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Clifford Chance celebrates over four decades in Singapore, and a decade of its Formal Law Alliance with Cavenagh Law

22 March 2023

Clifford Chance celebrates over four decades in Singapore, and a decade of its Formal Law Alliance with Cavenagh Law

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance marked its 42nd anniversary in Singapore, as one of the first international law firms to establish a local office in 1981, and the 10th anniversary of its Formal Law Alliance with Cavenagh Law. The Formal Law Alliance allows the two firms to provide the broadest range of Singapore and international law services from one platform with Singapore litigation representation provided through Cavenagh Law.

The firm's Singapore office serves as a hub for the South and South East Asia region, with a 200 strong team with over 130 lawyers today. The firm is recognised as a market leader in the region and regularly advises on many of its most significant and complex transactions.

Learn more about the milestones that shaped Clifford Chance and Cavenagh Law in Singapore:

The occasion was marked by a celebration with clients, alumni, employees and members of the legal community at the Singapore National Gallery and was attended by Singapore's Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law, Minister Edwin Tong SC.

Clifford Chance Global Senior Partner Adrian Cartwright said, "Having been on the ground for over 40 years, we are privileged to be exceptionally positioned in Singapore, as the market-leading international law firm. It is a tremendous base for us, as well as many of our clients, especially as a hub to South East Asia, one of the fastest developing regions in the world. Singapore continues to play a pivotal role in our global firm."

Singapore Managing Partner Valerie Kong said, "We have benefited greatly from Singapore's vision to become the leading international legal hub in the region – with the push for Singapore to be an international arbitration hub, a financial services hub, and most significantly, to create a strong ecosystem in Singapore which supports business and investments in the ASEAN region. We've always invested in Singapore, and it is our super hub for the region."

Cavenagh Law Managing Partner Paul Sandosham said, "Our Formal Law Alliance with Clifford Chance is a deeply successful and collaborative one. It has enabled us to be part of a larger family with colleagues right across the world, and a truly global platform for our young talented lawyers to pursue their careers."

The firm has a long history of contributing to the wider community, through legal training and professional development for Singapore-based legal talent and by providing financial and pro bono support to a number of local and regional organisations. Noteworthy initiatives include:

  • The launch of the Clifford Chance ELEVATE programme, which provides mentorship and professional development opportunities to bursary recipients at NUS and SMU law schools. 40 students have benefited from this programme.
  • Widening access to justice, finance and education through community initiatives with organisations such as the Singapore Courts' Access to Justice initiative, Engineering Good, Singapore Council of Women's Organisations, Transient Workers Count Too, MIJ Special Education Hub, the Jane Goodall Institute of Singapore, The Breadline Group, Sreepur Village and Tasek Jurong.

Watch the event highlights of the anniversary celebration: