Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Melissa CHIN

Summary

  • Versatile corporate immigration professional with 7 years of frontline consulting and customer service experience.
  • Legally trained and qualified in Singapore with experience in law firms and government organisations.
  • Proactive and highly adaptable, with proven experience working in a team context.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills with positive learning attitude.

Overview

11
11
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Paralegal

Contigo Law LLC
08.2023 - Current
  • Preparing pleadings and affidavits for civil ligation and family, probate and matrimonial matters.
  • Handling all E-Litigation filing for high volume of cases.
  • Drafting and maintaining up to date correspondence with clients.
  • Researching and analysing legal issues and cases and preparing legal submissions.
  • Assisting the Managing Partner in case management, monitoring of timelines and taking of clients' instructions.
  • Preparing for and assisting with trials.

Senior Assistant Director

Family Justice Courts
10.2022 - 07.2023
  • Led a team of 12 registry officers in the Mental Capacity Act, Adoption and Probate (MAP) Registry.
  • Responsible for the smooth delivery of registry operations and meeting of service timelines.
  • Improved operational efficiency by streamlining processes.
  • Part of the team which successfully implemented the Probate e-Service to assist self-represented persons to file their applications for a Grant of Probate.
  • Prepared Standard Operating Procedures for registry operations and conducted training for team members and vendors.
  • Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
  • Managed communications with court users, including responding to queries and handling escalations and court users' feedback.

Assistant Business Immigration Manager

Fragomen Singapore Pte. Ltd.
11.2021 - 10.2022
  • Provided strategic immigration advice and compliance driven solutions to multinational and local companies on all aspects of Singapore immigration.
  • Enhanced client satisfaction by providing timely and accurate information on immigration procedures and requirements.
  • Coordinated with government agencies to obtain necessary documentation for client applications, facilitating successful outcomes.
  • Reduced errors in immigration applications by meticulously reviewing and editing documents before submission.
  • Managing sensitive transfer or transactions involving senior executive level employees to address issues and ensure that service is delivered smoothly and efficiently and expectation is met.
  • Organised client meetings, trainings and quarterly and annual reviews with clients.
  • Assisted with complex immigration applications, rejected applications and appeals.
  • Facilitated clients' onboarding process and transition projects.
  • Presenter in Fragomen's webcast held in 2022 on Singapore's evolving immigration landscape.

Senior Business Immigration Consultant

Fragomen Singapore Pte. Ltd.
09.2015 - 10.2017
  • Provided high level of strategic compliance services to the firm’s wide range of clients, including multinational, regional and local corporations.
  • Advised on relevant Singapore immigration regulations and procedures, including managing visa applications for a large
    portfolio of clients.
  • Assisted with complex Singapore immigration applications, rejected applications and appeals. Identified key issues that may impact immigration process and presented
    scenarios and realistic options to clients effectively.
  • Recognised as a reliable point of contact for multiple VIP/major clients. Maintained excellent flow of communications with clients and high standard of responsiveness and accuracy. Winner of Employee Star Award in 2016.
  • Led and trained multiple new consultants over course of 5 years under guidance of team manager.
  • Selected for Fragomen APAC Regional Training Event in Bangkok in 2019, won Best Team Presentation in client proposal challenge.

Legal Counsel

National Environment Agency
03.2014 - 07.2015
  • Drafted and advised on a variety of contracts and tenancy/licence agreements. Performed legal research and vetted tender documents. Advised on liability issues relating to insurance claims. Worked closely with various levels of operational/policy staff.
  • Managed the Agency’s debt recovery cases for hawker stalls, including liaising with the Agency’s external legal counsel when required. Cleared previous backlog of cases and
    ensured a faster response time.
  • Spearheaded tender to appoint a panel of law firms for the Agency, which went beyond usual scope of work. Proactive in sourcing for funding, obtaining Management approval
    and working closely with operational units to finalise the tender documents.
  • Advised on the new management model for HDB and Government-owned hawker centres.
  • Participated in negotiations with private entities and advised Senior Management on new hawker centre projects.

Legal Associate

Bih Li & Lee LLP / WongPartnership LLP
08.2012 - 02.2014
  • Handled probate and family law cases with guidance from Supervising Partner. Assisted in applications under the Mental Capacity Act for deputies to be appointed for patients who were incapable of making decisions as to their personal and financial affairs.
  • Assisted in a high-value arbitration involving disputed foreign exchange transactions. Performed legal research, conducted witness interviews and drafted statements. Liaised with local and foreign experts on preparation of their expert reports. Monitored timelines and administrative tasks (for a team of 6 lawyers) to ensure smooth progress of the arbitration.
  • Worked closely with clients to manage their cases from beginning to end. Interviewed clients, reviewed documents and drafted Affidavits. Drafted court applications and represented clients at court hearings.

Education

Postgraduate Diploma, Human Capital Management -

Singapore Human Resource Institute (SHRI Academy)
Singapore
2016

Bachelor of Laws - LLB -

National University of Singapore
Singapore
2011

Skills

  • Immigration expertise
  • Client service
  • Legal Analysis
  • Effective Communication
  • Process Improvement

Timeline

Senior Paralegal

Contigo Law LLC
08.2023 - Current

Senior Assistant Director

Family Justice Courts
10.2022 - 07.2023

Assistant Business Immigration Manager

Fragomen Singapore Pte. Ltd.
11.2021 - 10.2022

Senior Business Immigration Consultant

Fragomen Singapore Pte. Ltd.
09.2015 - 10.2017

Legal Counsel

National Environment Agency
03.2014 - 07.2015

Legal Associate

Bih Li & Lee LLP / WongPartnership LLP
08.2012 - 02.2014

Postgraduate Diploma, Human Capital Management -

Singapore Human Resource Institute (SHRI Academy)

Bachelor of Laws - LLB -

National University of Singapore

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Melissa CHIN