Singapore MinLaw Renews Licenses Of 9 Foreign Law Firms

Foreign Law Firms

Singapore Ministry of Law Renewed QFLP Licenses of Nine Foreign Law Firms

The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) has renewed the Qualifying Foreign Law Practice (QFLP) licences of all the nine firms in Singapore participating in the program. The foreign law firms are:

Qualifying Foreign Law Practice Program

Introduced in 2008, the QFLP scheme (FAQs) seeks to support the growth of key economic sectors in Singapore, grow the legal sector and offer additional opportunities for Singapore lawyers, through allowing Foreign Law Practices (FLPs) with QFLP licences to practise in permitted areas of Singapore law (all areas except domestic areas of litigation and general practice).

The QFLPs have contributed strongly to the growth of Singapore’s legal sector. having generated more than S$3.07 billion in offshore revenue since 2013. The QFLPs also currently employ about 190 Singapore qualified lawyers in their Singapore office.

QFLP License Renewal process

In determining the renewal of the licence and the tenure of the licence, MinLaw took into account each firm’s quantitative and qualitative performance during the licence period relative to its earlier commitments, as well as the firm’s contributions to Singapore. In addition, MinLaw considered the firm’s proposal for the new licence period in the following areas:

  • The value of work that the firm’s Singapore office will generate;
  • The number of lawyers who will be based in the firm’s Singapore office;
  • The firm’s plans to expand current practice areas and establish new practice areas through its Singapore office;
  • The level of training and career opportunities offered to Singapore lawyers; and
  • The extent to which the Singapore office will conduct the firm’s leadership functions in the region and beyond.

Source: Singapore Ministry of Law