As the jurisdiction is one of the leading private banking and wealth management centres globally, law firm Charles Russell Speechlys has opened a new office in Singapore.

Charles Russell Speechyls has announced that it is expanding into Southeast Asia with a new office in Singapore, led by Jeffrey Lee, a partner in the firm’s Hong Kong office.

Hailing from Singapore, Lee moved to Hong Kong in March 2019 after spending several years practising in London, the firm said in a statement. He advises on international structuring for clients, including their establishment for estate and succession planning, asset protection and personal tax mitigation. He also specialises in tax planning, advising non-UK domiciled persons moving to the UK.

Lee will be supported by the firm’s head of Asia, Simon Green, whose main areas of expertise are large-scale mixed-use development and redevelopment projects, commercial and residential property investment, real estate management, as well as real estate finance (both Islamic and conventional). Green also has a hotel and hospitality practice, the firm continued.

Together, they will continue to grow their respective teams, the majority of whom are based in Hong Kong. As the firm establishes its presence in the Singaporean market, it will add further fee earners and service lines to the offering. Charles Russell Speechlys LLP's new Singapore office is located at Suite 8, Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 2, 10 Marine Boulevard, Singapore 018983.

“Understanding how global wealth affects families and people is at the heart of what we do as an international law firm. Singapore is one of the leading private banking and wealth management centres globally,” Simon Ridpath, managing partner at Charles Russell Speechlys, said.

“Given our areas of specialism in private client, dispute resolution and transactional services, its strong capital market and international arbitration offerings make Singapore a natural move for us,” he continued.

“Internationally, Singapore continues to rapidly climb the rankings as a hub for global business and there is so much going on in the country for businesses across all sectors,” Lee said.

“We have a number of longstanding friends and contacts in the region; indeed, many of our existing clients have had a presence in Singapore for years, so it is tremendously exciting to now be establishing a physical presence there, so we continue to ensure we can provide all our clients – old and new – with the best possible service,” he added.

Charles Russell Speechlys is an international law firm with a focus on private capital, at the intersection of personal, family, business and corporates, with locations across the UK, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.