Professor S. Jayakumar joins Drew & Napier LLC
11 Apr 2013
11 April 2013 – Professor S. Jayakumar will be joining Drew & Napier LLC on 1 May 2013 as a consultant to spearhead the firm’s practices in international law, international trade and constitutional law.
Prof. Jayakumar served as Singapore’s Senior Minister from 2009 to 2011. He was the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, and was at various times the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Law and Labour. He was one of Asia’s longest serving Law Ministers (from 1988 to 2008).
Prior to holding office in Government, Prof. Jayakumar was the Dean of the Faculty of Law in the National University of Singapore (NUS) from 1974 to 1980 and had earlier also served as Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1971 to 1974. He is a highly regarded expert in international and constitutional law, and has written books and articles in these areas.
In 2007, Prof. Jayakumar was a key member of the Singapore legal team in the Pedra Branca dispute before the International Court of Justice, which decided that sovereignty over Pedra Branca belongs to Singapore.
The firm’s CEO, Mr. Davinder Singh, SC said: “We are very honoured that Prof. Jayakumar is joining Drew & Napier. He will bring unrivalled experience and insight in the fields of international and constitutional law, as well as in other areas. He is someone who is universally acknowledged as one of the best legal brains of his generation.”
In addition to working with Drew & Napier’s clients, Prof. Jayakumar will spend time mentoring the firm’s lawyers.
Prof. Jayakumar said, “This is a new, and exciting role. I look forward to working with both the senior and younger lawyers in this prestigious law firm”.
Prof. Jayakumar said he will continue to be Professor at the NUS Faculty of Law which he does on a pro bono basis. He serves as Chairman of the Law Faculty’s Advisory Council, and is also Chairman of the International Advisory Panel of the Centre of International Law. Together with Ambassador Tommy Koh, he also conducts Fireside Chats on International Law and Diplomacy at the Centre for International Law.