Baker & McKenzie has promoted two partners to senior roles in its Singapore office following the appointment of tax partner Edmund Leow as a Judicial Commissioner in the Supreme Court of Singapore.

Leow, who will leave the firm at the end of August, was one of the founding partners of Bakers' member firm in the island city state, Baker & McKenzie Wong & Leow, with the role of managing principal and head of the firm's Singapore tax and wealth management team.

He joined Baker & McKenzie in London in 1987, and also practiced with the firm in Hong Kong before returning to Singapore in 1992. His core focus has been on international tax and trade law, chiefly advising on cross-border tax planning, transfer pricing and tax disputes.

As Judicial Commissioner – appointed by the President of Singapore on the advice of the Prime Minister – he has the powers of a judge.

Andy Leck, head of Bakers' IP practice and co-head of dispute resolution in the region, will replace Leow as managing principal of the office from 1 September.

Eugene Lim, a partner in the firm's Hong Kong and China tax group, will relocate to Singapore on 1 January to become the new head of the tax practice there.

Leck has over 20 years of experience in contentious and non-contentious IP matters, litigation and arbitration, whilst Lim has a history of advising clients on indirect tax and international trade matters; both contentious and noncontentious.

Both partners have previously worked in the firm's Singapore and Hong Kong offices.

Baker & McKenzie first opened in Singapore in 1981, whilst Wong & Leow was established in 1996 by Wong Kien Keong and Edmund Leow.

The partnership allows the US firm to provide cross border advice in the country.

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