The Law Ministry has rebutted comments by a prominent Singapore lawyer who said a scheme unveiled in 2008 to open up the local legal sector to foreign law firms has not benefited local lawyers enough.

The ministry was responding to comments on internationalisation by Mrs Lee Suet Fern, managing partner of Morgan Lewis Stamford, at a lecture organised by the Law Society last month.

Mrs Lee had cited the Qualifying Foreign Law Practice (QFLP) scheme, which allows foreign law firms to practise in permitted areas of local law through Singapore qualified lawyers.

She noted that the six original QFLP firms, despite generating $1.2 billion in revenue between 2009 and 2014, had hired “only about 100 out of thousands of Singapore-qualified lawyers”, and wondered if this was a good enough outcome. Foreign law firms, she said, had given local ones a run for their money.

In its response, MinLaw defended the scheme, noting that it had opened up new opportunities for Singaporean lawyers who were keen to do transnational commercial work. The scheme allowed them to gain exposure to niche areas not previously easily available and gave opportunities to young local lawyers.

The ministry noted that for 2014/2015, the nine foreign firms granted QFLP status generated $340 million in revenue, with 80 per cent coming from offshore work, or work that could have been done elsewhere.

Exports of legal services in 2014 were worth $700 million – $400 million contributed by foreign law firms.

The ministry added that more than a third of lawyers in QFLPs were Singapore-qualified and more than a quarter of partners in the QFLPs were Singapore-qualified.

It added that the scheme had received the backing of many of Singapore’s larger law firms, some of which would be most directly impacted, as well as those in the financial services industry. “In other words, the introduction of the QFLP, and its role in making Singapore a regional legal centre, has implications beyond the legal sector, and benefits beyond the economy.”

Pointing out that Mrs Lee’s arguments appeared at odds with her previous positions, the ministry disclosed that she had sought to join the scheme in 2014.

But her proposal to do so was turned down as the ministry “had specific periods when it invited applications from everyone, then considered the best applicants”.

“It would not be possible to give a licence to one firm, at that firm’s request,” MinLaw said.

Mrs Lee, however, appealed for an exception to be made for her firm and “strongly made the case for a QFLP licence to be given”, said the ministry, noting that she had “extolled the virtues of the QFLP scheme” at the time.

“However, her request was rejected because no exceptions could be made for her. The QFLP licence is awarded only when an application cycle is called, and on a competitive basis.”

Asked about this by The Straits Times, Mrs Lee said: “When we were exploring a merger with Morgan Lewis in 2014, we looked at the various existing options, including a QFLP. But as another round of invitations for QFLP licences was not likely, we searched for another avenue to achieve internationalisation.”

Stamford Law merged with Morgan Lewis & Bockius last year. Mrs Lee was Stamford’s senior director and founder.

Last night, Mrs Lee said she acknowledged the benefits of the QFLP scheme, but added that it is only one of the ways for the legal sector to grow. “Singapore lawyers need to go regional, with or without QFLPs. And there are many opportunities for Singapore lawyers to tap overseas opportunities, as more local and international firms tie up. This calls for a mindset change. Singapore lawyers need to leave their comfort zone and think regional, think international and venture beyond the shores of Singapore.”

This article was first published on April 15, 2016.
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Some gave their time and money. Others donated their possessions.

One even cooked briyani to sell.

All to raise funds for Mr Mohd Rafi Basiran and his family. Their home, a four-room flat at Block 110, Pasir Ris Drive 1, was damaged in a blaze on March 27.

Mr Rafi, 49, a manager at Changi Airport, had lived in the flat with his wife, 49, daughter, 22, and son, 18, since 2008.

The fire, which destroyed almost everything in the flat, hit his family particularly hard as they did not have fire insurance.

But it galvanised their neighbours, who took it upon themselves to help the family get back on their feet.

Among their efforts was a garage sale last Saturday, which was held at the void deck of Block 110.

Mr Zainal Sapari, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC (left) posing with RC members and organisers of the garage sale on Saturday, April 9, 2016. Photo: Mohd Rafi Basiran

STALLS

Manned by the residents, the 10 stalls offered everything from popsicles, teh tarik, packet food and satay, to clothes, household appliances, baby items, and even face painting.

Some items like standing fans, clothes and leather bags were new. Others were pre-loved.

There were also luxury goods – like women’s shoes from Salvatore Ferragamo and Manolo Blahnik – going for between $400 and $900.

The most expensive item was a $900 Coach leather handbag.

Ms Nurfitriah Abdul Rahman, 26, one of the organisers, said the woman who donated a $420 turquoise Ferragamo shoes was a colleague of hers.

Said the teacher: “When she heard about the garage sale, she told me to sell her shoes and give the proceeds to Mr Rafi’s family.

“I believe she used to teach Mr Rafi’s daughter.”

Around 500 visitors attended the sale, which went on from 10am to 7.30pm.

Food items were the first to sell out, including some 25kg of frozen satay.

The $2 clothes were also popular.

Every time an item was sold, all the vendors shouted “sold” and clapped to thank the supporters, said Madam Mashitah Aman, 39, another organiser.

“People of different races from Marine Parade, Hill View Avenue, Woodlands, Tampines and Mount Pleasant came. It’s great to see that other people care,” she added.

Food items were the first to sell out. Packets of noodles, rice and traditional malay kueh were crowd favourites. Photo: Mohd Rafi Basiran

QATAR

A woman living in Doha, Qatar, bought the Ferragamo shoes for $180 after she found out about the sale from Facebook.

Her husband, who was in Singapore last week, collected the shoes on her behalf on Saturday before flying back to Doha.

Said Ms Nurfitriah: “She read the story about the fire in The New Paper and said she knew Mr Rafi as they were former colleagues at Changi Airport.”

The report, which was carried in TNP on April 9, described how residents in the estate had rallied to help Mr Rafi’s family.

Madam Mashitah’s husband, Mr Iskandar Muhammad, 41, recounted a couple from a mosque at Mount Pleasant.

They were ready for their morning exercise when they read Mr Rafi’s story in TNP.

Mr Iskandar said: “They came dressed in their exercise outfit and said it would be better do to some charity instead.”

The couple were among many who gave cash to the organisers or asked about the donation box.

Unknown to Mr Rafi, who said he was overwhelmed by the generosity, one resident also cooked 70 packets of briyani at $10 a packet.

The neighbour, who wanted to be known only as Ms Dayang, 37, told TNP she later handed Mr Rafi’s family $700 from the sale.

Said Mr Rafi: “I’m touched by my neighbours’ efforts to help my family. I feel bad because I never intended to burden them with my problems.”

MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Zainal Sapari, who was at the sale with residents’ committee members, said: “I hope with the help given from neighbours and the community, it would ease the financial burden on the family to restore their home.”

The MP advised residents to have some basic fire insurance for their homes.

Proceeds from the sale and donations from Mr Rafi’s friends and relatives totalled about $10,000.

TNP also learnt that a company, Jong Seng Design and Renovation, has been painting and rewiring Mr Rafi’s flat for free.

Its owner, Mr Michael Ho, said yesterday that the work, which would have cost about $3,000, is almost “80 per cent done”.

This article was first published on April 15, 2016.
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