Mr K. Shanmugam was educated at Raffles Institution from 1972 - 1977. He then read law at the National University of Singapore, where he graduated with First Class Honours in 1984. He was admitted to the Singapore Bar as an Advocate & Solicitor in 1985.
Mr Shanmugam went into private practice and became one of the Senior Partners and head of Litigation & Dispute Resolution at Allen & Gledhill LLP, which was the largest law firm in Singapore. Mr 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 in Singapore.
He had been described as one of the “twin titans” of litigation in Singapore, “regarded as a first-rate litigator”, “respected for [his] quiet, efficient and persuasive style”, “renowned”, “regularly singled out for praise” and “star litigator” (The Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2001 - 2007); “one of the finest all-round legal talents in the country”, the “complete lawyer”, and “formidably logical and aggressive” (Who’s Who Legal, Singapore, 2008). 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.
Mr Shanmugam became an MP in September 1988 when he was elected a Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC (Group Representation Constituency).
In Sembawang GRC, he is an adviser to several grassroots and community organizations in Chong Pang. He is also an elected member of the Sembawang Town Council and an advisor to the North West Community Development Council.
Mr Shanmugam is also President of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA). Prior to accepting public office, Mr Shanmugam served in various committees and Boards including the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health; Advisory Board of the NUS Faculty of Law; the Raffles Institution Board of Governors; the Media Development Authority; and Sembawang Corporation Industries Ltd.
On 1 May 2008, Mr Shanmugam was appointed Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs.
March 2009