Interview with Ng Pei Tong

Ng Pei Tong (Director)

“…the training to be a lawyer and the practise of law, equips one with the ability to consider matters from multiple perspectives and to persuade others to see things from the perspective that I would like them to.”

We speak with Ng Pei Tong who joins us as Director. With his expertise in corporate finance and corporate and commercial transactions, his arrival bolster’s the firm’s corporate and commercial practice.

Tell me more about yourself

Law is actually my second career. Before commencing legal practice, I read Mathematics under a Public Service Commission scholarship and was a gifted education teacher teaching Mathematics in one of the top girls’ school in Singapore.

I am an avid Table Tennis player and I am currently the Convenor for the sport in the Sports Committee of the Law Society of Singapore.

What inspired you to become a lawyer?

Someone whom I have a lot of respect for once told me that it’s no use just having good ideas – what’s equally, if not more important, is to package the ideas in a way that makes it most likely for whoever the ideas are presented to, to agree with and adopt the ideas.

I had thought, and I am now still of the belief, that the training to be a lawyer and the practise of law, equips one with the ability to consider matters from multiple perspectives and to persuade others to see things from the perspective that I would like them to.

What are your areas of specialisation?

I specialise in corporate finance, corporate and commercial transactions in Singapore and in the region, including listings, equity and debt issues, reverse takeovers, mergers and acquisitions (both public and private), joint ventures, and private equity and venture capital investments.

What was one case you handled that left a lasting impression on you?

It involved a matter where a lodgement fee was to be paid to one of the regulators in Singapore. There appeared to me to be some scope to support the view, based on my interpretation of the relevant rules, that a lower lodgement fee was payable. We decided to write in to the regulator, who agreed with our interpretation and as a result, the lodgement fee the client had to pay was only a fraction of what it would have to pay had we not consulted the regulator.

The matter taught me to not blindly conform to market practice or precedent, but to question if there are other and/or more efficient ways of looking at similar matters. It also served as a useful precedent for subsequent similar matters that I or my team members had to work on.

What gives you the most satisfaction in your work?

Challenging the conventional way, and finding more efficient ways, of doing things.

How do you handle the stresses of work?

Doing and watching sports. Other than Table Tennis, I also enjoy running and soccer.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

Hanging out with my family and friends, running and playing Table Tennis and soccer.