SMU Lexicon: Grab-Uber merger: observations and implications for Singapore’s competition regime

Reading Time: 22 minutesI. Introduction For months on end in 2018, consumers were enthralled by the long and sustained competition between Uber and Grab – two ride-hailing giants that have been spearheading paradigm changes in the commerce landscape, massively disrupting the transport industry in the process. More importantly, consumers were benefitting heavily from the price war as both […]

SMU Lexicon: Amicus Briefs in the WTO: An Uneasy Compromise

Reading Time: 16 minutesI. Introduction An amicus curiae means a “friend of the court” who, though not a party to a lawsuit, provides the court with information or a brief because of his strong interest in the dispute.[1] Since the Appellate Body (“AB”) of the World Trade Organisation (“WTO”) decided that panels may accept amicus curiae briefs in […]

Feature: Titus Rahiri, Founder of KorumLegal shares the importance for tech startups to always keep customers in mind at every step of the journey

Reading Time: 7 minutesSingapore’s legal industry is picking up speed for technology adoption, and now is the opportune time for LegalTech start-ups. Just a few months back in June 2019, the Singapore Academy of Law launched the Global Legal Innovation and Digital Entrepreneurship (GLIDE) accelerator programme, which is Asia’s first accelerator programme for LegalTech start-ups. At the recent […]

SMU Lexicon: Sentencing Approach for Workplace Safety Breaches: Nurun Novi Saydur Rahman v Public Prosecutor [2019] 3 SLR 413

Reading Time: 9 minutesI. Introduction The recent case of Nurun Novi Saydur Rahman v Public Prosecutor[1] was the first time an offence under s 15(3A) of the Workplace Safety and Health Act (“WSHA”) had been brought before the Singapore High Court.[2] Section 15(3A) states that any person who conducts a negligent act, without reasonable cause, that endangers the safety […]

SoSmall Series: Make your SoSmall online presence a big deal

Reading Time: 3 minutesSoSmall Series: This series focuses to cover various technology topics for championing solo, small businesses and professionals in the legal industry. An online presence today is considered essential for marketing any business. Your website may be one of the first points of contact with your client. This becomes even more critical if you are a […]

Lijun Chui, Counsel with Clifford Chance Asia and one of Singapore’s most influential lawyers in 2018 shares how technology improves the productivity of law firms

Reading Time: 5 minutesIn March 2017, the Law Society of Singapore launched the SmartLaw Recognition Scheme which recognises the efforts of local law practices that adopt technology to enhance their productivity and business capabilities. Since its inception, more than 50 firms have earned the recognition as a SmartLaw legal practice. At the TechLaw.Fest 2019, we had a chance […]

SMU Lexicon: The validity of “No Oral Modification” clauses and the UKSC decision in Rock Advertising Limited v MWB Business Exchange Centres Limited [2018] UKSC 24

Reading Time: 10 minutes      I. Introduction The recent UK Supreme Court’s (“UKSC”) decision in Rock Advertising Limited v MWB Business Exchange Centres Limited was highly anticipated. Modern litigation rarely raises new fundamental issues in the law of contract; this case, however, dealt with two.[1] Moreover, the preceding Court of Appeal (“COA”) judgement had left the law relating […]

Lawyer Feature: Ken Chia, Associate Principal of Baker McKenzie shares the importance of leveraging technology to lawyer better.

Reading Time: 5 minutesTechnology is ubiquitous in our everyday lives, and it is certainly gaining its foothold in the legal industry. Extensive efforts by the Singapore Academy of Law and the Ministry of Law to promote the adoption of legal technology, such as the publication of the Legal Technology Vision in 2018 and the recent TechLaw.Fest, are showing […]

SMU Lexicon: Case Commentary of Ochroid Trading v Chua Siok Lui

Reading Time: 14 minutesIntroduction Where a contract is illegal, the contract is void and the courts will not enforce the contract.[1] Despite the simplicity of the foregoing logic, the concept of illegality in contract law – often used as a defence mechanism in lawsuits – has long vexed students and practitioners alike. As Lady Justice Gloster in Patel v […]

Vietnam Tax Update: New Law on Tax Administration – Key Takeaways

Reading Time: 6 minutesThe new Law on Tax Administration No. 38/2019/QH14 (“LTA” or “new Law”) was passed by the National Assembly in June 2019 will become effective from 1 July 2020. New provisions relating to electronic invoices and electronic documents take effect from 1 July 2022. We summarize below some of the salient features of the new Law. […]

SoSmall Series: Beware of Contracts Bought Online

Reading Time: 3 minutesSoSmall Series: This series focuses to cover various technology topics for championing solo, small businesses and professionals in the legal industry. I am meeting more and more technology companies which have one objective: replace the lawyer! I am generally wary of technology companies that tell me their end goal is to replace a lawyer. Unlike […]

SMU Lexicon: Ah Boys to Men: Training Deaths and Accountability

Reading Time: 14 minutesI.              Introduction Croesus might have been mistaken when he commented that “in peace, sons bury fathers, but in war fathers bury sons”.[1] Training accidents do occur, and soldiers pay the ultimate price. On 18th April 2018, Corporal (“CPL”) Dave Lee, a full-time National Serviceman (“NSF”), succumbed to heat injury following his fast march.[2] Since then, […]