“Today Online “Singapore reports that..
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The Harry Elias partnership has just lost 5 of the firm’s big players and the partnership is in disarray.. there seems to be more than just internal politics going on when you take a closer look at the various positions held by some of these individuals… the links are all there.. government, developers and a past vp of the Singapore Assoc of Criminal lawyers.
Here’s the report
Between the five of them, there is a hefty amount of legal experience. Now, these top legal eagles, most of whom head departments in a range of areas, are walking out on their law firm, Harry Elias Partnership.
MediaCorp has learnt that managing partner Latiff Ibrahim, head of intellectual property practice Shanti Jaganathan, head of the criminal litigation practice group Shashi Nathan, head of insurance Lynette Chew and senior partner in construction and infrastructure practice Kelvin Aw – have tendered their resignations.
A source told this newspaper that the group are exiting the company because “there has been unhappiness brewing among the partners for some time now”.
It remains unclear what led to the fallout, though.
It is understood that they will serve their notice with the company and will exit in the next few months.
Attempts to contact the law firm proved to be unsuccessful, as managing partner Philip Fong did not respond to MediaCorp’s queries at press time.
The five lawyers also could not be contacted for a comment.
Mr Latiff, the brother of Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim, is the second managing partner to leave the company in the past three years following the departure of Senior Counsel Tan Chee Meng in 2006.
Mr Latiff has been a litigator in many construction and engineering disputes, such as the Nicoll Highway collapse, and other disputes between big developers, owners, contractors and management corporations here and in the region.
Mr Shashi, a founding member and past vice-president of the Association of Criminal Lawyers in Singapore, has appeared in numerous high-profile criminal cases, ranging from murder to kidnapping and drug trafficking.
Meanwhile, Ms Chew has handled contracts for the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort project, among other matters for the private and public sector.
Their law firm was established in 1988 by Senior Counsel Harry Elias and currently has more than 60 lawyers in various legal disciplines.
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100128-0000125/Top-lawyers-walk-out