PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in Singa

PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in Singapore
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s sister-in-law, Mrs Lee Suet Fern, has criticised a scheme mooted by the government to open up the legal sector in Singapore to foreign firms.

Mrs Lee, who’s , managing partner of Morgan Lewis Stamford and the wife of Lee Hsien Yang, said that the scheme hasn’t done enough to benefit local lawyers.

Speaking at a Law Society lecture last month, she cited the Qualifying Foreign Law Practice (QFLP) scheme, which allows foreign law firms to practise in permitted areas of local law through Singapore qualified lawyers.

Mrs Lee said that the six original QFLP firms generated S$1.2 billion in revenue between 2009 and 2014.

However, those firms only hired about “100 out of thousands of Singapore-qualified lawyers,” said Mrs Lee, who added that the foreign law firms are giving local law firms a run for their money.

The Law Ministry has refuted Mrs Lee’s comments.

It said that the scheme opened up new opportunities for Singaporean lawyers who were keen to do transnational commercial work

MinLaw also said that opening up the legal sector to foreign law firms also allowed local lawyers to gain exposure to niche areas not previously easily available and gave opportunities to young local lawyers.

The ministry added that for 2014/2015, the nine foreign firms granted QFLP status generated S$340 million in revenue.

Of this, 80 percent came from offshore work, or work that could have been done elsewhere.

Exports of legal services in 2014, it said, were worth S$700 million, and out of this $400 million was contributed by foreign law firms.

In response to this, Mrs Lee said:

“Singapore lawyers need to go regional, with or without QFLPs. And there are many opportunities for Singapore lawyers to tap overseas opportunities, as more local and international firms tie up. This calls for a mindset change. Singapore lawyers need to leave their comfort zone and think regional, think international and venture beyond the shores of Singapore.”

MinLaw also pointed out that Mrs Lee had previously sought to join the scheme in 2014, but her proposal was rejected as the ministry “had specific periods when it invited applications from everyone, then considered the best applicants”.

Mrs Lee’s criticism comes on the back of a family feud involving the Lee family which has gained global attention.

In that feud, PM Lee’s sister, Lee Wei Ling, accused her brother sullying her father Lee Kuan Yew’s name in his attempts to build a dynasty.

source：http://redwiretimes.com/singapore-i...ws-foreign-law-firms-to-operate-in-singapore/

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

Something is not right in the FamiLee. He will rise from his ashes if it gets worse.

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

Ministry of Law: Lee Hsien Loong’s sister-in-law is flip-flopping

By admin -
April 15, 2016


Photo of Lee Hsien Loong and Lee Suet Fern from Todayonline


In what seems like another Lee family’s spate aired public, the Ministry of Law hit out at the Prime Minister’s sister-in-law for criticising the government scheme Qualifying Foreign Law Practice (QDLP). Delivering a lecture at organised by the Law Society, the wife of Lee Hsien Long’s younger brother (Lee Hsien Yang), Lee Suet Fern, criticised the Singapore government for allowing foreign law firms to operate in Singapore and taking away the business of local law firms.
Lee Suet Fern said foreign law firms are not developing enough local talents and yet making profits that would have otherwise went to local law firms:

“The six original QFLP firms, despite generating $1.2 billion in revenue between 2009 and 2014, had hired only about 100 out of thousands of Singapore-qualified lawyers. Foreign law firms had given local ones a run for their money.”
The Ministry of Law took offense with Lee Suet Fern’s comments and rebutted that the government scheme opened up new opportunities for Singaporean lawyers who were keen to do transnational commercial work. The Law Ministry also defended the foreign law firms saying that most of their businesses are generated from overseas, which the ministry reasoned would not have been brought in by local law firms for unknown reasons:

“For 2014/2015, the nine foreign firms granted QFLP status generated $340 million in revenue, with 80 per cent coming from offshore work, or work that could have been done elsewhere. Exports of legal services in 2014 were worth $700 million – $400 million contributed by foreign law firms.”

The Law Ministry also hit out at Lee Suet Fern saying that she flipped-flopped on her position on the government scheme:
“Mrs Lee’s arguments appeared at odds with her previous positions, the ministry disclosed that she had sought to join the scheme in 2014.”

Earlier last week, Lee Hsien Loong and his wife openly criticised his sister Lee Wei Ling for spreading falsehoods. Lee Wei Ling hit back at Lee Hsien Loong calling him out for establishing a dynasty while Lee Hsien Loong’s wife posted a photo of a monkey pointing it’s middle finger on Facebook as a response.

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

samstom said:

MinLaw also pointed out that Mrs Lee had previously sought to join the scheme in 2014, but her proposal was rejected as the ministry “had specific periods when it invited applications from everyone, then considered the best applicants”.

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So she sought to join the scheme was rejected and now she is against it. Sounds perfectly logical.

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

Lee Suet Fern has more brains and looks than the original Lees.

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

samstom said:

......However, those firms only hired about “100 out of thousands of Singapore-qualified lawyers,” said Mrs Lee, who added that the foreign law firms are giving local law firms a run for their money.
source：http://redwiretimes.com/singapore-i...ws-foreign-law-firms-to-operate-in-singapore/

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Welcome to the rest of us....

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

jw5 said:

So she sought to join the scheme was rejected and now she is against it. Sounds perfectly logical.

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She is perfectly natural than Chan Chun Sing.

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

myfoot123 said:

She is perfectly natural than Chan Chun Sing.

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Anyone is more perfectly natural than Keechiu Chan. His gratefulness is extremely unnatural.

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

Lee vs Lee. The bout of the decade! Stay tuned.

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

whole familee pls just go and diu lei lou mou ham ka chan.

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

garlic said:

Welcome to the rest of us....

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according to what I've heard from friends in the industry, local lawyers were already wary when the FT lawyer scheme was introduced. But most kept quiet because the economy was thriving and there was still enough for everyone.

Now that the market is starting to dwindle, and only the big boys get the first pickings, the rest will have to fight over scraps.

So right. Welcome to our world

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

if only old fart is still around, this'd not have happened. those from ministry of law ought to be executed by firing squad. i support lee suet fern, i still think she is a babe at her age.:o

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

I am shocked at the level of xenophobia exhibited by our best and brightest in the private sector. We are a meritocratic society built on the principles of meritocracy. This unbecoming sense of entitlement cannot be allowed to infect other sectors of the economy. It is no longer a familee matter now. Loong must publicly address this.

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

why the law society kept quiet about it?

Lawyers are supposed to lend their professional advice to people with issue like CPF@55 and none speak up for the mass.

Serve them right and this give them a taste of their own medicine.

mojito said:

I am shocked at the level of xenophobia exhibited by our best and brightest in the private sector. We are a meritocratic society built on the principles of meritocracy. This unbecoming sense of entitlement cannot be allowed to infect other sectors of the economy. It is no longer a familee matter now. Loong must publicly address this.

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Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

Dont understand,instead of expanding the industry why are we stifling growth and keeping it at only 1.2 billion to be only enjoyed by a select few?dont they understand our policy of growth at all cost and any human talent are disposable and can be easily imported.I dont see why lawyers in singapore get to have their pie and eat it,if I wish to own a conglomerate with thousands of foreign talent especially shitskin lawyers thats my prerogative.

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

I think this is good. In the sense that it's finally reaching the protected job classes.

Previously it possibly affected only the financial/blue collar/middle management sector and since the lawyers didn't get affected they probably didn't give a shit. Well it's spreading to you now. Sinkie lawyers better buck up their lawyering skills after all hey it's a free market. If you're a fucked up lawyer don't expect to get work.

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

glockman said:

Lee vs Lee. The bout of the decade! Stay tuned.

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This will be the most exciting bout since Kramer vs Kramer.

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

Rogue Trader said:

according to what I've heard from friends in the industry, local lawyers were already wary when the FT lawyer scheme was introduced. But most kept quiet because the economy was thriving and there was still enough for everyone.

Now that the market is starting to dwindle, and only the big boys get the first pickings, the rest will have to fight over scraps.

So right. Welcome to our world

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This is what happened when they opened up the wrong door to fatten the coffer...Huat Ah Pappy.

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

Jah_rastafar_I said:

I think this is good. In the sense that it's finally reaching the protected job classes.

Previously it possibly affected only the financial/blue collar/middle management sector and since the lawyers didn't get affected they probably didn't give a shit. Well it's spreading to you now. Sinkie lawyers better buck up their lawyering skills after all hey it's a free market. If you're a fucked up lawyer don't expect to get work.

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How about taxi drivers? Shouldn't we open up the taxi driver market to foreigners based on the principle of meritocracy? The second requirement as listed on LTA's web page is fucking discriminatory.

https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaw...taxi-drivers/driving-a-taxi-in-singapore.html

I think it's time for PAP to screw those proud sinkie taxi drivers.

Re: PM Lee’s Sister-in-Law Slams Scheme that Allows Foreign Law Firms to Operate in S

kryonlight said:

How about taxi drivers? Shouldn't we open up the taxi driver market to foreigners based on the principle of meritocracy? The second requirement as listed on LTA's web page is fucking discriminatory.

https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaw...taxi-drivers/driving-a-taxi-in-singapore.html

I think it's time for PAP to screw those proud sinkie taxi drivers.

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Theres no need to open up taxi driver industry.taxi driver industry is already the dumping ground for failures from all walks of life,from ex military to pmets and finance sector and mostly engineers.its the place where sinkies go to die.its the final safety net for sinkies to guard against unemployment and hopelessness and possibly suicide.