People Profiles
Devathas Satianathan
Partner, International Arbitration and Construction & Projects
I am a partner with the arbitration and construction team. I joined the firm in 2016, after a stint with the Courts, and have faithfully stayed the course since.
Dev
My early years saw me serve on the Associates’ Management Committee, an elected body representing the associates’ interests. A one year stint turned to three.
Hindsight tells me the time flew by. And through it, I bonded meaningfully not within the AMC team, but also with fellow associates in other departments. It was also a chance to exercise leadership at an early stage. I also continued long-distance running, a love I thought, with trepidation, I would have to give up when I started work.
Hindsight (again) cautions against worrying too much. I run on an almost-daily basis now (one day of rest per week due to old age) and compete in marathons.
I have raced with R&T as well – we are reigning (and defending) champions at the Law Society Cross Country.
Never a dull moment.
Juay Wei Tian, Senior Associate, Commercial Litigation
I am a Senior Associate of the White Collar Crime Practice Group of Rajah & Tann. I graduated from NUS and was called to the Singapore bar in 2015. I then joined the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) as an Investigation Officer, before joining Rajah & Tann in late 2019.
Juay Wei Tian
Rajah & Tann was the natural choice for me as the Equity Partners from the White Collar Crime team used to be from the CAD themselves. The team also often represents the stakeholders in major high-profile and sophisticated cases. Over time, I begin to realise that being at Rajah & Tann allows me exposure beyond my practice area. The firm encourages cross-team collaboration. It is not uncommon for my team to work with other teams and advise clients on the regulatory or fraud aspects of their matters. Learning about the other practice groups which are each at the very forefront of their field, as well as the intersections between the different areas of law, has been eye-opening.
The firm also has a strong culture of training and mentorship, which are key to any young lawyer’s growth. My bosses are willing to invest time in our development by giving constructive feedback, and genuinely care for our well-being. The firm’s office set-up, both physically and virtually, encourages open conversations among colleagues. It helps also that we have an in-house café and it is easy to reach out to my seniors over coffee whenever I need guidance. In gist, Rajah & Tann is an excellent place to learn and grow as a lawyer.
Kelly Kang, Associate, Competition & Antitrust and Trade
I graduated from Queen Mary, University of London and was in the process of completing the UK Bar when I became interested in Competition, or sometimes better known as Anti-trust, Law. I applied to R&T for its top-tier Competition practice and have been training with the firm since the start of 2021.
Kelly Kang
The breadth and depth of R&T’s impressive range of practices is well-known and need not bear repeating. What bears mentioning, however, is the firm’s focus on its people. It is a place where efforts are recognized and opinions valued, no matter how junior you are. I have also found great mentors in my partners and associates, who make efforts to provide me with feedback on every piece of work. Few days go by where I do not learn something new and that, for me, is invaluable.
Another unique aspect about R&T is that it provides many opportunities to explore other areas of the law outside of your practice group. You will be exposed to trainings and seminars aplenty, all for you to attend should you choose to. As the firm sees to it that it remains at the forefront of the law, you may even find yourself taking an interest in an area you had never heard of, for example in our newly-founded sustainability practice.
All said, the firm will no doubt demand excellence from you. The good news is, it will provide the tools and resources to help you get there.
My typical day in the Competition practice can vary wildly. Some days you are jumping in and out of meetings with corporate clients advising on potential mergers and acquisitions, other days you may be in a room with a regulator for hours, defending your client in an investigation. Personally, the best bits are getting to sit back and have a drink with fellow colleagues, unwinding from yet another eventful day (even if only via Zoom these days).