Chia Boon Teck
With 30 years of steady, thoughtful legal practice
About
Chia Boon Teck
Mr Chia graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, in 1993 as its top foreign student and amongst the top 5% in the Faculty of Law, and was awarded the Herbert Smith Prize in Commercial Law.
Mr Chia was called to the English Bar (Lincoln’s Inn, United Kingdom) as a Barrister-At-Law in 1994, and he was admitted to the Singapore Bar as an Advocate & Solicitor in 1995.
Mr. Chia is a highly experienced litigator with a strong and focused criminal law practice, supported by a broad and versatile litigation background. Over the years, he has acted in a wide range of complex criminal matters, including serious offences, regulatory prosecutions, and trial and appellate work, while also handling selected civil and commercial disputes involving company law, construction conflicts, and corporate debt recovery.
In practice for the past 30 years, Mr Chia has been involved in many high-profile cases.
Professional Experience
Law Society Involvement
Mr Chia was elected Vice President of the Law Society of Singapore in August 2023. He was the Treasurer from January to July 2023. Mr Chia has served as a Council member of the Law Society in 2002-2007 and 2016-2025; and its Executive Committee in 2003-2006 and 2022-2025.
Mr Chia was also the Chairman of the Law Society’s Finance Committee and Vice Chairman of the Anti-Money Laundering Committee; as well as the Council Representative on the Family Law Practice Committee and the Civil Practice Committee.
Mr Chia has made several appearances at international law conferences delivering papers and speeches including the following:
- “Financial crime prevention” at the 2019 Singapore Financial Crime Prevention Symposium.
- “Judicial appointments and executive interference” at the 23rd Commonwealth Law Conference in Goa India in March 2023.
- “Anti-money laundering and legal privilege” at the 33rd Presidents of Law Associations Asia Conference in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia in July 2023.
Legal Reform Contributions
Mr Chia co-chaired a Law Society committee in 2005 that liaised with the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Home Affairs to improve the criminal justice system, particularly, in respect of accused persons’ treatment and access to defence counsel whilst in police custody as well as the prosecution’s disclosure of documents in criminal trials which culminated in amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code in 2010.
In 2006, Mr Chia again co-chaired another Law Society committee to liaise with the Ministry of Law and the Attorney-General’s Chambers to address the relevance and scope of capital punishment in Singapore which led to landmark changes in the law in 2012. In 2007, Mr Chia was a member of a Law Society ad hoc committee that presented a submission to the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Home Affairs in response to the Government’s proposed changes to the Penal Code which resulted in the passing of the new Penal Code in 2011.
Mr Chia’s publications include the Singapore Chapter for Global Legal Insights: Litigation & Dispute Resolution 2018; Litigation & Dispute Resolution 2019; Litigation & Dispute Resolution 2021; Bribery & Corruption 2019; and Bribery & Corruption 2022. He has also published numerous articles in the Law Gazette.
- Barrister-at-Law (Lincoln's Inn, UK) (1994-2026)
- Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore (1995-2026)
- Commissioner for Oaths, Singapore (2005-2024)
- Notary Public, Singapore (2011-2024)
- Vice President, The Law Society of Singapore (2024)
- Treasurer, The Law Society of Singapore (2023)
- Member, Executive Committee, Council of The Law Society (2003–2006, 2022– 2024)
- Member, Council of The Law Society of Singapore (2002–2007, 2016–2024)
- Member, Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council (2023–2025)
- Chairman, Finance Committee, The Law Society of Singapore (2023)
- Vice Chairman, Anti-Money Laundering Committee, Law Society (2018–2024)
- Counsel for Disciplinary Matters, Law Society (2017 – 2025)
- Council Representative, Family Law Practice Committee, Law Society (2016– 2023)
- Council Representative, Civil Practice Committee, Law Society (2022-2024)
- Member, Criminal Practice Committee, Law Society (2007–2023)
- Member, Lincoln’s Inn, United Kingdom (1993–2025)
- Member, Singapore Academy of Law (1995–2025)
- Member, ASEAN Law Association (2006–2025)
- List of Attorneys, United States Embassy (2010–2025)
- Member, Pasir Ris West Citizen’s Consultative Committee (2021–2024)
- Chairman, Riverina Residents’ Network (2021–2024)
- Vice Chairman, Riverina Neighbourhood Committee (2015-2020)
- Secretary, The Esparis Council MCST (2012)
- Vice Chairman, The Esparis Council MCST (2009–2010)
- President, ExotiCars Club (2009-2025)
- Member, Business China, SCCCI (2009–2025)
- Member, Tanjong Katong Primary School Advisory Committee (2005–2006)
- Chairman, Fengshan Tanah Merah Neighbourhood Committee (2004–2006)
- Member, Fengshan Citizen’s Consultative Committee (2004)
- Assistant Secretary, Fengshan Community Club Management Committee (2004)
- 1st Vice Chairman, The Tanamera Condominium Council MCST (2000–2001)
- Singapore Chapter for Global Legal Insights: Litigation & Dispute Resolution 2018
- Singapore Chapter for Global Legal Insights: Litigation & Dispute Resolution 2019
- Singapore Chapter for Global Legal Insights: Litigation & Dispute Resolution 2022
- Singapore Chapter for Global Legal Insights: Bribery & Corruption 2019
- Singapore Chapter for Global Legal Insights: Bribery & Corruption 2022
- Amendments to the Trustees Act and Regulations from the Anti-Money Laundering Perspective, Law Gazette, March 2018
- Reflections on Life and How We Practise Law, Law Gazette, January 2022
- The Greener Pasture is Where You Water the Grass, Law Gazette, February 2022
- Don’t be Held Ransom by Ransomware, Law Gazette, September 2022
- Presented a paper on Judicial Appointments and Executive Interference at the 23rd Commonwealth Law Conference (Goa, India), March 2023
- Ignorance is Now A Sin, Law Gazette, June 2023
- Presented a paper on Anti-Money Laundering and Legal Professional Privilege at the 33rd POLA Conference (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), July 2023
