I was in legal practice for more than 30 years in Singapore and England, and I now practice as a Life coach. I was one of the founding partners of a Singapore-based law firm which is now in global alliance with an international law firm, and have enjoyed developing a number of specialised practice areas, including the firm’s Asia-Pacific Employment Law practice from which I retired in 2018. It was while serving a term as the firm’s Managing Partner that I started to learn about personal and organisational effectiveness, and I’ve continued to learn about how investing in human engagement at work is as critical to success as the physical, financial, and intellectual investments of an organisation. My work as an employment lawyer was centred on the philosophy that the best form of legal risk management is often great HR management, that is, with a human-centred approach.
I began training as life coach in 2015 and am now a certified professional coach based in Singapore. I have a keen interest in learning about, and bringing to others, the awareness of what makes us tick so that we can make choices that better serve ourselves, our relationships and communities. My role as a trainer for byrne·dean’s work in creating kinder, fairer, more productive workplaces completely aligns with my purpose to help people thrive and not just survive at work.
2015 – current: Life & Executive Coach, The Silva Coach, Singapore
2019 – current: Associate at byrne·dean, Singapore
1994 – 2018: Alban Tay Mahtani & de Silva, now known as Bird & Bird ATMD LLP, Singapore
Co-founder, Senior Partner (1994 – 2016)
Head of Corporate Department (1994-2012)
Set up firm’s Myanmar office in Yangon (1996)
Head of Asia-Pacific employment group (APEG) (2012-2016)
Consultant & co-head of APEG (2016-2019)
2009 – 2016: Partner, Bird & Bird LLP, London
1987 – 1990: Foreign Lawyer (on secondment), Baker McKenzie, London
1983 – 1994: Pupil, Associate Lawyer, Partner, Arthur Loke & Partners, Singapore
Bachelor of Laws (Hons), National University of Singapore
Admitted to practice in Singapore, Malaysia and England & Wales
Certified Mediator, Singapore Mediation Centre
Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, The Coaches Training Institute
Associate Certified Coach, International Coach Federation
Currently enrolled in Neuroscience, Consciousness and Transformational Coaching Certification Programme, conducted by BeAbove Leadership