• over 300 corporate counsel, business  leaders and legal professionals
• celebrate 193 of Singapore's pre-eminent practitioners
• from 65 law firms
• across 24 areas of practice

Singapore's legal profession came out in force in February to celebrate the achievements of its preeminent practitioners.

In a first for the country's legal profession, Asian Legal Business magazine announced the names of those legal professionals set to feature in its inaugural Legal Who's Who Singapore, available now.

Over 300 corporate counsel and business leaders, along with leading lawyers from many of the country's major commercial law firms, were in attendance at the gala evening, staged at the Fullerton Hotel.

Enjoying the very best in fine dining and free flowing wines, they witnessed ALB's tribute to 193 of the country's leading commercial lawyers from 65 law firms and across 24 practice areas.

MC Darryl David did an admirable job marshalling proceedings and ensured the audience remained entertained throughout. And it was all in a good cause, with the evening supporting and raising funds for the Children's Cancer Foundation.

With the presence of domestic heavyweights such as Rajah & Tann, Lee & Lee and KhattarWong & Partners, together with a number of
the preeminent international law firms, the evening catered to a broad range of interests.

Herbert Smith's managing partner Chris Parsons, who is set to feature in the Who's Who alongside his colleague Veronica O'Shea, thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

"It was very good and well attended and it is always nice to go to events that are well attended."

He adds: "These things are good for morale. For example, the first thing I did [the next day] was send a release to all of our offices around Asia."

Deborah Barker of KhattarWong & Partners described the event as "a very pleasant occasion".

 "It gives lawyers the opportunity to be recognized," she adds.
Joseph Tan Jude Benny (JTJB) partner Danny Chua says the event was "very grand" and particularly enjoyed the keynote address given by Greg Tanner of the Singapore Corporate Counsel Association.

On the night, there was an excellent mix of foreign and local law firms. David Howell, a partner with Baker & McKenzie Wong & Leow, says: "We had a great table, right in front of the podium, with the Chrysler sponsors. It was great for the ego."

While appreciating the promotional opportunities that come with accolade evenings such as this, JTJB's Chua says: "We must also let our hair down every now and again."

With Singapore less well looked after with these kinds of things, Leow Chiap Seng, counsel for Abacus International Pte Ltd, says: "It was great because there aren't too many black tie events."

Most attendees agreed that finding out which members of the legal community in Singapore are ranked highly, in the eyes of their business partners, clients and associates, was of great interest.

And most agreed that the right balance was struck between recognizing the achievements of leading lawyers without making the process too political.

Describing the event as "a wonderful night", Edmund Pereira, managing partner at Edmund Pereira & Partners, says: "One shouldn't
let it get too political. It must be kept as a light-hearted occasion of recognition."

Clifford Chance Wong partner Sam Bonifant says it is good for the profession to have the get together and that a publication like the Legal Who's Who Singapore raises the game.

"I am a supporter of this," he says. "Bear in mind that these sorts of events are very subjective. It's great that people get recognized and makes it all worthwhile. But it also shows that the market is confident enough in order for this to take place."

Legal Who's Who Singapore
The Legal Who's Who Singapore was researched throughout the latter half of 2002 and becomes the third in a series of guides, published in association with Asian Legal Business. Others include Legal Who's Who Hong Kong and Legal Who's Who Australia, with a China edition to follow shortly.

Sean Ng, a partner with ATMD, says the publication should prove a useful source of information for clients.

"The book will be very useful for people who use legal services," he says, "because under legal profession regulations we cannot advertise. It is good for the public to be able to select from a list of practitioners - not just one."

Asian Legal Business magazine, which enjoys support throughout the Asia Pacific region, has researched and produced the Legal Who's Who Singapore in order to tribute those practitioners who continue to exceed client expectations in Singapore.

Pereira sees considerable benefit with the Legal Who's Who for in-house counsel.

He says: "It is good recognition for the work one is doing and it's nice that that happens. But it means a lot because it involves nominations from members of the business community and actual clients, not just the legal profession."

Baker & McKenzie's Howell was relieved to make the final list. "It is gratifying to be named in something that includes local firms. And it's handy on your CV," he jokes.

Research for the Legal Who's Who Singapore began with over 7,000 proposal forms being dispatched to Singapore's corporate counsel, business leaders, lawyers and partners. Researchers then undertook personal interviews in addition to completing over 1,500 telephone calls and telephone interviews. Further targeted emails, faxes and mailings ensured that all legal and business professionals in Singapore were given the opportunity to offer their insight and experience into Singapore's leading legal professionals across 24 areas of practice.

And all research undertaken was strictly independent. It was conducted with the firm rule that no-one was able to nominate themselves or staff from within their own firm. No one was charged for their listing itself. And no one was able to pay to have their name included within the publication.

ATMD's Ng was satisfied with the methodology. He says: "You seem to have covered the field. The process was fair because there were lots of nominations and the publication picked out quite a number of people in lower-profile firms. It is good that these people can also be recognized."

In total, the process took nearly seven months to complete. When all the information was finally in and collated, 1,472 legal and business professionals had made over 5,000 separate proposals. The views of in-house counsel were particularly important in the process, with 638 personal interviews, telephone interviews and proposal forms coming from this sector.

At the culmination of the process, each entry was scrutinized and,
where necessary, further information obtained. Preference was given to multiple nominations.

JTJB's Chua says: "I have no quarrel with the list of recipients. The individuals are correct and nobody is there who shouldn't be there."