What exactly do private client lawyers do, and when would the average person need one? We hear from five lawyers about some of their most interesting and varied legal cases. From adoption in Singapore, to self defence, international child custody, insurance misrepresentation and protecting a client’s will.
5 real-life legal cases of private client lawyers
#1 Adoption in Singapore
Not all stories from our private client lawyers are litigious. Once upon a time, a man and a woman met, fell in love, and got married. They wanted desperately to have a family. However, as the years went by and after visiting various doctors, they realised that they could not have children. They were disappointed and sad.
One day, they stumbled upon an adoption agency and found that they could help a child that had been unwanted and complete their family. They visited an orphanage and met a beautiful baby girl. The three of them clicked instantly and the couple knew at that very moment that the baby girl was their “missing” daughter. They got in touch with me as I’d previously represented them in litigation cases and asked for help with the process of adoption in Singapore.
As a litigator who has been involved in numerous trials, I have to say that none of these cases have been as rewarding and fulfilling to me as this one. Nothing beats helping an unwanted child find a home and loving family. I’m happy to report that this family of three lived happily ever after.
Nicholas Yong, Director
nicholas.yong@fortislaw.com.sg
#2 International child custody
As a family lawyer, I deal closely with some of the most intimate areas of my clients’ lives. Clients often come to rely on us not only as trusted advisors but also confidantes. I consider it a passion and a privilege to deal with such important areas of my clients’ lives.
One of my most memorable legal cases involved a husband who fled his home country of Hong Kong with his daughter, intending to deprive his wife from custody of the child. The father was transiting through Singapore to his final destination, and the wife contacted me for help to prevent him from leaving Singapore with their daughter. I obtained a court order on the same day preventing him from leaving Singapore and worked with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to execute this.
Eventually, mother and child were safely returned to Hong Kong for a fair and final adjudication of the conflict. It was especially heart-warming when my client updated me with photographs of her daughter back home and doing well.
Ho Chee Jia, Associate Director
cheejia.ho@fortislaw.com.sg
#3 Insurance misrepresentation
I acted for a client who assumed that he had bought a 19-year policy for the sum of $3 million with an annual premium of $17,670 when actually he had bought a $1 million policy for that same premium. The client’s agent had misrepresented to the client that he was buying a $3 million policy. The agent was employed by one of the leading banks in Singapore and represented the insurer in respect of this policy.
When we first issued the Letter of Demand against the bank and the insurer, they plainly denied all liability for the actions of the agent. We then advised our client to commence action in the court. Once the proceedings were initiated, the bank and the insurer immediately made an offer of amicable resolution to the client, which the client was happy to accept.
Rapinder Kaur, Associate Director
rapinder@fortislaw.com.sg
#4 Self Defence
One of my most memorable legal cases was a criminal case where I acted for a client who’d been involved in a fight. He was charged with criminal intimidation for the manner in which he’d scared off the other individual who had actually started the fight.
After I made earnest representations to the prosecution about self defence, the charge was reduced to one of harassment. The client got off with a fine and no criminal record, since some crimes are registrable while others are not. I am always honoured to defend your liberty and rights in a compassionate and empathetic manner.
Andrew Wong, Senior Associate
andrew.wong@fortislaw.com.sg
#5 Protecting a client’s will
I represented the executrix of the deceasedʼs estate. The deceased was a divorcee with two children below 21 years of age. In the divorce proceedings, he agreed to give the matrimonial property to the ex-wife as she was going to have care and control of the children, and he also agreed to a generous amount of maintenance to each child monthly.
After the divorce, he made an interim will in which he did not make any gifts to their children as he was concerned that if he passed on before they turned 21, his ex-wife may “misuse” the children’s share of his estate. Unfortunately, he later passed away unexpectedly without the chance to make a new will to make provision for the children.
His ex-wife came to know about the contents of the will and made an application for maintenance to be paid out of the estate to the children. However, the court held that no maintenance can be paid out of the deceased’s estate as the estate was not an income-generating estate. It was important to me to defend the dying wishes of the testator.
Eunice Chua, Associate Director
eunice.chua@fortislaw.com.sg
Got a legal issue that you need help resolving? Reach out to the lawyers at Fortis Law Corporation for an initial consultation.
#23-92 The Central Office Tower 1, 8 Eu Tong Sen Street
6535 8100 | fortislaw.com.sg
Liked this article about real legal cases of private client lawyers and how they help clients with self defence, adoption in Singapore and more? Why not read more interesting stories in our Living in Singapore section?
This article first appeared in the June 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy! To make the most of living in Singapore, read our latest City Guide here for free!
