Leon Yee

Chairman

Biography

Leon Yee serves as Chairman of Duane Morris & Selvam and Global Head of Corporate, directing the firm’s Banking & Finance, Fintech & Blockchain, Energy, and China Practice Groups. Alongside his global practice leadership, he oversees the firm's operations across its Singapore, Shanghai, and Myanmar offices. Dual-qualified in Singapore and England & Wales, his legal practice is rooted in corporate finance, venture capital, capital markets, and cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

Drawing on extensive transactional experience, he advises ultra-high-net-worth individuals, private equity funds, and multinational corporations on complex financing, corporate restructurings, and joint ventures. While his work spans the global market, he maintains a specialized focus on structuring deals across Korea, Indonesia, and China. Alongside his traditional corporate practice, he actively mentors the boards of emerging start-ups and helps them navigate the regulatory and transactional frameworks of the growing digital asset space.

Mr. Yee is a specialist in corporate governance, an expertise forged through his extensive service on numerous corporate boards. His industry leadership spans the shipbuilding, maritime, financial services, fintech, real estate, and marine and offshore sectors. He currently serves as an Independent Director for several SGX-listed companies—including Yangzijiang Financial Holding Ltd, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) Ltd, Oxley Holdings Limited, and TEHO International Inc Ltd. His firsthand governance experience deeply informs his advisory work with venture and private equity firms backing technology, life sciences, and other growth enterprises. Additionally, he provides regulatory oversight as a board member of the Gambling Regulatory Authority, a statutory board under Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs.

Beyond his corporate commitments, he is actively engaged in academia and community development. He serves as a Visiting Professor of Law at Jimei University in China, where he leads seminars on Asian corporate law, and sits on the Advisory Board of the Nanyang Business School at Nanyang Technological University. His philanthropic leadership includes serving as the Honorary Legal Adviser to the Char Yong (Dabu) Hakka Clan Association and President of the St. Joseph's Institution Philanthropic Fund (Singapore).

An honors graduate of Christ's College, Cambridge University, and a Cambridge Commonwealth Trust scholar, he founded the Cambridge University Asian Lawyers Association during his tenure. He continues to support his alma mater today as Chairman of the Christ’s College, Cambridge Fund (Singapore) Limited and Chair of the Christ’s College Cambridge-SJI Philanthropic Fund Scholarship Selection Committee. His professional work is consistently recognized by industry publications.

Admissions

  • Singapore
  • England and Wales

Education

  • University of Cambridge, B.A. (Hons) Law
  • University of Cambridge, M.A.

Experience

  • Duane Morris & Selvam LLP/ Selvam LLC
  • Herbert Smith Freehills

Honors & Awards

  • Listed by IFLR1000 in the 2018 - 2025 edition as Highly Regarded Lawyer for Banking
  • Listed in the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2022 for Banking and Finance - Local Firms, Corporate and M&A - Foreign Firms, Corporate and M&A - Local Firms and Projects and Energy - Local Firms
  • Listed as a Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018 in Singapore for Banking & Finance (Local Firms) Corporate and M&A (Local Firms) and Projects & Energy (Local Firms)
  • "…Leon Yee has strong corporate experience." The Legal 500, 2013
  • "…Leon Yee demonstrates 'tireless effort'." The Legal 500, 2013
  • "…Banking & Finance Practice Head Leon Yee is recommended." The Legal 500, 2012
  • "…Leon Yee handles complex capital markets transactions." The Legal 500, 2012
  • "…Leon Yee's 'sharp business acumen and collaborative approach'..." The Legal 500, 2010/2011

Professional Activities

  • Former member of the Singapore Law Society Committee for Mergers & Acquisitions and Insolvency, Corporate Commercial Matters and Listing Matters
  • Former Audit Committee Member of the Singapore Law Society (2021-2023)
  • Member of the Singapore Institute of Directors

Fellowships & Academic Appointments

  • Fellow, Cambridge Commonwealth Trust
  • Visiting Professor of Law, Jimei University, China
  • President of the St. Joseph’s Institution Philanthropic Fund for the Lasallian Mission Ltd.
  • Chairman of the SJI Philanthropic Fund-Christ's College Cambridge Scholarship Selection Committee
  • Chairman of Christ's College, Cambridge Fund (Singapore) Limited
  • Appointed to the Advisory Board of Nanyang Business School at Nanyang Technological University

Publication

Selected Publications

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • Moderator, “Cyber Resilience in Corporate Governance: Enhancing Internal Controls” Seminar, co-organized by Duane Morris & Selvam, EY & Financial PR, Singapore, 24 September 2025
  • Panel Speaker, “Getting from Announcement to Close” SPAC Version 3.0 Southeast Asia Summit, hosted by AUM Media Inc., 7 March 2023
  • Chief Panelist, “How to Effectively Deal with Internal Investigations” Seminar, co-organized by Duane Morris & Selvam and EY, Raffles City Convention Centre, Singapore, 26 May 2022
  • Chief Panelist, “Insights Into the Digital Ecosystems Ahead & the Structuring of Crypto-Funds” Webinar, co-organized by Duane Morris & Selvam and Harneys, Singapore, 12 May 2022
  • Chief Panelist, “Raising Venture Debt: Who, What, When, Why and How Much?” Hybrid event, co-organized by Duane Morris & Selvam and Genesis Alternative Ventures, Singapore Management University - The Greenhouse, Singapore, 31 March 2022
  • Chief Panelist, “Shareholders’ Agreement”, VIMA vs. the World Webinar Series, 15 February 2022
  • Chief Panelist, "Term Sheets and Subscription Agreements," VIMA vs. the World Webinar Series, 4 March 2021
  • Chief Panelist, "Convertible Seed Financing Instruments - SAFE, CARE and KISS," VIMA vs. the World Webinar Series, 1 December 2020
  • Speaker, “COVID-19 Issues in relation to Venture Capital and Private Equity Funds”, Webinar, Capria Network, 1 July 2020
  • Speaker, “Opportunities for Collaboration between Singapore and China Lawyers”, Chongqing Professional Services Forum, Chongqing, China, 5 December 2019
  • Speaker, “Latest Singapore Developments and Trends in ICOs”, Peking University Law School, Beijing, China, 2 November 2018

Listed Directorship

    Current

  • Yangzhijiang Finanacial Holding Ltd - Non-Executive Director
  • Yangzhijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) Ltd - Lead Independent Director
  • Oxley Holdings Limited - Lead Independent Director
  • TEHO International Inc. Ltd – Non-Executive Director

    • Former

  • London-listed Laura Ashley Holdings PLC – Independent Director (2019-2020)
  • Singapore-listed Pacific Star Development Limited – Chairman (2017-2019)
  • Singapore-listed Federal International (2000) Limited - Lead Independent Director (2010-2011)
  • Singapore-listed LHN Logistics Limited – Lead Independent Director (2022-2023)
  • Singapore-listed FJ Benjamin Holdings Limited – Non-Executive Director (2019-2026)
  • Singapore-listed OxPay Financial Limited – Non-Executive Director (2023-2026)

Government Appointments

  • Appointed as a Board Member by Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), a statutory board under the Ministry of Home Affairs (2023).
  • Admitted to the panel of Singapore Advocates & Solicitors from which appointments to the Disciplinary Tribunal are made (February 2019).
  • Appointed by the Singapore Minister for Home Affairs as the Legal Advisor to the Board of Inquiry that was convened under the Civil Defence Act to inquire into the circumstances leading to the drowning incident of a serviceman (May 2018).


In Singapore, Duane Morris Singapore LLP and Selvam LLC operate a Joint Law Venture serving clients throughout Asia, Duane Morris & Selvam LLP, pursuant to Licence 2/2010 granted by the Attorney General of Singapore. Selvam LLC lawyers may provide services to clients of Duane Morris & Selvam under secondment from Selvam LLC pursuant to Licence 2/2010.

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