Beyond borders: Alumna Gina Ding thrives as legal counsel in England

From Singapore to Birmingham, from litigator to in-house counsel, alumna Gina Ding ’19 has been purpose-driven in taking her legal career beyond borders. “Working overseas was both a personal dream and a professional challenge I wanted to pursue—I wanted to stretch myself, adapt to a new environment, and gain exposure,” she said.

Today she is a legal counsel at Goldman Sachs in Birmingham, where she serves as an advisor for the wealth management business across the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) region. However, at the start of her career, Gina intentionally pursued dispute resolution as she wanted to build a foundation in advocacy. She elaborated, “That initial interest really deepened through my exposure to moots… Even then, I had a sense that I might explore different practice areas later in my career.”

Indeed, while practising at Drew & Napier, she realised she preferred the advisory aspect of practice. “I liked being able to work with clients earlier in the process, to help consider issues and provide guidance before they escalated,” she explained. After four years, she decided to pursue a role that fit her preference. Things fell into place smoothly; a week before her move to the English city to be close to her sister’s family, she applied for the Goldman Sachs position, and later secured the role.

Now, eight months into this role, Gina thoroughly enjoys the collaborative nature of her work, which allows her to work closely with stakeholders to advise on transactions and strategic projects, as well as contribute to decision-making beyond a purely legal perspective.

A Different Slice of Life

Adapting to working and living in a different country inevitably comes with a learning curve, but Gina embraced the experience with openness and curiosity. One of the things she had to adjust was her communication style, observing that the British tend to be more polite and understated than the average Singaporean. “It took some time to adjust, but it’s helped me become a more thoughtful communicator. Being in a firm that celebrates diversity has also allowed me to adapt without feeling the need to change my communication style entirely,” she reflected.

Settling into life in Birmingham has been a rewarding experience for Gina. When asked about what she enjoys most about the city, she was hard-pressed to give an answer. “I can’t pick one! I like how accessible Birmingham is—everything within the city centre, from offices to museums, shops and the Chinese quarter, is within walking distance. There’s a thriving professional scene with great work opportunities, and people are down-to-earth and friendly. The city also offers plenty of parks and green spaces and, when spring and summer arrive, it really comes alive.”

The Law School Advantage

Thinking back to her undergraduate days, Gina shares that her desire to work overseas was, in part, inspired by her time at Stockholm University on a student exchange programme. That experience broadened her world views, as did her participation in the 2019 Jean-Pictet Competition held in Obernai, France, both of which are examples of the opportunities that NUS Law provides for intellectual and personal growth. The latter was a huge confidence booster, as her team got through to the finals. “It showed me that the training we received at NUS Law could stand up against the best globally, and that self-assurance has helped as I work abroad.”

In particular, she highlighted, “NUS Law trained me to think critically, work under pressure, and communicate clearly—skills that are crucial in an in-house role where you often need to provide practical advice quickly.”

Her most enduring memories of those days however, were the friendships made, as she fondly recalled playing ping-pong and late-night mugging sessions with peers. That sense of camaraderie is irreplaceable, translating beyond law school—while preparing for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) to be certified to practise in England and Wales, she and her friends who were also doing the SQE shared resources, and they kept one another motivated.

New Experiences, New Beginnings

Today Gina is thriving. Professionally, she has learnt to navigate ambiguity and build relationships across cultures. Personally, she has become more open-minded, adaptable and self-reliant. Working in England has been eye-opening and, though she misses the familiarity of home and friends, her life is all the richer for being immersed in a new environment. And that, in essence, is what has made it worthwhile for her to work abroad.

To those who are considering an overseas position, she has this to say: Everyone’s path looks a little different, and that’s okay. Be open to change, be willing to learn. Hearkening to her earlier words on her law school experience, she adds, “Trust that your law school training has prepared you more than you realise.” Gina has done just that and, in forging her own path, she is learning, contributing and broadening her experiences— and she is just getting started.