Rising star Paul Tan bested two senior counsel and other international law practitioners to become the Disputes Star of the Year for Singapore at a law awards event on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old partner at Rajah & Tann was cited at the Hong Kong event for successfully arguing a $150 million case before the Singapore International Commercial Court and winning a hat-trick of court injunctions to protect his clients' interests in major projects abroad.
The Asialaw Asia-Pacific Dispute Resolution Awards 2016, hosted by Hong Kong-based research house Asialaw, identifies and celebrates some of the leading lawyers in the region, country by country, across a dozen law practice areas such as insolvency, arbitration and shipping.
Asialaw's editorial staff chose the winners and nominees after extensive research earlier this year, which included market feedback.
Mr Tan said yesterday he was indebted to his mentors' generosity and colleagues' commitment.
"The award is a reflection of the extraordinary international disputes practice at Rajah & Tann, which, with its extensive regional footprint, has given me the platform to cultivate my own practice."
He added: "It is also a tribute to all the right moves that Singapore has taken to position itself as a disputes hub for Asia."
Said deputy managing partner Rebecca Chew of the firm, which was also voted Best Domestic Arbitration Firm of the Year in Singapore: "Paul exemplifies the calibre of lawyers we groom and develop."
In other categories, three law firms - Tanner De Witt, Tan Kok Quan Partnership and Allen & Gledhill - were co-winners for Matter of the Year.
Drew & Napier retained its supremacy as National Law Firm of the Year - Singapore for the second year running.
Its win underlines a string of accolades bagged over time by Drew & Napier's disputes resolution practice that includes heavyweights Davinder Singh, Jimmy Yim, Hri Kumar Nair and Cavinder Bull, all of whom are senior counsel.
Its more than 100-strong team acts for clients such as government agencies and officials, Fortune 500 companies and high-net-worth individuals.
Drew & Napier's chief executive, Mr Singh, yesterday credited the achievement to the firm's "first-rate lawyers and staff, who are simply excellent".
"We also owe an enormous debt of gratitude to all our clients. We will always cherish their support."
