Two law firms merge to boost capabilities

Singapore

TWO local boutique law firms have entered into a marriage that is rather uncommon at a time when the legal scene is more accustomed to seeing mergers between international firms and local outfits, in order to beef up capabilities in a competitive market.

The merger between Quahe Woo & Palmer and Wee, Ramayah & Partners was official as at July 1.

The new firm will retain the name of Quahe Woo & Palmer and be located at the existing Clemenceau Avenue office.

In an exclusive interview with The Business Times, director Laurence Wee said a team will remain at the Wee, Ramayah & Partners office for a month to smoothen the transition. "There is ongoing work and there's a lot of consolidation so with the team there, the transition period is well-managed for the clients."

Mr Wee, the son of Singapore's late first chief justice Wee Chong Jin, said merger discussions between the two firms began more than a year ago.

At that time, his long-time friend, Lawrence Quahe, was looking to build a full services firm and found Wee, Ramayah & Partners to be the right fit.

With the alliance, the firm now offers services with senior lawyers in areas including conveyancing, shipping, aviation, banking and finance and arbitration.

Even before this merger, industry players said Quahe Woo & Palmer was on the aggressive as it sought to expand. In May, it added known duo - criminal lawyers Sunil Sudheesan and Diana Ngiam - to the team.

"Now we are better placed to compete in a challenging environment and also stronger because we have many pillars to rely on. If you're centred on one, your foundation can be easily cracked. It's dangerous to have the "all your eggs in one basket" approach," Mr Wee said, adding that the merger would help to drive continuity and attract fresh talent.

"From my perspective, working as a boutique firm was perceived as a family firm because it has been the same people for the past 31 years - again, rare, in the legal profession because people come and go quickly. The ability to attract second generation was not there because lawyers saw it as a family firm and so they thought it can't go far."

Asked why he chose to partner up with a local firm, Mr Wee pointed out that firms that have tied up with foreign firms "have not benefited from the move".

Besides, his focus has always been local so there is "absolutely no reason" to venture into some other person's homeground to compete, said Mr Wee, a firm believer of building strong foundations.

By strengthening the firm's foundation, it must then increase capacity and work will follow, he said.