Allen & Gledhill LLP devotes considerable resources and expertise to the labour and employment field, covering the full range of advisory, transactional, and contentious areas. It has continued to impress in employment litigation, notably in relation to non-compete clauses, notice periods, restrictive covenants, personal data breaches, and alleged breaches of terms of employment. It is also frequently engaged in large-scale investigations, employment contracts, employee incentives and benefits, restructurings, and outsourcing arrangements. Kelvin Wong and Sanjiv Rajan co-head the employment and health and safety practice, the former active across HR matters and the latter noted for his litigation expertise. Tay Yong Seng is another leading employment litigator, along with Vincent Leow and Christine Tee.

Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow forms part of the firm’s global formidable labour and employment practice. Bringing together advisory, transactional, and contentious expertise, the Singapore firm is at the forefront of high-stakes and sensitive employment matters. The team features a number of experienced labour and employment experts, which frequently represent big-name multinationals and major regional businesses. Celeste Ang leads the Asia Pacific employment and compensation practice from Singapore and frequently represents clients in headline employment disputes. Kelvin Poa is noted for advisory and transactional matters, including employment contracts, redundancy processes and employee share incentive plans. Local principal Zhao Yang Ng specialises in employment law and immigration matters.

Drew & Napier LLC has assembled a large team of employment law specialists. It routinely handles significant domestic and regional employment engagements across the advisory, transactional, and litigation spheres. The firm’s reputation as a major force in litigation, brings it a substantial pipeline of employment cases, though it has a highly developed presence in non-contentious matters too. Kelvin Tan co-heads the employment department and has an established record in major employment disputes. Benjamin Gaw also co-heads the team, bringing extensive non-contentious expertise in reviewing employment contracts, handbooks, and policies, along with employee stock option plans, retrenchment exercises, and termination of employment, among other areas of specialism. Lim Chong Kin is noted for personal data protection and anti-harassment work, while Rakesh Kirpalani is rated for technology sector employment disputes

Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP has a broad mix of contentious and non-contentious employment work, fielding one of the largest teams in the Singapore market. It is a member of Ius Laboris, the global legal network that specialises in labour and employment law. The wide-ranging practice encompasses an impressive flow of engagements, including employment policy reviews, trade union negotiations, employment disputes, investigations and disciplinary processes, and retrenchment and restructuring exercises. The firm is also rated for managing multi-jurisdictional employment issues. Desmond Wee leads the non-contentious employment team with an impressive background in retrenchments and restructurings, investigations, and employee benefits. The highly-rated Jonathan Yuen heads the employment disputes group, handling high-stakes cases and major investigations. Murali Pillai, SC is another leading employment litigator.

WongPartnership LLP has consolidated its position in the labour and employment field as a result of its substantial resources of both contentious and non-contentious expertise, and increasing levels of specialisation. It continues to work on major misconduct investigations, large-scale retrenchments, and trade union negotiations. It also has extensive experience in transfers of employees, employee incentive plans, and immigration matters. The team represents some of Singapore and Southeast Asia’s largest corporates, in addition to a multitude of other multinationals. Vivien Yui co-heads the group, providing longstanding experience in non-contentious engagements, with fellow co-head and ‘go-to lawyer‘ Jenny Tsin impressing in employment litigation and investigations.

Bird & Bird ATMD LLP has a strong emphasis on employment law, much like the firm’s other global offices, including in China, Hong Kong and Sydney. The Singapore office is noted for domestic and regional engagements, frequently working alongside other offices to handle multi-jurisdictional employment matters. The wide-ranging practice includes labour law specialisation, especially trade union negotiations. The firm continues to impress in technology sector engagements, including restructurings and retrenchment exercises. Seow Hui Goh heads the employment team, focusing on domestic and ASEAN employment issues, including contentious and non-contentious mandates. Promoted to counsel in May 2023, Natasha Cheng brings further senior employment expertise to the team and is building the firm’s standing in immigration law.

Clyde & Co Clasis Singapore fields a sizeable team that is led by Singapore managing partner Thomas Choo, who divides his time between corporate and venture capital transactions, and employment and immigration matters. The team frequently advises multinational clients on employment contracts and policies, trade union negotiations, and internal investigations. The firm is active in the insurance, transport, and trade sectors, among others. Prakash Pillai and Weiyi Tan provide additional employment disputes expertise, including employee termination, enforcement of restrictive covenants, and unfair dismissal matters, along with employee investigations.

Dentons Rodyk has a large senior bench of professionals that have a significant focus on the employment sphere. The firm continues to act for clients in major employment disputes, including those involving non-compete clauses and restrictive covenants, along with alleged breaches of director’s and fiduciary duties. Edric Pan is joint deputy managing partner, co-head of the employment group, and is an experienced figure in contentious matters, including disputes over non-compete clauses and other restrictive covenants. I-An Lim is co-head of the employment group and has extensive experience in advising education institutions on human resource, employment, contractual, and commercial matters. Ray Chiang is also co-head of the team, specialising in non-contentious matters, including drafting of senior executive employment contracts, drafting and reviewing employment handbooks, and assisting with negotiations with trade unions. Mark Seah is another senior litigator with a background in employment cases.

TSMP Law Corporation frequently advises a range of financial institutions, multinationals, and large Singapore corporates. It has close links to a number of international law firms. The firm’s estimable client base brings it a wealth of engagements across the transactional, advisory, investigatory, and dispute resolution fields. It has a history of acting for clients in headline employment disputes, including restrictive covenant cases, wrongful dismissal claims, and breach of non-competition, confidentiality, and fiduciary duties. In non-contentious matters, the firm has extensive experience in employee stock option plans, retrenchments and redundancies, and industrial relations issues. Ian Lim is a genuine specialist in labour and employment, while associate director Nicholas Ngo is an emerging talent.

Withers KhattarWong LLP has a long history in the employment sphere, particularly on the disputes side. Given the firm’s focus on private wealth, it is noted for its representation of senior executives and individuals, alongside its corporate client base. The firm has an impressive background in employee terminations, harassment claims, and senior executive exits. Deborah Barker SC has decades of experience in dispute resolution, including a significant proportion of employment cases. Amarjit Kaur is an emerging talent and esteemed litigator, who balances contentious and non-contentious employment work, including contract negotiation and employee benefits, while frequently acting for executives in employment disputes against large corporates, including breach of confidentiality claims.

CNPLaw LLP has a rounded practice focusing on non-contentious and contentious employment issues and immigration matters. It advises a large number of Singapore and Southeast Asia-based businesses. Pradeep Kumar Singh and Bill Jamieson are versatile practitioners, largely focused in transactional and advisory matters, with a history of employment engagements. The team has continued to work on a range of key matters, such as share option schemes, employee transfer issues, employee dismissals, and retrenchment exercises. Wong Pei-Ling is another notable partner.

Harry Elias Partnership is an established name in the labour and employment sphere. It continues to represent a range of clients in advisory matters, investigations, and disputes. It remains active in advising clients on handling employee contracts and moves, as well as representing them in disputes over non-complete and non-solicitation clauses. It has also defended clients against claims for wrongful termination. S Suressh and Toh Wei Yi are litigators with a significant focus on employment matters.

Morgan Lewis Stamford LLC draws employment expertise from its dispute resolution and transactional teams. Led by Wendy Tan, the firm continues to advise large regional and international clients on large cases, including disputes over incentive bonuses and wrongful dismissal claims; Tan also regularly advises clients on employment contracts for senior executives and on the exits of senior executives. Transactional partner Wai Ming Yap frequently advises clients on employee share option schemes and other incentive matters.

Shook Lin & Bok LLP is well-known for its work in contentious employment matters, largely acting for corporate clients in cases concerning non-competition and confidentiality obligations, wrongful dismissal and harassment claims, misconduct investigations, and employee terminations. The firm has further expertise in the advisory segment, including on employment contracts and ongoing human resources advice. Probin Dass is a senior litigator with experience in contentious and non-contentious issues. Teo Mae Shaan and Joseph Tay are also key partners.

Virtus Law LLP is building its standing in labour and employment law with its broadening ranks of individuals that have specialist expertise in the area. The firm has developed close links to clients in Singapore, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, and it has demonstrated expertise in key issues such as non-compete clauses, employee share option plans, and employment contracts. Sheetal Sandhu is especially active in employee share option plans and employment policies, and Terence Seah is noted for internal investigations. Parikhit Sarma and Christine Ong are also key partners.