Regulation 55
Privileges and conditions relevant to Formal Law Alliance licence
of Legal Profession (Law Practice Entities) Rules 2015
Subregulation 1
Subject to the provisions of these Rules, a Formal Law Alliance may —
market or publicise itself as a single service provider competent to provide legal services in all areas which the law practices that are its members are qualified to provide; and
bill its clients as if it were a single law practice.
Subregulation 2
A foreign lawyer registered under section 36C of the Act who practises in a Qualifying Foreign Law Practice or licensed foreign law practice which is a member of the Formal Law Alliance may prepare all the documents in a transaction involving the law or regulatory regime of more than one country or territory, except that any legal opinion relating to Singapore law must be given by —
a solicitor who has in force a practising certificate; or
a foreign lawyer registered under section 36B of the Act,who is permitted under the Act or any rules made under the Act to render such a legal opinion.
Subregulation 3
A solicitor may, with the approval of the Director of Legal Services, concurrently be —
a partner, director or shareholder of a Singapore law practice which is a member of a Formal Law Alliance; and
a partner, director or shareholder of a foreign law practice which is a member of the Formal Law Alliance.
Subregulation 4
It is a condition of an approval under paragraph (3) that the Singapore law practice satisfies all general threshold requirements and all profit threshold requirements so long as the approval is in force.
Subregulation 5
The Director of Legal Services must not grant an approval under paragraph (3) unless the Director of Legal Services is satisfied, at that time, that —
the Singapore law practice satisfies all general threshold requirements; and
there is no actual or potential conflict of interests, if the solicitor is allowed to concurrently be —
a partner, director or shareholder of the Singapore law practice; and
a partner, director or shareholder of the foreign law practice.
Subregulation 6
The Director of Legal Services may cancel an approval granted to a solicitor under paragraph (3) if the Director of Legal Services is satisfied, at that time, that —
the Singapore law practice does not satisfy any of the general threshold requirements or profit threshold requirements; or
there is, or will be, any actual or potential conflict of interests, should the solicitor continue to concurrently be —
a partner, director or shareholder of the Singapore law practice; and
a partner, director or shareholder of the foreign law practice.
Subregulation 7
No material modification is to be made to an agreement referred to in rule 54(1)(f) or a business plan submitted under rule 54(1)(g) without the prior written approval of the Director of Legal Services.
Subregulation 8
The conditions in rule 54(1) continue to apply for so long as the Formal Law Alliance licence is in force.
Subregulation 9
The Formal Law Alliance must submit an annual report of its performance, containing such information as the Director of Legal Services may require, to the Director of Legal Services within 3 months after the end of each period of 12 months commencing from such date as the Director of Legal Services may specify.