The Singapore Ministry of Law has launched an eight-week public consultation on the Report of the Committee to Review the Regulatory Framework for Law Practices and Collaborations in Singapore. The Committee was tasked with assessing whether the current regulatory framework continues to meet Singapore’s evolving legal and economic needs and recommending improvements to ensure continued competitiveness and growth. This is the first major review since 2014.
Singapore’s legal services sector has experienced strong expansion over the past decades, driven by globalisation and increasing demand for sophisticated, cross-border legal work supporting key industries such as banking and financial services. Asia now contributes more than half of global GDP growth, and Singapore positions itself as a legal services hub to capture this demand. Since 1999, the government has progressively liberalised market entry for foreign law practices and foreign-qualified lawyers, increasing diversity and strengthening Singapore’s standing as an international legal centre.
In its report, the Committee made 10 recommendations across four thematic areas: (i) eligibility criteria for collaboration arrangements between law practices, (ii) requirements for foreign law practices and foreign-qualified lawyers to hold ownership interests in Singapore law firms, (iii) rules on lawyer composition within foreign law practice entities, and (iv) the scope of legal practice permitted for licensed foreign firms. The recommendations aim to ensure the regulatory framework remains flexible, competitive, and aligned with global trends, while safeguarding the integrity of Singapore’s legal profession.
Members of the public, industry stakeholders, and legal professionals are invited to submit feedback on the Committee’s report from 16 October to 10 December 2025.