Conyers Dill and Pearman (CD&P) continue to cast their legal net far and wide and have added a Singapore base to their growing contingent of international offices.

CD&P partner John Collis (pictured bottom right) was joined by the head of the new Asian office, Tan Woon Tiang, (pictured right) to announce the new venture last week.

Mr. Collis highlighted the importance of Singapore as one of the premier Asian Financial Centres and said a steady influx of financial industries and services was adding to their global significance.

Mr. Collis said: "Conyers Dill & Pearman continues to see significant business from the Far East. We have been servicing this market from our Hong Kong office since September 1985.

"The Singapore branch will relieve the Hong Kong office allowing them to expand whilst providing clients and prospects with a further point of contact offering more choice and ease of doing business."

Mr. Woon Tiang said: "CD&P is recognised as being synonymous with many of the good features of Bermuda. It is a solid and established firm with a strong reputation acknowledged for its professionalism, responsiveness and proficiency.

"These are attributes that clients look for when seeking both an offshore jurisdiction and their legal partners.

"I am proud and excited to be involved with such a firm and vicariously with the Island of Bermuda. CD&P have always provided experience and technical ability and I am pleased to be able to say that my team in Singapore will be able to maintain the same high standards."

Mr. Collis said of the Singapore branch: "This office has an impressive depth of experience and range of talent. They will be interacting with the highest level of decision makers in the Asian business world and advising them on the Bermuda jurisdiction.

"This will bring quality business to the Island, which will result in a spin off business for many of Bermuda's professional services firms."

The new Singapore office will be connected to the company's resources from all over the world in an effort to keep abreast of international trends and Mr. Woon Tiang commented: "One area that is hot is technology and e-commerce in spite of the slight downturn in that section. Lots of businesses are starting as well as growing in that area and we see that as a key aspect of business that we can get into."

When asked how the failing economy would affect the law firm, Mr. Collis said that a booming economy was always a good thing for financial services, but law firms don't necessarily correlate with moves in industrial economics.

Mr. Collis said CD&P were proven leaders in the field of internationalisation and it has been two decades since their first overseas office was opened.

Singapore is the seventh overseas office to be opened and the firm now employs over 430 staff who serve clients from Bermuda, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Honk Kong and London.

Mr. Collis said CD&P will be competing in the financial services industry and the Singapore office will help keep Bermuda at the forefront of this increasingly competitive market.

The new office is the only Singapore office of a Bermuda based law firm and will advise clients and prospects on Bermuda law.

With more than 15 years experience, Mr. Woon Tiang started his legal career with Arthur Loke & Partners, then the local associates of Baker & McKenzie.

Specialising in corporate finance, he became a partner in the corporate department of Khattar Wong & Partners in 1992, one of the largest law firms in Singapore.

He then became the senior partner of the highly specialised Tan & Tan in 1996, and following a merger became one of the founding partners of Tan Kok Quan Partnership.

Mr. Woon Tiang will be complimented at the Singapore office by an extremely experienced team including Rosemarie Chen, formerly the head of CD&P's Hong Kong office.

Ms Chen, who was called to the Bar in England and Wales in 1983 and to the Bermuda Bar in 1992, brings with her a vast knowledge of the Asian market, particularly in the fields of corporate and commercial law.

Christina Loh, an attorney experienced in a wide range of corporate finance work and general corporate and commercial matters, will also operate out of the Singapore office.

Mr. Woon Tiang has spent the last month in Bermuda with CD&P getting further acquainted with the firm and its personnel.

CDill & P was established in Bermuda in 1928 and the new office will be located at 50 Raffles Place, Number 18-04 Singapore Land Tower, Singapore.