The Federation of Indian Corporate Lawyers (FICL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Law Society of Singapore. The MOU establishes a framework for co-operation between Indian in-house counsel and the Singapore Bar. The ceremony was held virtually on 02 October 2026.
Dignitaries present
Professor Tan Cheng Han, SC, President, The Law Society of Singapore
Ms Lee Wei Yan, Chief Executive Officer, The Law Society of Singapore
Mr Paul Tan, Council Member, The Law Society of Singapore
Mr Suressh Harry Elias, Council Member, The Law Society of Singapore
Ms Gloria James-Civetta, Council Member, The Law Society of Singapore
Mr Divyesh Menon, Council Member, The Law Society of Singapore
Ms Ong Mori, Council Member, The Law Society of Singapore
Other Distinguished members of The Law Society of Singapore
Mr PK Malhotra, Patron, FICL
Dr SB Mitra, Honorary President, FICL
Mr Rohan Sharma FCIArb, Director,FICL
A day of significance
The signing took place on the first death anniversary of FICL's founder, the late Dr Ashok Sharma, FCIArb. Opening the ceremony, FICL Director Rohan Sharma said Dr Sharma had built FICL "on a simple conviction: that in-house counsel are central to how businesses are governed, and that they deserve a strong professional community." He added that it was fitting to forge, on this day, a partnership the founder would have been proud of.
Why India and Singapore
Singapore is a trusted gateway for Indian businesses into South-East Asia. It is a preferred seat of arbitration in many disputes involving Indian parties, and its commitment to the rule of law is widely admired. India and Singapore both signed the Singapore Convention on Mediation on the first day it opened for signature. For in-house lawyers who manage cross-border transactions and disputes, closer ties between the two professional communities are a practical necessity.
What the MOU covers
Under the MOU, FICL and The Law Society of Singapore will:
share knowledge and professional resources;
hold joint programmes and exchanges; and
build a lasting dialogue between Indian in-house counsel and the Singapore Bar.
Following the signing, the two organisations identified two initial areas of collaboration, and will connect the relevant members and committees to take them forward:
Arbitration practice and advocacy
Mediation advocacy
The in-house counsel at the boardroom table
Closing his address, Mr Sharma said that in-house counsel are often seen as a support function or a cost centre, and that FICL takes a different view. "The in-house counsel today sits where law meets business, governance and technology. Fully recognised, that lawyer becomes one of the most valuable voices in the boardroom."
FICL thanked The Law Society of Singapore for its trust and partnership. It paid particular tribute to Professor Tan Cheng Han, SC for his support, and to Mr Paul Tann, who was instrumental in the journey from the first conversations in April to the signing. FICL also thanked its Patron and Honorary President for their guidance.
About The Law Society of Singapore
The Law Society of Singapore was established in 1967 under the Legal Profession Act. Its mission is to serve its members and the public by sustaining an independent Bar that upholds the rule of law and ensures access to justice. Its statutory functions include representing, protecting and assisting members of the legal profession in Singapore and promoting their interests. It also helps members acquire legal knowledge, maintains and improves standards of conduct and learning in the profession, and protects and assists the public in matters ancillary to the law. Every Singapore lawyer with a practising certificate in force is automatically a member, as are certain categories of foreign lawyers registered with the Legal Services Regulatory Authority. To help the needy and vulnerable get access to justice, the Society set up Pro Bono SG, a wholly owned subsidiary. The Society's affairs are managed by a 21-member Council, which ensures that its functions under the Legal Profession Act are properly performed.