Adrian Tan, ‘King of Singapore’ and author of op-eds on raising cats in public housing, dies aged 57
19 July 2023
“Adrian was a wonderful colleague, a nurturing mentor and a loyal friend. He joined our firm’s dispute resolution practice as a partner in 2018 where he spearheaded our technology and intellectual property cases,” the firm said in a statement. He was elected the president of the Law Society of Singapore in 2022.
Tan was a sought-after senior litigator specializing in court disputes, with cases spanning the areas of intellectual property, confidential data misuse, shareholder oppression and class actions, among others. His computer science degree also made him one of the rare few technology lawyers with an academic foundation in IT.
Of his many notable cases, Tan’s Thomson View and Gilstead Court cases, where he acted as counsel and successfully resisted en bloc applications by exposing unfair or bad faith practices, have become landmark decisions in the fast-developing area of collective sales litigation. He was recognized by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2023 as a Litigation Star (Commercial and Transactions). He was a mentor to countless young lawyers, and his guidance and support helped shape the careers of many of the next generation’s most successful lawyers.
As president of the Law Society of Singapore, Tan played an instrumental role in advocating for the interests of lawyers in Singapore. Tan worked tirelessly to promote greater access for all members of society and was a strong proponent of continuing legal education and professional development for lawyers.
Throughout his illustrious 31-year career, Tan made significant contributions to the legal industry, leaving an indelible mark on all those who had worked with him. Tan was recognized among professionals for his writing, which has appeared in various media, ranging from local mainstream media and legal publications to international news outlets.
Tan famously referred to himself as “King of Singapore” on LinkedIn and was known for his op-eds on law and current affairs, discussing topics such as raising cats as pets in Singapore public housing estates, which amassed millions of views. Tan believed that lawyers had a duty to demystify the law for the public, and he had an uncanny ability to simplify and explain the logic behind contentious points of law. This made him one of Singapore’s most influential lawyers with a strong overall media presence, with 39,262 LinkedIn followers. Tan was an award-winning novelist whose works include the best-selling The Teenage Textbook, which has been adapted for stage and screen.
Beyond his contributions to the legal industry, Tan cared deeply about a range of important social issues. He held several appointments, including Director at Arts House Limited and at Maxwell Chambers. He also served as Honorary Legal Counsel at the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped.
Stefanie Yuen Thio, joint managing partner at TSMP Law Corporation, said, “Adrian's passing is a tremendous loss to the legal and wider community and to anyone who had the privilege of knowing him. The legacy that he leaves behind is a testament to his unwavering dedication to the legal profession and his tireless commitment to promoting justice and fairness for all.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to Adrian's wife, Angelina, his family and loved ones during this difficult time. Adrian's memory will live on through the many lives that were touched by his compassion, humour, kindness, and remarkable legal expertise.”
- Asia IP
