Tom Smith K.C.

[2025] SGHC 9 High Court (General Division) 16 January 2025 • HC/OA 1060/2024 • 27 min read
11 cases cited

Catchwords

Legal Profession — Admission — Ad hoc

Practice Areas

Legal Profession

Judges (1)

Steven Chong Delivered

Counsel (21)

Attorney-General's Chambers Firm Lee & Lee Firm Providence Law Asia LLC Firm Wong & Leow LLC Firm Alston Yeong Counsel Respondent Dan Pan Xue Wen Counsel Third Party Emmanuel Duncan Chua Counsel Applicant Huang Xinli Daniel Counsel Respondent Jeyendran s/o Jeyapal Counsel Third Party Kyle Chong Kee Cheng Counsel Respondent Lau Hui Ming Kenny Counsel Respondent Lee Ming En Counsel Third Party Lee Yu Lun Darrell Counsel Applicant Lim Jia Ren Counsel Applicant Nandakumar Ponniya Servai Counsel Applicant Sarah Siaw Ming Hui Counsel Third Party Saw Seang Kuan Counsel Third Party Tan Jia Xin Counsel Applicant Vergis S Abraham Counsel Respondent Vincent Leow Counsel Third Party Wong Tjen Wee Counsel Applicant

Parties (3)

Attorney-General Third Party Law Society of Singapore Third Party Tom Smith KC Applicant

Case Significance

[2025] SGHC 9 is a High Court (General Division) decision dated 16 January 2025 concerning Legal Profession, specifically addressing admission. The judgment was delivered by Steven Chong. Legal representation was provided by Wong & Leow LLC and Providence Law Asia LLC. The judgment cites 11 cases and references 3 statutory provisions, including the Australian Corporations Act, the Companies Act, and the Legal Profession Act.

Summary

An application was made for the ad hoc admission of Tom Smith KC to represent the appellant in two Court of Appeal cases, after he had represented the same party at first instance. The court dismissed the application, finding no demonstrated need for foreign senior counsel as the appellant's existing local counsel was competent to address the same issues on appeal.

What was decided in [2025] SGHC 9?

[2025] SGHC 9 (Tom Smith K.C.) is a High Court (General Division) decision from 16 January 2025 addressing Legal Profession, specifically admission. The judgment was delivered by Steven Chong.

Which judge decided [2025] SGHC 9?

[2025] SGHC 9 was delivered by Steven Chong in the High Court (General Division) on 16 January 2025. The case concerned Legal Profession.

What cases and statutes does [2025] SGHC 9 cite?

[2025] SGHC 9 cites 11 prior decisions. It references Australian Corporations Act, Companies Act, Legal Profession Act.

Statutes Cited

Australian Corporations Act
s 411
Companies Act (Cap 50)
s 210 s 425
Legal Profession Act (Cap 161)
s 15

Cases Cited (11)

SG (1)
[2016] SGHC 258
SLR (10)
[2008] 1 SLR(R) 297 [2008] 3 SLR(R) 121 [2012] 2 SLR 213 [2013] 3 SLR 66 [2013] 4 SLR 921 [2014] 3 SLR 424 [2015] 1 SLR 272 [2015] 4 SLR 1064 [2016] 5 SLR 179 [2024] 2 SLR 410

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.

Read on eLitigation

Source: eLitigation ([2025] SGHC 9)