Tan Cheng Han Reappointed as Law Society of Singapore President for 2027 as New Council Leadership Takes Shape

Senior Counsel Tan Cheng Han has been reappointed as president of the Law Society of Singapore for 2027, extending his leadership of the professional body after a year marked by internal disagreements, governance concerns and renewed debate over the independence of the legal profession.

The Law Society announced the new leadership appointments on November 10, confirming that Tan will continue working alongside Daniel Koh Choon Guan and Dinesh Singh Dhillon, who have both retained their positions as vice-presidents.

Remy Choo Zheng Xi, who was among the council members re-elected in October, has been appointed treasurer.

The appointments establish the leadership team that will guide Singapore’s legal professional body into 2027, following a closely watched council election and a year of significant institutional scrutiny.

Tan Promises Continued Commitment to the Rule of Law

Responding to his reappointment, Tan thanked fellow council members for their confidence and pledged to continue advancing the rule of law and protecting the interests of Singapore’s legal profession.

He said he would do his best to serve the legal community and uphold the responsibilities entrusted to the Law Society.

Tan is a Senior Counsel and senior consultant at WongPartnership. He also has an academic leadership background through his association with the National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Law.

His continued appointment comes at a particularly important time for the organisation, which has faced questions about leadership, workplace culture, governance and professional accountability.

Who Will Lead the Law Society in 2027?

The new leadership team includes:

President: Tan Cheng Han
Vice-President: Daniel Koh Choon Guan
Vice-President: Dinesh Singh Dhillon
Treasurer: Remy Choo Zheng Xi

The 21-member council also includes senior legal professionals appointed under the Legal Profession Act.

Senior Counsel Blossom Hing Shan Shan, Nicholas Jeyaraj Narayanan and Dinesh Singh Dhillon were appointed by Law Minister Edwin Tong. The council also co-opted Lim Seng Siew, Sarah Peggy Yee May Kuen and Joseph Liow Wang Wu.

Four new names joining the 2027 council include Senior Counsel Jimmy Yim, Debby Lim, Foo Hsien Weng and Siddartha Bodi.

The council is the Law Society’s highest governing body and is responsible for managing the organisation’s affairs and carrying out its statutory and professional responsibilities.

Reappointment Follows a Controversial Leadership Dispute

Tan’s continued leadership carries added significance because his appointment as president for 2026 followed a dispute over how the Law Society’s leadership should be selected.

In November 2025, Dinesh Singh Dhillon was initially chosen by the council to become president for 2026. However, his selection generated unease among some members because he was a statutory council member appointed by the Law Minister rather than someone elected directly to the council by Law Society members.

The disagreement raised broader questions about the independence of the Bar and the importance of elected representation in the organisation’s leadership.

More than 500 lawyers attended an extraordinary general meeting on December 22, 2025, where members considered a resolution addressing the dispute.

The resolution received 370 votes in favour and 58 against, with members supporting a requirement that the Law Society president must be an elected member of the council.

Dhillon subsequently agreed to step aside from the presidency in the interest of preserving unity within the profession. Tan then assumed the role, while Dhillon continued as vice-president.

The agreement helped bring the leadership dispute to a close and established a clearer expectation about who could serve as president.

October Election Set the Stage for the New Leadership

The latest appointments followed the Law Society’s annual council election in October 2026.

The election attracted considerable attention after a difficult year for the organisation, with prominent lawyers competing for council positions amid continuing discussions about governance and workplace concerns.

Senior Counsel Jimmy Yim and former vice-president Samuel Chacko were among the prominent candidates who secured seats.

The election was closely watched because the incoming council would have responsibility for choosing the organisation’s next president and other office-bearers.

Under the leadership arrangement established after the 2025 dispute, the president must be selected from among members elected to the council.

Law Society Faces Broader Questions About Trust and Accountability

Tan’s reappointment also comes as the Law Society continues to deal with scrutiny over allegations involving workplace conduct, leadership and governance.

An independent audit examined complaints and institutional practices covering the period from 2022 to 2025. The findings prompted calls from lawyers for greater transparency and accountability.

The matter later became more complicated when Singapore police began investigating certain issues raised in the audit report, resulting in restrictions on further publication or distribution of relevant report contents while the investigation remains ongoing.

These developments have placed additional attention on the organisation’s ability to strengthen internal governance, maintain professional standards and preserve confidence among its members.

The issues are significant because the Law Society is not simply a private association. It is a statutory professional body with responsibilities that include maintaining standards of conduct, supporting the legal profession and contributing to the administration of justice.

What Tan’s Second Year in Leadership Could Mean

Tan’s reappointment gives the Law Society continuity as it enters 2027, but the organisation still faces important challenges.

The new council will need to address questions about institutional accountability, professional working conditions, governance reforms and the confidence of lawyers in their representative body.

The leadership transition also provides an opportunity to demonstrate that the lessons from the previous year’s controversy have been translated into lasting changes.

For Singapore’s legal community, the central issue is not simply who occupies the president’s office. It is whether the Law Society can maintain the independence, credibility and public confidence expected of an institution entrusted with safeguarding the standards of the legal profession.

Tan now begins another year at the helm with those expectations firmly in focus.