Description

Synopsis

Opportunities in TMT law exist in law firms and corporations, in the public sector, and in academia. In this session, we are fortunate to have our own Professor David Tan, along with 3 of our accomplished alumni, Yeong Zee Kin ’97, Elaine Tan ’96 and Steve Tan ’98, come together to offer you insights on the different careers in TMT they have chosen, and to share their perspectives on what you can do to prepare yourself if you aspire to a career within this vibrant and fast growing sector.

About the Speakers

Yeong Zee Kin
Chief Executive, Singapore Academy of Law
Executive Director, Singapore Mediation Centre

Mr Yeong Zee Kin holds a Master of Laws from Queen Mary University of London and completed his undergraduate law degree at the National University of Singapore. His experience as a Technology, Media and Telecommunications lawyer spans both the private and public sectors. He has spoken and published in areas relating to electronic evidence and intellectual property, as well as legal issues relating to Blockchain and AI deployment.

Zee Kin is an internationally recognized expert on AI ethics. He spearheaded the development of Singapore’s Model AI Governance Framework, which won the UNITU WSIS Prize in 2019. He is currently a member of the OECD Network of Experts on AI (ONE AI). In 2019, he was a member of the AI Group of Experts at the OECD (AIGO), which developed the OECD Principles on AI. These principles have been endorsed by the G20 in 2019. He was also an observer participant at the European Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on AI, which fulfilled its mandate in June 2020.

Zee Kin is also a well-regarded expert on data privacy issues. He has contributed to publications on legal issues relating to data privacy and has spoken at many well-recognised international and domestic platforms on this topic.

Elaine Tan
Senior Director, Legal at Razer

Elaine Tan is the Senior Director, Legal at Razer, the world’s leading lifestyle brand for gamers. Elaine is responsible for overseeing the intellectual property (IP) portfolio of Razer, with particular emphasis on brand protection, IP enforcement and intellectual asset management.

Prior to her role at Razer, Elaine practiced in a leading boutique IP firm in Singapore. Well regarded by clients and peers alike, Elaine has been cited as a leading lawyer in publications such as Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides (Trademarks, Women in Business Law), Asialaw Leading Lawyers (Trademarks) and Asia IP Experts (Litigation, Enforcement).

Before she entered private practice in 2000, Elaine served as a Deputy Public Prosecutor and State Counsel in the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Elaine is an active member of the legal fraternity, having participated in various committees and projects in Singapore Academy of Law and the Law Society of Singapore. She is also a facilitator for the Intellectual Property module of the Singapore Bar Course and an accredited mediator with the Singapore Mediation Centre.

Steve Tan
Deputy Head, Technology, Media & Telecommunications
Partner, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP

Steve is a Partner and Deputy Head in Rajah & Tann Singapore’s TMT practice group. Steve practices Data Protection, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Intellectual Property, and Digital Media / Entertainment law. He has been recognized as a leading lawyer for media and telecommunications in the PLC Cross-border Media and Communications Handbook; and for TMT work in the Asia Pacific Legal 500 2010 to 2023; the AsiaLaw Profiles; the Practical Law Company Which Lawyer; and Chambers Asia Pacific 2013 to 2023. Steve is also cited as a leading lawyer for Technology law, Media law and/or Information Technology law in Best Lawyers 2013 to 2023, in The International Who’s Who of Telecoms and Media Lawyers and in Who’s Who Legal : Data 2019 to 2022 for Telecoms & Media, Data Security, and Data Privacy & Protection. Steve is recognized as a Distinguished Practitioner for Technology and Communications in Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2020, 2021. Steve won Corporate Insider Business Excellence Award 2019 ‘Communication Lawyer of the Year – Singapore’. Steve is cited as “one of the best in the field of personal data protection” in Legal 500 2017. In Chambers Asia Pacific 2019, Steve receives praise from a client who characterises him as a “truly dedicated and passionate TMT lawyer. His knowledge in data protection laws and understanding of policymaking are key. His wealth of experience in this area of law gives me the confidence that I have been advised by one of the best in class.”. In Legal 500 2019, Steve is cited as being “one of the gurus in the field of data protection”. Steve achieved top 10 in the Financial Times (FT) Asia-Pacific Innovative Lawyers Award 2019. In Legal 500 2020, a client gave testimony that “Steve Tan has great depth of knowledge for PDPA matters. Strategic, sound in advice and very responsive.”.  Steve was additionally picked as a top 30 individual practitioner worldwide for Privacy and Data Protection in Best of the Best Global Expert Guide 2019. In 2022, Steve was awarded ALB Asia’s Top 15 TMT Lawyers 2022. Steve won ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2023’s award of Data Privacy and Protection Lawyer of the Year. Steve also achieved ALB Asia’s Top 15 TMT Lawyers 2023 list. Further, Steve achieved ALB’s list of Asia Super 50 TMT Lawyers 2023.

Steve co-founded and is a Director of (i) Rajah & Tann Technologies Pte Ltd, a company that provides technical solutions to help organisations navigate the digital economy such as contract management, e-discovery, e-learning; and (ii) Rajah & Tann Cybersecurity Pte Ltd, a company specialising in cybersecurity and data breach incident response.

Steve is Adjunct Professor of the Faculty of Law of the National University of Singapore, teaching Privacy & Data Protection law.

Steve is an Asia Advisory Board member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Steve is the author of a chapter in the 2^nd edition of the authoritative book ‘Data Protection Law in Singapore – Privacy and Sovereignty in an Interconnected World’ published in 2018 by the Singapore Academy of Law on the topic ‘Data Protection and New Technologies’. Steve is also a regular co-author of a chapter in the Personal Data Protection Commission’s yearly publication from 2017 to 2023.

About the Moderator

Professor David Tan
Co-Director, Centre for Technology, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and the Law, NUS Law

Professor David Tan holds a PhD from Melbourne Law School (2010), a LLM from Harvard (1999), and graduated with a LLB (First Class Honours)/BCom from the University of Melbourne (1995). David was formerly with the Singapore Administrative Service, serving as Director of Sports at Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports (MCYS) and Director of International Talent at Ministry of Manpower (MOM). He has also had work experience at McKinsey & Company and DBS Bank, and at Australian law firms now known as Allens, King & Wood Mallesons and Herbert Smith Freehills.

At NUS Law, David pioneered courses in Fashion Law, Entertainment Law, Freedom of Speech and Privacy & Data Protection Law. His areas of research cover personality rights, copyright, trademarks, freedom of expression, constitutional law and tort law, and his articles have been cited on a number of occasions by the Supreme Court of Singapore.

David has published over 100 articles, comments, book chapters and review essays since joining NUS Law in 2008.

David is also an accomplished fine art and fashion photographer having published a coffeetable book Visions of Beauty in association with Versace, and Tainted Perfection in collaboration with Cartier in Singapore. His works have appeared in Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Time and The New Yorker. In 2005, he produced and co-wrote the sports anthem Live Our Dreams for the SEA Games performed by Kit Chan.