ID :
15880
Thu, 08/14/2008 - 20:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/15880
The shortlink copeid
SINGAPORE INVITES FOREIGN LAW FIRMS TO PRACTISE IN THE REPUBLIC
SINGAPORE, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- The Singapore government has announced plans to liberalise the legal services sector through the introduction of a Qualifying Foreign Law Practice (QFLP) Scheme.
The scheme, previously known as the Qualifying Foreign Law Firm Scheme, provides for licences to be given to foreign law firms to practise Singapore law in permitted areas through locally-qualified solicitors employed bythem.
Singapore's Law Ministry said Thursday the applications would be evaluated by a committee whose members comprised officials from the Finance Ministry, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Trade and Industry Ministry, Law Ministry andthe Attorney-General's Chambers.
A Selection Committee chaired by Law Minister K. Shanmugam would then decide on the award of the QFLP licences taking into account the recommendations of theAttorney-General, the ministry said in a statement.
Factors such as the number of lawyers to be based in the Singapore office, the areas of legal practice it offered, the extent it would function as headquarters for the region, the amount of offshore work it would do, and its track record, would determine the awarding of the QFLP licences to the foreignlaw firms, it said.
Application forms for the QFLP licences are available from the Law Ministryfrom today and the closing date for application is on Oct 9.
Further information on the QFLP scheme and application details can be found on the QFLP Scheme webpage of the Ministry of Law's website:www.minlaw.gov.sg/QFLP.
The scheme, previously known as the Qualifying Foreign Law Firm Scheme, provides for licences to be given to foreign law firms to practise Singapore law in permitted areas through locally-qualified solicitors employed bythem.
Singapore's Law Ministry said Thursday the applications would be evaluated by a committee whose members comprised officials from the Finance Ministry, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Trade and Industry Ministry, Law Ministry andthe Attorney-General's Chambers.
A Selection Committee chaired by Law Minister K. Shanmugam would then decide on the award of the QFLP licences taking into account the recommendations of theAttorney-General, the ministry said in a statement.
Factors such as the number of lawyers to be based in the Singapore office, the areas of legal practice it offered, the extent it would function as headquarters for the region, the amount of offshore work it would do, and its track record, would determine the awarding of the QFLP licences to the foreignlaw firms, it said.
Application forms for the QFLP licences are available from the Law Ministryfrom today and the closing date for application is on Oct 9.
Further information on the QFLP scheme and application details can be found on the QFLP Scheme webpage of the Ministry of Law's website:www.minlaw.gov.sg/QFLP.
