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SALARY GUIDE
IN-HOUSE LEGAL
BeathChapman is pleased to announce that the outlook for 2015 is more positive based on recent financial predictions and
market signals. Despite a rather lacklustre 2014, our Commerce & Industry and Legal desks have seen noticeable increase in
recruitment mandates, including retained assignments, in the first 4 months of the year.
A strong pipeline of opportunities from European and US multinationals across industries provides optimism for legally
trained professionals in Singapore. Lawyers with capital markets and corporate finance experience remain highly sought
after by Singapore listed companies and conglomerates alike. Practicing lawyers under 8 years of PQE may want to evaluate
the option of moving in-house due to the healthy recruitment forecast for in-house corporates. Lawyers from leading local
and boutique firms are well poised to take up in-house positions.
2015 has also seen a good mix of newly created Lead Sole legal or “greenfield” roles as organisations in Singapore and Asia
recognise the economic value add of the in-house legal function. These roles tend to be most common with clients already
headquartered in Singapore or whose SEA/APAC HQ is in Singapore/Hong Kong looking for counsels with prior in-house
corporate and commercial expertise in addition to pedigree law firm training. Increasingly, positions tend to have a greater
regional focus as corporates seek to invest and diversify throughout Asia. Regulatory/Compliance skill sets across industries
(Pharmaceutical, Oil & Gas and Financial Services) have been in demand since late 2014 and should continue to be in 2015 as
governance frameworks come under greater scrutiny. Those with knowledge of the UK Anti-bribery act, FCPA, Data Privacy
rules, Employment, Volcker, Dodd-Frank regulatory requirements have been more marketable as new regulations meant
legal departments often had to bring in additional resources to service the work.
This market survey aims to predict hiring trends in 2015 based on our extensive market review as well as historical and current
trends in Singapore and Asia.
MARKET REVIEW IN-HOUSE LEGAL
www.ethosbc.com©BEATHCHAPMAN PTE LTD 2015
MARKET REVIEW 2015 OUTLOOK
www.ethosbc.com©BEATHCHAPMAN PTE LTD 2015
Law firms will continue in their struggle to retain quality talent as experienced lawyers are attracted by the allure of career
prospects in-house and a perceived better work-life balance. Notwithstanding, Singapore Qualified lawyers with good
practice training and in-house general corporate/commercial skills will continue to be in demand. As lawyers have better
options with a maturing in-house market, employers looking for good career stints in a CV may be disappointed as the job
market remains fluid and opportunistic. General Counsels and hiring managers alike weigh personality traits against culture
and how well potential hires can deal with the business people. Junior associates seeking in-house career opportunities
should volunteer for secondment experience as this will expose them to more commercial matters.
Candidates within the 8-15 PQE range with general corporate commercial in-house experience and excellent soft skills to
manage business stakeholders will continue to be in high demand as they have been in 2014. Senior In-House counsels with
strong transactions and corporate M&A and commercial experience are well positioned to take up leadership roles with
reputable Fortune 500 MNCs and Asian conglomerates that are looking to strengthen their legal bench. These corporate
counsels also tend to possess ready transferable skill sets to switch industries.
Candidates with good spoken Mandarin and Chinese drafting skills can take advantage of opportunities in organisations with
investments/interests in Greater China. It is worth noting that familiarity with a third language like Korean, Japanese, Bahasa
has weighed favourably in the selection of regional roles in 2014. This trend should continue through 2015.
GC-level, leadership positions remain relatively scarce. General Counsels with cross border M&A, strong listing (company
secretarial) experience and management experience continue to be in demand when there are succession planning or
replacement roles.
We are generally positive about the Singapore corporate market but patience and some creative engagement with C-level
professionals from us will be important in securing a long-term position.
LINUS CHOO
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
LEGAL - APAC
T: +65 6692 0795
Linus leads the legal practice at Ethos BeathChapman, focusing on legal & compliance and company secretarial placements. He has
successfully conducted and completed many senior level in-house legal positions across all sectors throughout APAC with reputable MNCs
and conglomerates.
Prior to joining Ethos BeathChapman, Linus was with a large specialist legal recruitment firm, where he was responsible for the legal and
company secretarial portfolios. This focus has enabled him to develop strong functional knowledge of the discipline and a broad network of
contacts and referrals within the legal sphere. He has executed retained legal search assignments up to C-Level.
His recent track record of successful placements include General Counsel for a Resources and Chemicals organization, Head Legal of a
leading real estate Singapore Listed Company, Head of Legal of a Medical services company, Corporate Compliance Director of a Global
Logistics company, Head Corporate Secretariats of leading Singapore and HK Listed companies, Head of Legal & Compliance of a European
Pharmaceutical MNC and Senior Attorneys with Fortune 500 MNCs. He has also placed mid-level lawyers in investment banks, boutique asset
management fund houses and with leading Singapore listed companies.
Linus has laid claim amongst the top billers’ league over the course of his career. He is known and respected for his tenacity and his ability
to close “hard to fill” positions; and as a trusted advisor to his contacts. In his free time, he enjoys a game of football with his friends, hunting
down good food options and spending quality time with his loved ones.
www.ethosbc.com©BEATHCHAPMAN PTE LTD 2015
IN-HOUSE LEGAL
IN-HOUSE LEGAL
www.ethosbc.com©BEATHCHAPMAN PTE LTD 2015
PQE/EXPERIENCE (YRS) MONTHLY SALARY (SGD) AVERAGE PERFORMANCE BONUS
1 - 3 $5,500 - $8,000 1 - 2 Months
4 - 7 $8,000 - $11,000 1 - 2 Months
8 - 10 $11,500 - $15,000 3 - 5 Months
10 - 15 $13,500 - 16,500 3 - 5 Months
15 - 20+ $18,000 – 25,000 & above 5 - 6 Months
(HOD, General Counsel,
Head Legal, Group
Company Secretary)
Remuneration remains fair and competitive but appears to be stagnating as the supply of legal talent in the market has
kept up with demand. Global multi-nationals tend to pay at the higher spectrum of the salary scale, but with less attractive
year-end bonuses (hovering around the 1-2.5 months mark) as compared to Singapore listed companies (hovering around
3-5 months). Pharmaceutical and global markets/derivatives lawyers continue to command market leading compensation
packages. Some MNCs tend to include a variable monthly variable component (MNC), which is revised every 6 months,
allowing management to give salary increments when the company has been significantly profitable.
Salary figures have been taken from lawyers in a broad spectrum of companies ranging from global multi-nationals to
Singapore listed companies and statutory boards. Our information has been researched and corroborated by input from
clients, candidates and from our knowledge of the marketplace. As with all surveys, the ranges represent the mainstream
view and past placement records of BeathChapman. There will be anomalies outside the ranges published here. Please use
this survey as a guide and do not hesitate to contact Linus Choo at [email protected] or call +65 6692 0795 for a
detailed discussion on the market.
MARKET REVIEW SUMMARY
www.ethosbc.com©BEATHCHAPMAN PTE LTD 2015
For further information or to discuss your recruitment needs, please contact:
www.ethosbc.com
LINUS CHOO
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
LEGAL - APAC
T: +65 6692 0795
REG NO. R1216328
BEATHCHAPMAN (PTE LTD)
EA R1216328 LICENCE NO: 11C5008
