Oaks Legal LLC

06/09/2026

We are pleased to welcome Basil Hwang as one of our lawyers to Oaks Legal LLC.

Basil is a financial services and financial markets specialist with experience across both contentious and non-contentious matters, including financial disputes, regulatory investigations, restructuring, insolvency, financial fraud, fintech, blockchain and cryptocurrency matters.

Admitted in Hong Kong, England & Wales, and Singapore, and fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, Basil brings valuable cross-border experience to the firm.

We are delighted to have him with us and look forward to his contributions to our clients and the team.

https://lnkd.in/eK2gkccQ

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17/08/2026

Mike Chiam join our team in July and we are pleased to welcome Mike Chiam to Oaks Legal LLC.

Mike brings strong experience in corporate advisory, fintech, financial services regulation, venture capital, private equity, and technology-driven businesses. Recognised by leading legal directories including The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and IFLR1000, he is known for combining regulatory insight with practical, commercial advice.

We are delighted to have Mike join us and look forward to the value he will bring to our clients and the firm.

https://www.oakslegal.com.sg/our-team/mike-chiam

29/05/2026

New corporate law changes took effect on 6 May 2026, with important implications for directors, shareholders, and companies in Singapore. From stricter penalties for breaches of directors’ duties to new approval requirements for selective share buybacks, these amendments reinforce the importance of staying ahead on governance and compliance.

Our latest article highlights the key changes and what companies should be reviewing now.

Read more: https://www.oakslegal.com.sg/post/new-corporate-law-changes-effective-6-may-2026-what-directors-and-companies-need-to-know

27/05/2026

Cross-border M&A continues to evolve, with greater regulatory scrutiny, deal-structure considerations, and emerging risks across jurisdictions. In this Global Law Experts Roundtable Interview on M&A Law, our Managing Director, Soo Chye LEE, joins the conversation to share practical perspectives from Singapore and the wider ASEAN region on navigating complex transactions with clarity and confidence.

Watch the roundtable here: https://globallawexperts.com/video/global-law-experts-roundtable-interview-on-ma-law/

25/05/2026

99:1 arrangements- is there any room left for planning?

The recent Court of Appeal decision in Wong Mei Lee Millie v Ngor Shing Rong Jake [2026] SGCA 27 has provided important “tentative observations” on the continued scrutiny of 99:1 property structures.

While the case ultimately turned on resulting trust principles and the parties’ intentions, the Court’s comments on illegality and what may amount to tax evasion are likely to guide practitioners and property investors moving forward.

The factual backdrop may sound familiar: a residential property registered in 99:1 proportions, despite disproportionate financial contributions, with an implicit understanding that the structure could facilitate a future “decoupling” exercise.

The key takeaway is this: such arrangements are unlikely to be treated as benign planning tools. Where a structure is contemplated in a way that could result in understamping or avoidance of Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD), it may attract close judicial and regulatory scrutiny.

The judicial tone in the case is unmistakable, such arrangements sit on legally precarious ground. This decision may have effectively driven the final nail into the coffin for using nominal 1% ownership as a stepping stone to a clean exit and a future “first-time buyer” position.

The important question now is not simply whether a 99:1 arrangement is technically possible, but whether it can withstand a substance-over-form challenge from both the courts and IRAS.

When does legitimate tax planning cross the line into tax evasion?

Can a genuine 99:1 arrangement, supported by clear commercial reasons unrelated to stamp duty mitigation, still be upheld?

And what would amount to a genuine arrangement?

For property investors and advisors, the message is clear: form alone will not be enough.

Do contact our Tax, Real Estate, and Corporate & Commercial Advisory teams if you would like to discuss how this may affect your property or investment structures.

25/05/2026

We attended the “Reinventing the Tax Landscape: Get Future Ready!” conference today, organised by the Singapore Tax Academy as part of its 20th anniversary.

There were many thoughtful perspectives shared by speakers across the industry from regulators and policy makers from IRAS, the OECD and the UN, academics and practitioners. It is always useful to hear how others are navigating an increasingly complex tax environment.

One point that stood out was that tax certainty remains a key goal for IRAS and other regulators. Another was the use of AI in tax administration.

The topics in this conference reinforce what we see often in practice - getting the tax analysis right early in a transaction, whether local or cross-border, makes a real difference. It is not just about efficiency. It also helps avoid unnecessary leakage and, importantly, reduces the risk of disputes down the line.

At Oaks Legal, we are very mindful of this in our work. We regularly collaborate with specialist partners, both in Singapore and across jurisdictions through our network, to help clients navigate these issues in a practical and commercially sensible way.

If you are working through a transaction or restructuring, or would simply like a second pair of eyes on the tax angle, feel free to reach out to our team. We would be glad to have a conversation.

22/05/2026

Oaks Legal LLC is pleased to be in Munich for the latest Mackrell International Legal Network conference, with our Managing Director Soo Chye LEE and Arthur Yap attending on behalf of the firm.

As the Singapore member firm of Mackrell International, Oaks is committed to supporting clients who require trusted legal advice across 90+ jurisdictions. Lee, who sits on the International Committee together with Yang Jun representing the APAC firms, also joined this morning’s panel discussion on how member firms can better support one another and serve clients across borders. It has been a pleasure reconnecting with colleagues from around the world.

Our thanks to SLB Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH Lawyers for their excellent hospitality and organisation, and to Mackrell International for continuing to foster such a strong and collaborative network. Oaks was honoured to host the AGM last year, and it is a pleasure to continue being part of the network’s shared journey.

20/05/2026

Our Managing Director Soo Chye LEE Chye was pleased to attend the Spirit of Enterprise welcome lunch hosted in honour of its Patron, Mr Hong Tat Chee , Minister for National Development.

The session was a meaningful opportunity to hear more about SOE’s mission and ongoing initiatives, and to exchange views on the evolving entrepreneurship landscape in Singapore. The conversations also underscored the importance of continued collaboration between the business community, government agencies, and ecosystem partners in supporting enterprise development and keeping these efforts relevant.

As legal advisors to SOE, Oaks Legal is proud to support its work in honouring and inspiring entrepreneurship in Singapore, and we look forward to playing our part in strengthening the partnerships that help this mission endure.

13/04/2026

“When we assume the next generation is not ready, we may unintentionally shape the very outcome we fear.”

In this conversation, our Managing Director, Soo Chye LEE, joins Christopher Tan to reflect on how assumptions about the next generation can quietly affect succession outcomes. Their discussion highlights why succession planning is not only about structures and documents, but also about intentional conversations, preparation, and stewardship across generations.

At Oaks Legal LLC, we believe legacy planning requires both clarity of purpose and careful legal planning. We are glad to be part of this important dialogue on why meaningful succession planning calls for both a trusted wealth adviser and a lawyer.

Watch here: https://lnkd.in/egag8eqJ

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gQgvHX5d

For more information: https://www.oakslegal.com.sg/inheritance-succession-legal-planning

10/04/2026

We are pleased to welcome Liang Liwen to Oaks Legal LLC. Called to the Singapore Bar in 2021, Liwen’s practice covers matrimonial and family law, private client disputes, civil and commercial disputes, real estate disputes, and criminal defence, with particular experience in divorce proceedings involving substantial asset pools and sensitive children’s issues. Effectively bilingual in English and Mandarin, she is well placed to assist a broad range of clients, including Chinese-speaking clients, and we look forward to the contributions she will make to our team and our clients.

https://www.oakslegal.com.sg/our-team/liang-liwen