Consilium Law Corporation. http: //www.consiliumlaw.com.sg
With over 20 cumulative years living in Singapore, and as 1st Vice President of the CAS, Franca is a familiar face amongst our Canadian community here in Singapore. We thought we’d catch up with Franca for a little Q&A.
Interview with Franca Ciambella. Canadian from Montreal. Cumulative years in Singapore=20
1. Q: Ok Franca, you are Managing Director at Consilium Law Corporation, the First VP of the CAS, a member of various business chambers, and a wife and hands-on mother of three teenage boys. How do you manage to do all of that and still have a semblance of normalcy in your family’s lives?
A: Who said anything about normalcy, have you seen our food bill? (Hahaha). You know, I do get asked that a lot-especially from young women who are thinking of careers and how they will juggle family and work. I am not sure that I have it all mastered, but there are a few things you can do to give yourself a fighting chance. (1) Being organized and prioritizing what you need to do. I make lots of lists and would be lost without them.
(2) Learn to balance your activities and be sure to take time out for yourself to recharge. I find I am much more efficient at work and happier after a good night’s rest or working out at the gym or going for a spa treatment…but then again, who isn’t? (3) Learn to work with your spouse as a team. I have three boys, John (age 14), and twins, Michael and Alexander (age 13), so it’s important for me and my husband Chizzy to work together. We have different strengths and we realise that we have a joint responsibility to contribute to the family and raising the children. (4) Learn to let some things slide and don’t sweat the small things. This one is probably hardest for me, as I used to be more of a control freak, but now I just laugh when some things don’t go perfectly and I don’t spend as much time being upset after the fact – this really helps to save a lot of time and energy (I am still working on this though – it takes lots of practice!).
2. Q: You have now been in Singapore for a cumulative period of 20 years. What brought you out here and what is it about Singapore that you like so much?
A: Growing up in your average family in the leafy quiet township of Montreal West, going to the neigbourhood schools and then to McGill, I never dreamt I would leave Canada and end up living in Asia. But I wanted to specialize in the area of law that deals with cross border mergers and acquisitions (international commercial law). Most of the action we were seeing back home in this area was very limited and mainly between Canada and the US. So, I applied for and got a job with the Singapore office of a large London law firm where we worked on this type of work for the Asian region and internationally. My husband Chizzy and I chose to come to Singapore, as opposed to other Asian cities, because of the good quality of life. As all of the readers will attest, Singapore is clean, safe, and has more green space than many other cities, and of course there are good professional opportunities. Chizzy is an executive with a multinational in the area of oil and gas, and it has been a good experience so far, for both of us from a career point of view. We arrived light, carrying only a few suitcases of clothes, but now with a home full of furniture and three kids, you could say we really have a lot of baggage!
3. Q: You happen to be in a very select group, being one of only a few foreigners who are licensed to practice Singapore law under the new rules. How did this happen and what do you envisage for your firm?
A: I think because of the number of years of experience I have as a lawyer, and the fact that we have been here for so long helped in obtaining all of the exemptions to give me full membership to the Singapore Bar. I feel it is indeed a privilege and an honour, and I am proud that they chose a Canadian to be amongst the first. The Ministry of Law, the Law Society and all of the bodies I have had to deal with have been very welcoming and helpful.
4. Q: Now I understand that you have since started your own firm, tell us a little more about that.
A: I decided to open Consilium Law Corporation as my next “adventure” after having had the experiences of practicing at and being a partner at a major international Canadian firm and then being a General Counsel for Asia for a Fortune 500 Company. So the next natural progression for me was to have my own firm that could practice both Singapore local law and offshore law. We have two main departments, one for corporate and commercial law (including contracts law, mergers and acquisitions, foreign investment law) which advises not only on Singapore law, but also regional Asian and Canadian work, as well as the family law and litigation department, which is in large part in response to the great need in the expat community for family law expertise in Singapore. Our aim is to build a team that adheres to the highest of standards and to also to provide a good work life balance for our lawyers and staff.
5. Q: So you’ve been in Asia for quite a while now and I’m sure you must have some stories. Does anything really stick out?
A: I was going to Beijing for work, and it so happened that the Singapore Prime Minister and his delegation were on the same plane. When we landed, I asked the air staff to let me leave the plane before the PM as I was running late. As I walked out of the plane and down the “L shaped” hanger, I started hearing applause. When I turned the corner, there was a lightening of camera flashes and I was met by the President of China and his wife. They shook my hand and welcomed me to China. I was so nerve-wrecked but managed to joke that I was ”not the Prime Minister” and that I was so “very happy to be in China”. I was so shocked and blinded by all the flashes that I also dropped my briefcase and all my files came pouring out. Everyone laughed and I left as soon as I could. But now I understand I am one of the few foreigners to ever meet President Hu and I can laugh about the whole thing.
6. Q: And finally, how do you keep in touch with Canada and do you ever stop feeling Canadian because you have been away so long?
A: I have never felt anything other than Canadian! We keep a home on the slopes at Mont Tremblant, and return regularly to visit my Mother and siblings and their families. Modern technology has also made it much easier to remain in touch. Apart from email, I have an Internet phone with a Montreal phone number, so I call almost daily and its just like being next door. So it is much easier to remain in touch these days. By the way, we make Nanaimo Bars all the time and they are a hit with everyone. Maybe I’ll invite you over for some next time!
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