Mishcon de Reya opens in Singapore with Simon Michaels leading the tax service

Mishcon de Reya has today announced the opening of a new branch office in Singapore. It will initially focus on delivering legal services to high net worth families across South East Asia. The service areas will include international tax and succession planning, and advising clients and their businesses on private capital investments, restructuring and debt financing transactions. As a licensed Foreign Law Practice in Singapore, the office will not be undertaking Singapore law related work save in those areas permitted by its licence, such as international commercial arbitration.

Culturally and operationally, the Singapore office will be an extension of Mishcon de Reya’s London office. An established and talented team will join Mishcon de Reya from Withers KhattarWong LLP in Singapore, led by Tahirah Ara, who will take up the role of Managing Partner, Singapore and Head of Asia. She is joined by Partner Simon Michaels, a leading international wealth planning practitioner in Singapore and Senior Counsel Lawrence Altman, a US qualified finance lawyer with over 15 years’ experience in Asia, both in Singapore and Thailand, along with several associates and administrative staff.

Simon Michaels’ focus is on advising prominent global high net-worth families, family offices and the institutions that service them, in particular private banks and trust companies. In addition to UK tax, he advises on all issues of family governance, succession and estate planning, often with a particular focus on effective and complex cross-border structuring with integrated tax planning. In addition to this, Simon has been involved in a number of high value, cross-border trust and estate disputes, acting both for trustees and beneficiaries. He is a dual qualified English barrister and solicitor advocate.

Tahirah Ara, Mishcon de Reya Managing Partner, Singapore and Head of Asia, said:

“In the discussions we have had with Mishcon de Reya over the past year, we have established a meaningful connection with the people that we have met and share their confidence in the firm’s 10 year vision. Most importantly, Mishcon de Reya’s core values and its clear commitment to them were what resonated with us.

“We believe that, as one business, we will be able to grow significantly on the back of the strong brand that the firm has nurtured and developed. Together, we look forward to continuing to provide our clients, old and new, with the highest quality legal services.“