Competition Commission Director Headed for Drew & Napier
23 August 2007 – Drew & Napier LLC announced today that Ng Ee Kia, until recently, the Director of Economics at the Competition Commission of Singapore (“CCS”), will join the Firm on 1 September to spearhead the development of in-house economics expertise at Drew & Napier.
Ee Kia comes with over a decade of competition law and economic regulation experience. While at the CCS, Ee Kia headed the Policy and Economic Analysis Division, which was responsible for developing policy frameworks and guidelines in relation to the Competition Act as well as conducting economic analysis in assessing notifications and investigation of competition cases. In addition, she also oversaw the portfolio of international strategies and relations. Prior to CCS, she was with the Competition Branch of the Office of the Telecommunications Authority in Hong Kong and the Market Access & Competition Policy Division of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (“IDA”).
Of her decision to move to Drew & Napier, Ee Kia says, “Competition authorities worldwide have moved away from a formalistic approach to one that is supported by sound economic analysis. Effective competition advice requires the input of both lawyers and economists. I look forward to working with the competition lawyers at Drew & Napier to provide an integrated approach to solving clients’ competition law issues.”
Drew & Napier will also be welcoming Scott Clements to the competition team. Scott was formerly with New Zealand’s competition regulator and subsequently the Department of Trade and Industry in London. As a senior investigator at New Zealand’s Commerce Commission, Scott led numerous high-profile competition law investigations including into matters on the energy and electricity market. He was also in charge of assessing structural issues arising from mergers and acquisitions. Scott joins Dean Shirley, previously also a senior investigator from the New Zealand competition regulator, who has been at Drew & Napier for more than 2 years.
Cavinder Bull, who helms the Competition Law Practice Group at Drew & Napier said, “The addition of Ee Kia and Scott to our competition law team demonstrates Drew & Napier’s commitment to be at the forefront of this area of practice. The CCS is getting more active. Continuing to attract the best talent available is the only sure way of ensuring that we remain at the top of the game.”
On what benefits clients can expect, Lim Chong Kin, who co-heads the Practice Group and leads the competition transactionary team said, “Our multi-disciplinary team of lawyers, economists and investigators will bring an integrated approach to the table. What we aim to achieve for our clients is the assurance of practical legal advice designed around sound economic principles and analysis. This will translate into some degree of time and cost savings for clients who frequently expend too many resources trying to co-ordinate the economists and lawyers, with little understanding of what is required.”
Notes to the Editor:
Drew & Napier’s Competition Law Practice Group was formed in 1999 to advise and represent clients in the telecommunications and media sectors. Significantly, Drew & Napier was appointed by IDA as the lead Singapore counsel to draft the Telecoms Competition Code. Subsequently, Drew & Napier was appointed by the Media Development Authority to draft the Media Market Conduct Code
The practice group was thus well positioned to build on this experience when the Competition Act was enacted in January 2005. Drew & Napier has been actively advising clients on competition law matters and representing clients who are being investigated by the CCS.
For more information please contact:
Verona Huang
Corporate Affairs
Drew & Napier LLC
Tel: +65 6531 2482
Email: verona.huang@drewnapier.com