Jeffrey Chan, SC
曾华德
LL.M (Harvard)
LL.B. (Hons) (Singapore)
AMP (Wharton)
Senior Director
“To apply experience and skills in resolving difficulties through law.”
A former Deputy Solicitor-General, Jeffrey began his second career at TSMP as a member of the Bar. His practice encompasses a wide area including arbitration, mediation, public law, criminal law, medico-legal matters as well as investment disputes, for which he will apply his experience honed from his many years of service in the Singapore Legal Service. This included extensive experience in the United Nations, the Commonwealth, ASEAN and other national and international institutions. As Senior Counsel, he continues to engage in advocacy before the courts and other tribunals.
Jeffrey is a man of many firsts. He was the first President’s Scholar to join the Singapore Legal Service and was the first Legal Service Officer to be awarded a post-graduate scholarship to study for a Masters degree (he went to Harvard University). He was also the first Chief of Staff of the Singapore Legal Service and was the first Deputy Solicitor-General. When he retired from that position, he was the longest-serving Legal Service Officer. During his time in the Legal Service, he was involved in a wide range of work, including appearing for the Government in numerous civil and criminal cases, as well as in matters concerning the Legal Profession.
Among his long list of appointments, he was the chair of a number of governmental as well as United Nations committees, the secretary to the working group on the then-proposed Singapore International Arbitration Centre and the President of the Medico-Legal Society of Singapore. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2008.
Apart from his appointment in TSMP, he is also an Adjunct Professor in the Law Faculty of the National University of Singapore. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators. He is also the current Chair of the Public and International Law Committee of the Law Society and an Assistant Governor of Rotary International District 3310.
Notable Briefs
Completion of the following instruments:
• UN Electronic Communications Convention
• UNCITRAL Online Notes on Online Dispute Resolution
• UN Legislative Guide on Privately Financed Infrastructure Projects
• Dispute Resolution Protocol under the ASEAN Charter
• Protocol on Privileges and Immunities of ASEAN
• Singapore-Indonesia Extradition Treaty
• Treaty on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters among Like-Minded States
• ASEAN Model Extradition Treaty
Represented the Government of Singapore and the Public Prosecutor in numerous civil as well as criminal cases in the Courts
Rendered a Legal Opinion on Climate Change and Director’s Duties in Singapore (“the Chan Opinion”) (briefed by the Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative of Oxford University)
Acted for former Chairman of a listed company in relation to investigations by the Commercial Affairs Department of the Singapore Police Force
Acted for a company liquidator in an appeal against a decision of the Commercial Affairs Department of the Singapore Police Force
Acted for directors of a company in relation to contempt proceedings taken against the company and the directors
Acted for purchasers of property in a de facto class action against the property developer
Acted for a party in a difficult divorce proceeding involving an unusual division of matrimonial property
Acted in a dispute where certain family members attempted to confine another family member against his will
Acted for the Executor of a deceased’s estate in relation to disposal of the deceased’s remains
Assisted a long term pass holder to obtain Permanent Residence and, subsequently, Singapore Citizenship
Acted for a party in an appeal against an arbitration award, particularly in relation to party-to-party costs
Acted for a party whose insurance company repudiated liability when faced with a major claimActed for a party whose insurance company repudiated liability when faced with a major claim
Advised a leading NGO on a claim brought in the Small Claims Court by a contractor
Jeffrey Chan, SC in the News
15 December 2022
Jeffrey Chan featured in cover story of NUS Law Link magazine
21 July 2021
Jeffrey Chan, SC was quoted in BT: “Greater accountability needed for the social dimension of ESG”