NUS Law announces the Stephen Brogan–Jones Day Legal Fellowship on the Rule of Law

Singapore, 10 December 2024 – The National University of Singapore Faculty of Law (NUS Law) has announced the establishment of a new legal fellowship – the Stephen Brogan–Jones Day Legal Fellowship on the Rule of Law. This Fellowship was established through a generous endowed gift of US$1 million from the Jones Day Foundation, a nonprofit organisation funded by Jones Day’s lawyers and staff.

The new Stephen Brogan–Jones Day Legal Fellowship on the Rule of Law will expand the partnership between the Jones Day Foundation, NUS Law and its Centre for Asian Legal Studies (CALS) by supporting rule-of-law research activities. Singapore’s legal system is widely recognised as one of the more durable systems of laws, institutions and norms, and the resulting trust in that system has been a critical ingredient in Singapore’s economic development and success.

To engage the wider Singapore legal community on important issues related to furthering the rule of law, the appointed legal fellow will deliver a seminar or lecture of relevance to students and the legal profession. The Fellowship is expected to be awarded to a leading judge, practitioner or academic annually in perpetuity.

Professor Andrew Simester, Dean of NUS Law, said, “We are deeply grateful to the Jones Day Foundation for its generous gift and to Jones Day for its continuing commitment to the rule of law. This Fellowship will contribute significantly to deepening our understanding of what a robust and predictable legal system requires if it is to support a prosperous and harmonious society, as well as advance Singapore’s standing as a global hub for dispute resolution.”

The new Fellowship was announced at an event hosted by Jones Day in Singapore. Jones Day’s Singapore office is part of a global law firm with more than 2,400 lawyers in 40 offices across five continents.

Mr Murali Pillai SC, Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport, who attended the event as Guest-of-Honour, said, “Singapore is a steadfast champion of the rule of law, and we recognise that scholarly research and education play a critical role in its promotion. This Fellowship will help address pressing challenges facing our region and reaffirm the centrality of the rule of law as a cornerstone of peace, stability, and progress. It will help foster fresh perspectives, nurture future leaders and deepen engagement on issues that matter to the region and the world”.

This generous gesture by the Jones Day Foundation builds on its previous US$2 million gift to NUS Law for the establishment of two visiting professorships each year: The Jones Day CALS Visiting Professorship on the Rule of Law in Asia and the Jones Day Visiting Professorship on Comparative Commercial Law, both of which were established at NUS Law in 2022.

Since then, NUS Law has hosted distinguished legal practitioners from around the world, including Justice Ayesha Malik from the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Lady Mary Arden, former UK Supreme Court Justice, Honourable Geoffrey Ma, Former Chief Justice of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal and Tun Richard Malanjum, Ombudsperson to the United Nations Security Council and (Retired) 9^th Chief Justice of Malaysia. Each of these appointees have delivered a public lecture at NUS Law and engaged with local academics, students and practitioners to enrich the learning and understanding of the rule of law in the local and international context.

Mr Greg Shumaker, Jones Day’s Global Managing Partner, said that the new Stephen Brogan–Jones Day Legal Fellowship on the Rule of Law will promote the study and critical examination of this important subject.

“Jones Day’s former Managing Partner Steve Brogan has been a tireless advocate for the rule of law and the important role it plays in economic development, alleviating poverty and advancing human dignity. This Fellowship will promote the study and critical examination of this important subject and help enable others to follow in Steve’s footsteps in Singapore and across the world.

“January 2025 marks Jones Day’s twenty-fifth year in Singapore. We have witnessed the indisputable and profound impact Singapore’s strong rule of law tradition has had on a nation’s economic growth and stability, and we are proud of the part we have played in supporting the rule of law here. Given our ongoing commitment to supporting future leaders in upholding justice and promoting the rule of law, we are also proud of the Jones Day Foundation for making this Fellowship possible and furthering NUS Law’s excellent work.”