The Regional Voyager

Most law students view the path to success as one paved with prestigious internships. Not Ian Michael Yam.

“I remember I received strange looks when I said I was going to go to Thailand for a corporate law internship, instead of doing internships at coveted firms in Singapore, but I have no regrets putting myself out there and growing,” he said confidently. Today, that boy with the simple wish of caring for his family has grown into an astute young man; with an eye for optimising global opportunities, Ian has crafted a corporate adventure exploring Southeast Asia.

From Cantonese Dramas to Law School

Ian’s interest in law started unconventionally—in front of a television set with his grandfather. While his grandfather never practised law, his obsession for all things legal, including old Cantonese legal dramas, was infectious.

“My aim wasn’t complex back then,” he reflected. “I just wanted to study hard, take care of my family, and earn some extra money.”

Growing up, family holidays were rare. Ian’s world was shaped by the local neighbourhood and the responsibility of caregiving for his grandparents. Those early years, however, were his first “internship”. Scouting for the best lobang (deals) and managing the crises that came with caregiving instilled in him a streetwise sensibility. He learnt to anticipate needs and handle pressure, skills that would later prove invaluable in the high-stakes world of regional corporate law.

The NUS Catalyst

Ian credits NUS Law with providing the “intellectual stage” he needed. As a recipient of the Global Merit Scholarship, he was given access to an education that might have otherwise been out of reach, and he highlighted the extensive support networks and opportunities at NUS. Describing a pivotal moment in his Company Law class, he shared that his tutor, Ms Samantha Tang  (Law ’14), noticed his knack for corporate strategy and urged him to apply for the NUS-New York University (NYU) LLB-LLM joint programme.

“I liked company law classes a lot but didn’t think I was good enough,” Ian admitted. “But she made me believe in myself and saw how the NYU stage could stretch my strengths.” This encouragement turned his LLB degree towards a global trajectory.

The Regional Connection

Having deliberately wended his way through many regional countries, Ian explained it was never his intention to neglect his Singapore law competencies and relationships. “I figured I could ‘get back to it’ eventually but with lots of insights accumulated from fresh experiences.”

His passport tells a story of intense immersion. In his first year, Ian travelled to Jakarta for an internship with the ASEAN Foundation; his second year saw him interning at law firms in Hong Kong (Des Voeux Chambers), as well as Bangkok (Tilleke & Gibbins), with a secondment to Yangon. In November 2025, he competed in a moot at Sophia University in Tokyo.

In his first year of law school, Ian travelled to Jakarta for an internship with the ASEAN Foundation, stepping out of his comfort zone to make the best of his NUS Law experience.

What truly sets Ian apart is his mastery of languages—English, Mandarin and Bahasa Melayu (BM), with a working knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia and Thai. To Ian, they are more than words; they are the keys to a room.

"I learnt BM as a third language in school, but I feel most of my learning came from pure interest and hanging out with Malay friends, and pals from Thailand and Malaysia," he said. With a laugh, he added: "After my moot in Tokyo, I am being 'pressured' to pick up Japanese. I suspect I will likely bend!"

In November 2025, Ian (centre) travelled to Japan for the Intercollegiate Negotiation Competition held at Sophia University.

That penchant for language has clearly helped him connect to the local community. He didn't skip a beat when asked about what was most exciting about going beyond Singapore. "Definitely the people! You learn so much about life, cultural nuances, and what it means to operate in different environments. The people I’ve met have shaped my view on handling unconventional situations.”

Lessons Learnt

One of Ian’s most memorable moments occurred in Myanmar. While visiting government officials in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone, the officials mistook the young intern for a foreign investor, offering him their name cards. Thinking on his feet, he quickly had his supervisor translate that he had just joined the team and his name cards weren’t ready, averting a blunder that could have embarrassed the officials. The meeting proceeded smoothly, a testament to the crisis-handling skills honed during his childhood.

In his second year of law school, Ian interned with Tilleke & Gibbins, with a secondment to Myanmar (pictured) where he had to navigate corporate transactions involving a wide range of regional clients.

The importance of honorifics was an aspect of regional cultures that he quickly learnt to be cognisant of. “As a foreigner, the first impression you give is tied to you not addressing others in a way that is oblivious to seniority and relationship dynamics.”

Reflecting on his greatest takeaway from his travels, Ian said: “My greatest learning point is to always stay hungry, without being greedy. I find that identifying the next skill I need to work on has helped me gradually grow into bigger shoes.”

The Way Forward

Ian’s regional journey is not just about personal growth, it is also about “growing the pie” for Singapore. “Our founding leaders criss-crossed the globe to bring opportunities back home,” he reflected. “What reason is there for us to not do so as well?”

Ian has set a bar for himself: to establish himself as a cross-border corporate transactions lawyer, to help overseas partners have a positive impression of Singapore, and to inspire peers to believe in regional collaborations.

Ian is now preparing for his next challenge: New York University. While he has never been to the US, he carries with him the hunger of a small-town boy and the sensibilities of a seasoned regional navigator. Yet he remains humble, summarising his journey thus far in three simple heartfelt words: “Thank you everyone.”

“I think the ‘challenge’ at law school is to not just be a studious student, but to actually achieve fulfilment in making the best of one’s lived experience at NUS Law. This is pretty much the main driving force as to why I like to do things outside my comfort zone.”

This story was first published in the December 2025 issue of LawLink. Click here for past issues of the magazine.