[2 March 2007]
SMU School of Law appoints Advisory Board

Chaired by former Chief Justice Mr Yong Pung How, the advisory board comprises Supreme Court judges, Ambassadors, Senior Counsels and senior partners of law firms.

Singapore, 2 March 2007 – The Singapore Management University's new School of Law has appointed its first Advisory Board and heading the Advisory Board as Chairman is former Chief Justice Mr Yong Pung How. Mr Yong has also been appointed Distinguished Fellow of the School of Law.

Mr Yong Pung How was appointed Chief Justice in 1990 and in his 16 years heading the Singapore Judiciary, he has built up the judiciary and legal system to vigilantly uphold the rule of law and administration of justice. During his term, he initiated wide ranging reforms to build up the legal infrastructure and develop local jurisprudence. His leadership resulted in a judiciary that has a high standing internationally. Mr Yong also served as Chairman of the Presidential Council on Minority Rights during his term as Chief Justice.

Appointed to provide strategic advice and guidance to the Deanery of the School of Law, the 13-member Advisory Board comprises many distinguished luminaries in the legal profession. Among them are prominent members of the Singapore Judiciary, Senior Counsels and senior partners of law firms. They include Supreme Court Judges Justices Andrew Phang and V K Rajah, Second Solicitor-General Professor Walter Woon, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh and Senior Director of Stamford Law Corporation Ms Lee Suet Fern. Other members include Senior Counsel Michael Hwang who is also Ambassador to Switzerland, Professor Walter Woon who is a former Nominated Member of Parliament and former Ambassador to Belgium and Germany, and Mr Eduardo Ramos-Gómez who formerly served as Mexico's Ambassador to Singapore.

Please refer to the Annex for the full list of the SMU School of Law Advisory Board.

“The School of Law at SMU, being a new institution, has the advantage of developing a different and unique positioning to respond to the changing needs of lawyers in legal practice in Singapore and the region. The strong bent on corporate and commercial practice in its curriculum is one aspect. The active engagement and involvement of the legal fraternity in the running of the law school would be another. The Advisory Board's contribution would be to forge close relationships between the school, the legal profession and its stakeholders,” said Mr Yong Pung How, Chairman, SMU School of Law Advisory Board.

“In building a new law school, it is important for the university to engage and consult the legal fraternity. I am delighted to have assembled such an eminent team of legal professionals to support us as we embark on our journey to groom the next generation of young lawyers. We welcome the active partnership of the wider legal community in building this institution whether in the form of scholarships, internships, pupilage, career seminars, legal research or teaching,” said Professor Howard Hunter, President, Singapore Management University.