Most Recent Articles
SMU Lexicon: A Non-parent’s Maintenance Obligation
Reading Time: 7 minutesIntroduction Imagine you marry someone with a child from a prior relationship. Initially, you do not mind caring for this child. Then, your marriage sours and you no longer want anything to do with your spouse or the child. However, can your initial conduct of caring for the child unknowingly saddle you with a legal […]
SMU Lexicon: Reversing a Bankrupt’s Transfer
Reading Time: 8 minutesIntroduction Let’s say you are an investor. You enter a joint investment with a friend and lend him $100,000. Sadly, the joint venture fails, and to make matters worse, your friend has gone bankrupt and transferred half of your money to his wife. Can you get your money back? Unfortunately, once he is declared bankrupt, […]
SMU Lexicon: Shareholders vs Mismanagement by Directors – The power of a Statutory Derivative Action
Reading Time: 7 minutesIntroduction Let’s say you are a minority shareholder. The company is not doing well, and you believe the company’s directors have committed financial mismanagement, or maybe committed fraud. To make matters worse, the other majority shareholders are in cahoots with these directors, so your concerns are dismissed quickly at every meeting. Usually, a company would […]
SMU Lexicon: Love gone cold – What does it mean for a marriage to be voidable and When does it happen?
Reading Time: 7 minutesIntroduction “Newly-wed man lied to court about not sleeping with wife to save money on divorce proceedings” – this was the headline of a local news article where a man, Daryl, claimed that his marriage was voidable and should be annulled since his wife refused to consummate it.[1] One who is unaware of the law […]
SMU Lexicon: Consent and Personal Data – Charting the Differences between the PDPA and GDPR
Reading Time: 10 minutesIntroduction Over the past few years, techniques to refine and process data have been developed and honed. Whether it is developments in machine learning or the internet-of-things, the invention of these technologies has made data a valuable and strategic commodity.[1] Given the importance and value of data to commercial operations, this has led to the […]
SMU Lexicon: Breaking the Cycle of At-Risk Behaviour in Youths – Singapore’s 2020 Family Guidance Order
Reading Time: 12 minutesIntroduction It is no secret that children and youths are often rowdy and mischievous. The real problem arises when mischief turns into criminal activity. Faced with extreme troublemakers who may have stepped foot into illegality, what can parents do? Children and young persons (“CYPs”) who engage in behaviour that puts them at risk of committing […]
The Evolution of Banks in Singapore: Things you need to know about the Regulation of Digital Banks
Reading Time: 12 minutesOn 28 June 2019, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS“) announced that it will issue up to five digital banking licenses[1]. This was a revolutionary move by the MAS as digital bank licenses were extended to non-bank players and allowed banks to operate in Singapore with minimal physical presence. The MAS recognises that the banking […]
Fintech today – A look at Fintech regulatory environment, and what you need to know
Reading Time: 8 minutesAmidst a worldwide pandemic that most of the global population had never experienced before, we are living through a period of significant change. We have had to adapt to a life of remote interaction, transacting with parties from the comfort of our own homes, and trusting our payments and information to the vast and limitless […]
Workplace anti-discrimination guidelines to be legislated in Singapore
Reading Time: 5 minutesIn the August 2021 National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stated that Singapore would be taking steps to enshrine into law the current workplace anti-discrimination guidelines. To date, there are only guidelines regarding fair treatment in the workplace by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP). Singapore does not currently […]
SMU Lexicon: Benefits of the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2020 to the Consumer
Reading Time: 5 minutesIntroduction This article explains how the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2020[1] (the “Amendment”) benefits the user in three areas: customer experience, safeguards, and transparency. Firstly, the Amendment improves the customer experience in two ways: (1) deemed consent by contractual necessity eliminates the hassle of clicking multiple checkboxes to express the user’s consent to the […]
SMU Lexicon: Fair Enough? An Examination of Existing Legal Limits on Prosecutorial Discretion
Reading Time: 7 minutesIntroduction The story of Ms Parti Liyani is one of a harrowing journey through the criminal justice system, resulting in eventual victory, but at great cost. In March 2019, Ms Liyani stood trial for four theft-related charges and was found guilty of all four charges. On appeal, it was found that the Prosecution had led […]
When A Home Is Not A Home
Reading Time: 9 minutesThe matrimonial home occupies a very special place in the family. During the marriage, it is the cradle of the family. It is where the family starts its day, and where it ends its day. It is where the family breaks bread, and it is where bonds are made. Accordingly, the matrimonial home also occupies […]
Personal
SMU Lexicon: A Non-parent’s Maintenance Obligation
Reading Time: 7 minutesIntroduction Imagine you marry someone with a child from a prior relationship. Initially, you do not mind caring for this child. Then, your marriage sours and you no longer want anything to do with your spouse or the child. However, can your initial conduct of caring for the child unknowingly saddle you with a legal […]
Business
SMU Lexicon: Reversing a Bankrupt’s Transfer
Reading Time: 8 minutesIntroduction Let’s say you are an investor. You enter a joint investment with a friend and lend him $100,000. Sadly, the joint venture fails, and to make matters worse, your friend has gone bankrupt and transferred half of your money to his wife. Can you get your money back? Unfortunately, once he is declared bankrupt, […]
Most Common and Confusing Legal Words (Legalese) Explained Simply 
Pornography: How Legal is it in Singapore? 
“Traditional” vs. “Design and Build” Contracts: What’s the Difference? 
A Summary of “The Rule Of Law” by Tom Bingham: Part 1 
Workplace anti-discrimination guidelines to be legislated in Singapore 
What’s the difference between advocates, solicitors, barristers, counsels, notaries, lawyers and att... 
What constitutes acceptance of a contract? 
Media Law 101: Do you need permission to take photos? 
A Summary of “The Rule Of Law” by Tom Bingham: Part 2 
Breaking your rental lease early in Singapore
