Alvin Yeo SC, senior partner and co-founder of Singapore Big Four law firm WongPartnership, has passed away at the age of 60 following a two-year battle with cancer.
Yeo founded WongPartnership in 1992 along with Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara, Sundaresh Menon, and Wong Meng Meng. Between 2002 and 2007, he served as managing partner of the firm. In 2000, Yeo was appointed as senior counsel; at just 37, he was the youngest-ever lawyer to be conferred that distinction at the time.
Notable cases of Yeo included representing the Republic of India in the first investment treaty arbitration challenge to be brought before the Singapore International Commercial Court; the successful defence of the Papua New Guinea against a $1.5 billion claim for expropriation; acting for Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank against Asia-Pacific Breweries in proceedings relating to Singapore’s largest corporate fraud; and defence of Société Générale in Singapore’s largest derivatives claim. As an arbitrator, Yeo served on the panel of the International Centre for Dispute Resolution and the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration.
Apart from law, Yeo also had a career in politics as a member of Singapore’s ruling People's Action Party. He was MP for Hong Kah GRC from 2006 to 2011, and for Chua Chu Kang GRC from 2011 to 2015.
