OC Queen Street, UK law firm Osborne Clarke’s associated office in Singapore, has started a competition practice after hiring Harikumar Sukumar Pillay and Poh Lip Hang, both of whom were formerly with Singapore’s competition commission. 

Pillay joins from the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCCS), where he spent nine years and left as director of the Enforcement Division. He supervised CCCS’ the Intelligence Unit and IT Forensics Taskforce, and was responsible for managing leniency applications made to the CCCS, overseeing the secret complainant and reward schemes, planning and executing dawn raids, and recording investigative statements of persons under investigations.

Meanwhile, Poh joins from Big Four firm Drew & Napier, where he was assistant head of its Competition & Regulatory Economics practice. At the CCCS, Poh spent seven years, during which time he was responsible for conducting economic analysis for investigations, market studies and merger applications. He also advised government agencies on the impact of their policies on market competition.

OC Queen Street launches its competition practice at a time when authorities in the ASEAN are focussing on competition issues arising out of the proliferation of digital businesses in their economies.

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