Singapore Big Four firm Rajah & Tann has appointed Patrick Ang as its new managing partner. He takes over from Lee Eng Beng SC.

Ang, 55, currently serves as deputy managing partner. As the firm’s new leader, he will train and mentor young partners to prepare for the transition.

“I am proud to have Patrick succeed me. He is a very capable, well-liked and trusted leader in the firm and, as Deputy Managing Partner, has been closely involved in day-to-day management as well the driving force behind many of the firm’s key projects and initiatives,” said Lee, 52.

Lee spent nine years at the helm of R&T. He remains senior partner as well as chairman of Rajah & Tann Asia. Initially appointed joint managing partner in March 2010, he went on to become the sole leader in October that year. 

During his time at the top, Lee spearheaded Rajah & Tann’s regionalisation, overseeing the emergence of the Rajah & Tann Asia brand. The network now has over 1,250 fee earners and employees across the region.

Lee also oversaw the firm’s modernisation and shift to technology and providing alternative services. In 2015, Rajah & Tann got into the flexible-lawyer space after launching R&T Asia Resources. It also launched a division called Business Fundamentals that provides fixed fee services to lawyers. 

More recently, in November, Rajah & Tann acquired Legal Comet, a local legal technology advisory organisation that focuses on e-discovery.

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