
Gerard Forlin QC charts the progress of Maxwell Chambers’ expansion in Singapore & highlights the many virtues of the island city-state
As well as British Guyana, Malta, the UK, Thailand and the Philippines, I was partly brought up in Singapore, when my parents lived there in the 1970s. It was, therefore, an enormous pleasure to be offered my own room in Maxwell Chambers about four years ago.
I had been particularly impressed after attending a lecture there as part of a UK General Council of the Bar visit to Korea, China and Singapore. I was immediately struck by the kindness, openness and efficiency of the staff and the beautiful architecture of the building. Somehow, it also all felt vaguely familiar and I then realised: the Maxwell Chambers building had been the old Custom House.
English, energy & education
Singapore has many virtues. Not only is it a beautiful place—safe, lush and green, English-speaking and one of the least corrupt countries in the world—it has huge energy and one of the most highly educated populations on the planet. Singapore’s geographical location