Spear’s Review

‘I suppose some people build a reputation based on being known as a bulldog,’ Sonny Patel, a partner at Expatriate Law, says. ‘But I think in a small environment like Singapore, it’s not sustainable. I’ve just tried to practice according to my own values.’

As head of the firm’s Singapore office – Expatriate Law is licensed to practise English law in Singapore – the family lawyer has built a client book of HNW expats seeking legal advice on their divorce, financial remedies, pre- and postnuptial agreements, and children arrangements.

He explains that, depending on the case, he will represent either the high-earner or the financially weaker party. ‘I stick up for my client, whoever that happens to be at the time,’ he tells Spear’s.

Patel points to a recent case where he was instructed by the CEO of a global pharmaceutical company who held assets across England, Singapore and Switzerland. ‘I was able to liaise with all the Singapore lawyers on his behalf. We pulled in forensic accountants and liaised across jurisdictions. That’s what me and my team do every day – it’s our bread and butter.’

Adviser Profile

Sonny Patel is a partner at Expatriate Law and leads the firm’s Singapore office, advising high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients across Asia on English family law matters. His practice spans cross-border divorce, contested jurisdiction disputes, high-value financial remedies, nuptial agreements and international children cases, including Hague Convention proceedings. He is particularly known for advising expatriates, entrepreneurs and senior executives whose assets span multiple jurisdictions — including a recent UHNW prenuptial agreement. He has been ranked in The Spear’s 500 since 2022, is listed in Chambers HNW Singapore, and was shortlisted for LexisNexis International Family Lawyer of the Year.