The Singapore Corporate Counsel Association (SCCA) held its annual black-tie gala dinner on 7 November at Raffles Hotel.
The event celebrated SCCA’s 22nd anniversary and brought together more than 270 guests from the legal community.
The evening began with a champagne reception, followed by a welcome address from SCCA co-presidents Renata Sophia Crasta, general counsel and group data protection officer at TGR Real Estate, and Daniel Choo, general counsel and privacy responsible (APAC) at Bruker.
Guest of honour Madam Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State at the Ministry for Digital Development & Information and the Ministry of Health, delivered a keynote speech discussing the importance of embracing digital transformation.
“Technology is here to stay. The use of technology, especially generative AI, to enhance productivity as well as deliver more value for business, has become a must-have, not just a good to have,” she said.
In today’s complex and evolving legal and regulatory environment, she added: “Like a lighthouse, you guide businesses through often turbulent waters.”
A lawyer by profession, Mahzam also shared her vision for the SCCA to “become a convening platform that can provide a safe space for the in-house counsel community to share experiences, exchange ideas and offer mutual support”.
It will also be “an essential conduit for intellectual discourse on emerging topics” such as technology, ESG and regulatory changes.
The event was headlined by the 8th Chief Legal Officer (CLO) Awards, recognising outstanding legal professionals who have made exceptional contributions across three categories.
Faz Hussen, head of legal, government relations and sustainability at McDonald’s Singapore, was recognised in the Singapore company/business sector. David Blanco Jimenez, head of law patents and compliance Asean and CropScience APAC regional counsel at Bayer Singapore, was acknowledged among multinational corporations.
Lim Tanguy, chief executive officer of Pro Bono SG, received the award for NGO/public sector entity.
The SCCA also introduced the inaugural Hope Award to celebrate legal departments’ pro bono contributions that positively influence the community. Bloomberg’s legal and compliance department was recognised for the award.
Event partners included: gold sponsor DLA Piper; silver sponsor PwC; bronze sponsors Allen & Gledhill and Kim & Chang; table sponsors Providence Law Asia and Rajah & Tann Asia; photo and video partner Ocular Kandy; media partner Asia Business Law Journal; and the Ministry of Law.
