Jenny Tsin of Singapore-based law firm WongPartnership said that regulatory changes in recent years, such as the toughening of penalties in the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act in 2012, mean that clients are seeking more in-depth legal advice. She added that employees are also less passive, which has led to more employment-related litigation.

Singapore as HR hub

Ranking guide Chambers’ Asia-Pacific editor Shi-Ning Koay said: ‘We've seen international firms devote resources to building up employment practices, especially because their clients are using Singapore as a hub to coordinate pan-Asia employment and HR issues.’ This has resulted in more foreign employees in senior positions - and when it comes to sacking them, they are less likely to go quietly.

New employment claims tribunal

Ian Lim, head of TSMP Law Corporation's employment and labour practice, says the growth in demand for the practice is likely to be further accelerated by the the new Employment Claims Tribunal, which the Manpower Ministry will set up in the first quarter of next year. The tribunal will ‘heighten the need for employers to have in place soundly drafted and structured employment contracts, handbooks and policies and receive good advice on disputes’, all of which will need employment lawyers. Source: The Straits Times