“A leading Singapore law firm with an approach to fostering independence while ensuring adequate guidance and supervision for junior lawyers” - Lee Ping, Partner
Shook Lin & Bok LLP (“Shook Lin”) is a leading law firm in Singapore, renowned for its comprehensive legal services and expertise in corporate, banking and finance law. The firm has a strong reputation for handling complex, cross-border transactions and disputes given its regional focus across ASEAN, China, India and Indonesia. Coupled with their team of highly qualified lawyers with diverse educational backgrounds and language capabilities, Shook Lin stands out in the legal industry as a firm dedicated to excellence, integrity and client satisfaction. Their stellar performance across prestigious rankings like The Straits Times’ Singapore’s Best Law Firms, IFLR1000 and AsiaLaw further testifies to this.
Today, we sit down with Lee Ping, a partner at Shook Lin, to uncover her journey into and with the firm.
Path to Shook Lin & Bok
Q1: Hello Lee Ping, we are honoured to have you here with us today. Could we start with a quick introduction about yourself?
Hello, happy to be here to share more about myself and Shook Lin today! Perhaps let me start from my time in school. I graduated from King’s College London with an LLB (Honours) in 2011. After graduation, I joined a boutique litigation firm where I practised both commercial and criminal litigation. Afterwards in 2018, I moved to Shook Lin & Bok and the following year, I made partner in Shook Lin and also became a mother in the same year.
My practice encompasses a diverse range of litigation and arbitration work, including employment, insolvency, shareholders’ and other disputes. For three years, I have been a supervising solicitor for trainees, and am currently one of the partners in a team with twelve associates. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, visiting great restaurants, and travelling.
Q2: Thank you for such an elaborate introduction! Since you started off from your time in school, why don’t I do the same? Why did you choose to return to Singapore instead of remaining in London after completing your degree at KCL?
Well, this was rather straightforward. I knew I wanted to pursue litigation as a lawyer, which made Singapore the natural choice.
Q3: Oh, I see. Why did you choose dispute resolution over other non-contentious practice groups?
I was inspired to pursue law after attending a talk in which the speaker discussed a Singapore case. The plaintiffs, parents who tragically lost their only children in a road accident, sought compensation for the cost of fertility treatments from the insurer of the negligent driver. This was a novel head of claim that was initially allowed by the Assistant Registrar but ultimately dismissed by the Court of Appeal. I was deeply intrigued by the role the law played in addressing such a personal and complex issue, and how principles of justice and public policy were navigated and applied in a real-world context.
Q4: And so why Shook Lin?
Shook Lin is a well-established and reputable firm in the industry. A friend of mine in university, who had been with the firm since graduation, spoke highly of the work environment and the autonomy provided to the lawyers. The firm’s approach to fostering independence while ensuring adequate guidance and supervision for junior lawyers is something I truly admire. This, combined with the strong camaraderie amongst our lawyers, are key factors that I believe set Shook Lin apart.
Day in the Life of a Lawyer
Q5: What is a typical workday like for you? How has your typical workday changed over the years?
As a “night-shift” mum, I start my workday a little later in the morning. I typically work through lunch unless I have lunch appointments, and generally leave promptly at 6 p.m. I also try to make the most of my one-hour commute to and from work by catching up on e-mails.
Once I’m home, I focus on spending quality time with my family. After my son goes to sleep around 9 p.m., I typically return to work until around 11 p.m. on most weekdays. I make an effort to avoid working on weekends, and when I do, it's usually only in the evenings.
At Shook Lin, we have the flexibility to work from home twice a week, which is great. It allows me to wake up later and start work earlier, while also giving me the chance to enjoy evening walks with my family in the neighbourhood.
As a junior associate, I used to work from 9 a.m. until around 11 p.m. in the office on weekdays and sometimes come back to the office on Saturdays. One noticeable difference since the pandemic is that it is rarer for associates to stay back in the office at night – which is good, and I am glad that they get to spend more time at home, and with their families.
Q6: As a supervising solicitor, what are some skills you seek to impart to your trainees?
First and foremost, rigorous analysis and attention to detail. I thoroughly review research memos and drafts to ensure that cases, facts and documents are analysed or summarised accurately. Until these skills are honed, it will throw doubt on the reliability of the trainee’s work product.
Building on that will be the ability to provide value to clients. Our role is to advise our clients and advance their interests within the bounds of the law. In connection with this, apart from providing sound legal advice, one also has to keep in mind the importance of providing your clients with prompt updates, understanding their business needs and guiding them on the dispute resolution options that best suit their objectives.
Tips for Law Students from UK Universities
Q7: As a partner who supervises trainees or associates who have graduated from local universities and UK universities, do you think there are any advantages and disadvantages of having a UK education as a practising lawyer?
In my view, to survive and thrive as a practising lawyer, apart from strong analytical and critical thinking skills, you need to have common sense, emotional intelligence, intellectual curiosity and resilience. These qualities depend on who you are as a person, rather than which university you attended.
Q8: Do you have any tips for students who have studied in UK universities but are keen to come back to Singapore to practice?
Do as many internships as you can to get an insight into what practice is like, what area of law you are interested in and which firm suits you best.
Additionally, one of the initial challenges I faced as a trainee or junior associate was my lack of familiarity with Singapore company law, insolvency law, and recent case law. To overcome this, I spent my spare time reading up on these areas. It is crucial to grasp the fundamentals of an area of law you are looking into, as analysing for instance a single provision in legislation without understanding the broader context can easily lead to misinterpretation or incorrect conclusions.
Q9: If you could give your freshly graduated self three tips to thrive in practice in Singapore, what would they be?
Firstly, nothing is the end of the world (except for the end of the world). In practice, there will be many challenges that can feel overwhelming if you allow them to. However, it is important to remember that, in the grand scheme of things, most issues are manageable and often trivial in the larger context of your career.
Secondly, practice is a marathon, not a sprint. Some of you may find that practice is not the right fit for you, and that is perfectly okay. If you do find it fulfilling, remember to be kinder to yourself and adopt sustainable work habits. This may include setting boundaries and taking breaks when necessary to maintain long-term well-being.
Lastly, add value to the team. As a junior, your primary role is to make your seniors' and partners’ jobs easier. This can involve tasks like taking accurate minutes during meetings and hearings, seeking clarification when needed, delivering reliable work, meeting deadlines, and regularly updating your team on the progress of your tasks.
Thank you for your time, Lee Ping, it was nice speaking with you!
To find out more about Shook Lin, you may visit their website here or contact the firm via their website if you have any queries. We hope you have enjoyed this edition featuring Shook Lin and gained new insights into the firm!
United Kingdom Singapore Law Students Society 2024-2025
Kommentare