Singapore Law Firm Rajah & Tann boosts Tax, Private Wealth & Trusts Practice

Rajah & Tann LLP has announced that, with effect from 2 June 2008, Mr Yeoh Lian Chuan has joined as a partner in the Tax, Private Wealth & Trusts Practice and Associate Professor Stephen Phua, a leading tax academic, has joined as a tax consultant.Lian Chuan was called to the Singapore Bar in 1994 and has specialised in tax for the past 12 years. He focuses primarily on tax structuring and planning advice and indirect tax and has particular expertise in financial services and corporate transactions. Lian Chuan worked in the public sector from 1998 to 2001 with the Monetary Authority of Singapore where he was a Deputy Director in the Financial Centre Development Department and head of the tax unit. Immediately before joining R&T LLP, Lian Chuan was a partner in the financial services department of Allen & Gledhill LLP for 6½ years. In addition to tax work, Lian Chuan also advises a variety of clients on financial services regulatory matters.

Lian Chuan has been cited as a leading practitioner in the area of tax by diverse publications including most recently in Who’s Who Legal (2008) – where he was also described as being “as knowledgeable as you can get when it comes to Singapore taxation” – The Practical Law Company’s Which Lawyer (2008) and Best Lawyer’s 2008.

Stephen has taught at university level in tax law for over 18 years, and in that time has also been a tax consultant for and undertaken numerous projects with government departments. For 10 years from 1996, Stephen served on the Income Tax Board of Review, and he remains a member of the GST Board of Review and Valuation Review Board. He is also a member of the Ministry of Finance’s tax advisory group.

Lian Chuan and Stephen will join Ms Stacy Choong – who joined R&T from Drew & Napier LLC in May 2008. Stacy is likewise recognised as a leading practitioner by independent publications such as “Best Lawyers 2008 in the specialties of Tax & Trust and Estates”, “Who’s Who Legal – Singapore 2008 for Corporate Tax” and “The Practical Law Company’s Which Lawyer? Yearbook (2006, 2007 and 2008) in the area of Tax Practice”. These new lateral hires add to the strength of the existing team of Christina Ng, Soon Choo Hock and Ronald Choo.

Managing Partner of R&T LLP, Mr Steven Chong S.C., said “The Firm is very excited to have assembled an excellent team of tax/private wealth practitioners with diverse backgrounds and competencies. These areas of practice have become increasingly relevant and important in recent years.  For example, we have witnessed a tremendous influx of private banks and trust companies. The tax practice will also complement the Firm’s strengths in other areas such as fund management, transportation, technology, corporate restructuring, banking, projects and infrastructure and litigation, and we are confident that the Firm’s practice in these areas will continue to grow in the right direction”.