Change of Dean at SMU law school

Singapore, 8 August 2007 – The Singapore Management University (SMU) is announcing a change of Deanship at its School of Law. Professor Michael P. Furmston will now assume the Deanship at the School of Law as Professor David N. Smith (???), who was originally appointed as Dean, is unable to take up the appointment due to unanticipated personal reasons.

Professor Furmston is one of the most distinguished contracts and commercial law scholars in the world. The former Oxford Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Bristol is best known for his book, Cheshire, Fifoot & Furmston on Contract which remains one of the leading treatises on contract law more than 50 years after its first publication. A leading international authority today in the law of contract, Professor Furmston was educated at the University of Oxford and also taught at the University of Birmingham and Queen's University, Belfast. His experience in legal education spans across 50 years. He is also a member of the UNIDROIT (International Institute for the Unification of Private Law). Please see Annex for his CV.

Associate Professor Low Kee Yang (???), former Interim Dean of the School of Law, will serve as Deputy Dean during the period of transition and provide leadership support. Professor Furmston will also be assisted by two Associate Deans – Associate Professor Pearlie Koh ( ???) who oversees research and Assistant Professor Gary Chan (???) who is responsible for teaching and curriculum planning.

Said Professor Howard Hunter, President of SMU: “It is with much regret that Professor Smith is unable to assume leadership of the School of Law arising from unanticipated personal reasons which we respect. He will remain as a senior member of the faculty and special adviser to the President on legal education, and continue to contribute to the teaching of law at SMU. The new Dean, Professor Furmston has served with great distinction as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Bristol for a number of years. Professor Furmston knows Singapore well and, prior to his recent appointment as Professor of Law at SMU, he has taught at SMU as a Visiting Professor and worked with our younger law faculty. I am confident that he will be an outstanding and experienced leader who can help us continue to build a law school of the highest quality.”

Said Professor David N. Smith: “As special adviser to the President and a senior member of the law faculty in SMU, I value the opportunity to contribute to the development of the School of Law as well as research and teaching of foreign investment, transnational companies, negotiation, and other subjects. A substantial part of my teaching, programme development and advisory work over the years, including more than 30 years at Harvard Law School , have been at the intersection of law and business. I look forward to sharing my experience in legal education and mentoring younger faculty at SMU in building a fine law school in Asia . I know that Professor Furmston will provide excellent leadership for the school.”

Said Professor Michael P. Furmston, Dean of the School of Law , SMU: “It is a privilege to be appointed the Dean of the new law school at SMU. Singapore has always produced fine lawyers and legal talents from my many years of interaction with and training of graduate and undergraduate students both at Oxford and Bristol. I am confident that with a second law school at SMU, we will be able to groom and nurture a new generation of young lawyers with a solid foundation in legal principles, an aptitude in understanding the business world while embodying strong values of ethics and social consciousness.”

Professor Furmston takes up his duties as Dean of the School of Law with immediate effect.