About the Firm
A small firm that keeps its word.
marinaadia was founded in Singapore to serve clients who need careful, considered help with pension matters — not a large institution, but a firm where each case is handled by a qualified advocate who knows the file.
Back to Homemarinaadia opened its doors in Orchard Road in 2017, following the founding advocate's decision to leave a larger firm and concentrate on a single, often overlooked area of Singapore law: the defence of pension rights. The caseload that had accumulated over a decade in the larger practice had made one thing clear — clients facing pension difficulties rarely needed a full-service firm. They needed one solicitor who understood the relevant legislation, was prepared to read the file carefully, and would explain what was possible without making commitments that could not be kept.
The name reflects the firm's character. A mooring is not a destination; it is a settled place from which the next stage of a journey may be planned with confidence. That is what marinaadia tries to offer each client who comes through the door: a point of settled understanding, a written record of where things stand, and a clear picture of what options are available.
The firm operates from a single office in Forum The Shopping Mall, within easy reach of the Orchard MRT station. Consultations take place by appointment. The firm does not take on more matters than it can handle with care, and it does not promise results it cannot deliver. What it does offer is a measured, unhurried approach — the kind that complicated pension matters generally require.
What we are here for
Singapore's pension and CPF framework is detailed, and the consequences of a withholding decision — or of a poorly coordinated estate — can be significant. The firm's work falls into three areas. The first is the initial sitting: gathering the documents, the client's account, and the relevant correspondence, and producing a written summary that the client can take home and consider. The second is representation in cases where a pension has been withheld — the measured correspondence, the formal submissions, the patient attendance at any process. The third is quiet estate coordination: aligning the will, the lasting power of attorney, and the pension nominations so that what the client intends will, as far as possible, come about.
In each area, the firm's approach is the same. Costs are stated before work begins. The client is consulted at each stage. The written materials are produced in plain language. And the firm acts only within the scope that has been agreed.
The advocates and staff who carry the work.
Rachel Lim Shu-Yen
Founding Advocate
Called to the Singapore Bar in 2008 and focused on pension and CPF matters since 2013. Handles all Steady Course representations personally.
Marcus Kwek Jun-Wei
Associate Advocate
Joined the firm in 2021. Handles estate coordination engagements and initial client sittings. Has a background in trust and succession work.
Theresa Ng Bee-Lin
Client Liaison & Practice Manager
Manages appointments, prepares client folders, and ensures that all written materials reach clients in the form agreed. First point of contact for new enquiries.
How the firm operates.
Law Society Compliance
The firm is subject to the Professional Conduct Rules of the Law Society of Singapore and maintains its practising certificate in good standing.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Professional indemnity cover is maintained to the standard required by the Law Society. Clients may ask for confirmation of cover at any time.
Confidentiality & Privilege
All communications with the firm attract legal professional privilege. Client information is not shared with third parties without express consent, save as required by law.
Transparent Fee Practices
Every engagement is covered by a written cost agreement before work begins. Bills are issued only for work within agreed scope. No unexpected charges.
Personal Data Protection
Client data is handled in accordance with Singapore's Personal Data Protection Act. Data is retained only as long as required for the matter and applicable regulatory periods.
Client Communication Standards
The firm returns calls and emails within one working day. Every development in a client's matter is reported to the client before action is taken.
Pension law knowledge in Singapore
The Central Provident Fund framework governs the retirement savings of most Singapore residents, and the rules governing withdrawal, nomination, and dispute are detailed. marinaadia works within this framework daily — reviewing nomination records, tracing withholding decisions to their legislative basis, and representing clients before the CPF Board and, where necessary, in the civil courts. The firm also works on cases involving employer-administered pension schemes, which follow different rules and require different approaches.
Estate coordination sits alongside pension work naturally. A will that does not account for CPF nominations, or nominations that have not been updated since a previous relationship, can produce outcomes that differ substantially from what the client intended. The firm's quiet estate service is designed to close those gaps — working through the will, the lasting power of attorney, and the nominations in a single coordinated engagement.
Speak with the firm before committing to anything.
A first sitting at SGD 180 produces a written summary of your situation. There is no obligation to proceed.
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