Private Clients – Family Offices, Trusts and Immigration
Drew & Napier LLC is one of the pioneer Private Client Services practices in Singapore. Whether you need advice on asset protection, wealth succession, business and investments structuring or family governance, our lawyers will deliver tailored solutions to meet your needs.
We advise high-net worth individuals, families and family offices on all aspects of wealth protection and succession and strive to be our clients’ trusted advisors for generations to come. Our clients, many of whom are familiar names ranked within the top 50 on Forbes Richest List, appreciate that we handle their personal affairs with professionalism, objectivity and discretion.
Practice Areas
Family Office Establishment and Investment Management
We are highly experienced in assisting clients (both foreign and domestic) with setting up family offices and obtaining relevant tax incentives.
Tax, Trusts and Estate Planning
An important aspect of succession planning is to determine the best way to distribute wealth from the present generation to subsequent generations. Our lawyers are well equipped in advising clients on the various methods of wealth succession.
Immigration
For clients looking to relocate to Singapore, we frequently advise and assist on related immigration matters such as Singapore Permanent Residency and citizenship applications under the Global Investor Programme or otherwise.
Philanthropy
Philanthropy and charitable giving have increasingly become a part of many high-net-worth families’ core values. We have detailed knowledge on the requirements for establishing, maintaining and managing philanthropic vehicles. Besides regularly helping clients set up philanthropic entities, our lawyers have also served on the board of directors of charitable organisations.
Family Governance
A common form of family governance is the Family Constitution – a formalised framework for family members to make decisions based on the family’s core values and shared vision for the future. Our lawyers have advised many families on the formulation of their family constitutions.
Continuing Legal Support
Drew & Napier is a full-service law firm and we endeavour to be a “one-stop-shop” for our clients. In addition to advising on wealth protection and succession matters, we provide continuing legal support to our family office clients on all legal matters such as acquisition of assets, whether locally and abroad.
Accolades
Chambers High Net Worth
Private Wealth Law 2023 – Leading firm for 8 consecutive years
Family Offices & Funds Structuring 2023 – Leading firm for 2 consecutive years
Leading Individuals
Ong Sim Ho for 3 consecutive years
Julian Kwek (Indonesia, Expertise Based Abroad) for 8 consecutive years
Adept at advising domestic and international high net worth clients and their closely-held businesses on complex wealth planning topics, as well as tax and trust litigation.
"The Drew & Napier team is able to provide holistic support and advice to clients in relation to their family office set-ups, including on any succession planning strategies, corporate and tax issues."
"They possess deep expertise and experience in advising on complex structures for private wealth planning, as well as dealing with sophisticated matters in a pragmatic manner."
"These are some of the smartest people I have ever met - experienced and high IQ," says a source, adding: "They do extensive and thorough research, understand my situation completely, understand the laws applicable to my situation, alert me to the potential pitfalls, and give me sound advice after having discussed with me the possible avenues and potential outcomes."
“Drew & Napier is one of the few firms that is all rounded and possesses the capability and in-depth knowledge to advise on both the corporate side and private wealth planning.”
Another source says their “strengths are that they are knowledgeable about the subject matter and able to share relevant experience when it comes to trust-related matters.”
“They were attentive and always available. They had a high degree of professionalism and knowledge around the issues discussed.”
Clients described the team as “very, very professional in their approach” with “very good, solid reputation" in the local market.
“The service was always excellent,” says one client.
“Very versatile” and “very in-tune with the industry, and with what the clients, banks and trust companies are thinking; you have a melting pot of experience there.”
“They are a good firm, they have a good name, and they can be relied on. They're very dependable.”
“I think the quality is very high; it's excellent. They are very liked by their clients, they're trustworthy and very up to date on what's happening. They understand from the trustees' point of view what they need and what's going on. I also think their regulatory framework is a lot stronger than that of other firms. When there are any changes in rules and regulations, they're first on it too.”
Asia Pacific Legal 500
Private Wealth and Family Law 2024 – Tier 1 for 8 consecutive years
Recommended Individual
Ong Ken Loon for 6 years
Ong Sim Ho for 4 consecutive years
Emma Gan
Next Generation Partner
Seah Ching Ling for 4 consecutive years
“The private wealth team is experienced, responsive and commercial-minded, which is very helpful in today’s world where matters are increasingly getting more complex.”
“Seah Ching Ling is very experienced, commercial-minded and sensitive to client’s requirements in the area of tax and trusts, which is helpful when one has to navigate through concepts and issues which may be complex and confusing at times. She can always be counted on to provide advice that is practical and sensible.”
“Ong Sim Ho has good commercial sense and gives practical advice.”
“Seah Ching Ling is very knowledgeable in her field of work and always willing to go the extra mile. Very responsive and clients can be assured that they are in good hands with her.”
“Ong Sim Ho has a wealth of experience and does his best to be available when we call on him. Seah Ching Ling is able to fully understand our needs and has great attention to detail. She also makes us feel comfortable and reassured. We feel that these qualities are crucial for a family office and trusts lawyer. Emma Gan is a pleasure to work with and always ready to assist with our needs. She is also practical and delivers good solutions.”
“Ong Sim Ho and Seah Ching Ling are technically strong and have good commercial sense. Easy to communicate and work with.”
The team garnered praise for its “excellent response times and great service informed by deep industry knowledge.”
“Sim Ho is able to bring in his legal, finance, risk governance, and accounting perspectives.”
He is “a prominent name in private wealth and asset protection.”
“Ching Ling is very experienced and knowledgeable in the area of trusts, taxation, and charities. She provides very pragmatic advice and does not over-complicate matters.”
“Seah Ching Ling is an emerging talent.”
The Straits Times – Singapore’s Best Law Firms 2024
Leading firm for Inheritance & Succession, Private Wealth Management Law in the survey by Singapore’s largest circulating broadsheet, The Straits Times, and international research company, Statista.
Asian Legal Business
Tax and Trusts Law Firm of the Year 2023
Private Wealth Law Firm of the Year 2021
asialaw Profiles 2023/2024
"Superior staff who provide considered advice and diligent execution."
Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
Private Client 2023 – Highly Recommended; Recommended for 4 consecutive years
Who’s Who Legal
Global Leader
Private Client 2023 – Ong Sim Ho and Seah Ching Ling are Leading individuals
National Leader
Southeast Asia: Private Client 2023 – Seah Ching Ling is a Recommended individual