Mavericks of the Bar: Trio from new boutique firms among top-rated lawyers

(From left) Dorothy Tan, Kelly Yap and Siraj Omar had each logged decades of practice at established firms before venturing out on their own, and the gamble has paid off.

PHOTOS: DOT CHAMBERS, MING LAW ASIA, SIRAJ OMAR LLC

Published Oct 29, 2026, 05:00 AM

Updated Oct 29, 2026, 05:00 AM

Nestled alongside the legal powerhouses in The Straits Times/Statista 2027 list of 20 top-rated lawyers are three new entrants whose firms were launched within the last 18 months.

Dorothy Tan, Kelly Yap and Senior Counsel Siraj Omar had each logged decades of practice at established firms before venturing out on their own, and the gamble has paid off. They made it into the industry’s premier peer- and client-nominated top-rated lawyers list.

They operate in very different legal domains – from delicate high-net-worth family disputes to international ship arrests to complex commercial litigation – but the trio show that specialised, lean boutique practices built on experience can match, if not better, traditional multi-practice firms.

Dorothy Tan & DOT Chambers: Human sensitivity meets technical rigour

Dorothy Tan says starting DOT Chambers was an opportunity to build a family law practice that believes not only in technical rigour but also human sensitivity. PHOTO: DOT CHAMBERS

Dorothy Tan says starting DOT Chambers was an opportunity to build a family law practice that believes not only in technical rigour but also human sensitivity.

After spending nearly 12 years co-heading the family law department at a prominent mid-sized firm, Dorothy Tan launched DOT Chambers in April 2026, alongside founding directors Charlene Nah and Mathea Lim.

The bond between co-founders grew through years of shared cases, complementary skills and a shared belief: Family law required a specialised practice designed around empathy as much as technical precision.

“Starting DOT Chambers was about more than just setting up another new firm,” Tan explained. “It was an opportunity to build a practice around how we believe family law should be practised: a legal team with technical rigour, but also with human sensitivity and an understanding of the wider human consequences of our clients’ decisions on their families.

“The boutique advantage lies in speed, adaptability and partner-level involvement on every file. A boutique firm can be focused and responsive. Decisions can be made quickly, systems can be designed around the needs of the practice, and the lawyers responsible for a matter can remain closely involved throughout. Being lean works only if every team member is fully invested in the firm’s vision. It requires absolute clarity on what the firm stands for, real trust among all teammates, financial and operational discipline, and consistent standards regardless of who on the team touches a file.”

She cautioned that “legal ability alone is not enough to build a reputable firm. What we are seeking to achieve here is a culture and discipline that allows us to build longevity”.

That technical rigour was recently displayed before the High Court in a high-stakes divorce involving complex cross-border assets. Representing the husband, Tan’s team secured 72.5% of the matrimonial assets, and the judgment established guidance on dividing non-liquid company shares in kind.

The main asset – shares subject to a deed of restriction on the Australian Securities Exchange – could not be sold immediately. DOT Chambers successfully argued that dividing the shares in kind was fairer than compelling a cash payout at a volatile snapshot price, ensuring that both spouses shared equally in market risks and rewards.

DOT Chambers secured second spot out of 34 seasoned firms in the family law field and emerged first in the field of inheritance and succession and private wealth management in The Straits Times/Statista Singapore’s Best Law Firms 2027 survey. Tan viewed this dual recognition as particularly meaningful.

“This reflects exactly where we want DOT Chambers to be: the firm families turn to across the full arc of relationship and generational wealth issues. Divorce, succession planning and multi-generational wealth are rarely separate problems, particularly once businesses, trusts or overseas assets are involved,” she said.

“This recognition for our young firm is meaningful affirmation that the market recognises what we are building, and that they value the ethos and decades of experience the founding lawyers bring to the table. For a lean, young firm to be named alongside long-established practices is both encouraging and humbling, and it is a reason to keep building with the same care for every client we serve. We are grateful to our clients, professional colleagues and team members who have placed their trust in us,” she added.

Kelly Yap & Ming Law Asia: Navigating the 3Ps of maritime law

Kelly Yap, a veteran with 26 years of experience in the field of maritime and shipping law, started Ming Law Asia, which has handled high-stakes enforcement actions across international waters. PHOTO: MING LAW ASIA

Kelly Yap, a veteran with 26 years of experience in the field of maritime and shipping law, started Ming Law Asia, which has handled high-stakes enforcement actions across international waters.

PHOTO: MING LAW ASIA

Among Singapore’s 20 top-rated lawyers, Kelly Yap alone flies the flag for lawyers specialising In maritime and shipping law. A veteran with 26 years of experience in the field, he launched the boutique Ming Law Asia just over a year ago. In addition to his individual honours, the firm also received a five-star rating in the category in the Singapore’s Best Law Firms 2027 survey.

The firm’s recognition reflects the trust placed in it by global maritime players. Since opening, Ming Law Asia has handled high-stakes enforcement actions across international waters.

Yap said: “I am deeply honoured to be on this list as such distinguished recognition could only have been possible through the glowing recommendations of my peers and clients. This achievement is even more remarkable given that Ming Law Asia opened its doors just over a year ago. We are also gratified at the immense trust that clients place in us.”

Since it started, the firm has assisted clients in the arrests of eight ships in Singapore and eight ships in other jurisdictions. Yap said: “We have also successfully applied for and obtained complex freezing injunctions as well as anti-suit injunctions.”

Reflecting on his career as well as his colleagues’ experience navigating the high seas of commercial practice, Yap attributes his longevity in the industry to passion, persistence and professionalism.

“We must be passionate about all things shipping, which is a lively and continuously evolving industry. Such passion drives the desire to be knowledgeable in the business of shipping and current in the practice of maritime law, which are what our clients expect of us.

“We must also be persistent, because it is inevitable that we will face choppy waters in our career as shipping lawyers. I recall demanding bosses, demanding clients, multiple deadlines, late nights, burnt weekends and, occasionally, working through family holidays. As shipping lawyers, we are effectively available to our clients 24/7 because of the international nature of our work. When an emergency happens somewhere in the world, regardless of the time of day or night, we have to be there for our clients if they need us. That is simply part of what we do.”

He regards the firm’s reputation as one of its most precious assets. “We must be professional in the way we conduct ourselves, whether appearing before the court or dealing with clients, opponents and colleagues. This helps us earn and maintain the respect and trust needed if we hope for long and successful careers in the practice of shipping law,” he said.

Seeing their role as going beyond giving technically correct legal advice, he said: “It is to give advice that is constructive as well as practical, helping clients navigate difficult situations and minimise loss during global disruptions such as what we are seeing around the Strait of Hormuz. In such cases, I believe clients will need even more help from their shipping lawyers.”

Keeping abreast of what is happening globally and understanding how these developments affect the shipping industry allows the firm to add real value to clients. “We can help them anticipate problems, sidestep avoidable disputes and, where disputes cannot be avoided, minimise their losses,” he added.

Siraj Omar & Siraj Omar LLC: High-stakes advocacy and public duty

Senior Counsel Siraj Omar launched his specialised firm to deliver targeted dispute resolution solutions in high-stakes matters, be it for sovereign states, multinationals or private citizens. PHOTO: SIRAJ OMAR LLC

Senior Counsel Siraj Omar launched his specialised firm to deliver targeted dispute resolution solutions in high-stakes matters, be it for sovereign states, multinationals or private citizens.

PHOTO: SIRAJ OMAR LLC

Siraj Omar brings more than 25 years of litigation experience to his independent disputes practice. Appointed senior counsel in 2019, Siraj launched his specialised firm in January 2025 with co-founder Allister Tan to deliver specialised dispute resolution solutions in high-stakes matters, be it for sovereign states, multinationals or private citizens.

His track record includes several precedent-setting decisions before the Singapore courts. He represented the owners of a hotel in Phuket in a claim under a business interruption insurance policy for losses arising from the forced closure of the hotel because of measures imposed by the Thai government to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

That was the first decision in the Singapore courts dealing with the applicability of business interruption clauses to the pandemic.

He said: “I am honoured to be recognised. But my colleagues and I are very much a team and the real credit therefore belongs to the whole firm. We are extremely grateful for the recognition. Along with the other accolades and awards we have been fortunate to receive, this validates our approach of placing our clients’ needs front and centre and working closely with our clients to achieve solutions that meet their commercial objectives. It serves as encouragement to continue to work hard.

“Our belief is to place the client first and to work towards achieving the client’s commercial objectives while always keeping within the bounds of our professional responsibilities.”

（从左至右）Dorothy Tan、Kelly Yap 和 Siraj Omar 在自立门户之前，都在知名律师事务所积累了数十年的从业经验，而他们的冒险也获得了回报。

图片来源：DOT CHAMBERS、MING LAW ASIA、SIRAJ OMAR LLC

发布于 2026 年 10 月 29 日上午 5:00

更新于2026年10月29日上午5:00

在《海峡时报》/Statista 2027 年评选出的 20 位顶级律师中，除了法律界的巨头之外，还有三位新晋律师，他们的律所都是在过去 18 个月内成立的。

Dorothy Tan、Kelly Yap 和资深律师 Siraj Omar 在自立门户之前，都曾在知名律师事务所积累了数十年的从业经验，而他们的冒险之举也获得了丰厚的回报。他们成功跻身业内由同行和客户共同提名的顶尖律师榜单。

他们从事的法律领域截然不同——从敏感的高净值家庭纠纷到国际船舶扣押，再到复杂的商业诉讼——但这三家律所表明，以经验为基础的专业化、精简的精品律所可以与传统的综合性律所相媲美，甚至做得更好。

多萝西·谭与DOT Chambers：人文关怀与技术严谨的结合

多萝西·谭表示，创办DOT Chambers律师事务所让她有机会打造一家不仅注重技术严谨，更重视人文关怀的家庭法律事务所。图片：DOT Chambers

Dorothy Tan 表示，创办 DOT Chambers 是一个建立家庭法律业务的机会，该业务不仅注重技术上的严谨性，也注重人文关怀。

在一家知名的中型律师事务所担任家庭法律部门负责人近 12 年后，Dorothy Tan 于 2026 年 4 月与创始董事 Charlene Nah 和 Mathea Lim 一起创办了 DOT Chambers。

联合创始人之间的联系是通过多年的共同办案、互补的技能和共同的信念而加深的：家庭法需要一种以同理心和技术精确性为核心的专业实践。

“创办 DOT Chambers 不仅仅是成立另一家新律所，”谭解释说。“这是一个机会，让我们围绕我们认为的家庭法律实践方式来构建一种实践模式：一支技术严谨的法律团队，同时也具备人文关怀，并理解客户的决定对其家庭产生的更广泛的人性影响。”

精品律所的优势在于速度、适应性和合伙人对每个案件的全程参与。精品律所能够专注于核心业务并快速响应。决策可以迅速做出，系统可以根据律所的实际需求进行定制，负责案件的律师可以全程密切参与。精简高效只有在每位团队成员都完全认同律所愿景的情况下才能奏效。这需要对律所的宗旨有清晰的认识，团队成员之间建立真正的信任，严格遵守财务和运营纪律，并且无论团队中谁经手案件，都必须遵循一致的标准。

她告诫说：“仅凭法律能力不足以建立一家声誉卓著的律所。我们在这里追求的是一种能够让我们长久发展的文化和纪律。”

这种严谨的技术水平最近在高等法院一起涉及复杂跨境资产的高风险离婚案中得到了充分体现。谭律师团队代表男方，成功争取到72.5%的夫妻共同财产，该判决也为非流动性公司股份的实物分割提供了指导。

主要资产——受澳大利亚证券交易所限制性契约约束的股票——无法立即出售。DOT Chambers成功辩称，以实物分割股票比强制以波动剧烈的瞬时价格进行现金支付更为公平，从而确保夫妻双方平等地承担市场风险和收益。

在《海峡时报》/Statista新加坡2027年度最佳律师事务所调查中，DOT Chambers在34家经验丰富的律师事务所中，于家庭法领域位列第二，并在继承法和私人财富管理领域荣膺第一。Tan认为这两项荣誉意义非凡。

“这正体现了我们希望DOT Chambers成为的那种律师事务所：一家能够解决家族关系和代际财富问题全方位问题的律师事务所。离婚、继承规划和多代财富很少是彼此独立的问题，尤其是在涉及企业、信托或海外资产时，”她说道。

“对于我们这家年轻的律所而言，这份认可意义非凡，它肯定了市场对我们所做工作的认可，也肯定了他们对我们律所理念的重视，以及创始律师们数十年来积累的丰富经验。对于一家精简的年轻律所而言，能够与历史悠久的律所并肩齐名，既令人鼓舞，也让我们深感荣幸。这激励着我们继续秉持同样的用心服务每一位客户。我们衷心感谢客户、专业同事和团队成员对我们的信任。”她补充道。

Kelly Yap & Ming Law Asia：驾驭海事法的3P原则

拥有26年海事和航运法领域经验的资深律师叶凯莉(Kelly Yap)创办了明氏亚洲律师事务所(Ming Law Asia)，该事务所曾处理过多起涉及国际水域的高风险执法案件。图片：明氏亚洲律师事务所

拥有 26 年海事和航运法领域经验的资深律师 Kelly Yap 创办了 Ming Law Asia 律师事务所，该事务所处理了国际水域中高风险的执法行动。

图片：明罗亚洲

在新加坡排名前20位的律师中，只有叶凯利(Kelly Yap)在海事和航运法领域独占鳌头。这位拥有26年从业经验的资深律师于一年多前创立了精品律师事务所——明律师事务所亚洲分所(Ming Law Asia)。除了他个人获得的荣誉外，该事务所还在2027年新加坡最佳律师事务所评选中荣获该类别五星级评级。

该律所获得的认可反映了全球海事参与者对其的信任。自成立以来，明律师事务所亚洲分所已处理了多起涉及国际水域的高风险执法案件。

叶律师表示：“能够入选这份榜单，我深感荣幸。如此殊荣，唯有同行和客户的极力推荐才能成就。考虑到明律亚洲成立至今仅一年多，这一成就更显难能可贵。同时，我们也衷心感谢客户对我们的信任。”

自成立以来，该律所已协助客户在新加坡扣押了八艘船舶，并在其他司法管辖区扣押了八艘船舶。叶先生表示：“我们也成功申请并获得了复杂的冻结令以及反诉讼令。”

回顾自己的职业生涯以及同事们在商业实践的汪洋大海中摸爬滚打的经历，叶先生将自己在业界的长久发展归功于热情、坚持和专业精神。

“我们必须对航运业充满热情，这是一个充满活力且不断发展的行业。这种热情驱使我们渴望了解航运业务并掌握最新的海事法律实践，而这正是我们的客户对我们的期望。”

“我们必须坚持不懈，因为作为海事律师，我们的职业生涯难免会遇到坎坷。我记得那些要求苛刻的老板、要求苛刻的客户、多重截止日期、熬夜加班、牺牲周末，有时甚至要牺牲与家人共度的假期。由于我们工作的国际性，作为海事律师，我们实际上需要全天候为客户提供服务。当世界任何地方发生紧急情况时，无论白天黑夜，只要客户需要我们，我们都必须挺身而出。这只是我们工作的一部分。”

他认为律所的声誉是其最宝贵的资产之一。“无论是在法庭上出庭，还是与客户、对方律师和同事打交道，我们都必须以专业的态度行事。这有助于我们赢得并保持尊重和信任，而这对于我们在海事法律领域拥有长久而成功的职业生涯至关重要。”他说道。

他认为律师的职责不仅限于提供技术上正确的法律建议，还表示：“律师应该​​提供建设性和实用性的建议，帮助客户应对困境，并在类似霍尔木兹海峡这样的全球性动荡中最大限度地减少损失。在这种情况下，我认为客户将更需要他们的海事律师的帮助。”

密切关注全球动态并了解这些发展对航运业的影响，使公司能够为客户创造真正的价值。“我们可以帮助客户预见问题，避免不必要的纠纷，并在纠纷无法避免的情况下，最大限度地减少他们的损失，”他补充道。

Siraj Omar & Siraj Omar LLC：高风险的倡导和公共责任

资深律师西拉杰·奥马尔 (Siraj Omar) 创办了自己的律师事务所，专门为主权国家、跨国公司和私人公民等高风险案件提供有针对性的争议解决方案。图片：SIRAJ OMAR LLC

资深律师 Siraj Omar 创办了自己的专业律师事务所，旨在为主权国家、跨国公司或私人公民提供高风险案件的针对性争议解决解决方案。

照片：SIRAJ OMAR LLC

Siraj Omar拥有超过25年的诉讼经验，并将其运用到他的独立争议解决业务中。Siraj于2019年被任命为高级律师，并于2025年1月与联合创始人Allister Tan共同创立了他的专业律师事务所，旨在为主权国家、跨国公司或私人公民等高风险案件提供专业的争议解决解决方案。

他的过往业绩包括在新加坡法院做出的多项具有里程碑意义的判决。他曾代表普吉岛一家酒店的业主，就因泰国政府为应对新冠疫情而采取的措施导致酒店被迫关闭所造成的损失，根据营业中断保险单提出索赔。

这是新加坡法院首次就业务中断条款在疫情期间的适用性作出裁决。

他说：“我很荣幸获得这份认可。但我和我的同事们是一个紧密合作的团队，因此真正的荣誉属于整个公司。我们对这份认可深表感激。连同我们之前获得的其他荣誉和奖项，这证明了我们始终将客户需求放在首位，并与客户紧密合作，寻求满足其商业目标的解决方案。这激励着我们继续努力工作。”

“我们的理念是客户至上，努力实现客户的商业目标，同时始终恪守我们的职业操守。”