Patrick Ang, a leading insolvency lawyer in Asia and the former managing partner of Singapore firm Rajah & Tann, has passed away at the age of 61.  

Rajah & Tann expressed its “profound sadness” at Ang’s passing, calling him “not only a towering figure in the legal community, but also the heart of our firm”.

It added: “Those who knew Patrick will remember his sharp intellect, quiet strength and genuine warmth. He led not just with strategy, but with a caring heart.”

The firm said that over 30 years Ang had influenced the legal landscape in Singapore and the region and shaped the firm’s culture and values.

His expertise in corporate restructuring, insolvency and integrity made him a respected leader and mentor. Clients saw him as a trusted advisor who genuinely cared about their business and success, including in high-profile collapses like Lehman Brothers, Rajah & Tann said. 

Ang was also the only Singaporean and the fourth Asian to be inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy.

Ang served as managing partner of Rajah & Tann from 2019 to March 2025, succeeding Lee Eng Beng SC. Under his leadership the firm embarked on a regional expansion drive under Rajah & Tann Asia, a network of law firms spanning Southeast Asia. 

The firm said Ang had fostered “a culture of innovation and transformation, sharpening the firm’s operations and helping businesses adapt to an increasingly digital and data-driven economy.”

It added: “Patrick was committed to mentorship and believed in lifting others as he rose. He guided and inspired generations of young lawyers, many of whom now hold leadership roles within the firm.”

Ang’s work extended to supporting the Singapore Academy of Law’s Guide to oral advocacy for junior commercial litigators, outlining key milestones for junior lawyers to work towards in their early years of practice, which was well received.

Rajah & Tann noted Ang’s influence extended beyond the firm, especially during the pandemic, when he played a key role in shaping Singapore’s legislative response. In recognition of his efforts, Singapore’s prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, awarded Ang the Public Service Star (Covid-19).

Ng Kim Beng, Ang’s successor as managing partner, said the firm had lost “a celebrated lawyer, a selfless leader, and most of all, a cherished and deeply loved friend and colleague”.

The Law Society of Singapore noted Ang’s “grace, integrity and kindness”, adding Ang’s passing was a profound loss to the legal profession.

Ang served the Law Society for many years as a council member, as a member of the audit committee from 2016 until his passing, and on other committees including insolvency, inquiries and practice management.

The Minister of Law, Edwin Tong SC, called Ang a “formidable legal mind” in a tribute on LinkedIn.

“We often found ourselves on opposite sides of the table in complex restructuring matters” said Tong, who succeeded long-term incumbent K Shanmugan SC after Singapore’s general election last month.

Tong expressed respect for Ang: “Patrick had a remarkable way of thinking several steps ahead – calm, strategic, incisive. He approached even the most difficult negotiations with integrity and grace and never stole a march with an unfair point.”

Ang is survived by his wife, Marina Chin SC, the joint managing partner at Tan Kok Quan Partnership, and his three daughters.