Practice fields
The six fields we advise in
Each field below describes what we cover, what we produce, what we need from you, and how it connects to neighbouring work. Methodological language only — no outcome metrics.
Corporate and commercial advisory
Corporate and commercial advisory covers governance questions, shareholder arrangements, board processes and the commercial structures that sit beneath day-to-day operations. Founders and directors often arrive with a practical problem — a proposed investment, a change in control, a joint venture outline — and need memoranda that boards can read without wading through unnecessary detail.
We produce board-facing memoranda, resolutions and supporting schedules, shareholder agreement mark-ups, and short governance notes for management. Where a matter touches contracts or employment, we link scope explicitly so work does not fragment across disconnected instructions.
From you we need a clear description of the transaction or governance question, existing constitutional documents, cap tables or ownership summaries where relevant, and any third-party drafts already in circulation. Timelines help us sequence review sensibly.
This field connects naturally to contract drafting when commercial terms must be documented, to compliance when sector rules affect structure, and to dispute avoidance when relationships show early strain. We prefer one coherent instruction rather than parallel threads that diverge.
Contract drafting and review
Contract work spans supply and service agreements, licensing arrangements, partnership terms, NDAs and the schedules that make abstract clauses operable. We draft from instructions or review third-party paper, always aiming for language that operations teams can administer without constant counsel intervention.
Deliverables include marked-up drafts, clean execution copies, contract summaries for non-lawyers, and issue lists where negotiation is expected. We name assumptions in cover notes so clients know what remains open.
Please send the commercial brief, any template you prefer, counterpart drafts, and known deal breakers. If indemnities, liability caps or IP ownership are already contentious, say so — it shapes how we structure the first mark-up.
Contract instructions often arrive alongside corporate changes or employment transitions. We coordinate scope so signing order and internal approvals remain logical.
Employment and workplace matters
Employment work includes contracts for new hires and senior appointments, policy updates, restructuring notes, disciplinary correspondence templates, and guidance for HR leads navigating Singapore workplace rules. We write for readers who must implement documents on Monday morning.
Outputs may include employment agreements, staff handbook sections, consultation letters, redundancy process notes, and without-prejudice correspondence where relationships have frayed. We distinguish clearly between template updates and matter-specific advice.
We need role descriptions, existing contracts or policies, timeline constraints, and any prior correspondence with the employee or union representative. Sensitive personal data should be shared only as necessary for scope assessment.
Employment matters frequently intersect compliance when industry rules impose staffing obligations, and dispute avoidance when exit terms are negotiated. Early scope clarity reduces rework when sentiment shifts mid-process.
Regulatory compliance guidance
Compliance guidance helps management understand which rules apply, what documentation demonstrates adherence, and where gaps require remediation. We work at the level of checklists, policy drafts and board summaries — not tick-box audits detached from how the business actually runs.
Typical artefacts include compliance memos, licensing application support documents, internal control summaries, and training outlines for operational teams. We cite regulatory sources in plain language and flag where specialist regulatory counsel may be needed.
Send us your sector, licence status, recent regulator correspondence if any, and internal policies already in place. If you operate across borders, note which activities occur in Singapore versus elsewhere.
Compliance questions often surface during contract negotiations or corporate changes. We align advice so commercial documents reflect regulatory obligations rather than contradicting them.
Dispute avoidance and early resolution
Dispute avoidance focuses on clarifying positions before positions harden. We prepare without-prejudice letters, negotiation summaries, settlement term sheets where appropriate, and chronologies that help decision-makers see how a disagreement evolved. We do not promise particular outcomes in litigation or arbitration.
Clients receive structured correspondence they can send or adapt, meeting briefs for internal teams, and documented records of what was proposed and when. The aim is a documented position the board can rely on — not dramatic rhetoric.
We need the contract or relationship history, prior correspondence, and your practical objective — preserve the relationship, exit cleanly, or pause while mediation is explored. Missing dates and attachments slow early assessment.
This field links to contract review when ambiguity caused the friction, and to documentation when handover must occur regardless of outcome. If formal proceedings become likely, we discuss referral to dispute counsel.
Document preparation and correspondence
Documentation work covers letters, board packs, contract schedules, closing binders and handover files that must be accurate, consistent and ready for signature or filing. Some clients instruct us solely for this field when internal teams lack drafting capacity.
We produce polished correspondence, indexed document sets, execution versions with signing blocks, and short guides explaining what each artefact does. Version control is explicit — recipients should never wonder which draft is current.
Provide source materials, naming conventions you prefer, authorised signatories, and delivery deadlines. If documents must align with an external party's format, include their template.
Documentation often closes engagements in other fields. We treat it as the final quality gate: names, dates, cross-references and defined terms must match across the set.
Across all six fields we work methodically: scope first, drafts second, revisions within agreed bounds, handover last. If your matter spans multiple fields, say so in your first email — we structure one engagement letter rather than six disconnected ones.
Telok Ayer · Cecil Street corridor