Legal Profession Act 1966 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 9A · Law Practice Entities
175. Regulatory control over Qualifying Foreign Law Practice or licensed foreign law practice
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2022. 2 amendments in all.
The Director of Legal Services may, by written notice to a foreign law practice, do any of the following things, if the Director of Legal Services is satisfied that there is sufficient reason for doing so:
Director of Legal Services
“Director of Legal Services” means the Director of Legal Services appointed under section 2A(1);
suspend or revoke the Qualifying Foreign Law Practice licence or foreign law practice licence which was issued to the foreign law practice;
order the foreign law practice to pay a penalty of not more than $100,000;
give a warning to the foreign law practice.
Without limiting subsection (1), the Director of Legal Services may, by written notice to a foreign law practice, do anything referred to in subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c), if —
foreign law practice
“foreign law practice” means a law practice (including a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a body corporate, whether with or without limited liability) providing legal services in any foreign law in Singapore or elsewhere, but does not include a Singapore law practice;
the registration or authorisation of the foreign law practice to practice law in a state or territory outside Singapore —
has been cancelled by the relevant authority of that state or territory as a result of any criminal, civil or disciplinary proceedings; or
has lapsed;
the foreign law practice contravenes Part 5A or any rules made under section 70H, or fails to comply with any requirement under this Division;
the foreign law practice fails to comply with any condition subject to which its Qualifying Foreign Law Practice licence or foreign law practice licence was issued or renewed, as the case may be;
the foreign law practice has been dissolved or is in liquidation; or
the Director of Legal Services is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so.
Before doing under subsection (1) or (2) anything mentioned in subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c), the Director of Legal Services must give the foreign law practice not less than 14 days after the date of the notice to make representations in writing.
Where a foreign law practice which was issued a licence under the repealed section 130D as in force immediately before 18 November 2015 is deemed under section 171(7) to be a Qualifying Foreign Law Practice, and any matter has arisen before 18 November 2015 which may constitute a ground for the suspension or revocation of that licence under the repealed section 130H as in force immediately before 18 November 2015, the Director of Legal Services may, on or after 18 November 2015, rely on that matter as a sufficient reason under subsection (1) to do anything mentioned in subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c) in relation to that foreign law practice.
Qualifying Foreign Law Practice
“Qualifying Foreign Law Practice” means a foreign law practice licensed under section 171;
Where a foreign law practice which was or was deemed to be issued a licence under the repealed section 130E as in force immediately before 18 November 2015 is deemed under section 172(6) to be a licensed foreign law practice, and any matter has arisen before 18 November 2015 which may constitute a ground for the suspension or revocation of that licence under the repealed section 130H as in force immediately before 18 November 2015, the Director of Legal Services may, on or after 18 November 2015, rely on that matter as a sufficient reason under subsection (1) to do anything mentioned in subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c) in relation to that foreign law practice.
licensed foreign law practice
“licensed foreign law practice” means a foreign law practice licensed under section 172;