SINGAPORE - President Halimah Yacob has appointed top lawyer Dedar Singh Gill as a judicial commissioner of the Supreme Court.

Mr Gill, 59, will begin his new role on Aug 1 for a period of two years, the Prime Minister's Office said on Wednesday (June 27).

He follows in the footsteps of Mr Tan Puay Boon, Ms Mavis Chionh and Mr Ang Cheng Hock, who were appointed judicial commissioners in February.

Mr Gill will be sworn into his post at the Istana on Aug 3.

A graduate of National University of Singapore's 1983 class, Mr Gill was previously managing director of law firm Drew and Napier LLC's intellectual property department, having spent most of his career there since graduation.

A lawyer with more than 30 years of experience, he is one of Singapore's top intellectual property litigators, representing corporate clients who are household names.

He was once the president of Asian Patent Attorneys Association, Singapore Group and was also appointed deputy president of the Copyright Tribunal. In addition, Mr Gill is a member of the Law Society of Singapore, the Singapore Academy of Law and the International Trademark Association.

Of his departure, Mr Davinder Singh, executive chairman of Drew & Napier, said: "While Dedar's departure will be a great and irreplaceable loss to the firm, his appointment to the Supreme Court will forever remain a matter of immense pride for Drew & Napier. I am confident that he will serve the country with distinction by enriching our jurisprudence with his sharp mind and wisdom."

Mr Cavinder Bull, CEO of Drew & Napier, said: "We thank him for his 35 years of dedication to the firm and wish him every success in the next stage of his journey."

With the appointment of Mr Gill, the Supreme Court will now have a total of 21 judges (including four judges of appeal and the chief justice), six judicial commissioners, four senior judges and 15 international judges.