Gary Chan Kok Yew

Gary Chan is Professor of Law, School of Law, Singapore Management University. He is an Advocate and Solicitor of the Singapore Supreme Court and an Attorney & Counselor-at-law (New York). Prior to joining academia in 2002, he had served as a judicial officer in the Supreme Court of Singapore, and worked as a corporate lawyer and legal counsel. He has received postgraduate degrees in Law, Philosophy and Southeast Asian studies.

His main research interests are Tort Law, the Singapore Legal System, Health Law and Ethics including ethics in relation to artificial intelligence and medicine. Gary Chan has authored and/or edited books as well as numerous book chapters, journal articles and case notes on the abovementioned research areas and taught several related subjects at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He has presented on his research in conferences both in Singapore and abroad (mainly Europe, Asia and North America).

Education

• M.A. (Philosophy of Religion and Ethics) (Merit), University of Birmingham, 2016
• M.A. (Southeast Asian Studies), National University of Singapore, 2001
• B.A. (Philosophy), University of London (Second Upper Honours), 2000
• LL.M. (Merit), SOAS, University of London, 1996
• LL.B., National University of Singapore (Second Upper Honours), 1993
• Attorney and Counselor-at-Law (New York), 2006
• Advocate and Solicitor (Singapore), 1994

Academic Positions Held

Current Appointment:

• Professor of Law, Singapore Management University, 2017-Current

Previous Appointments:

• Associate Dean (Faculty & Research), School of Law, Singapore Management University, Jul 2017-Jan 2020
• Director, J.D. Programme, Aug 2016-Jun 2017
• Associate Professor of Law, Singapore Management University, 2008-2016
• Director, Continuing Legal Education, May 2010-Apr 2012
• Associate Dean (Teaching & Curriculum), School of Law, Singapore Management University, 2007-April 2009
• Assistant Professor of Law, Singapore Management University, 2002-2007

Other Positions

• Civilian Panel Member, Military Court of Appeal, Singapore, July 2020 – present
• Member, University Research Evaluation Committee, Singapore Management University, 2020 - present
• Appointed as amicus curiae of the Supreme Court of Singapore to provide opinions on tort law in 2018 and 2019
• President’s Tenure and Advisory Committee (PTAC), May 2017 - present
• Member, Editorial Board of Torts Law Journal, September 2016 - present
• Member, Faculty Advisory Committee (Teaching and Learning) (FACTL), Singapore Management University, Jan 2015-Dec 2018
• Wee Kim Centre Director Search Committee, July 2016 - 2017
• School of Law Dean Search Committee, September 2016 - February 2017
• Member, Taskforce for Technology-Enhanced Education, Singapore Management University, 1 Feb 2016 - Mar 2017
• Member, Programs Committee, Continuing Professional Development Scheme, Singapore Institute of Legal Education, 2011-Apr 2012
• Member, University Librarian Search Committee, Singapore Management University, 2010-Nov 2011
• Member, Editorial Board of the Singapore Law Reports (Re-issue), 2007-2009
• Member, Professional Development Chapter (of the Professional Affairs Committee, Singapore Academy of Law), 2007-Nov 2014
• Member, Singapore Academy of Law Summer School Committee, March 2008-Jan 2010
• Counsel (Asia-Pacific Australasia), Equant, 2000–2002
• Legal Manager, Singapore Telecommunications Ltd, 1998–2000
• Corporate Lawyer, Wong Partnership, 1997–1998
• Magistrate, Subordinate Courts, Singapore, 1995–1996
• Assistant Registrar, Supreme Court, Singapore, 1993–1996

Courses Taught in SMU

• Law of Torts
• Legal System, Legal Method and Analysis
• Business Law
• Ethics and Social Responsibility
• Law Study Mission (Vietnam)
• Comparative Legal Systems
• Big Questions (Happiness and Suffering)
• Health Law and Medical Ethics

Research Areas / Areas of Specialisation

• Tort Law
• Singapore Legal System
• Ethics

Selected Publications

• AI, Data and Private Law: Translating Theory into Practice (Hart Publishing, 2021) (co-edited with Man Yip)
• Health Law and Medical Ethics in Singapore (Routledge, 2021)
• The Law of Torts in Singapore (Academy Publishing, Second Edition, 2016) (co-authored with Lee Pey Woan).
• ‘Search Engines and Internet Defamation: Of Publication and Legal Responsibility’ (2019) 35 Computer Law and Security Review 330-343.
• ‘The Right to a Good (Business) Reputation and Truth: Re-examining the Declaration of Falsity’ (2016) 23 Torts Law Journal 163-185.
• ‘Finding Common Law Duty of Care from Statutory Duties: All Within the Anns Framework’ (2016) 24 The Tort Law Review 14-33.
• Tort of Defamation Before the Singapore Courts 1965-2015: A Comparative and Empirical Study, Academy Publishing, 2017.
• Ethics and Social Responsibility: Asian and Western Perspectives (McGraw-Hill, Third Edition, 2016) (edited book with George T L Shenoy).
• The Legal System of Singapore: Institutions, Principles and Practices (LexisNexis, 2015) (edited book with Jack Tsen-Ta Lee).