Regulation 70
Application for approval under section 176(1) of Act
of Legal Profession (Law Practice Entities) Rules 2015
Subregulation 1
Every Singapore law practice must apply to the Director of Legal Services for approval under section 176(1) of the Act, before entering into any arrangement that may result in a foreign lawyer registered under section 36B, 36C or 36D of the Act —
becoming a director, partner or shareholder of the Singapore law practice; or
sharing in the profits of the Singapore law practice.
Subregulation 2
The following are conditions of an application under paragraph (1):
the Singapore law practice satisfies all general threshold requirements;
the foreign lawyer has successfully completed a legal practice management course referred to in section 75C(1)(a) of the Act.
Subregulation 3
Despite paragraph (2)(b), the Director of Legal Services may waive the requirement under that provision, if the Director of Legal Services is satisfied that the foreign lawyer —
has any qualification or accreditation which indicates that the foreign lawyer has attained skills equivalent to those attainable on the successful completion of a legal practice management course referred to in section 75C(1)(a) of the Act; or
has sufficient experience and expertise in the management of a law practice entity.
Subregulation 4
On receiving an application under paragraph (1), the Director of Legal Services may —
approve the application subject to such conditions as the Director of Legal Services thinks fit; or
reject the application on such grounds as the Director of Legal Services thinks fit.
Subregulation 5
The Director of Legal Services must notify the applicant in writing of the decision of the Director of Legal Services under paragraph (4).
Subregulation 6
If an approval under section 176(1) of the Act is granted, the Director of Legal Services must issue the applicant a certificate of approval.
Subregulation 7
Without prejudice to any other powers of the Director of Legal Services to cancel an approval under section 176(1) of the Act, the Director of Legal Services may cancel such an approval if —
the Singapore law practice, or the foreign lawyer, fails to comply with any undertaking given to the Director of Legal Services upon making the application or with any condition of the approval;
the partner or director of the Singapore law practice who gave any such undertaking fails to comply with that undertaking or with any condition of the approval; or
the Singapore law practice, the foreign lawyer or a partner or director of the Singapore law practice applies in writing for such cancellation.