Wan‑Yi began her legal career at Clifford Chance in Singapore as part of the firm’s first trainee cohort under the Formal Law Alliance with Cavenagh Law. What started as a traditional training contract soon set her on a path defined by intellectual curiosity, deep subject‑matter expertise and a willingness to pursue opportunities long before their importance became obvious. Today, she is part of the sanctions legal function at Deutsche Bank, working in a field that has expanded rapidly across APAC.
Early career: foundations in commercial thinking and collaboration
Wan‑Yi speaks warmly of her time at Clifford Chance.
“ I have very fond memories of Clifford Chance. It’s where I met some of my best friends. ”
As part of the first batch of trainees under the then‑new training programme, she rotated through four seats before qualifying into Litigation & Dispute Resolution. The experience, she says, set her up with a mindset she continues to apply today.
“ They say where you train really shapes the type of lawyer you become. Clifford Chance taught me what commercial awareness actually meant. ”
She credits the firm with teaching skills not found in casebooks: balancing legal concepts with client pragmatism, understanding the business model of a law firm, and recognising each lawyer’s role in client development, regardless of seniority.
“ From the outset, we were taught how law firms make money, the value of business development and staying connected with peers and former colleagues who could all be potential clients. These are not typically priorities for trainees at other firms. But this approach broadens one’s perspective, makes you feel valued, and helps you understand how you contribute to the organisation so that you can see the purpose behind your work. ”
Collaboration stands out as one of the defining features of her experience.
“ There was no cut throat competition, unlike what I had heard about other environments. People shared knowledge openly. We supported each other and never operated in silos. ”
Discovering sanctions: following curiosity over predictability
Looking back, the moment that shaped her later career came unexpectedly.
Her first sanctions matter, an investigation, sparked an interest in a field that was then almost unheard of in APAC. Most junior lawyers, she recalls, gravitated toward well‑trodden paths with predictable trajectories. But she chose differently.
“ I didn’t know if sanctions expertise would be marketable in Singapore or APAC. I simply recognized it as an intriguing area of law and decided to pursue it. ”
That decision began a decade‑long focus. When several APAC colleagues left Clifford Chance to help establish Steptoe & Johnson’s Hong Kong office, she applied to join them, continuing to build her expertise in sanctions work.
Current role: contributing to a growing APAC sanctions landscape
Before joining Deutsche Bank, Wan‑Yi worked in‑house as sanctions counsel at ByteDance. The role required more than legal analysis; it involved establishing an entirely new compliance programme.
“ It was a largely nascent and undeveloped area. My responsibility was to build the sanctions compliance programme from the ground up, which involved extensive education, stakeholder management, and risk management frameworks. ”
In August last year, she joined Deutsche Bank as Director and Associate General Counsel, part of the newly-formed sanctions legal team.
The awareness of sanctions in APAC has grown significantly and she values being in an institution that recognises the need for deep expertise in this area.
“ It’s motivating to work in a company that truly values specialized subject matter expertise. ”
She attributes her readiness for the role to her grounding at Clifford Chance:
“ Clifford Chance equipped me with the ability to analyse issues strategically and from a client’s perspective, emphasizing meticulous execution, clear and concise communication, resilience, and perseverance, all fundamental skills not typically developed in law school. ”
Staying connected: a community beyond the firm
Despite moving through roles in Hong Kong and across APAC, Wan‑Yi continues to meet her Clifford Chance cohort regularly, often forgetting that the friendships began at work.
“ I sometimes forget our connection began at Clifford Chance, given the depth of our friendships. ”
She attends Alumni events when possible and appreciates the opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues who have since moved into other roles in private practice, in‑house positions or entrepreneurial ventures.
These varied paths, she says, demonstrate the many places a legal foundation can lead, including senior business and CEO roles.
Advice to trainees: every task has value
Her message to junior lawyers is clear:
“ Do not underestimate the value of tasks assigned to trainees. There is a learning opportunity in every assignment, including due diligence and document reviews. Critically, you will know the facts better than anyone else, and that’s invaluable. ”
She encourages trainees to remain open‑minded rather than relying on rigid plans.
“ I don’t think it’s realistic to plan your entire career to the T. So many things are out of our control. It’s important to stay open and adaptable. ”
Charting your own path
For Wan‑Yi, success has never been about following a predetermined route. It has been about curiosity, courage and connection - qualities she traces back to her formative years at Clifford Chance.
“ Lawyers can make the most out of their training in Clifford Chance. It provides a solid foundation and is an excellent starting point for a career. ”
