on for their accorded cases, then request specific documents from the conflicting party.
• When expert evidence is necessary, the usual position will be for a common expert to be used.
• For some cases, the court will be allowed to perform hearings on documents alone.
• Judges can exert more power over the proceedings of trial by directly questioning witnesses and restricting the issues and time for examination of witnesses.
• Scale charges will be set. This allows parties to consider if it is worth it to incur the costs of litigation. It also means there is less incentive for lawyers to prolong proceedings.

Sample Legal Costs in Singapore:

Although there is no fixed fee structure, in general lawyers charge either a fixed fee or by the hour.

Fixed fee: In this case, lawyers charge you a lump sum for the entire case. Such cases are likely to be non-contentious and predictable/routine, like real estate purchases, drafting of wills and deed polls, or drafting of business/loan contracts.

Hourly: Cases in which disputes, contentions with opposing interests tend to be charged by the hour. The lawyers must charge an hourly fee as they do not know how much work will accumulate and how the cases could evolve. You will pay higher hourly billings for highly ranked, pedigree lawyers.

For complex or volatile disputes, you may be asked to surrender a deposit before the lawyer starts work.

Always ask the lawyer for a flat rate before you decide to engage the lawyer. If you are visiting the lawyer’s office for a first-time assessment, ask if the first consultation is free.

Extra advice: if you are a regular client or have acquaintance or kinship with the lawyer, bargain for lower charges. Lawyers may concede to discounts to earn your loyalty.

Though legal fees can range vastly from firm to firm according to how complex an issue is, here are some sample costs for regular issues that arise:

Property purchase – $1,500 to $5,000, depending on whether you are buying HDB/private, completed/uncompleted property, and the value of your property.

Will – $100 to $500 for simple wills

Deed poll – $100 to $300

Uncontested divorce – $1,500 to $5,000

Legal costs in Singapore: Major developments

Fixed legal costs are going to be determined for civil proceedings in a bid to give litigants leeway and to incentivise lawyers to end disputes fast.

Scale legal costs for taking a case to court allow parties to carefully consider the outcomes before deciding on whether it is worthwhile to incur the legal costs said a panel reviewing legal processes. It would also incentivise lawyers to end the dispute fast and condense the fixed price for minimal time and effort to clear time for more cases.

The use of scale legal costs is one of the sweeping changes that have been set to give judges more power in the civil litigation process to guarantee that disputes are ended quickly and at affordable, optimal charges.

The proposals also seek to simplify court procedures for most civil cases into a set track, with leeway for adjustments. These suggestions, by two expert panels, were put forth.

Singapore Legal Practice

Featured listings below rank, size-wise, fourteen Singaporean/ International law firms holding a minimal 1 office locally. Practising locally are 1996 qualified lawyers, with 670 partners, and 1161 associates, employed over prime-14 Singaporean/ International law firms within Singapore.

2018 Rank Name Headquarter(s) Total number of Partners Total number of Associates Total number of Qualified Lawyers Remarks
1 Allen & Gledhill Singapore 154 232 388 Domestic
2 Rajah & Tann Singapore 136 182 318 Domestic
3 Drew & Napier Singapore 69 104 250 Domestic
4 Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP Singapore 86 98 204 Domestic
5 Baker & McKenzie Wong & Leow Singapore 29 77 124 Domestic
6 Clifford Chance United Kingdom 23 72 108 Magic Circle
7 Shook Lin & Bok Singapore 35 66 101 Domestic
8 Harry Elias Partnership Singapore 22 75 97 Domestic
9 Withers KhattarWong Singapore 34 47 91 Domestic
10 Norton Rose Fulbright Singapore 19 48 67 International
11 RHTLaw Asia Singapore 24 28 66 Domestic
12 Linklaters United Kingdom 10 47 65 Magic Circle
13 Allen & Overy United Kingdom 15 46 64 Magic Circle
14 Bird & Bird ATMD Singapore 14 39 53 Domestic

Singapore’s top law firms ranked, 2021

Straits Times News, collaborating along with global market researcher Statista, gathered ground-breaking surveys to rank, rate Singapore’s top law firms within fifteen distinct categories of law practices.

Surveyed categories span over Banking or Finance law and Civil Dispute Resolution. Collated statistics were drawn from just over 10,000 surveys drawn from 4000 Lawyers, Customers, or Colleagues.

German-based Statista conducted general surveys, engaged for reputable market research, or stellar research calibre, after completing close parallels within Britain or Switzerland, along with more nations.

The expert methodology assured the conducted surveys spanning industries with reach or scope, guaranteeing statistical accuracy of empirical verifiability.

Top Singapore Law Firms, listed alphabetically

Reviewed by Asia Law: https://www.asialaw.com/

Adsan Law
Advocatus
Allen & Gledhill
Allen & Overy
Amica Law
Ang & Partners
Apex Law
Asia Practice
Atlas Asia Law Corporation
Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Bird & Bird ATMD
Black Oak
Central Chambers
Characterist
Circular Law Chambers
Clifford Chance
Clifford Law
Clyde & Co Clasis
Corner Stone Law
David Llewelyn & Co
Davinder Singh Chambers
De Souza Lim & Goh
Dennis Mathiew
Dentons Rodyk
Donaldson & Burkinshaw
Drew & Napier
Duane Morris & Selvam
Eldan Law
Emerald Law
Engelin Teh Practice
Essex Court Chambers Duxton
Eugene Thuraisingam
Focus Law Asia
Francine Tan Law Corporation
GJC
Gurbani
Haridass Ho & Partners
Harry Elias Partnership
Helmsman
HFW
Hill Dickinson
Hin Tat Augustine & Partners
Hoh Law Corporation
Ince Incisive Law
Invictus Law Corporation
IRB Law
Jacque Law
JTJB – Joseph Tan Jude Benny
K&L Gates Straits Law
Kalidass Law Corporation
Kennedys Legal Solutions
Kith & Kin Law Corporation
Latham & Watkins
Lee & Lee
Lee Shergill
Legal Clinic
Linklaters
LVM LAW Chambers
Mirchandani & Partners
Morgan Lewis Stamford
Norton Rose Fulbright
OC Queen Street
Oon & Bazul
Pacific Law Corporation
Peter Doraisamy
Peter Low & Choo
Peter Ong Law Corporation
PK Wong & Nair
PKWA Law
Providence Law Asia
QWP – Quahe Woo & Palmer
Rajah & Tann
Ramdas & Wong
Ramesh Tiwary
Ravindran Associates
Reed Smith
Regent Law
Resource Law
Rev Law
RHT Law Asia
Shook Lin & Bok
Stephenson Harwood (Singapore) Alliance
Sterling Law Corporation
T L Yap Law Chambers
Tan Rajah & Cheah
Teoh & Co LLC
Tito Isaac & Co
TKQP – Tan Kok Quan Partnership
Trident Law Corporation
TSMP Law Corporation
ULA – United Legal Alliance
White Fern
Withers Khattar Wong
WNLEX
Wong Partnership
Yuen Law
Yusarn Audrey
ZICO Insights Law

Aviation, shipping

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Rajah & Tann

Highly recommended

Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Haridass Ho & Partners
Joseph Tan Jude Benny
Oon & Bazul

Recommended

Gurbani & Co
Helmsman
Morgan Lewis Stamford
Resource Law

Other notable

Ang & Partners
Asia Practice
Asia Legal
Clyde & Co Clasis
Incisive Law
J-Lex
Niru & Co
Virtus Law

Banking, finance

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Highly recommended

Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Rajah & Tann
Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)

Recommended

Drew & Napier
Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee
Morgan Lewis Stamford
TSMP Law Corporation

Recognized

Asia Practice
CNP Law
Duane Morris & Selvam
Oon & Bazul
Wong Tan & Molly Lim

Notable

Harry Elias Partnership
QED Law Corporation
Withers Khattar Wong

Consumer goods, services

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Drew & Napier
Rajah & Tann
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Recommended

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Dentons Rodyk & Davidson

Recommended

Bird & Bird ATMD
Morgan Lewis Stamford
RHTLaw Asia
Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)
TSMP Law Corporation

Competition/antitrust

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Drew & Napier
Rajah & Tann

Recommended

Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Recommended

Dentons Rodyk & Davidson

Recognized

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
TSMP Law Corporation

Infrastructure

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Rajah & Tann
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Recommended

Dentons Rodyk & Davidson

Recommended

Drew & Napier
TSMP Law Corporation

Other notable

Bird & Bird ATMD
Eldan Law
Morgan Lewis Stamford
Pinsent Masons M Pillay

Corporate, M&A

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Highly recommended

Rajah & Tann
Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)
TSMP Law Corporation

Recommended

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Drew & Napier
Morgan Lewis Stamford

Recognized

Bird & Bird ATMD
CNP Law
Duane Morris & Selvam
Harry Elias Partnership
Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee
RHT Law Asia

Notable

AEI Legal
Asia Practice
Atlas Asia Law Corporation
Eng and Co
Fs LAW
Juris Asia
Prolegis
QED Law Corporation
Quahe Woo & Palmer
Rubicon Law
TLB Law
Withers Khattar Wong
Yuen Law

Real estate

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Rajah & Tann
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Highly recommended

Drew & Napier
Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)

Recommended

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee
TSMP Law Corporation

Notable

CNP Law
De Souza Lim & Goh
Fortis Law Corporation
Harry Elias Partnership
RHT Law Asia

Intellectual property

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Bird & Bird ATMD
Drew & Napier

Highly recommended

Amica Law
Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Rajah & Tann

Recommended

Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee
Ravindran Associates
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Recognized

Donaldson & Burkinshaw
Gateway Law Corporation
Harry Elias Partnership
Joyce A Tan & Partners

Notable

Mirandah Law
OC Queen Street
RHT Law Asia
Robinson
TSMP Law Corporation
Withers Khattar Wong
Yusarn Audrey

Banking and financial services

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Rajah & Tann
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Recommended

Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Drew & Napier
Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)

Recommended

Morgan Lewis Stamford
TSMP Law Corporation
Withers Khattar Wong

Energy

Recommended

Allen & Gledhill
Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Rajah & Tann
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Other notable

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Bird & Bird ATMD
Drew & Napier
Duane Morris & Selvam
Pinsent Masons M Pillay
TSMP Law Corporation

Intellectual property

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Bird & Bird ATMD
Drew & Napier

Highly recommended

Amica Law
Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Rajah & Tann

Recommended

Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee
Ravindran Associates
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Recognized

Donaldson & Burkinshaw
Gateway Law Corporation
Harry Elias Partnership
Joyce A Tan & Partners

Notable

Mirandah Law
OC Queen Street
RHT Law Asia
Robinson
TSMP Law Corporation
Withers Khattar Wong
Yusarn Audrey

Energy

Recommended

Allen & Gledhill
Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Rajah & Tann
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Notable

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Bird & Bird ATMD
Drew & Napier
Duane Morris & Selvam
Pinsent Masons M Pillay
TSMP

Labour and employment

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Rajah & Tann
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Highly recommended

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Bird & Bird ATMD
Drew & Napier
TSMP Law Corporation

Recommended

CNP Law
Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Harry Elias Partnership
Morgan Lewis Stamford
Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)

Other notable

IRB Law
PK Wong & Nair
PRP Law
Withers Khattar Wong Corporation

Insurance

Recommended

Allen & Gledhill
Clyde & Co Clasis
Kennedys Legal Solutions
Rajah & Tann
RPC Premier Law
White Fern

Other notable

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
LVM Law Chambers

Technology and telecommunications

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Drew & Napier
Rajah & Tann

Highly recommended

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Bird & Bird ATMD
Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Pinsent Masons M Pillay
Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Recommended

CNP Law
Duane Morris & Selvam
OC Queen Street
Orion W
RHT Law Asia

Other notable

Taylor Vinters Via

Regulatory

Highly recommended

Allen & Gledhill
Rajah & Tann
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Recommended

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Drew & Napier
Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)

Other notable

CNP Law

Tax

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Drew & Napier

Highly recommended

Rajah & Tann
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Recommended

Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Withers Khattar Wong

Other notable

Taxise Asia

Capital markets

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Highly recommended

Rajah & Tann

Recommended

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Bird & Bird ATMD
CNP Law
Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Drew & Napier
Duane Morris & Selvam
Morgan Lewis Stamford
RHT Law Asia
Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)
TSMP Law Corporation

Other notable

Aquinas Law Alliance
Eng and Co
Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee
Virtus Law
Wong Tan & Molly Lim

Construction

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Pinsent Masons M Pillay
Rajah & Tann
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Recommended

Dentons Rodyk & Davidson

Recommended

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Drew & Napier
Eldan Law
TSMP Law Corporation

Recognized

Harry Elias Partnership
Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee
Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)

Other notable

Clyde & Co Clasis
CMS Holborn Asia
Duane Morris & Selvam
LIMN Law Corporation

Dispute resolution

Outstanding

Drew & Napier
Rajah & Tann
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Recommended

Allen & Gledhill
Davinder Singh Chambers
Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
TSMP Law Corporation

Recommended

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
Cavenagh Law
Harry Elias Partnership
K&L Gates Straits Law
Morgan Lewis Stamford
Oon & Bazul
Providence Law Asia
Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)
Tan Kok Quan Partnership

Recognized

Advocatus Law
Aldgate Chambers
Bird & Bird ATMD
Braddell Brothers
CNP Law
Duane Morris & Selvam
PK Wong & Nair
RPC Premier Law
Tan Rajah & Cheah

Notable

Audent Chambers
BR Law Corporation
Eugene Thuraisingam
Fullerton Law Chambers
Legis Point
Nicholas & Tan Partnership
PDLegal
RBN Chambers
RHT Law Asia
Withers Khattar Wong

Investment funds

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill

Highly recommended

Rajah & Tann
Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Recommended

CNP Law
Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Drew & Napier
Morgan Lewis Stamford
Simmons & Simmons JWS

Other notable

Eng and Co
Tan Peng Chin

Private equity

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Highly recommended

Drew & Napier
Rajah & Tann

Recommended

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
CNP Law
Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)

Other notable

Prolegis
TSMP Law Corporation

Restructuring and insolvency

Outstanding

Allen & Gledhill
Drew & Napier
Rajah & Tann
Wong Partnership (Singapore)

Highly recommended

Black Oak
Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore)

Recommended

Dentons Rodyk & Davidson
Oon & Bazul
PK Wong & Nair
Tan Kok Quan Partnership
TSMP Law Corporation
Harry Elias Partnership
PRP Law
Rev Law
Withers Khattar Wong

Other notable

Providence Law Asia
Asia law

Top Law Firms in Singapore:

Allen & Gledhill (A&G) is regarded as an industry leader in Singapore.

“It’s very telling when CEOs of well-known companies, fellow senior lawyers and even managing partners of other law firms send their law graduate kids to Allen & Gledhill for their training contracts and (they) subsequently go on to qualify as associates there.”

“This reflects the trust and confidence these industry veterans have in A&G, as a firm, as a starting point for their next generation of lawyers,” quipped Ms. Lee Shulin, manager of local law hiring firm Ansa Search.

“In my line of legal executive search, we often encounter clients requesting to hire lawyers who’ve had experience working in A&G,” she said.

A&G remained the only company that had ranked in every fifteen gradings of Singapore’s Best Law Firms 2021, the survey conducted by The Straits Times along German-based research firm Statista.

The Big Four Law firms – Rajah & Tann, Wong Partnership, Allen & Gledhill, or Drew & Napier – alternately demonstrated high performance and significant impact.

Still, alternatives engaging highly-ranked lawyers, like Davinder Singh Chambers or Essex Court Chambers Duxton, (Singapore Group Practice), alternatively ranked highly within the specific classes – civil dispute resolution (Litigation, Arbitration, or Mediation).

Senior Counsel Davinder Singh manages his independent firm, whereas Essex Court holds hires including former Attorney General V.K. Rajah, Queen’s Counsel Toby Landau, or Senior Counsel Chan Leng Sun.

Essex Duxton chief executive David Grief specified that the Group is not a practicing law firm, and members are not considered partners or employees of general group practice.

“Rather, Essex Court Chambers Duxton, is comprised of individual advocates, each of whom is a self-employed sole practitioner,” he quipped.

Ranked 20 top firms named within this class- led by Engelin Teh Practice, subsequently tailed by Rajah & Tann, Drew & Napier, Allen & Gledhill, Wong Partnership, and Oon & Bazul – alternatively give a close insight of top-ranking law firms in Singapore.

Top-ranked Adsan Law places hire as foundations of their practice.

Hoh Law Corporation’s Island-wide network features ten branch subsidiaries.

The survey revealed that minor firms specialized in certain niche categories, inclusive of the Restructuring and Insolvency class, are independently high performing.

Such feature firms include Black Oak, which holds some parallel 5-star rankings as Singapore’s Big 4 Firms.

Minor Firms also ranked well under the criminal law class.

Industry players also cooperated with surveys, indicating overall that readers may trust survey statistics.

“It is instructive that the rankings focus on law firms rather than personalities. It signals there has been a shift in the legal services market about how clients consume legal services,” quipped Melbourne-based lawyer Dharmendra Yadav, working under Alpha Creates, the specialist resource consultancy for law firms or in-house legal group practitioners.

“The rankings recognize that a client goes to a firm not for a particular lawyer, but rather, it is the value proposition of a comprehensive regional professional services firm that attracts. This shows a welcome maturing of the Singapore market in the consumption of legal services.”

“There is a good spread of small and large law firms, which underscores the depth and spread of the research undertaken. It also shows how diverse the legal services market in Singapore is.”

Blind injured person appreciative of Law Firm Lee Shergill’s assistance
Oon & Bazul’s Managing Partner Bazul Ashhab praised The Straits Times for “taking on the mantle of providing a trusted, independent approach to assessing lawyers in Singapore”.

“Users of legal services depend greatly on credible assessors. Today’s rankings are testament to the best,” he reported.

Surveyed 15 classes featured a count of 98 law firms, which probably renders this as premonitions of Singapore’s Best 100 edition.

Lawyers locally based feature as segments of blended practitioners, indicating that these could perform in the capacities of a solicitor or act as advocates, whereas lawyers often specialize in 1 Litigation, Conveyancing, or Corporate Law.

The overall count of lawyers in Singapore gradually diminished within the initial ten years of the 21st century. 3,300 lawyers were practicing in 2006.

Parliament approved changes in 2009, subsuming the ‘pupillage’ practice by structured education, also rendering greater access for lawyers to resume legal practice.

International law firms are often confined to Corporate, Finance, or Banking Law.

Within 2007, 4200 lawyers were counted practicing law within Singapore, exceeding the 4000 in 2002.

Within July 2009, 95 foreign firms were practicing holding offices in Singapore, with 840 foreign lawyers, rising to over 576 within 2000.

6 international firms were awarded licenses to practice Singaporean Corporate Law for initial practicing engagements within December 2008.

Within 2012, 5200 lawyers were reported to be practicing in Singapore, according to statistics surveyed by the Ministry of Law.

Big firms inclusive of Drew & Napier, Rajah & Tann Asia, or Allen & Gledhill count for 20% of the law industry’s workers.

Median salary counts for Partners are $250,000 every year within Singapore practices.

Salaries projections were drawn from 38 salaries reported confidentially to Glassdoor by Partner practitioners in the Singapore arena.

Lawyer salaries within Singapore

Average monthly salary: $6,451

Lawyers may rise to high-end remuneration supposing they persevere in toiling through stress or remaining in legal practice.

Law school graduates need to pass their required bar exams within the period of around 6 to 12 months or undergo minimally 6 to 12 months of full-time interning, under this period they could receive monthly stipends of around $1,500 to $2,000.

Trainee lawyers interning at local firms may possibly anticipate slogging through grueling hours, frequently kept at their offices reaching late hours in morning periods over crucial intervals.

Upon being ultimately getting called to the bar 1 to 2 years following graduation, their initial salaries presently trending tend to fall under the $4,000 to $5,000 stretch.

Following such training intervals, their salaries may climb quickly over long stretches relative to alternative industries.

Still, for many ambitious lawyers, such rewards also come with heavy personal sacrifices owing to grueling hours and heavy workloads.

▲73%
The mid-career Law Firm Partner holding 5-9 years of experience reaps a median total remuneration (covering Tips, Bonus, or Overtime Pay) of S$195,000 surveyed from 5 salaries.

A seasoned Law Firm Partner with 10-19 years of experience reaps a median full remuneration of S$315,200 drawn from ten salaries.

With the older practitioners (20 years or more), employees reap a median full remuneration of S$350,000.

Law Firm Partner Tasks

Advise Clients over company transactions, pursue liabilities, the feasibility of Prosecuting or Defending lawsuits, and legal Rights or Duties.

Choose Jurors, debate Motions, convene with Judges, or interrogate witnesses over general trials.

Interpret or Analyze Laws, Rulings, or Regulations along with projected case results for companies and individuals.

Represent individuals in court or before government agencies, Present or Summarize cases to Judges or Juries.

Collect evidence for formulating Defense or to advance legal causes; assess facts or build strategy and theses for proceedings of Cases.

Law firm partners practice as joint owners of their respective firms and assist in oversight of regular management. These immediately supervise their firm’s Legal or Technical support operations.

Budget to Hire A Lawyer in Singapore

There are a number of factors that can have a significant impact on the total cost of hiring a lawyer in Singapore. These factors include the degree of difficulty of the case, the number of years of experience that the lawyer has, and the particular legal services that the client requires.

To begin, it is essential to emphasise how expensive it is to retain the services of a solicitor in Singapore. But, it is also crucial to note that the cost of not having a lawyer can be significantly higher, particularly if you are dealing with a complicated legal situation or are being charged with a crime.

So, if you are in need of legal counsel or representation, it is highly recommended that you speak with a barrister as soon as possible.

There are a few aspects to take into account while developing a financial plan for hiring a solicitor in Singapore. The following is a list of some of the most significant considerations to keep in mind:

The type of legal service that must be obtained:

• Type of legal service required: The cost of hiring a lawyer in Singapore can vary widely depending on the type of legal service you require. For example, if you need a lawyer to draft a simple contract or provide basic legal advice, the cost may be relatively low. However, if you’re dealing with a complex case that requires extensive research and litigation, the cost can be much higher.
• Experience of the lawyer: The level of experience of the lawyer you hire can also have a big impact on the cost. Generally, more experienced lawyers charge higher fees. However, it’s important to note that a higher fee doesn’t always guarantee better results. It’s important to do your research and find a lawyer who has the right experience and expertise for your particular case.
• Hourly rate or fixed fee: Lawyers in Singapore typically charge either an hourly rate or a fixed fee for their services. Hourly rates can range from around S$250 to S$1,000 or more per hour, depending on the lawyer’s experience and expertise. Fixed fees are usually charged for more routine legal services, such as drafting contracts or wills. It’s important to clarify the fee structure with your lawyer before engaging their services to avoid any unpleasant surprises later on.
• Additional costs: In addition to the lawyer’s fees, there may be additional costs involved in your case, such as court fees, expert witness fees, or filing fees. It’s important to discuss these costs with your lawyer upfront so that you can budget accordingly.
• Payment schedule: Some lawyers in Singapore may require payment upfront, while others may be willing to work on a payment plan. It’s important to discuss the payment schedule with your lawyer before engaging their services to avoid any misunderstandings later on.

So, how much can you expect to pay to hire a lawyer in Singapore?

Well, as I mentioned earlier, the cost can vary widely depending on a number of factors. However, here are some rough estimates to give you an idea of what to expect:

• Simple legal services: For simple legal services such as drafting a basic contract or providing legal advice, you can expect to pay anywhere from S$500 to S$2,000 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and expertise.
• Divorce: For a simple uncontested divorce, the cost can be as low as S$1,500 to S$3,000. However, if the divorce is contested and requires litigation, the cost can be much higher, ranging from S$10,000 to S$30,000 or more.
• Criminal defense: For a criminal defense case, the cost can vary widely depending on the severity of the charges and the complexity of the case. For a simple misdemeanor charge, you can expect to pay anywhere from S$5,000 to S$10,000 or more. However, for more serious charges such as drug offenses or murder charges, the cost can be much higher, ranging from S$20,000 to S$50,000 or more.
• Corporate law: For corporate law services such as incorporating a company or drafting a shareholders’ agreement, the cost can vary widely depending on the complexity of the case and the size of the company. For a small company with simple needs, you can expect to pay anywhere from S$2,000 to S$5,000. However, for a larger company with more complex needs, the cost can be much higher, ranging from S$10,000 to S$30,000 or more.
• Intellectual property: For intellectual property services such as trademark registration or patent applications, the cost can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the level of protection required. For a simple trademark registration, you can expect to pay anywhere from S$1,000 to S$2,000. However, for more complex cases such as patent applications, the cost can be much higher, ranging from S$5,000 to S$10,000 or more.

Keep in mind that these are only preliminary estimates, and that the actual cost might vary greatly depending on the individual circumstances of your case. This is something that needs to be kept in mind at all times. Before settling on a choice, it is prudent to first discuss the matter with a number of different attorneys and to seek price estimates from each of them.

When working out how much you can afford to spend on a lawyer in Singapore, it is essential to take into account whether or not you could be qualified for legal aid. Those in Singapore who are unable to pay for legal representation can receive assistance from the government. In order to be qualified, you are need to meet specific requirements about your assets and income. On the website of the Ministry of Law, you will find more resources pertaining to legal assistance.

In conclusion, the cost of hiring a lawyer in Singapore can vary greatly based on a variety of factors, such as the level of difficulty of the case, the amount of experience the lawyer has, and the particular legal services that are required by the client.

Before settling on a choice, it is critical to get information from a number of different attorneys and conduct thorough research. It is also important to assess whether or not you could be entitled to financial assistance for legal representation.

In Singapore, the cost of hiring a lawyer is not inexpensive; nevertheless, the cost of not having a lawyer can be significantly higher, particularly if you are dealing with a complicated legal situation or are being charged with a crime.

Is There an Option for Free Legal Representation?

Because it can be rather expensive to hire a lawyer in Singapore, some people may be dissuaded from getting legal advice even when they are in need of it because of this factor.

On the other hand, there are some free legal services that are available in Singapore, and they could be able to assist you.

• Legal Aid Bureau: The Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) is a government agency that provides legal aid to individuals who cannot afford a lawyer. To be eligible for legal aid, you must meet certain income and asset criteria. If you are eligible, the LAB will assign a lawyer to your case at no cost to you. The lawyer will provide legal advice and representation for civil cases such as divorce, employment disputes, and debt recovery.
• Community legal clinics: There are several community legal clinics in Singapore that offer free legal advice to individuals. These clinics are staffed by volunteer lawyers who provide legal advice on a wide range of issues, including family law, employment law, and tenancy disputes. The clinics are typically run by non-profit organizations and are open to anyone who needs legal advice.
• Law Society Pro Bono Services: The Law Society Pro Bono Services is a non-profit organization that provides free legal assistance to individuals and organizations in need. The organization operates several pro bono legal clinics that offer legal advice and representation to individuals who cannot afford a lawyer. The clinics are staffed by volunteer lawyers who provide their services for free.
• Legal clinics at universities: Some universities in Singapore offer legal clinics that provide free legal advice to members of the public. These clinics are typically staffed by law students who are supervised by qualified lawyers. The clinics offer legal advice on a range of issues, including employment law, family law, and criminal law.

It is imperative that you keep in mind that despite the fact that these services are free of charge, it is possible that they will be unable to provide complete representation in court.

It is possible that you will still require the services of a solicitor to advocate on your behalf in court. On the other hand, these services have the potential to be a helpful resource for those who require legal counsel but do not have the financial means to hire a lawyer.

If you are in need of legal aid but do not have the financial means to hire a lawyer, it is in your best interest to look into the free legal services that are available in Singapore.

They are able to offer insightful legal counsel and representation that can assist you in resolving your legal concerns and navigating the legal system.

In addition, before to settling on a choice, you should always make sure to investigate all of your available choices, as the costs and services offered by various organisations and legal representations may vary.

Editor’s Note:

While every precaution has been made to ensure the accuracy and fairness of this listing, we acknowledge that they may be inaccuracies. Therefore, we urge you to contact the service provider above for the correct information and/or contact us with the correct information.

If you are a service provider and wish to be featured in this listing (MediaOne reviews are read by hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans), please contact us at [email protected]. There is no charge! Please allow us up to 3 working days to review before adjusting the information or including your entry.