Litigator and author Adrian Tan joins Stamford Law

[SINGAPORE] Well-known litigation lawyer, author and humorist Adrian Tan, 47, has left Drew & Napier - the Big Four firm he has called home since he was a pupil - to join Stamford Law, a boutique legal practice set up by one of Singapore's most prominent corporate lawyers, Lee Suet Fern.

It's a move that has taken those who know Mr Tan by surprise, and it's no doubt news that would surprise the rest of the legal fraternity.

Mr Tan is known for being on such high-profile cases as that of Singapore Press Holdings, which he represented, versus the National Kidney Foundation in 2005. More recently, he argued for a teenager and his father when they sued Credit Suisse over trading losses, and he also represented the owner of Sijori Resort Club in a class-action suit filed by over 200 former members.

Those who grew up in the 1980s will also remember him as the author of the wildly popular and best-selling The Teenage Textbook (which was later made into a movie and also a stage play) and its sequel, The Teenage Workbook.

When asked why he would leave the reliable familiarity of one of the country's best law firms, Mr Tan admitted to The Business Times that it was not an easy decision: "I spent 21 years in Drew & Napier. I joined as a pupil and I'm leaving as a partner. I learnt from the very best of senior counsel, Davinder Singh. It is a wrench to leave. I feel like a blushing bride leaving her home to join her new family."

But, he adds: "I'm very attracted to Stamford. It's a Singapore law firm that hires international lawyers. It's boldly going toe to toe with foreign firms. It's showing other Singapore firms how to thrive in the new environment - where young Singapore lawyers now have the choice of working for Singapore law firms or international ones, and consumers have more choice in the market."

The attraction runs both ways. Stamford Law's senior director Mrs Lee says: "Adrian will, in the first instance, strongly enhance our litigation capabilities.

"He is an able, unusual and outstanding lawyer. He represents a broad swathe of clients in their key corporate challenges and concerns. He has the ability to be powerful and persuasive for them, to be their strong advocate.

"But he is much more than a very good lawyer. He has numerous skills, talents and interests outside - as a writer, a humorist, a speaker. He also has a strong sense of service to the community which I admire (Mr Tan also serves on the Law Society of Singapore and is the pro-bono legal adviser to the Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped)," she adds.

The admiration is shared by others in the profession. Senior Counsel Thio Shen Yi, joint managing partner of TSMP Law Corporation, said: "Stamford is one of the leading corporate practices in town. The addition of Adrian to the disputes practice should significantly increase their bench strength in this area. He's a capable guy and well respected by the fraternity."

Influential American lawyer Richard L Cassin, a best-selling author on international law, who now runs the FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) Blog, said: "Adrian is smart, creative and humble - a great combination in a lawyer and a friend.

"The best lawyers are those who really want to help their clients. It's not a trait you can learn in school or measure in someone. But you know it when you see it. And Adrian has it," Mr Cassin added.

No encounter with Mr Tan is ever complete without his trademark wit. When asked what he believes he will bring to Stamford Law, starting from his first day on the job today, he quipped: "Stamford is a force in corporate law. I am a litigator. The synergy is obvious."

And the first task he'll tackle? "For two decades, I've been standing up in court as a Drew & Napier litigator. My first order of business is to practice introducing myself as 'Adrian Tan from Stamford Law'."