In the closing years of Singapore’s last decade as a colony, the private legal sector was still bifurcated into a handful of big European firms and many smaller local firms.

However, even in the Singapore bastions of English practice, like Drew & Napier, change was visible.

In 1956, Phyllis Tan would join Eber & Tan as a legal assistant. In 1957, Joseph Grimberg would be the first “local hire” in Drew & Napier.

And in 1958, Alec Fergusson would be the last “expatriate hire” in Drew & Napier. The parallel paths of their early careers illuminate the changing face of Singapore private practice.

Listen to Chapter Six:

You didn’t come this far to stop

Phyllis Tan

Born in Singapore on 15th June 1933, Phyllis Tan attended Raffles Girls’ School. She was called to the Bar at Middle Temple in 1955 and was admitted to the Singapore Bar in May 1956. She began her career as a legal assistant in Eber & Tan. Upon Mr Eber’s death, the firm was called Tan & Tan, where she practised with her father. She was a part-time lecturer at the University of Singapore from 1973 to 1977. She was the first female President of the Law Society of Singapore in 1979. Tan retired in 1998.

Joseph Grimberg SC

Born in Singapore on 8th April 1933, Joseph Grimberg read law at Cambridge and was admitted to the Bar in October 1957. He joined Drew & Napier as a legal assistant and was the first local senior partner of Drew & Napier at the tender age of 33. After 20 years as a senior partner, he was appointed a Judicial Commissioner in November 1987, aged 54. He served in that capacity until January 1990, after which he was made Senior Counsel. He was a keen hockey and cricket player. Grimberg passed away on 17 August 2017 at the age of 84.

Alec Fergusson

Born in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, on 14th March 1934, Alec Fergusson read law at Leeds University. His father was a solicitor who had influenced him into becoming a solicitor. He did national service in England between 1956 and 1958. He was interviewed in London for a position in Drew & Napier Singapore which he accepted. He arrived in Singapore in 1958 and started out as a legal assistant. He became partner in 1964 and was there until the end of 1983. The following year, he set up his own firm in Singapore. Fergusson passed away on 26th March 2000, aged 66.