Selvam Llc

What Selvam Llc does

Selvam LLC is a privately held boutique corporate and disputes law firm headquartered at 16 Collyer Quay #17-00 in Singapore, founded in 2001 by Mrs. Arfat Selvam. The firm provides Singapore law services across four practice areas: Corporate Commercial (M&A, capital markets, PE/VC, banking and finance, joint ventures), Dispute Resolution (commercial litigation, international arbitration, ADR/mediation, construction, white-collar crime), Private Client Services (matrimonial, estate, conveyancing), and Corporate Secretariat (via wholly owned subsidiary DMS Corporate Services Pte. Ltd., which also holds an Employment Agency License). Its client base spans publicly listed companies, multinational corporations, SMEs, and private individuals with cross-border mandates into Singapore and the broader region.

On 1 January 2011, Selvam LLC entered into an Enhanced Joint Law Venture (JLV) with Philadelphia-based Duane Morris LLP — the first U.S.-Singapore joint venture approved by Singapore under the 2008 liberalisation of legal services. Branded as Duane Morris & Selvam LLP, the JLV provides Selvam access to 900+ lawyers across 30 global offices (20+ US plus five Asia offices: Singapore, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai, Yangon) and shared IT, training, and technology infrastructure. Selvam LLC retains sole responsibility for Singapore law matters (litigation, employment, real estate, family law) within the venture, while cross-border mandates are routed through the combined platform.

The firm's revenue model is professional services-based, generating fees from corporate advisory, litigation, arbitration, private client, and corporate secretarial work, billed hourly or on fixed-fee arrangements (not publicly disclosed). Go-to-market is enterprise field sales via direct lawyer engagement, with no proprietary technology platform. The firm invests in analyst-ranking credibility (Benchmark Litigation, IFLR1000, Legal 500, Asian Legal Business), pro bono work, and seminars/webinars for thought leadership. Country desks for Korea, China, and Latin America, alongside targeted senior lateral hiring from Magic Circle and leading Singapore firms, indicate ongoing practice build-out within the boutique's positioning.

Name

Selvam Llc

Legal name

Selvam LLC

Website

https://selvam.com.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Selvam LLC is a Singapore-based boutique corporate and disputes law firm founded in 2001, operating via an Enhanced Joint Law Venture with Duane Morris LLP to serve listed companies, multinationals, SMEs, and private individuals across Asia and US cross-border mandates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate & Commercial Law (BPAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) & Securities Law (BPAHAAAI), Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Insolvency Law (BPAHAAAH), Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs) (BPAHAOAG)

Keywords

• Corporate legal services
• Dispute resolution
• Litigation arbitration
• Private client services
• Corporate secretarial

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Fees: The firm generates revenue through professional legal services fees charged to clients for corporate commercial advice, dispute resolution, litigation, arbitration, private client services, and corporate secretarial work. Fees are typically billed on an hourly basis or fixed fee arrangement depending on the nature and complexity of the matter.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Selvam LLC is a boutique corporate and disputes law firm offering Singapore law services across four practice areas: Corporate Commercial (advising publicly listed companies, multinationals, and SMEs on M&A, capital markets, venture capital, and corporate governance), Dispute Resolution (commercial litigation, international arbitration, ADR/mediation across construction, employment, white collar, and securities matters), Private Client Services (matrimonial, estate, probate, and conveyancing matters), and Corporate Secretariat (delivered through wholly-owned subsidiary DMS Corporate Services Pte. Ltd., handling incorporation, compliance, governance, and employment agency services).

Product overview

Selvam LLC is a boutique corporate and disputes law firm offering Singapore law services. The firm provides legal services across four main practice areas: Corporate Commercial (serving publicly listed companies, multinationals, and SMEs with legal counsel and project management), Dispute Resolution (covering litigation, arbitration, ADR, and mediation across commercial disputes, construction, and white collar crimes), Private Client Services (handling matrimonial, estate-related matters including divorce, guardianship, wills, probate, and conveyancing), and Corporate Secretariat (delivered through wholly-owned subsidiary DMS Corporate Services Pte. Ltd., offering corporate secretarial, incorporation, compliance, and governance services). These practice areas function as distinct service lines rather than a unified software product or platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Commercial Legal Services Full-service corporate advisory and transaction support for publicly listed companies, multinationals, and SMEs — including legal counsel and professional project management on complex legal issues, functioning either as sole legal counsel or alongside in-house legal departments.
• Dispute Resolution Legal Services Comprehensive dispute resolution representation across domestic and international litigation, arbitration, ADR, and mediation — covering commercial disputes, construction disputes, white collar crime/anti-bribery, employment, banking & finance, insurance & reinsurance, securities, defamation, trade secrets/IP, and international trade matters.
• Private Client Services Advisory and court representation for local and foreign individuals on matrimonial and estate-related matters — including divorce, guardianship, relocation, maintenance, adoption, contested estate administration, wills, probate, administration, and conveyancing, delivered with commercially sensible and cost-effective counsel.
• Corporate Secretariat Services (via DMS Corporate Services Pte. Ltd.) Dedicated corporate secretarial and advisory services — including incorporation, compliance, governance, and employment agency services — delivered through wholly-owned subsidiary DMS Corporate Services Pte. Ltd. in close collaboration with the firm's lawyers.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Duane Morris LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011On 1 January 2011, Selvam LLC entered into an Enhanced Joint Law Venture (JLV) with Philadelphia-based Duane Morris LLP. This was the first U.S.-Singapore joint venture approved by Singapore as part of enhanced liberalisation of its legal services market in 2008. The joint venture, known as Duane Morris & Selvam LLP, enables Duane Morris to strengthen its capabilities, access and presence in Asia through Selvam LLC's Singapore corporate and disputes practices. The partnership provides access to technology, IT infrastructure, training and capabilities of a global law firm with over 900 lawyers across 30 offices including 5 offices in Asia.
• DMS Corporate Services Pte. Ltd.coreTechnology or IntegrationDMS Corporate Services Pte. Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Selvam LLC that provides dedicated corporate secretarial and advisory services. The subsidiary also holds an Employment Agency License, enhancing the firm's ability to support a wide range of corporate needs including incorporation, compliance, governance, and employment pass applications.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Clifford Chance: Global Magic Circle firm with a full-service Singapore office handling complex cross-border M&A, capital markets, banking and disputes work. Directly competes with Selvam for large Singapore and regional mandates, particularly where JLV-style international capability is required.
• Mayer Brown: Global law firm with a Singapore office handling complex cross-border corporate, finance, and disputes work. Overlaps with Selvam/Duane Morris & Selvam on international mandates, particularly banking, restructuring, and arbitration matters in Asia.
• Allen & Gledhill: One of the largest Big Four Singapore law firms with a full-service corporate, capital markets, and disputes practice across ASEAN. A former Selvam senior associate (Yip Li Tong) joined from Allen & Gledhill, underscoring direct competition for the same Singapore corporate and capital markets mandates.
• Rajah & Tann Singapore: One of Singapore's largest full-service law firms with deep corporate, M&A, banking, and dispute resolution practices, and a broad ASEAN network. Direct competitor for Singapore-headquartered and regional corporate clients; multiple Selvam alumni (e.g., Priya Selvam, Agnes Ng, Tham Seok Boon) previously worked at Rajah & Tann.
• A&O Shearman: Global law firm formed by the Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merger, with a strong Singapore presence across corporate, finance, and disputes. Competes for the same cross-border M&A, capital markets, and international arbitration mandates that Selvam pursues via the Duane Morris JLV.
• WongPartnership: Singapore-headquartered full-service firm with strong corporate, M&A, capital markets, and dispute resolution practices, and significant cross-border reach in ASEAN. Competes with Selvam for listed-company advisory, M&A, and high-value litigation mandates in Singapore.
• Drew & Napier: Singapore full-service firm renowned for its dispute resolution and intellectual property practices, with deep corporate and M&A capability. Director Daniel Soo was previously at Drew & Napier, evidencing direct competition for litigation, restructuring, and corporate mandates.
• Herbert Smith Freehills: Global firm with a major Singapore office and strong Asia-Pacific corporate, energy, and disputes practices. Chairman Leon Yee joined Selvam from HSF, evidencing direct head-to-head competition for cross-border mandates in Singapore.
• Linklaters: Magic Circle firm with a significant Singapore office focused on cross-border M&A, capital markets, banking, and disputes. Competes directly with Selvam for high-end regional mandates that combine Singapore law with multi-jurisdictional coverage.
• Baker McKenzie: Global firm with one of the largest Singapore presences, providing full-service corporate, M&A, banking and dispute resolution coverage. Competes with Selvam for multinational clients entering or operating in Singapore and across ASEAN.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/selvam-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Selvam Llc