Friday 5 March 2010

New A-G regarded as one of world’s top arbitrators


Lawyers who are familiar with Senior Counsel Sundaresh Menon, who takes over as Singapore’s Attorney-General in October, yesterday described him as a man with many qualities that make him the perfect choice for the job.

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New A-G regarded as one of world’s top arbitrators

Sujin Thomas
04 March 2010

A tough but gracious opponent who is generous and truly committed to clients.

Lawyers who are familiar with Senior Counsel Sundaresh Menon, who takes over as Singapore’s Attorney-General in October, yesterday described him as a man with many qualities that make him the perfect choice for the job.

Senior Counsel Thio Shen Yi, head of litigation at TSMP Law Corporation, said: ‘While he has formidable legal skills, it is the passion and commitment he throws into fighting for his clients that is truly inspiring.

‘As a professional, he is a tough but gracious opponent, but I also know that he is generous with people he feels are deserving of help. These are all excellent qualities that he will bring when he starts his term as the new A-G.’

Added noted criminal lawyer Subhas Anandan: ‘He is known internationally as a good arbitrator, and you cannot get a reputation like that unless you are a very fair person.’

Mr. Menon, 47, is currently the managing partner of Rajah & Tann, one of the Big Four law firms here. He assumed the position in August last year.

He will continue in that capacity until he leaves in September.

In a statement last night, a spokesman for the firm said: ‘The firm warmly congratulates Mr. Menon on the appointment and wishes to express a debt of gratitude to him for his leadership, vision and immense contributions.’

He graduated with first-class honours from the National University of Singapore and later obtained a master’s degree from Harvard Law School in the United States.

He has been practising in the field of commercial arbitration and litigation for more than 20 years and is on the rise as one of the world’s foremost arbitrators.

Chambers Global, the leading international guide to lawyers, named him among the top 40 international arbitration lawyers in the world in 2006.

He is currently the deputy chairman of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre and is a member of the Senate of the Singapore Academy of Law.

He is also a member of the advisory board of the Faculty of Law in the Singapore Management University.

Mr. Menon has also served a one-year term as judicial commissioner in the High Court, a stint he has described as the ‘highlight of my two decades in law’.

During his term, he heard several high-profile cases, including the National Kidney Foundation’s civil suit against its former directors.

The foundation’s new board had sued the four ex-directors, including former chief T.T. Durai and former chairman Richard Yong, for $12 million in damages, accusing them of breaching their duties to the charity.

The case ended when the ex-directors threw in the towel.

Source: Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Permission required for reproduction.