Mervyn Cheong

⚒️ What do you do?

I am an Associate Professor (Practice track) with the National University of Singapore, Law Faculty. I run a Capital Offences Criminal Litigation Clinic as an elective & also oversee the administration of the pro bono programme.

I also practice law at Advocatus Law LLP, specialising in criminal matters including capital cases and white collar crime matters, and also corporate internal investigations and compliance.

🏆 What is your proudest achievement?

The one case that is still most memorable to me is acting for an accused, who had already been sentenced to death at trial, in his appeal before the highest appellate court in Singapore.
The coram would usually consist of 3 judges of appeal, but that case had a coram of 5 judges! 

Acquittals are not easy to come by in criminal matters but together with my team, we overturned the appeal & the client was acquitted 🥳.
It took almost 6 years!

⌛ There are now 25 hours in a day! How do you spend your extra hour?

I'll spend that extra hour with my wife and daughter, just chilling and enjoying each other's company.

🚀 If you weren't a lawyer, what would you do?

Probably a chef 👨🏻‍🍳 or a jiujutsu instructor?

😋 Your favourite food haunt (bonus points if it's off the beaten track!)

My present favourite food haunt is Pizzamaru at Changi Jewel. Their Korean fried chicken and pizza 🍕 are really tasty!

Noted: This interview has been edited for clarity & length.