About

Derek Goh joined Singapore-listed property and development company GuocoLand as general counsel in August 2014, leading a team of 13 lawyers across Singapore, China and Malaysia. Since joining the company he has been involved in a number of initiatives to transform the legal function. These include setting up a compliance function, standardising contract templates in each of the countries the company has a presence in, and developing an “eLegal” portal to digitally store contract templates, precedents and scanned copies of signed contracts. A litigation lawyer by training, Goh made the transition to an in-house role after several years in private practice. He assumed the position as general counsel and company secretary for Singapore-based Hai Sun Hup Group. When the company was demerged into two listed entities – Stamford Land Corporation and Singapore Shipping Corporation – Goh demonstrated his professional fluidity by continuing to serve as general counsel and company secretary for both companies. He later joined General Electric as senior counsel for Asia Pacific before moving to GuocoLand, an investment holding company with a diversified portfolio. Following his long and distinguished career in-house, Goh has the following advice for aspiring lawyers: ‘Understand the business and establish a good rapport with colleagues – two factors which are critical in order for an in-house counsel or GC to be successful’.