Leon Yee

Managing Director

Biography

Leon Yee is the Managing Director of Duane Morris & Selvam. He serves as the Global Head of Corporate for Duane Morris & Selvam and leads the Banking & Finance, Fintech & Blockchain, and Energy Practice Groups. He is also Head of the Firm's China Practice Group. Mr. Yee has extensive corporate law expertise and regularly advises ultra-high net worth individuals, private equity funds, investment banks, listed and private companies on corporate finance, venture capital, capital markets, takeovers, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, corporate restructurings and joint ventures. He has also advised banks and project companies on complex financing transactions and has a particular focus on Korea, Indonesia and China related deals. He takes a keen personal interest in advising, coaching and mentoring the boards of start-up companies and being involved in the growing digital asset space from a regulatory and transactional perspective.

Mr. Yee is consistently recognized as a highly regarded lawyer by the IFLR1000 and The Legal 500 Asia Pacific for Banking & Finance, Corporate and M&A and Projects & Energy. He was included in AsiaLaw in various categories such as Banking & Finance, Corporate and M&A and Corporate Governance. He was included in Asia's Brightest Young Legal Minds – Top 40 Under 40 – Asia Legal Business 2015.

He is an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore and a Solicitor of England and Wales.

Mr. Yee currently serves as an Independent Director on a number of SGX-listed companies. He was the former Chairman of a SGX-listed real estate developer and also a former Independent Director of a LSE-listed fashion company.

He has deep industry knowledge in global fashion businesses, real estate development and the oil & gas sectors and also has extensive experience in corporate governance. He also works closely with venture firms and private equity firms on advising technology, life sciences and other growth enterprises worldwide.

Mr. Yee is a member of the Tan Kah Kee International Society and a Visiting Professor of Law at Jimei University, China, where he runs a series of Chinese seminars on the corporate law developments in Asia at the Jimei School of Business Administration. The School was jointly set up by the Xiamen People’s Government, Tan Kah Kee International Society and Jimei University in 1995.

He is also the Honorary Legal Adviser to the Char Yong (Dabu) Hakka Clan Association, which was founded in 1858.

Mr. Yee is the President of the St. Joseph's Institution Philanthropic Fund (Singapore), a registered IPC charity in Singapore, which carries out, facilitates and supports programmes and activities in support of the Lasallian mission of enabling youth in a Lasallian community to learn how to learn and to learn how to live.

Mr. Yee read Law at Christ's College, Cambridge University, which was founded in 1505, on a Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship, where he graduated with Honours. He also founded and chaired the Cambridge University Asian Lawyers Association. He established the Christ’s College Cambridge-SJI Philanthropic Fund Scholarship, a scholarship fund for students from St. Joseph's Institution, Singapore, which was founded in 1852 and is the oldest Catholic school in Singapore , who had been admitted to Christ’s College, Cambridge University. He is also the Chair of the Scholarship Selection Committee. He is also the Chairman of Christ’s College, Cambridge Fund (Singapore) Limited, a Singapore charity, which seeks to encourage, promote and strengthen the relationship between Christ's College, Cambridge and Singapore.

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 as 2021 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 by IFLR1000 as 2020 Highly Regarded Lawyer for Banking
  • Listed by IFLR1000 as 2019 Highly Regarded Lawyer for Banking
  • 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)
  • Listed by IFLR1000 as 2018 Highly Regarded Lawyer for Banking
  • "…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
  • Audit Committee Member of the Singapore Law Society
  • Member of the Singapore Institute of Directors
  • Appointed by the 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, to identify contributing factors and systemic gaps, and to recommend improvements to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.

Publication

Selected Publications

  • Co-author, "Singapore Amends Payment Services Act," Duane Morris Alert, January 27, 2021
  • Co-author, "Singapore Exchange Imposes Stricter Regulations for Auditors, Valuers and Valuation Reports," Duane Morris Alert, January 21, 2021
  • Quoted in "The Force of Force Majeure in a Pandemic World," Private Equity Wire, September 11, 2020
  • Co-author, "Singapore's VIMA vs. the World – A Multijurisdictional Comparative Review of the VIMA Documents," Duane Morris Alert, September 8, 2020
  • Co-author, "How to Move Your Company to Singapore – A Legal Perspective," Duane Morris Bylined Articles, June 22, 2020
  • Co-author, "COVID-19 Pandemic: Relief Measures for Businesses in Myanmar," Duane Morris Alert, May 1, 2020
  • Co-author, "Validity of Electronic Signatures in Myanmar," Duane Morris Alert, April 28, 2020
  • Co-author, "Loan Obligations: Relief Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Duane Morris Alert, April 22, 2020
  • Co-author, "COVID-19 in Myanmar: Impact on Commercial Contracts and Employment," Duane Morris Alert, April 14, 2020
  • Co-author, "COVID-19 in Singapore: What Can Commercial Tenants Do?" Duane Morris Alert, April 3, 2020
  • Quoted in "'No Win, No Fee' Set-ups Could Change Law Practice," The Straits Times, September 4, 2019
  • Co-author, "The Singapore Convention on Mediation: Charting a New Path for Dispute Resolution," Duane Morris Alert, August 16, 2019
  • Quoted in "SJI Partners Cambridge to Offer New Scholarship," The Straits Times, October 30, 2017
  • Quoted in, "29 Companies Added to SGK Watch-list," The Straits Times, June 5, 2017
  • Quoted in, "Bankruptcy Filing Will Give Ezra Room to Restructure," The Straits Times, March 20, 2017
  • Featured in, "PACIFIC STAR DEVELOPMENT: Targeting ASEAN Real Estate Markets," Next Insight, February 19, 2017
  • Featured in "HKEX mulls over plan for dual-class shares again," The Straits Times, January 20, 2017
  • Featured in "Shanghai boosts IP efforts," China Daily, April 22, 2015
  • Co-author of "The Code of Corporate Governance" chapter in Woon's Corporations Law
  • Singapore contributor for "Getting the Deal Through – Corporate Governance"

Listed Directorship

    Current

  • FJ Benjamin Holdings Limited – Non-Executive Director
  • Yangzhijiang Finanacial Holding Ltd - Non-Executive Director
  • Yangzhijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) Ltd - Non-Executive Director
  • LHN Logistics Limited - Lead Independent 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)

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • 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


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.

Duane Morris LLP is a law firm based in the United States founded in 1904. We use "Duane Morris" to refer to Duane Morris LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership, and affiliated entities that practice under the name Duane Morris or a similar name.

To the extent that the representative matters listed on this website above fall outside the context of “permitted areas of legal practice” within the meaning of Section 36A of the Legal Profession Act (Chap. 161), they have been conducted by the above named lawyer in his/her capacity as an Advocate & Solicitor of Selvam LLC, a Singapore law practice of the Joint Law Venture.