Westlaw Singapore launches with SAL to unite local legal content
Thomson Reuters has unveiled Westlaw Singapore, a legal research platform developed through a new partnership with the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) that consolidates critical Singapore legal resources in one place.
The platform delivers access to the official Singapore Law Reports, unreported judgments, and other primary source materials, integrating local expertise from SAL with Thomson Reuters' international legal database systems. This collaboration aims to streamline how legal professionals in Singapore and beyond conduct research, moving away from the use of multiple, separate databases.
Vishal Bali, Managing Director of Asia and Emerging Markets at Thomson Reuters, highlighted the environment in which the platform is being introduced, stating, "Against the backdrop of vast technological, regulatory, and economic change, we see a growing demand for legal professionals to deliver clarity for their clients with trust, speed and accuracy at the core. Despite this, legal research methods have traditionally relied on disparate databases, hindering professionals' ability to complete legal analysis efficiently. The launch of Westlaw Singapore addresses this challenge by providing the first comprehensive platform to combine trusted, authoritative content with advanced research technology."
Strategic partnership
The partnership between Thomson Reuters and SAL aims to enhance Singapore's legal content coverage for both domestic and international users. The system leverages smart search functions and offers connections to common law research services such as Westlaw Edge UK, enabling in-depth research of local and wider common law jurisdictions.
"The launch of Westlaw Singapore and our partnership with the Singapore Academy of Law represents a pivotal moment for legal research in the region. By combining Thomson Reuters comprehensive coverage of Authorised Law reports across four major jurisdictions with SAL's deep local expertise, we are delivering unparalleled access to trusted, authoritative content and cutting-edge technology," said Rob Head, Senior Director, Legal Content Solutions at Thomson Reuters.
"Together, we are setting a new standard for legal research - one that is faster, more reliable, and seamlessly connected - empowering legal professionals in Singapore and around the world to navigate complex decisions with confidence."
Mr Yeong Zee Kin, Chief Executive of SAL, commented, "This is a significant milestone, marking our first partnership with Thomson Reuters, one of the world's leading providers of legal content, to promote Singapore law globally. We are excited to set a new benchmark to deliver a seamless and enhanced research experience to the global legal community by making a comprehensive collection of Singapore judgments, including the official Singapore Law Reports, accessible on leading international platforms."
Platform features
Westlaw Singapore will be made available through Westlaw International starting in October. Key elements of the offering include the integration of all Singapore primary law sources - such as the official Singapore Law Reports, unreported cases, legislation, and AI-generated case summaries - with established local legal commentary titles, including Chow Kok Fong's Law & Practise of Construction Contracts, Walter Woon on Company Law, and Bullen & Leake & Jacobs Singapore Precedents of Pleadings.
The new platform allows professionals access to international material through seamless integrations with Westlaw Edge UK, Westlaw Precision Australia, Westlaw New Zealand, Westlaw Canada, Practical Law, and the Common Law Library. This enables users to research Singapore foundations and place them in a wider common law context, minimising the need to switch between different platforms.
Thomson Reuters has indicated that Westlaw Singapore's intelligent search capabilities are designed to enhance efficiency across all stages of the legal research process, from initial document review to detailed text analysis. The inclusion of in-product collaboration tools is also intended to support team workflow and productivity.
Ongoing commitment
The announcement underscores what Thomson Reuters describes as a continued global offer to invest in trusted content and technology for legal professionals. The company regards this partnership and the technology power behind Westlaw Singapore as steps towards its wider goal of providing a generative AI assistant for all professionals who use its platforms.
