Clifford Chance leverages its extensive resources and expertise in Singapore to assist clients with employment investigations, transactional and advisory matters, regulatory issues, and whistleblowing and other employment litigation. The Singapore team is particularly noted for conducting internal investigations and representing financial institutions, though it does have broad industry coverage. It is active in matters across Southeast Asia and South Asia. The international firm benefits from its Formal Law Alliance with Cavenagh Law LLP, providing it with Singapore litigation representation in the local courts and tribunals. Kabir Singh is a dispute resolution partner with an established record in employment disputes in Singapore, India, Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia. Cavenagh Law LLP partner Janice Goh provides further local expertise.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP has a dedicated employment practice in Singapore that advises major multinationals on a range of regional and Asia Pacific-wide matters. It has extensive expertise in HR support across Asia through to board-level advice on employment, compensation and benefits-related issues. It has an established record in investigations into employee conduct, whistleblower claims and safety incidents. It is also noted for employment terminations and risk management, restructurings, employee incentives, crisis management and compliance. Singapore managing partner Fatim Jumabhoy is head of the Asia employment, pensions and incentives team, an experienced figure in the area with an exceptional client following. Senior associate Nurul Ayu Fajarani is also rated by clients.

Linklaters has a well established Asia employment and incentives practice, which is headquartered in Singapore. The wide-ranging practice covers advisory, transactional, and contentious work, from contract reviews right through to disputes, harassment and investigations. It remains particularly committed to the financial services, asset management and technology sectors, though operates across multiple industries. Head of the firm’s Asia employment and incentives practice, Laure de Panafieu (‘goes above and beyond’) is a standout practitioner, noted for her leadership in cross-border transactions, outsourcings and restructurings, along with contentious matters such as contested team moves, employee terminations, and discrimination and harassment allegations. The highly rated Chaiyee Oh was promoted to counsel in May 2024.

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow combines its strong local expertise with exceptional international talent, along with its ability to tap into the resources of the global firm. The Singapore team represents a range of multinationals from multiple industries and is frequently engaged by clients to conduct investigations into alleged discrimination, breaches of internal policies and other matters. The group is also experienced in corporate restructurings and employee transfers, along with often representing clients in litigation before the Singapore courts. Celeste Ang is a leading name in the market, widely recognised for her expertise in investigations and large disputes. Kelvin Poa is another rounded practitioner with a background in advisory and transaction-related issues, including contracts, separation agreements, and non-solicitation and non-competition terms. Zhao Yang Ng is an emerging talent in employment investigations, trade union negotiations and immigration matters. Pradeep Nair was promoted to local principal in 2023.

Clyde & Co Clasis Singapore has devoted considerable resources and expertise to its labour and employment practice in Singapore, covering the range of transactional, advisory and contentious matters. It continues to represent a mixture of local, regional and multinational companies. Through its Singapore joint law venture (JLV), it is able to represent clients in court, frequently dealing with headline and high-value cases on behalf of large clients. It is also highly rated for golden parachutes and c-level terminations. Thomas Choo is managing partner of the Singapore office, having a considerable focus on non-contentious employment and immigration matters, including redundancy and retrenchment exercises, alongside his work in the corporate and venture capital segments. Prakash Pillai and Junxiang Koh provide additional senior expertise in employment disputes, while Weiyi Tan is noted for employee investigations and disputes.

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang (Singapore) LLP has become a recognised force in the labour and employment field. The Singapore office has accumulated significant labour and employment expertise from its ranks, including partners down to associates. It is also noted for its experience in domestic, regional and more international matters; it benefits from being part of an international firm that has a major focus on employment law. The Singapore office now represents a range of multinational and Singapore-based companies on both contentious and non-contentious matters. Lakshanthi Fernando is head of the employment team, which includes Singapore managing partner Toby Grainger, who is known for his expertise in employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). Babita Ambekar heads the India desk, splitting her time between the UK and Singapore.

DLA Piper has steadily elevated its presence in Singapore with head of the employment department David Smail  (‘far exceeds expectations’) being promoted to partner in 2024. Smail has practised in Asia for over a decade and has a deep understanding of the Southeast Asia and South Asia regions; he is noted for both contentious and non-contentious matters. The Singapore team represents an impressive number of local, regional and international businesses, often dealing with key matters such as business expansions, employee investigations and collective redundancy exercises. Katherine Chew is a partner in the corporate team and frequently handles the employment aspects of corporate reorganisations and transactions.

K&L Gates Straits Law LLC’s labour, employment and workplace safety team continues to represent a number of major multinational employers and large Singapore-headquartered businesses in a wide variety of matters throughout Southeast Asia. Along with general advisory matters and employment disputes, the team has a background in workplace relations strategies and assistance to clients undertaking M&A and divestments in Asia. Christopher Tan leads the team, is hugely experienced and is especially active in the technology, aviation, manufacturing, hospitality and fintech sectors. Valerie Ang provides further senior expertise in employment disputes.

Littler Mendelson is a specialist labour and employment firm with its Singapore office operating as its Asia Pacific hub. Naturally, the international firm has an exceptional client base of multinationals, particularly US-listed corporates, and other regional businesses. It works closely with businesses in connection with their expansion or retrenchment plans, along with other human resources initiatives. Trent Sutton heads the Singapore team with an extensive background in employment compliance, global transfers and mobility, global expansion and workplace restructuring, and HR training. Nancy Zhang  provides additional senior expertise and particular knowledge of the China and international markets.

Simmons & Simmons’ global standing in labour and employment law is very much in evidence in the Singapore office, which has expanded considerably in recent years. The department ‘focuses on directed, commercial advice that addresses the specific needs of their clients‘. Building on the firm’s longstanding leadership in the Hong Kong market, where Fiona Loughrey founded the firm’s Asia employment practice in 1999, the Singapore department is led by Clarence Ding (‘a dedicated practitioner who exemplifies the qualities that most clients desire’) who is an emerging talent in contentious, transactional and advisory matters; Loughrey also spends time in Singapore. Ding and the team, often with support from Hong Kong colleagues, have represented numerous multinational clients in major contentious matters, restructurings, and M&A-related issues. The group has dealt with multiple employee claims, whistleblower complaints and post-termination restrictions, among other matters.

Ashurst ADTLaw remains best known for transactional and advisory-related matters with the Singapore employment team working closely with colleagues in Australia and across Asia Pacific. It has continued to represent clients on the employment aspects of high-value and large-scale corporate transactions. Manufacturing, banking and finance, asset management, insurance, and medical technology are key sectors for the department. Counsel Karen Mitra leads the team in Singapore and frequently supports partners and colleagues in Australia, Hong Kong and other offices.

RPC Premier Law has deepened its emphasis on labour and employment matters, particularly in the insurance sector (a forte for the firm more widely) for clients such as QBE Insurance (Singapore). The technology field is another area of experience for the team. Founded on strength in dispute resolution, the firm now operates across the contentious and non-contentious arenas, focused on representing employers along with c-suite executives. Head of the Singapore office, Navin Joseph Lobo is an experienced litigator, who has developed a strong specialisation in employment matters, both contentious and non-contentious. Yap Chun Kai has been instrumental in building the office’s standing in non-contentious matters.