Singapore law firm RHT Law has made its first announcements as a new entity on the firm’s strategy going forward setting its sights on becoming an international ‘local’ firm with a presence in numerous locations across the Asia Pacific.
RHT Law commenced business on 28th May 2011, with a team of 112 – 51 of whom are lawyers.
The firm has set out four core practice areas: corporate and securities, finance and real estate, intellectual property & technology and litigation and dispute resolution.
Tan Chong Huat will head the corporate & securities department in addition to his responsibilities as managing partner of the firm. Other heads of practices include Yeong Wai Cheong (finance & real estate), Wun Rizwi and Jonathan Kok (co-heads IPT), Subhas Anandan (litigation & disputes resolution) Lin Song (China desk) and Winston Seow (Vietnam desk).
The firm is also operating a compliance and corporate secretarial business, known as RHT advisory, as well as a Capital markets practice group, RHT Capital, as separate entities. According to Tan, RHT Capital is “keen to provide continuing corporate functions for catalyst-listed companies”. RHT Corporate advisory intends to expand its services to include XBRL, accounting, tax compliance, pay roll and share registration.
‘Business as usual from day one’
“We are however not a new law firm,” Tan said. “We are fortunate and providentially blest to be able to set up our office in such a short time, and to have business as usual from day one.”
During the firm’s first-ever press conference, Tan expressed his gratitude to lawyers and staff who resigned from KhattarWong to join RHT Law without letters of offer. “Together, their support and confidence in our group has stiffened our resolve to continue building upon what we have started,” Tan said.
The cause of the split was hinted to be a disagreement on firm strategy. “This parting had to come about because our visions were different. We wanted to have a firm which is international, with international clients who are broad-based – and they were not very keen. So it’s a matter exploring our vision or to separate. [The final call] was clear cut – we will go our way and they will go theirs. And we wish them luck,” said Subhas Anandan. “Sometimes a divorce is messy and the ancillary matters can get a bit unpleasant. We’re talking about division of property and custody of children. So our divorce was quite tidy, but we had some problems with the ancillary but it has all been settled,” he said.
According to Tan Chong Huat, the firm’s vision will be anchored to the Asia Pacific region. “We are not content to just be a local player. We intend to be a local international law firm. For this region, we are currently looking at Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. We are also seeking greener pastures in an international context; to be active players in the international arena, through our relationship with international bodies as well as working with international law firms.”ALB
| RHT LAW | |
| Total Strength | 112 |
| Equity partners | 19 |
| Salaried partners | 7 |
| Associates | 17 |
| Legal Managers | 5 |
| Trainees | 3 |
| Staff | 61 |
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