Dentons Rodyk at 165, Built on Legal Heritage and Shaped for What’s Next

In 2026, Dentons Rodyk reaches a seminal milestone: 165 years of continuous legal practice in Singapore.

• The first notice by newly minted law firm Woods & Davidson, dated 23 July 1861, published in The Straits Times on 3 August 1861

Founded in 1861, the firm has endured not by standing still, but by evolving alongside Singapore in constant transformation-from colonial outpost to global commercial hub. Its longevity reflects more than history; it signals an ability to adapt, to challenge convention, and to remain relevant as the roles of law, lawyers, and legal institutions continue to evolve.

"A 165-year-old law firm cannot survive by preserving the past. We endure because we adapt," said Managing Partner Gerald Singham. "Singapore has never stood still, and neither have we. From advising on landmark public listings to integrating AI into daily practice, our responsibility is not only to keep pace with change, but to shape it."

Legacy & Stewardship Focus

Rising to prominence as Singapore's leading law firm in the 20th century, Rodyk & Davidson strengthened its foundations through a strategic merger with Helen Yeo & Partners in 2002.

Breaking Barriers in Law

Among the firm's most defining chapters was the role of Helen Yeo, a trailblazer who became managing partner at a time when senior leadership in Singapore's legal profession was almost exclusively male. Helen led during an era when female firm leaders were the exception rather than the norm, guiding the firm through periods of profound economic and professional change, and setting rigorous standards for governance, client trust, and long-term stewardship. Her leadership marked a quiet but consequential shift-not only strengthening the firm's foundations but also expanding the boundaries of what was possible for women in law.

Local Roots to Global Reach

In 2011, Philip Jeyaretnam succeeded Helen Yeo as managing partner. A Cambridge educated advocate and one of the youngest lawyers to be appointed senior counsel when he was bestowed the title in 2003 at the age of 38, Philip brought to the role a calm, principled leadership style shaped by his belief that a law firm endures only when each generation consciously renews and builds on what it has inherited. He emphasised investment in younger lawyers, nurturing and retention of talent, and a culture that values judgement, training, and quiet excellence over short term gain. Under his leadership, Rodyk & Davidson joined Dentons, the world's largest law firm, marrying its deep local heritage and institutional knowledge with the strength of a global platform spanning more than 80 countries.

• Philip Jeyaretnam succeeds Helen Yeo as managing partner in 2011

Leading Dentons Across ASEAN

In 2021, leadership passed to Gerald Singham, marking a significant chapter in the firm's continuing evolution. Having spent his entire professional career at Singapore's oldest law firm, Gerald embodies the firm's living institutional memory while firmly orienting it toward the future. Appointed Deputy Managing Partner in 2011, he assumed the role of Managing Partner of Dentons Rodyk alongside his broader responsibilities as Dentons' Global Vice Chair and ASEAN CEO. Under his leadership, Dentons has accelerated its expansion across Southeast Asia, with established offices in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar and, most recently, Thailand through a combination with leading Thai law firm Pisut & Partners. This growing ASEAN platform reinforces the firm's long standing commitment to connecting clients with exceptional legal talent across the region's seven largest ASEAN economies, while anchoring regional growth in Singapore's oldest legal institution.

• Gerald Singham leads Singapore's oldest law firm into its next chapter of regional growth
• Rodyk & Davidson combines with world's largest law firm Dentons in June 2016
• Dentons ASEAN launches its office in Thailand in February 2026

Landmark Legal Work Across the Nation's History

Over more than 165 years, Dentons Rodyk's work has run in parallel with Singapore's nation-building story-advising on transactions and disputes that marked defining chapters in the country's development.

The firm advised on the successful public listing of Singapore Airlines, a milestone IPO that reflected Singapore's emergence as a global aviation and financial hub. It also advised Yayasan Mendaki on the establishment of Amanah Saham Mendaki, the first Shariah-compliant unit trust scheme, supporting greater financial inclusion and community empowerment. Dentons Rodyk defended the main contractor in the Commission of Inquiry into the Nicoll Highway collapse, one of the most significant infrastructure-related inquiries in the nation's history.

• The firm advised on the IPO of Singapore Airlines, reflecting the nation's emergence as a global aviation hub

The firm has also built enduring relationships with clients by standing alongside them through complex legal challenges and pivotal moments of change. From supporting Nomanbhoy & Sons, one of Singapore's oldest commodity trading firms, as it expanded its international trade operations, to assisting healthcare leader IHH Healthcare in navigating digital transformation, and advising global infrastructure and technology group Boustead on major projects and strategic divestments, Dentons Rodyk has played a trusted role at critical turning points in clients' journeys.

Across industries and jurisdictions, the firm continues to support clients on landmark transactions and complex matters, offering the experience, judgement and long-term perspective that only time and trust can provide.

• The firm has been supporting long-time client Nomanbhoy & Sons since 1893

From Heritage to High-Tech

As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms the legal industry, Dentons Rodyk has embraced the future of law responsibly, practically, and strategically. From smarter drafting and faster research to more efficient client communications, the use of AI platforms such as Microsoft Copilot has become part of daily operations. Teams report meaningful time savings, higher-quality output, and innovative ways to serve clients more effectively. One early success saw the Finance team use AI to improve client follow-ups, boosting responsiveness and streamlining invoicing.

The firm's approach to technology, guided by a dedicated Innovation team, combines structured training, targeted rollout, and a culture of engagement to ensure every adoption step is responsible and value-driven. With over 70% of licensed users engaging with Copilot weekly or daily, AI is firmly embedded in how the firm practises law and manages operations.

Looking ahead, 2026 will see AI fully integrated across operations, with expanded adoption, advanced workflows, and firmwide AI fluency. By combining 165 years of heritage with cutting-edge technology, Dentons Rodyk continues to redefine what a modern law firm can achieve for its people, clients, and the legal profession.

"We do not see AI replacing lawyers, but we do see it reshaping how judgement is exercised and how value is delivered," said Managing Partner Gerald Singham.

Building a Forward-Looking Practice

From a modest notice in The Straits Times in 1861 to a firm operating across ASEAN and the globe, Dentons Rodyk's journey mirrors Singapore's own transformation. The past 165 years were defined by growth, and the years ahead will be shaped by innovation and responsibility. Built on legal heritage and shaped for what's next, the firm remains guided by the same principle that sustained it from the beginning: to serve with integrity, adapt with conviction, and stand alongside clients through every era of change.

About Dentons Rodyk

Dentons Rodyk is Singapore's global law firm and part of the world's largest, with a team of around 200 lawyers offering clients a full suite of legal services necessary to do business locally and globally.

With over 160 years of establishment and consistently ranked highly in leading publications, Dentons Rodyk delivers top-tier legal advice while maintaining strong working relationships with key public sector agencies and prominent private sector organisations.

Its combination with global law firm Dentons makes it part of the world's largest law firm, with more than 12,500 professionals across over 160 locations in more than 80 countries. Dentons Rodyk is also part of Dentons ASEAN, the first global pan-ASEAN law firm, with a longstanding presence in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.