Tan Cheng Han to lead Law Society after consent resolution passed at EGM

Law Society of Singapore (LawSoc) vice-president Tan Cheng Han will lead the organisation in 2026 as president, after an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Dec 22.

Professor Tan, a senior consultant at WongPartnership and chief strategy officer at NUS Law School, will helm the statutory body, with Mr Dinesh Singh Dhillon as a vice-president.

Prof Tan was endorsed and accepted by the LawSoc council as president after a consent resolution, tabled at a meeting on Dec 17, was passed at the EGM, which over 500 lawyers attended.

In a statement after the EGM, Prof Tan said: “I am pleased that in the best traditions of the Bar, the profession has reached a sensible and reasonable outcome. This reflects the strength and cohesiveness of the Singapore legal community.”

During the meeting at Wyndham Singapore hotel, the 21-member council also agreed to amend a clause in the consent resolution to state that the president shall be an elected member of the council.

The meeting on Dec 22 brought an end to an eventful two weeks that saw Mr Dhillon agreeing to step aside as president-elect.

The co-head of international arbitration practice at Allen and Gledhill was elected by the majority of the council in November as the 30th president of the professional body for lawyers. Prof Tan and Mr Daniel Koh Choon Guan were announced as vice-presidents, and Ms Peggy Sarah Yee May Kuen as treasurer of the organisation.

LawSoc has about 6,400 members.

Lawyers vote every October for members of the council, the highest body within the society responsible for managing its affairs.

Mr Dhillon was slated to replace outgoing president Lisa Sam Hui Min in 2026, but his win at the election caused some disquiet as he was an unelected member of the council.

The council typically comprises 15 elected members, as well as three members appointed by the law minister, and another three co-opted by the council. All council members serve a two-year term.

Under the Legal Profession Act, the law minister can appoint up to three members to sit on the council. Mr Dhillon was one of the three brought in this time.

The pushback against his election resulted in a number of members seeking to introduce motions at the EGM, including a vote of no confidence against some in the council.

The lawyers agreed to withdraw their motions after a meeting on Dec 17.

The Straits Times earlier reported that Mr Dhillon agreed to step aside as president of LawSoc to preserve unity for the Bar and in the light of “legitimate concerns” raised by members.

Mr Dhillon initially put his name up for the presidency in the lead-up to the council elections in November as he had received encouragement from others to do more.

“However, I felt then that there were others who were more suitable. Before the elections, I sounded out several others, including Prof Tan, to lead the Law Society. But he declined,” he told ST.

Mr Dhillon added that he was happy to step aside when Prof Tan said he was prepared to take over as LawSoc president.

Said Prof Tan: “I also want to thank Dinesh for the spirit in which he ran for the presidency and the grace and dignity he has demonstrated in recent weeks.”

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

ADV: SUSS School of Law – Apply by 15 March