Singapore has positioned itself as an oasis for white-collar professionals: the public transport runs every three minutes, the visa paperwork is painless and even the unrelenting humidity has its upside – those white collared shirts require no ironing.

“It’s basically really set itself up to make things very easy for people to move over,” says Herbert Smith Freehills senior associate Mark Khouri who relocated to the city-state in February 2024.

Khouri, a Premier League fanatic, once had his sights set on a secondment to London. But when a stint abroad would have made the most sense, there was a pandemic, and he figured the moment had passed.

Then, unexpectedly, an opportunity arose outside the firm’s usual secondment process: a bespoke arrangement driven by rising demand for advice on digital plumbing across the Asia-Pacific. The more he looked into it, the more it made sense.

“What we’re really trying to get me involved in up here is digital infrastructure, so things like, data centres, subsea cables, fibre optic cables and satellites.”

As well as the professional opportunities, factoring into his decision was the warm welcome given to expats by the Ministry of Manpower – the Singaporean government body tasked with fostering a competitive workforce.

As with many countries that rely on foreign talent, Singapore has comparatively low rates of personal income tax. The top tax rate is 24 per cent and kicks in at $1 million. Australia’s top tax rate by comparison is 47 per cent (including the medicare levy) and kicks in at $190,000.

A lawyer with four years of post-admission experience might expect to be $40,000 better off after a two-year stint in the country.

No seasons, no suits

Khouri admits life in Singapore is not without its challenges. Rents are eye watering even by Sydney standards, and you get fewer square meters for your dollar. On the plus side, amenities like pools and gyms are far more common in the city’s condos.

And as for Singapore’s tropical climate and what this means for the office dress code, Khouri is still adjusting.

“Singapore doesn’t really have four seasons, just wet and dry, and even then, it’s not really that dry,” Khouri says.

“I think most people recognise that there’s no point being uncomfortably sweaty for, you know, eight hours of the day if you don’t have to.”

Beyond work, Mark has made the most of his new base, travelling to Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Jakarta and Lombok, trying and failing to surfing, and sampling the many plates at local food market La Pau Sat.

And while timezones have always made it hard to watch his favourite soccer team, he now also struggles to play the game.

“It is tricky playing soccer in about 80 to 95 per cent humidity. That’s been a learning experience.”