London-based disputes silk Jern-Fei Ng KC of 7 Bedford Row is relocating to Singapore, where he has been formally admitted to the Bar.

Ng has yet to make a final decision on what Singapore law firm he will join. Last year, Ng joined Temple Chambers in Hong Kong as an arbitrator while maintaining his counsel practice at 7 Bedford Row. His latest move makes him the first London barrister to be associated with Hong Kong and Singapore.

The Malaysia-born barrister is leaving London after more than a quarter of a century, having previously been a member of Essex Court. Ng becomes one of four English silks to be called to the Singapore Bar, though he is the only one who is fluent in English, Chinese, Cantonese and Malay.

Over the past year he has been instructed in $3.5bn-worth of disputes, most of which were for state-owned and private clients in China, Singapore and other parts of Asia.

Ng said: “For me, this relocation to Singapore with my family represents a homecoming to Asia. After living in the UK for the past 25 years, the epicentre of my work as counsel and arbitrator has increasingly gravitated towards Asia.”

He added that he would spend most of his time in Singapore and Hong Kong, being “two jurisdictions I am very proud to be associated with, and which will enable me to be in closer proximity to my work in this region and more widely throughout Asia.”

His strong academic ties to Chinese institutions and serving on HKIAC’s proceedings committee add to his credentials.

Since leaving Essex Court Chambers immediately before China sanctioned that set, Ng has worked with the Singaporean Ministry of Law on the 2022 Singapore Convention Week. He is also a director of Maxwell Chambers, working with the experienced chief executive Ban Jiun Ean, who returned to Maxwell earlier this year after almost seven years.

Ng’s London set will now manage his non-Asian advocacy work, including London litigation, as well as offshore practice in the British Virgin Islands and in the Cayman Islands.

Both offshore jurisdictions are familiar to Asian businesses, while the London link enables him to handle interlocutory matters before the London courts and Privy Council work. 

The Global Legal Post will be publishing a Law Over Borders comparative guide to arbitration. For further details email associate publisher claudiatan@globalcitymedia.com