Prolegis, a formal law alliance (FLA) partner of Herbert Smith Freehills, has appointed Daniel Chia as its new managing director, succeeding the founder and director, Ban Leong Oo, who has stepped down after 12 years.
Graeme Preston, Herbert Smith Freehills’ Asia managing partner, said: “Chia’s deep understanding of the Singapore market and his professional reputation in the region makes him an ideal successor, and we look forward to future growth together.”
Chia joined Prolegis in 2023, leading the firm’s litigation team, with expertise in dispute resolution, restructuring and insolvency, and government investigations and enforcement. He shared insights into the firm’s strategic direction, emphasising Singapore’s position as the legal hub for Southeast Asia.
“We want to develop practices that align with the government’s strategic positioning, which is facilitated by the creation of a comprehensive legal infrastructure to handle foreign investment, legal disputes and regional issues,” said Chia.
“I think the focus is to do good work for clients in regulated industries. Whether the clients need dispute and litigation support, or they need restructuring support or even regulatory outreach … We are aiming to be that kind of firm, on the cutting edge doing the most complex work for the most sophisticated clients.”
Chia added that Oo had built Prolegis from scratch, and the firm was deeply grateful for his leadership and camaraderie. “Through the FLA and more recent expansion he has laid a strong foundation for the next generation,” he said.
