Behind The Scenes

Beneath her fashion-forward façade, Tan Min-Li is a deal structuring legal eagle no one should underestimate, learns LOW SHI PING

- Low Shi Ping

MENTION TAN MIN-LI and “fashionista” is the first word that comes to mind. She has been featured numerous times in the media, sharing style tips and offering sneak peeks into her wardrobe, with its dazzling array of designer gowns, handbags and timepieces.

“It’s always about fashion,” she acknowledges, as we sit down one morning at the ATLAS bar in Parkview Square. Despite the early hour, she lives up to her reputation and is the picture of chic with a lime green Kelly bag, sleeveless Roland Mouret black jumpsuit trimmed with lace at the shoulders, and a deLaCour watch.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with being such an ardent fan of fashion — she even has a capsule collection with Mad About Hue, but more on that later. What might surprise many is that Tan is a lawyer by profession, and a high-powered one for that matter.

By day, she is a partner at a law firm (which she prefers not to name), in charge of corporate finance. She’s snagged a recommendation as leading lawyer for Capital Markets in IFLR1000 2017, and singled out as an AsiaLaw Profiles Leading Lawyer in Corporate M&A and Capital Markets for eight consecutive years. She also sits on the boards of various listed companies.

Unless you are from the legal circle, these facts about Tan are little known. And she prefers it so: “I’ve always felt that my work was a given. There is nothing remarkable about what I’m doing. I’ve done what thousands of lawyers have done.”

Her humility is refreshing and admirable, though you cannot help but wonder if she is selling herself short. After all, she’s been a lawyer for 15 years and structured deals that number in the “hundreds”.