Editorial: Franchise in Singapore
01 October 2007
Singapore boasts a thriving franchise community, with over 170 foreign franchises in sectors such as education and training, restaurants and fast food. The Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore) (FLA) began as Singapore’s national franchise body in 1993 and was formerly known as the Singapore International Franchise Association. Through the efforts of this association – and a number of others – Singapore is fast becoming a franchise hub, and consequently there is an increased need for legal support. This chapter identifies seven practitioners that we recognise as the leading lights of Singapore’s franchise bar and they spend a proportion of their time representing franchisors, franchisees and companies of all sizes, in diverse industries.
Rodyk & Davidson is the only firm in this chapter that fields two practitioners in our list. The “fantastic” Lee Ai Ming heads the firm’s intellectual property & technology practice and also features in our patents chapter. Lee has served on government and industry forums in Singapore, including the advisory panel of the Trade Development Board on Franchising. Yew Woon Chooi advises on franchising commercial contracts and is currently the honorary legal adviser for the FLA, Singapore, which she helped establish. Susan de Silva from Alban Tay Mahtani & de Silva is the “doyenne of the Singapore bar”, according to sources. De Silva was consistently recommended by her peers for her knowledge and experience across a number of areas – she is also included in the labour & employment and competition chapters. De Silva heads the firm’s corporate and commercial group and is experienced in franchising and merchandising commercial agreements.
Max Ng is one of the principal directors of Gateway Law Corporation and a “consummate professional”. Ng, also included in the patents chapter, is adept at preparing contracts and franchising documents. Wun Rizwi from KhattarWong has invaluable in-house experience as legal officer in a multinational consumer electronics company. In August 2007 Rizwi addressed the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry seminar regarding franchising and retailing market in China. The “great” Jonathan Kok from Harry Elias Partnership came highly recommended by his peers for his competency in this area. Audrey Yap is a founding partner and head of the IP department at Yu Sarn Audrey & Partners. Yap is an associate member and professional of the Singapore Franchise & License Association and is a popular speaker in the field – she was a plenary speaker at the 2002 and 2003 Global Franchising Conferences in Singapore and is regarded by her peers as “exceptional”.
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