Legal Private Practice Market & Salary Report Singapore. taylorroot.com

Transcription

1 Legal Private Practice Market & Salary Report 2012 Singapore

2 Introduction & market overview The legal market in Singapore continued to grow during 2011 and into 2012 despite the global slowdown witnessed in late A number of international firms opened offices, including Olswang, LG, Collas Crill, Mayer Brown JSM, Squire Sanders, Withers and Reynolds Porter Chamberlain. Rumours continue of other new entrants. Whilst these latest developments point to a very vibrant legal scene it is worth remembering that the market is still small in comparison to other major markets such as London and Hong Kong. In Singapore, the largest international firm still only boasts around 80 lawyers and the average sized firms have no more than lawyers. Six international firms have licences to practice Singapore law (the QFLP licence). The remainder have either foreign law licences or practice in a joint venture with local law firms. A big talking point was the proposed merger between Allen & Overy and local firm Allen & Gledhill, which ultimately did not happen. This could have been the catalyst to a more open legal market in Singapore and further developments of this nature are anticipated. Litigation can still only be practised in local law firms, although Singapore continues to expand as a centre of international arbitration. Growth over the last 18 months has been cautious and firms generally only have less than a handful of specific requirements at any one time. The bar continues to be high and only very strong foreign lawyers are able to secure roles here. Singapore remains the key hub for south east Asia: Indonesia provides the bulk of work followed by India, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand. The stability and prosperity of this region remains key for the ongoing business and future growth of international law firms in Singapore. Ultimately, the long-term outlook is positive. Compensation, benefits & bonuses Salaries at most firms in 2012 were only reviewed to take into account inflation. The market continues to be gripped by global uncertainty and it therefore remains an employer s market from a remuneration perspective.

3 UK Law Firms Demand in the international law firms is primarily for corporate, banking, project finance, asset finance, energy and arbitration lawyers. UK Firms PQE Average salary SG$ Upper Quartile NQ 100, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,000 - In the UK law firms, Singapore qualified lawyers and other lawyers who have not completed two-year training contracts are typically required to take a discount on their qualification date. For Singapore qualified lawyers, 18 months is a typical discount. So, for example, a 2-3 year qualified Singapore lawyer may only be regarded as an NQ-1 PQE by the UK law firms. - Salaries are paid in Singapore dollars. Lawyers relocating to Singapore from overseas will typically receive a relocation allowance and all lawyers should receive private medical care. However, firms generally do not pay housing allowances or pay into pension schemes. - Bonuses will typically be around 10-15% of annual basic salary on average (similar to London). - On current exchange rates, salaries in Singapore are similar to London. Tax rates are much lower than London or Australia and most associates rarely pay more than 15% in tax. Jamie Newbold.sg

4 US Law Firms US Firms 1st year 160,000 2nd year 170,000 3rd year 185,000 4th year 210,000 5th year 230,000 6th year 250,000 7th year 265,000 8th year 280,000 Annual salary US$ - At the top end, US law firms in Singapore pay New York rates as above - Bonuses can be very good depending upon performance and targets - Other US firms will pay a Mid-Atlantic rate which is somewhere between the New York rates and the UK firms - In 2011 some US firms converted their US dollar salaries to Singapore dollar salary at very attractive exchange rates for the lawyers. Singapore Law Firms The Singapore law firms generally only hire Singapore qualified lawyers. Singapore Firms NQ 50,000-60,000 1st year 60,000-70,000 2nd year 70,000-90,000 3rd year 80, ,000 4th year 86, ,000 5th year 98, ,000 6th year 140, ,000 7th year 170, ,000 Annual salary SG$ - In 2010, the top Singapore law firms increased their basic salaries partly to bridge the gap with the international law firms. - Although Singaporean law firms pay lower base salaries than the international law firms, the bonus component is greater. Bonuses are typically around 2-4 months of annual base salary, which will be paid in one or two tranches during the succeeding year.

5 Contact For more information on living and working on Singapore or if you are interested in relocating to the area please contact: Jamie Newbold E: Alex Wiseman E: Established in the 1980s, Taylor Root is now widely recognised as being one of the world s leading legal recruiters. Operating out of offices in the UK, Dubai, Asia and Australia, we are ideally placed to assist law firms, banks and companies with their legal recruitment on an international basis. Taylor Root has a strong track record in the recruitment of: Heads of legal and legal advisers; law firm associates and partners; contract/locum lawyers; paralegals; company secretaries and compliance professionals. Taylor Root is a member of The SR Group. The SR Group is a specialist recruitment consultancy dedicated to raising standards in the business environments that we serve. The sectors we cover include tax, legal, human resources, marketing, professional support and executive search, dealing with a substantial number of the world s leading professional partnerships, multi-national corporations and international banking groups as well as small to medium sized developing organisations. Recommend a friend We value personal recommendations very highly. If you refer to us an individual for whom we then find a new position, we will send you shopping vouchers to use at one of the following outlets: Royal Sporting House, Tung Lok Group, Isetan, Watsons, Robinsons, Golden Village. Terms & conditions apply. Contact our team now. London 95 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4HN T: +44 (0) Singapore Level 21 Prudential Tower 30 Cecil Street Singapore Dubai Suite 614, Liberty House DIFC PO Box T: Melbourne Level 2, Rialto North Tower 525 Collins Street Melbourne, VIC 3000 T: +61 (0) Hong Kong 1918 Hutchinson House 10 Harcourt Road, Central, Hong Kong T: Sydney Level 12, 25 Bligh Street Sydney NSW 2000 T: +61 (0) Taylor Root is a member of The SR Group.sg