Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP

Head, Corporate Commercial Head, Employment & Benefits (Non-contentious)

Desmond heads the Corporate Commercial practice and the non-contentious side of the Employment & Benefits practice of Rajah & Tann Singapore.

With more than two decades of legal experience, Desmond has substantial expertise in general corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructurings. His areas of specialisation include corporate structuring, mergers and acquisitions, general corporate and commercial advisory law and Foreign Direct Investments into ASEAN and Asia. He regularly acts for both publicly-listed and private companies in a wide range of transactions, including acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures, as well as their other corporate transactions and compliance obligations.

Desmond is also the head of the non-contentious practice in the firm’s Employment and Benefits Practice Group, which has one of the largest team of lawyers in Singapore within a specialised practice grouping arrangement. The Practice is consistently ranked as a top-tier practice by leading legal publications such as The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

Highly regarded for his strong expertise in the labour and employment field, Desmond has been recognised as a Global Leader by Who’s Who Legal 2022, a Notable Practitioner by Chambers Asia Pacific 2023, a Leading Individual by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023, and a Leading Lawyer in Doyle’s Guide 2021.

Lauded to be “very practical and clear, explaining how best to approach an issue, with guidance on dos and don’ts”, another client also commends Desmond for being “one of the best employment practitioners we have dealt with and a consistent go-to person for employment matters. He is able to give us clear, quick and practical advice and does not overcomplicate matters”.

Desmond’s specific experience in this area include advising on structuring of employment terms, crafting of employment policies and guidelines, restructuring and retrenchment advice, advising on employee compensation/performance plans and other forms of executive compensation, advising on labour issues arising from mergers and acquisitions, statutory and compliance requirements; amongst others.

Member, Singapore Academy of Law Member, Law Society of Singapore Barrister-at-law, The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple Member, The Bar Council of England and Wales Independent Director, Popular Holdings Limited (Chairman of Remuneration Committee, Member of Audit Committee and Nominating Committee until the company was delisted from the Singapore Exchange in May 2015. Subsequent to its delisting, Desmond continues to be an Independent Director of the company as well as its Non-Executive Chairman) Independent Director, First Sponsor Group Limited