Deborah Barker has stepped down as Withers KhattarWong’s managing partner, passing the baton to Shashi Nathan and Daniel Yong, effective 31 March.
Barker said: “With a great sense of pride, I now entrust the leadership of the practice to Nathan and Yong and am confident that they will continue to build on this momentum and steer Withers KhattarWong into its next phase of growth.”
Having become one of the first female managing partners of a major law firm in Singapore in 2014 at KhattarWong, Barker excelled in the position. That year, she also led the move towards a formal alliance with Withers, resulting in the formation of Withers KhattarWong.
Margaret Robertson, global CEO of Withersworldwide, said: “[Barker’s] tireless efforts and commitment to legal excellence embody the values that make the firm thrive. This is an exciting new chapter led by Nathan and Yong. With their fresh perspectives and strategic vision, I believe they will embrace emerging challenges and continue to bridge the local and global aspects of the firm’s operations.”
Nathan will lead the Singapore white-collar defence and investigations practice, and Yong will be the new head of the Singapore funds practice. Both will serve as joint managing partners.
With more than 30 years of experience in white-collar and criminal law in Singapore, Nathan is known for his expertise in advising clients on fraud, corruption, insider trading and market manipulation.
“It is a privilege to step into this role alongside Daniel. Deborah has been an extraordinary leader, having propelled Withers KhattarWong to success over the years. Building on this strong foundation, I am committed to steering our team towards new opportunities, embracing innovation and ensuring our clients receive the best legal solutions,” Nathan said.
Yong’s expertise lies in investment funds, cross-border private equity and M&A transactions, managing complex mandates across various international firms and regions including Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India and China.
“I am humbled and honoured to step into this new role … Together with Shashi, I will continue to pursue strategic growth and innovation at Withers KhattarWong. Our clients and our people are important to us, and we will endeavour to provide them with our best service and care. We will explore strategic partnerships in overseas markets like Indonesia, Vietnam and India,” Yong said.
