Singapore, 5 January 2015 – The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon on the occasion of the Opening of the Legal Year today announced the appointment of four new Senior Counsels. They are:

(a) Mr LEE Kim Shin(李 錦 兴), who was admitted as an advocate and solicitor on 12 February, 1986
(b) Mr TAN Chuan Thye (陈铨泰), who was admitted as an advocate and solicitor on 12 June, 1991
(c) Ms CHIONH Sze Chyi Mavis(蒋诗琦), who was admitted as an advocate and solicitor on 28 May, 1994
(d) Mr TONG Chun Fai Edwin Charles (唐振辉), who was admitted as an advocate and solicitor on 29 April, 1995

Applications for Senior Counsel were opened on 1 August 2014. The Senior Counsel Selection Committee comprising The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, The Honourable Attorney-General V K Rajah, SC, The Honourable Justice of Appeal Chao Hick Tin and The Honourable Justice of Appeal Andrew Phang Boon Leong.

Background on appointment of Senior Counsel

Senior Counsel are selected, pursuant to section 30 of the Legal Profession Act, Cap 161, by a Selection Committee. The Senior Counsel scheme was started in 1997 to recognise the best and most skilful advocates in the legal profession. Appointment as Senior Counsel is an accolade given to those who possess outstanding ability as advocates, extensive knowledge of the law and the highest professional standing.

As at 5 January 2015, there are 59* Senior Counsel.

Notes to editor:

1 *This figure includes 1 Senior Counsel (honoris causa) but excludes the Honourable the Chief Justice, 1 retired Chief Justice, 9 Supreme Court judges, the Deputy Chief District Judge and 3 deceased SC.
2 Persons holding office as Solicitor-General and Attorney-General are appointed Senior Counsel pursuant to sections 30(7) and 30(8) of the Legal Profession Act.
3 Senior Counsel who are appointed to a judicial office (other than as a judge of the Supreme Court) will cease to use the Senior Counsel designation for the period of service in judicial office. Senior Counsel appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court will cease to use the designation altogether (unless he is appointed Attorney-General).
4 The list of Senior Counsel can be found at http://www.sal.org.sg/content/LI_senior_counsel_dir.aspx.

About Singapore Academy of Law

The Singapore Academy of Law (the “Academy”) is the promotion and development agency for Singapore’s legal industry. Our vision is to make Singapore the legal hub of Asia.

We aim to drive legal excellence through developing thought leadership, world class infrastructure and legal solutions. We do this by building up the intellectual capital of the legal profession by enhancing legal knowledge, raising the international profile of Singapore law, promoting Singapore as a centre for dispute resolution and improving the efficiency of legal practice through the use of technology.

As a body established by statute, the Academy also undertakes statutory functions such as stakeholding services and the appointment of Senior Counsel, Commissioners of Oath and Notaries Public.

The Academy is headed by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon. We have over 10,000 members comprising members of the Bench, the Bar, Legal Service Officers, corporate counsel, legal academics and foreign lawyers.

More information can be found at www.sal.org.sg.