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- Love, law and life: Alumna Kelly Tan reflects on her journey to Hong Kong
Love, law and life: Alumna Kelly Tan reflects on her journey to Hong Kong
By all accounts, Kelly Tan ’16 was living the life most law graduates aspire to. Fresh out of NUS Law, newly called to the Singapore Bar, and thriving in her role with the Litigation and Disputes Resolution team at Dentons Rodyk, she was firmly on track for a fulfilling legal career in Singapore. But as it turned out, life and love had other plans for her.
“My then fiancé was offered a role in Hong Kong and asked me to join him,” she shared. “I was hesitant at first as I wanted to continue building my career in Singapore and I wasn’t yet qualified to practise law in Hong Kong. But the stars aligned and I had the opportunity to join the Withers’ Litigation and Arbitration team in Hong Kong, so I grabbed the chance.”
This leap of faith allowed her to grow a global career and see a different side of the vibrant city, while fulfilling a long-time curiosity to live and work overseas.
Taking the Global Path
Incidentally, while she didn’t plan for it, Kelly’s journey overseas for work had its roots in her undergraduate years at NUS Law.
“I was not able to go on student exchange while I was at NUS Law, and that filled me with curiosity about what it would be like to live and work overseas,” she said. “So, when the chance came to move to Hong Kong, it was the perfect opportunity to experience the overseas life.”
However, this journey was not without its challenges. Kelly moved to the city in 2019, joined Withers, and sat for the Hong Kong Bar exams that same year. “It was tough having to juggle adapting to a new environment and job while studying for the Hong Kong Bar. However, looking back, I am glad that I took the leap of faith as my career in Hong Kong has been nothing short of fulfilling,” she shared.

In 2020, Kelly was officially called to the Hong Kong Bar and became a solicitor. “I was so excited that I could finally represent my clients in court hearings again, albeit with limited rights of audience in court,” she recalled.
Still, it took some adjustment to get used to a new legal system. “Even though Singapore and Hong Kong are both common law jurisdictions, the court practices are actually quite different,” she explained. “For example, in Singapore, we address judges as ‘Your Honour’, while in the Hong Kong High Court, we address them as ‘My Lord’ or ‘My Lady’. I must admit that for my first few court hearings, I did slip up and address the judge as ‘Your Honour’!”
Language also presented its own challenge. “Both Cantonese and English are official languages used in court, and judges have the discretion to use either or both during proceedings,” Kelly added. “It’s not uncommon for cross-examination of witnesses to be conducted in a mix of English and Cantonese. I still recall being anxious during my first trial in Hong Kong when I had to take notes of a cross-examination in Cantonese!”
In 2021, Kelly took the next big step in her career, joining the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team at Clifford Chance as a Senior Associate. Today, she works on complex, cross-border disputes, including some of the region’s largest insolvency matters, such as the liquidation of China Evergrande Group.
Her time overseas has also significantly shaped her perspective as a legal professional. “Working overseas has made me a more commercially minded lawyer after being exposed to different legal systems and business practices,” she reflected. “Being in a new environment has sharpened my ability to understand the broader business context in which legal decisions are made. I’ve learnt to think not just from a legal perspective, but also from a commercial one, and to consider how legal strategies can impact a client’s profitability, internal risk management and long-term goals.”
A Different Side of the City
Apart from expanding her horizons at work, living in Hong Kong has also opened her eyes to the beautiful nature that the country has to offer. Like many people, Kelly’s impressions of the city were of skyscrapers, densely packed buildings and a bustling city.

“However, after living and working here, I realised that Hong Kong has some of the most amazing natural scenery. From islands to country parks, there is so much to see and explore,” she shared.
She added, “I was never an outdoor person. However, things changed after I discovered how beautiful Hong Kong’s natural scenery is and, now, I have fallen in love with hiking! It allows me to recharge after a week of hard work and the views from the summit never fail to take my breath away.”
Nature aside, what Kelly enjoys most about working in Hong Kong is the vibrant legal community. “The industry is buzzing with activity. There are seminars, conferences and networking events for lawyers to attend and these are excellent opportunities to meet new people and expand my social circle.”
Crediting NUS Law

While reflecting on her professional development, Kelly noted that the globally-oriented curriculum laid the foundation for her success. “NUS Law places great emphasis on thinking critically and creatively, which are necessary skills for me to be a successful lawyer in an international firm, where coming up with commercial strategies that achieve the client’s objectives are integral to my work.”
Advice for the Next Generation
Her advice to students and young alumni considering a move abroad?
“Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone to take on new opportunities. Opportunity never knocks twice and if you miss the opportunity, you may be missing out on the biggest adventure of your life. To quote American author Hellen Keller: Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.