Dorothy Tan

Dorothy Tan is Deputy Head of the Family Law Practice Group at PKWA Law, where she also serves as a Senior Associate Director. Her legal career is marked by numerous accomplishments and accolades.

Landmark Wins and Notable Cases

• TQU v TQT [2020] SGCA 08: In this high-profile case, Dorothy represented the ex-husband in an appeal after he was initially granted only 25% of the $13.6 million in matrimonial assets. Dorothy achieved a remarkable result in the Singapore Court of Appeal, increasing his share from 25% ($3.4 million) to 75% ($10.2 million) of the assets. This is one of the largest percentage increases in matrimonial asset division in Singapore’s legal history. The Court of Appeal’s 60-page judgment described the case as “complicated,” “challenging,” and “highly unusual.”

• Twiss, Christopher James Hans v Twiss, Yvonne Prendergast [2015] SGCA 52: At just 25 years old, Dorothy successfully argued her first Court of Appeal case. She represented the husband in a landmark decision that reaffirmed Singapore’s structured approach to matrimonial asset division—an impressive achievement early in her career.

• WOS v WOT [2024] SGHC(A) 11: Dorothy secured over $6 million for a homemaker client in a complex High Court case after a protracted six-year legal battle. She prevailed against a five-member legal team led by a Senior Counsel.

• XIK v XIL [2025] SGHCF 16: Dorothy recently represented the husband in a case before the High Court, securing 72.5% of the matrimonial assets.

Co-Author of Divorce Book

Dorothy is the co-author of the divorce book “Divorce Done Right: A Guide to Family Law in Singapore” published in 2021. She is also a contributor and author for Lexis Practical Guidance – Family Law Module.

Dorothy’s achievements extend beyond her legal practice and into various awards and recognitions:

• She is recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Litigation in Asia-Pacific by Benchmark Litigation in 2021 and 2022, a prestigious list highlighting outstanding female litigators who have made substantial contributions to their field.
• Dorothy has secured victories in two significant Court of Appeal cases, including her landmark achievement at the age of 25, where she successfully argued for the husband and clarified the new Singaporean law on matrimonial asset division.
• In her second Court of Appeal triumph, Dorothy represented the husband in a complex and unconventional case, resulting in a substantial shift from 25% to 75% in favor of her client, one of the most substantial awards in Singaporean divorce cases.
• She is recognized as a Litigation Star in family and matrimonial law in Asia-Pacific by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific in 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025.
• Dorothy is named as a finalist for “Woman Lawyer of the Year” by Asian Legal Business at its 20th Annual ALB SE Asia Law Awards in 2018 and 2024.
• Dorothy is ranked as a Leading Family and Divorce Lawyer in the Doyle’s Guide for Leading Family & Divorce lawyers in Singapore in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
• She was named among Asia’s top young lawyers in the Asian Legal Business 2016 listing of “40 under 40 – Asia’s Brightest Young Legal Minds.”
• Dorothy was named in the Singapore Business Review’s “Singapore’s most influential lawyers aged 40 and Under” list for 2016.

Appointments and Memberships

• Accredited Mediator with the Singapore Mediation Centre.

• Accredited Collaborative Family Practitioner (CFP) with the Singapore Mediation Centre.

• Appointed to the Singapore Mediation Centre’s Panel of Collaborative Family Practitioners (CFP).

• Associate Mediator on the Law Society Mediation Scheme Panel.

• Appointed by the Chief Justice to serve on the Inquiry Panel of the Law Society of Singapore.

• Served as a course facilitator for the Family Law Practice module at the Singapore Institute of Legal Education, helping law students prepare for the Bar Exam (2020–2022).

• Appointed as a mentor for young lawyers through the Singapore Law Society Mentorship Scheme.