K. Shanmugam
Encyclopedia
Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam (Tamil
: காசிவிஸ்வநாதன் சண்முகம்;, born 1959) better known as "K Shanmugam", is a Tamil
Indian politician
from Singapore
. A member of the governing People's Action Party
(PAP), he is currently the country's Minister for Foreign Affairs
and Minister for Law
. He is a Member of Parliament
(MP) representing Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency
.
from 1972 to 1977, before going on to study law at the National University of Singapore
where he graduated with a First Class Honours degree in 1984. He was admitted to the Singapore Bar as an Advocate & Solicitor in 1985. He then went into private practice and became a Senior Partner and Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution at the Singapore law firm Allen & Gledhill.
Shanmugam had a successful practice and was consistently recognised, in various international publications , as one of the top litigation, arbitration and insolvency Counsel in Asia and Singapore. While he was in private practice, Shanmugam regularly handled trial work in major corporate, commercial, insolvency disputes for private and public listed companies, major international and Singaporean banking and finaicial institutions, multinational corporations and professional practices. In 1998, he was appointed a Senior Counsel of the Supreme Court of Singapore at the age of 38, one of the youngest lawyers to be so appointed.
in 1988 when he was elected as a member for the Sembawang Group Representation Constituency
. He served as a member of Parliament and continued to practise law until 2008, when he was brought into the Cabinet
to replace Professor S Jayakumar as Minister for Law. He was concurrently made Second Minister for Home Affairs in 2008, and succeeded then-DPM Wong Kan Seng
as Minister for Home Affairs in 2010.
Following the 2011 General Elections, Shanmugam relinquished his portfolio as Minister for Home Affairs and was made Minister for Foreign Affairs, while continuing to serve as Minister for Law. He is currently the MP for Nee Soon GRC.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
: காசிவிஸ்வநாதன் சண்முகம்;, born 1959) better known as "K Shanmugam", is a Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
Indian politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. A member of the governing People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
(PAP), he is currently the country's Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Singapore)
The Minister for Foreign Affairs is head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a member of the Cabinet of Singapore....
and Minister for Law
Ministry of Law (Singapore)
The Ministry of Law is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for ensuring that Singapore's legal infrastructure is clear, efficacious and transparent...
. He is a Member of Parliament
Parliament of Singapore
The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
(MP) representing Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency
Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency
Not to be confused with another ward with similar name that existed since pre-indepence era until prior to 1988 general elections called Nee Soon constituency....
.
Education and early career
Shanmugam was educated at Raffles InstitutionRaffles Institution
Raffles Institution , founded in 1823, is the oldest centre for pre-tertiary learning in Singapore. It is an independent school in Singapore providing secondary and pre-university education. RI consists of a boys-only secondary section , and a coeducational pre-university section...
from 1972 to 1977, before going on to study law at the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore Faculty of Law
The National University of Singapore, Faculty of Law is the older of Singapore's two law schools. The Faculty was initially established as the Department of Law in the then University of Malaya in 1956, with the first batch of students matriculating in the following year...
where he graduated with a First Class Honours degree in 1984. He was admitted to the Singapore Bar as an Advocate & Solicitor in 1985. He then went into private practice and became a Senior Partner and Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution at the Singapore law firm Allen & Gledhill.
Shanmugam had a successful practice and was consistently recognised, in various international publications , as one of the top litigation, arbitration and insolvency Counsel in Asia and Singapore. While he was in private practice, Shanmugam regularly handled trial work in major corporate, commercial, insolvency disputes for private and public listed companies, major international and Singaporean banking and finaicial institutions, multinational corporations and professional practices. In 1998, he was appointed a Senior Counsel of the Supreme Court of Singapore at the age of 38, one of the youngest lawyers to be so appointed.
Political career
Shanmugam became a Member of ParliamentParliament of Singapore
The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
in 1988 when he was elected as a member for the Sembawang Group Representation Constituency
Sembawang Group Representation Constituency
Sembawang Group Representation Constituency is a five-member Group Representation Constituency located in the northern area of Singapore. The GRC consists of Sembawang, Woodlands, Marsiling, Admiralty, Canberra and Chong Pang...
. He served as a member of Parliament and continued to practise law until 2008, when he was brought into the Cabinet
Cabinet of Singapore
The Cabinet of Singapore forms the Government of Singapore together with the President of Singapore. It is led by the Prime Minister of Singapore who is the head of government...
to replace Professor S Jayakumar as Minister for Law. He was concurrently made Second Minister for Home Affairs in 2008, and succeeded then-DPM Wong Kan Seng
Wong Kan Seng
Wong Kan Seng is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he served as the country's Deputy Prime Minister from 2005 to 2011...
as Minister for Home Affairs in 2010.
Following the 2011 General Elections, Shanmugam relinquished his portfolio as Minister for Home Affairs and was made Minister for Foreign Affairs, while continuing to serve as Minister for Law. He is currently the MP for Nee Soon GRC.