Drew & Napier welcome Ong Sim Ho (and team) to their tax practice
Drew & Napier LLC (“D&N”) has announced that Ong Sim Ho and his team joined D&N on 3 Mar 2008 with a view to leading and further expanding the D&N tax practice. D&N is one of the very few Singapore law firms with a specialist tax practice and full-time tax specialists.
Sim Ho specializes in tax law and has more than 10 years of experience. He has been running his own practice since December 2001, which will cease to operate with his move to Drew & Napier. He was formerly with the Tax Interpretations & Treaties Branch, and the Law Division, of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). He holds both a LL.B (Honours) and an Accountancy degree and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Sim Ho sits on the boards of several private and public companies. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the School of Accountancy of Singapore Management University and a member of the Investigation Committee of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore (ICPAS) which looks into complaints of professional misconduct against CPAs.
Managing Director of the Banking and Corporate Department, David Ang, welcomes Sim Ho’s arrival saying, “Sim Ho is one of the best-known tax lawyers around. His experience and capabilities will both enhance our existing practice as well as give it an added dimension. He will be helping to further strengthen our already highly-regarded tax group. With his particularly strong background in corporate tax structuring and indirect taxes, he will expand the breadth of our tax practice and deepen our already highly-regarded tax litigation capabilities.”
D&N’s tax group has been cited by numerous international publications as a leading practice, including Asia Pacific Legal 500 (2007/2008), International Who’s Who of Corporate Tax Lawyers, Asian Counsel and Practical Law Company’s Which Lawyer? – the last of which described D&N’s tax practice as an “outstanding Singapore powerhouse” which “boasts an exceptionally strong team”.
Sim Ho has been involved in several well-publicised tax matters including successfully arguing for a landmark decision in a property tax case where the Valuation Review Board dealt with issues relating to the computation of each component of profit’s method of valuation for the first time in recent years. Recently he succeeded in a landmark test case in corporate tax which will have major implication for the serviced apartments industry.
Speaking of his decision, Sim Ho elaborates, “Drew & Napier has arguably the best tax practice. The opportunity to add further breadth and depth to an already solid platform is irresistible. Drew & Napier was a natural choice when we decided to move our boutique practice to a higher plane. With the firm’s vision we will get all the backing we need to expand the practice. Frankly, it was not a difficult decision to make.”
ABOUT DREW & NAPIER LLC
Established in 1889, Drew & Napier LLC is one of Singapore’s leading and largest law firms, with over 220 lawyers and fee-earners. Consistently rated top tier in dispute resolution over the years by international ranking organisations such as Asia Pacific Legal 500, Chambers Global, Practical Law Company and Asia Law Profiles, to name but a few, the firm has seven senior counsel, the largest number of any law firm in Singapore. The firm is headed by chief executive officer, Davinder Singh, Senior Counsel. Drew & Napier LLC is also highly rated in Corporate Insolvency & Restructuring, Intellectual Property and Tax, with market leading practices in Banking & Corporate, Competition & Antitrust, Telecommunications, Media & Technology, and Admiralty & Shipping.