This article is part of our Singapore Spotlight series, profiling our lawyers based in our Singapore office. In the series, we find out about their backgrounds, their journey through law and hear why Singapore is important to them.
Chong Yi leads the Mishcon Maritime Finance division and is based in Singapore. He advises state-owned enterprises, international financial institutions, private equity funds, ship leasing companies and transportation conglomerates on transactional maritime and aviation matters.
I knew I wanted to get into law when… I figured out investment banking wasn't for me. I graduated with a double degree in law and business and first was a trader in a hedge fund. I saw people getting fired every single day and wanted a more stable trajectory to my career.
I chose asset finance because… when I transitioned from investment banking back to law I was applying offseason, so there was a limited number of openings available and I personally didn't have an idea of what I wanted to do. I just plunged headlong into whatever that was available - 12 years later I'm still doing it!
The thing that motivates me most is… when I secure new clients and business relationships. There is a great sense of achievement that comes with approaching someone cold, getting to know them and getting them to trust me to a stage where they're prepared to instruct us as counsel.
The work achievement I'm most proud of is… I'd always wanted to be a partner in a top tier international law firm. I realised that dream when I made partner at Mishcon.
The thing that makes Singapore such a great place to live is… It's a travel hub, so you can reach pretty much anywhere in the world easily, and as a result it's a confluence of many different cultures.
One opportunity in this region… lies in Singapore's role as a global transportation hub – which means that it will always remain relevant to global trade and will thus always offer a good degree of stability, predictability and economic resilience. It has immense potential for growth without compromising stability.
Somebody that has inspired me during my career is… our Managing Partner in Singapore, Tahirah. She displays a unique blend of kindness, shrewdness and leadership.
One thing I wish I knew when I started my career is… I began my career a little late, I would say, and focused on just developing technical skills, focusing on the work without caring too much about the human aspect of practice. I realised only much later that a legal practice is ultimately a business which is driven primarily by human relationships.
The future in my practice area looks like… as a ship finance lawyer, I'd say I find myself in a rather stable industry. Shipping has always been a cornerstone of global trade, which doesn't have any viable alternatives to shipping in the long run. The future looks like it always has over the past 200 years, and I don't foresee that changing anytime soon.
One thing you don't know about me is... I'm quite a quirky individual, I suppose. I used to be a competitive eater, am a licensed sky diver, I rock climb and do motorcycle track racing as well. I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie!