Adrian Tan

Tan was born in Singapore to an ethnic Chinese family of Hainanese descent. His parents were both teachers, and he grew up in a Housing Development Board (HDB) flat.{{Cite web |title=Profile: Law Society President Adrian Tan's First Media Interview after Cancer Diagnosis – Dare to be your truest self |url=https://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/Headlines/profile-law-society-president-adrian-tans-first-media-interview-after-cancer-diagnosis-dare-to-be-your-truest-self |access-date=30 September 2022 |publisher=www.singaporelawwatch.sg |language=en-US}}

As a child, Tan attended the Anglo-Chinese School and Hwa Chong Junior College. Tan was later conscripted into the army as a writer for Pioneer, the MINDEF magazine.{{Cite web |title=PIONEER – To Enlighten and to Entertain |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/pioneer/article/regular-article-detail/people/2018-dm/26Aug2015_00551/!ut/p/z1/jVDJDoIwFPwi0kdpQY8VDS6AogFrL6aJiE1YGoMe_HrrFSLwTm-S2TJIII5ELd-qkK1qalkafBHu1dsv_TUQHIMbEkiCLLY9ZweAHXTuEIIjNQRgJ0wPmCQUiSl6-HMMpukHCGLYfjsWYBbAz8iPCiS0bB-Wqu8N4jpvdJkjjsGeWbfKPC57FQZRE0apbXqJjjOOvd8yqyTLHICA9Aj96cbK6ypN-SdczDeKfQGibZpM/dz/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/ |access-date=9 July 2023 |website=www.mindef.gov.sg |language=en}}{{Cite book |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/oms/saf50/saf50_book/SAF50book_full.pdf |title=Giving Strength to Our Nation: The SAF and Its People |publisher=Ministry of Defence |pages=344–347}} After his A-levels, he was offered a teaching scholarship to study English at the University of East Anglia. He turned down the scholarship to study law at the National University of Singapore (NUS). While in university, Tan represented NUS as a debater in international competitions and televised debates in Singapore.{{Cite news |title=Double honours for NUS team in Asean debate |work=The Straits Times |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19881129-1.2.26.33.1?ST=1&AT=search&K=%22Adrian+Tan%22&P=5&Display=0&filterS=0&QT=%22adriantan%22&oref=article |access-date=19 November 2021}} He later completed a second, joint-honours degree in computer science and psychology from the Open University in 2004, while working as a lawyer.{{Cite web |title=Mr Adrian Tan |url=https://www.legal500.com/firms/32267-tsmp-law-corporation/32708-singapore-singapore/lawyers/693587-adrian-tan/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614014115/https://www.legal500.com/firms/32267-tsmp-law-corporation/32708-singapore-singapore/lawyers/693587-adrian-tan/ |archive-date=14 June 2021 |access-date=23 November 2021 |website=The Legal 500}}

While an undergraduate law student at NUS, Tan wrote the novels The Teenage Textbook (1988) and The Teenage Workbook (1989), which became bestsellers that sold over 50,000 copies.{{Cite news |date=5 June 1990 |title=He fries sushi... |pages=3 |work=The Straits Times |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19900605-1.2.65.4.1 }}{{Cite news |title=Second Teenage book proves a fast-selling winner |work=The Straits Times |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19890912-1.2.29.2?ST=1&AT=search&K=teenage+textbook&P=3&Display=0&filterS=0&QT=teenage,textbook&oref=article |access-date=22 November 2021}} The Teenage Textbook was also made into a stage play by The Necessary Stage in 1997;{{Cite news |title=The Teenage Textbook |work=The Necessary Stage Archives |url=https://tnsarchives.com/productions/5209/teenage-textbook |access-date=22 November 2021}} a film in 1998, which topped the box office in Singapore for four weeks;{{Cite web |title=The Teenage Textbook Movie {{!}} Singapore Classics Reignited |url=https://teenagetextbook.peatix.com/?lang=en-sg |access-date=22 November 2021 |website=Peatix}} a 2017 musical titled The Teenage Textbook Musical;{{Cite web |title=The Teenage Textbook Musical |url=https://aep.nac.gov.sg/nacaep/nacaep/public-arts-programme/view?appId=5c9050da-ac32-40f4-a9c7-224947e82655&mgnlModelExecutionUUID=7db4855f-3bc0-48fc-8512-069bc93926ea |access-date=23 November 2021 |website=National Arts Council, Singapore}} and a 2021 TV series on Channel 5.{{Cite news |title=Mui Ee, Sissy and Tom are back: Teenage Textbook TV series to premiere in March |work=CNA Lifestyle |url=https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/teenage-textbook-singapore-tv-series-258386 |access-date=22 November 2021}} In 2015, The Teenage Textbook was listed by The Business Times as one of the top 10 English Singapore books from 1965 to 2015.{{cite web |last1=Yusof |first1=Helmi |title=Tomes that show us how we live |url=http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/tomes-that-show-us-how-we-live |access-date=5 January 2015 |website=The Business Times |date=January 2015 |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |archive-date=4 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104182751/http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/tomes-that-show-us-how-we-live |url-status=live }} Tan also was a consultant for the Channel 5 television legal drama The Pupil.{{Cite web |title=Rebecca Lim Might Have Quit Showbiz If Not For The Pupil |url=https://www.8days.sg/seeanddo/streamit/rebecca-lim-quit-showbiz-pupil-238346 |access-date=10 February 2023 |website=8days |language=en}} Tan was invited to a National Library Board festival but later boycotted it over the board's decision to withdraw from its libraries children's books that depicted same-sex families.{{Cite web |date=12 July 2014 |title=Writers boycott NLB event over book ban |url=https://www.tnp.sg/news/others/writers-boycott-nlb-event-over-book-ban |access-date=8 July 2023 |website=The New Paper |language=en}}

After graduating from NUS with a Bachelor of Laws degree, Tan began his legal career in 1991 at Drew and Napier, a large Singaporean firm. He initially practiced conveyancing law, but switched over to litigation thereafter, where he worked under Davinder Singh.{{Cite web |last=Hui |first=Eva Teh Jing |date=4 August 2022 |title=Both Sides Now: In Conversation with Mr Adrian Tan and Mr Anil Changaroth |url=https://lawgazette.com.sg/practice/practice-matters/both-sides-now-adrian-tan-anil-changaroth/ |access-date=30 September 2022 |website=The Singapore Law Gazette |language=en-US |archive-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930144055/https://lawgazette.com.sg/practice/practice-matters/both-sides-now-adrian-tan-anil-changaroth/ |url-status=live }} In 1999, Tan left Drew for a two-year stint as general counsel of a technology firm, following which he returned to Drew. Eventually, after 22 years at Drew, Tan left to work for Stamford Law (now Morgan Lewis Stamford) in 2013. In 2018, Tan resigned from Stamford to work at TSMP Law.{{Cite news |last=Quah |first=Michelle |title=Law firm sharpening its edge in digital age |work=The Business Times |url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/law-firm-sharpening-its-edge-in-digital-age |access-date=23 November 2021}} Tan practiced litigation, and specialised in intellectual property, information technology, real estate, and shareholder oppression disputes.{{Cite web |title=Adrian Tan |url=https://www.tsmplaw.com/lawyer/adrian-tan/ |access-date=23 November 2021 |website=TSMP Law Corporation |archive-date=23 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123115857/https://www.tsmplaw.com/lawyer/adrian-tan/ |url-status=live }} He was also the honorary counsel of the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped, where he advocated for voting rights for the blind.{{Cite web |title=Minutes of the 67th Annual General Meeting held on 26 June 2021 |url=https://savh.org.sg/5-67th-agm-minutes/ |access-date=23 November 2021 |website=Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped}}{{Cite web |title=Giving Starts with Awareness |url=https://www.psd.gov.sg/challenge/ideas/feature/giving-starts-with-awareness-by-adrian-tan |access-date=17 January 2023 |website=www.psd.gov.sg |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was also a member of the boards of the Law Society Pro Bono Services,{{Cite web |title=Charity Info |url=https://www.lawsocprobono.org/Pages/Charity-Info.aspx |access-date=23 November 2021 |website=Law Society Pro Bono Services}} Maxwell Chambers,{{Cite web |title=Maxwell Chambers {{!}} Board of Directors |url=https://www.maxwellchambers.com/board-of-directors/ |access-date=22 November 2021 |website=Maxwell Chambers}} and Arts House Limited,{{Cite web |title=Arts House Limited {{!}} About Us {{!}} Our Board |url=https://artshouselimited.sg/about-us/our-board |access-date=22 November 2021 |website=Arts House Limited}} and was a member of the Speak Good English Movement committee.{{Cite news |last=Lim |first=Paul |title='Speak Good English' campaign to focus on common mistakes |work=Today |url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/speak-good-english-movement-launches |access-date=23 November 2021}}

From 2013 to 2021, Tan was a member of the Law Society Council, serving as treasurer in 2016 and vice president in 2017.{{Cite web |date= |title=Media Release – Law Society of Singapore Election 2022 |url=https://law-society-singapore-prod.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/2021/10/Results-of-Annual-Election-of-Law-Society-Council-2022-1.pdf |access-date=23 November 2021}}{{Cite web |title=Annual Report 2016 |url=https://lawsocietysg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The-Law-Society-of-Singapore-Annual-Report-2016.pdf |access-date=23 November 2021 |website=The Law Society of Singapore |page=4 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web |title=Annual Report 2017 |url=https://lawsocietysg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The_Law_Society_of_Singapore_Annual_Report_2017.pdf |access-date=23 November 2021 |website=The Law Society of Singapore |page=4 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 2022, he was appointed president. As president of the law society, he was known for his public outreach on legal issues,{{Cite web |title='A true Renaissance Man': Shanmugam leads tributes to late Law Society president Adrian Tan |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/adrian-tan-tributes-law-society-president-lawyer-cancer-3615491 |access-date=9 July 2023 |website=CNA |language=en}} such as the HDB's ban on cats,{{Cite web |title=Lawyer, advocate for cats: New LawSoc president Adrian Tan vows to remain vocal on public issues via social media |url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/lawyer-advocate-cats-new-lawsoc-president-adrian-tan-vows-remain-vocal-public-issues-social-media-1782181 |access-date=28 July 2022 |website=TODAY |language=en}} the 2022 bar exam cheating scandal, and Richard Branson's comments on the death penalty in Singapore.{{Cite web |title=LawSoc president Adrian Tan calls out Richard Branson's 'feeble excuse' for declining debate on death penalty |url=https://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/Headlines/lawsoc-president-adrian-tan-calls-out-richard-bransons-feeble-excuse-for-declining-debate-on-death-penalty |access-date=5 November 2022 |publisher=www.singaporelawwatch.sg |language=en-US}} Tan gave his only Opening of the Legal Year speech as Law Society president in 2023, where he addressed attrition rates in the legal profession.{{Cite web |title='Noticeable' rise in breaches of standards in legal profession: Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/legal-year-2023-chief-justice-sundaresh-menon-noticeable-rise-breaches-ethics-professional-standards-lawyers-3187451 |access-date=8 July 2023 |website=CNA |language=en}}

Tan was married without any children.{{Cite web |title=The Multi-Hyphenate Holds Court |url=https://nus.edu.sg/alumnet/thealumnus/issue-129/people/pursuit-of-excellence/the-multi-hyphenate-holds-court |access-date=10 February 2023 |website=E-Magazine |language=en}} He was diagnosed with cancer in March 2022,{{Cite web |title='Until the clock runs out': Law Society president Adrian Tan reveals he has cancer, says will fight illness and continue his work |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/law-society-president-adrian-tan-cancer-march-2842016 |access-date=28 July 2022 |publisher=CNA |language=en}} and died on 8 July 2023, at age 57.{{Cite web |title=Law Society president Adrian Tan dies aged 57 |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/adrian-tan-lawyer-cancer-dies-aged-57-law-society-lawsoc-president-3615296 |access-date=8 July 2023 |publisher=CNA |language=en}} At a memorial service celebrating his life, Tan was said to be someone who "had very little ego", was a champion of the legal profession and who "cared for the less fortunate."{{Cite news |last=Tan |first=Theresa |date=2023-07-31 |title=Late Law Society president Adrian Tan had a 'good legal mind and a good heart': Shanmugam |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/late-law-society-president-adrian-tan-a-good-legal-mind-and-a-good-heart-shanmugam |access-date=2023-11-30 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}

After his death, a collection of essays by Tan on the issues he cared about and commented on, was published in a book entitled, "If I were King of Singapore."{{Cite web |title=If I Were King of Singapore |url=https://epigrambookshop.sg/products/if-i-were-king-of-singapore |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Epigram |language=en}}

• Wee Shuo Woon v HT S.R.L. [2017] SGCA 23[https://www.elitigation.sg/gdviewer/gd/2017_SGCA_23/pdf Wee Shuo Woon v HT S.R.L [2017] SGCA 23]
• Turf Club Auto Emporium Pte Ltd v Yeo Boong Hua [2018] SGCA 44[https://www.elitigation.sg/gdviewer/SUPCT/gd/2018_SGCA_44 Turf Club Auto Emporium Pte Ltd v Yeo Boong Hua [2018] SGCA 44]
• Singsung Pte Ltd v LG 26 Electronics Pte Ltd (trading as L S Electrical Trading) [2016] SGCA 33[https://www.elitigation.sg/gdviewer/s/2016_SGCA_33 Singsung Pte Ltd v LG 26 Electronics Pte Ltd (trading as L S Electrical Trading) [2016] SGCA 33]
• Y.E.S. F&B Group Pte Ltd v Soup Restaurant Singapore Pte Ltd (formerly known as Soup Restaurant (Causeway Point) Pte Ltd) [2015] SGCA 55[https://www.elitigation.sg/gdviewer/s/2015_SGCA_55 Y.E.S. F&B Group Pte Ltd v Soup Restaurant Singapore Pte Ltd (formerly known as Soup Restaurant (Causeway Point) Pte Ltd) [2015] SGCA 55]
• Acted as counsel in proceedings concerning Gilstead Court,[https://www.elitigation.sg/gdviewer/s/2015_SGCA_54 Lim Li Meng Dominic and others v Ching Pui Sim Sally and another and another matter [2015] SGCA 54] Thomson View, and Shunfu Ville[https://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/Portals/0/Docs/Judgments/%5B2017%5D%20SGCA%2036.pdf Ramachandran Jayakumar and another v Woo Hon Wai and others and another matter [2017] SGCA 36] collective sales.

• "Dear Adam, Help!" (1988, Hotspot Books), {{ISBN|981-3002-35-2}}
• The Teenage Textbook (1988, Hotspot Books), {{ISBN|981-3002-21-2}}
• The Teenage Workbook (1989, Hotspot Books), {{ISBN|981-3002-28-X}}
• [https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2012/04/18/what-practice-has-taught-me/ "What Practice Has Taught Me"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708155903/https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2012/04/18/what-practice-has-taught-me/ |date=8 July 2023 }} in The Practice Of Law (2011, LexisNexis), {{ISBN|978-981-4753-48-7}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.tsmplaw.com/lawyer/adrian-tan/ Adrian Tan at TSMP Law Corporation]
• [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0174263/ Internet Movie Database profile of The Teenage Textbook Movie]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080509124703/http://inkpot.com/film/adriantan9812.html The World According to Adrian Tan – Inkpot Interview]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tan, Adrian}}

Category:1966 births

Category:Hainanese people

Category:2023 deaths

Category:20th-century Singaporean lawyers

Category:Singaporean people of Chinese descent

Category:21st-century Singaporean lawyers

Category:Anglo-Chinese School alumni

Category:Deaths from cancer in Singapore

Category:National University of Singapore alumni

Category:Singaporean people of Hainanese descent

Category:20th-century Singaporean writers

Category:21st-century Singaporean writers