Allen & Gledhill's managing partner, Kim Shin Lee, has been appointed as a judicial commissioner in Singapore.

Lee, who was made head of the local firm last year, will take his new role from January 2, 2014 for a one-year term.

Judicial commissioners hold the powers of a judge, and may go on to become judges of the Supreme Court.

The role is understood to be full time, meaning that he will not practice as an Allen & Gledhill partner for the period.

Lee has joined A&G – which ranks among Singapore's top local law firms – in 1987, giving him more than 25 years with the firm.

Since being made partner in 1991, his focus has been on mergers and acquisitions, local and regional joint ventures, schemes of reconstruction, amalgamations, capital reductions and restructurings, whilst he also has extensive experience in deals involving private equity.

Prior to his role as managing partner he served as a co-head of the firm's corporate and commercial department.

Also appointed judicial commissioner alongside Lee is Tan Siong Thye, who until recently was the chief district judge of the Subordinate Courts.

Tan has taken on his new role from this week.