Fred WU Chang Sheng

http://www.lawgazette.com.sg/2002-4/Apr02-inmemoriam.htm http://www.donburk.com.sg/index.php/en-GB/about-us/our-history

Wu Chang-sheng, popularly known as CS Wu and 'Fred' to his friends, died on 8 February 2002, in his 70th year. A former senior partner of Donaldson & Burkinshaw, he had a distinguished career at the Singapore Bar. Born on 2 October 1932 in Shanghai, he was the son of the distinguished physician, Dr Wu Lien-teh (the last physician to the Dowager Empress of China, and subsequently made famous for his devoted efforts in fighting the plague in China in the late teens and early twenties of the last century).

In 1937, Dr Wu Lien-teh and his family returned to Malaya, and CS Wu received his early education at the renowned Free School, Penang. An outstanding scholar, he was admitted to the Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1952 to read law. He graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor's Degree in Law with honours. He was called to the English Bar in 1957 and was a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

In June 1957, he was admitted as a pupil into the chambers of Donaldson & Burkinshaw for a period of six months, his master being the late Mr AF Thorne. After his pupillage, he was called to the Singapore Bar on 4 February 1958 and became a legal assistant in Donaldson & Burkinshaw. As a junior litigation assistant, most of his work centred in the District Courts (now known as the Subordinate Courts), though he had occasions to appear in the High Court as well, his spheres of work at that time being general litigation from divorce, breaches of contract, employment and defending accused persons in court martials.

In January 1965, CS Wu became the first Asian partner of Donaldson & Burkinshaw, and by 1980 he became the senior litigation partner. By this time, his main area of practice was the law relating to construction, building, engineering and marine works practice and disputes involving foundation works and soil mechanics problems.

During the late 1970s and 1980s, he presented several papers at seminars and conferences in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore with respect to the specialist areas he practised in. The papers included the following titles: •The Origin, Initiation and Resolution of Claims. •Recourse of Last Resort - Arbitration or Litigation? •Better Claims Management. •Time Code Provisions of Construction Contracts. •Preparation and Submission of Pleadings (Including Pre-heading Matters). •Claims Ramifications Consequent to Termination Prior to Completion. •Post-construction Disputes, Claims and Settlement. •General Aspects of Building Contracts and Common Areas of Dispute. •The Sub-contract Agreement. •Resolving Disputes Through Negotiations, Arbitration and Litigation. •Failure to Agree - Conciliation, Arbitration or Litigation?

At the request of the Housing and Development Board, he also prepared new General Conditions of Contract for use by the Board in all its building and engineering contracts practice.

CS Wu had also appeared before the Privy Council. He sat as Chairman of ICC arbitrations and appeared as counsel.

CS Wu became the first Asian senior partner of Donaldson & Burkinshaw in January 1994, and retired from the partnership in January 1996 when he became a consultant in the firm until his death.

The main essential of a lawyer, apart from ability and acumen, is to have honesty and integrity in all his dealings with others. CS Wu possessed them all. He was one of the leading lawyers of his generation at the Bar. His knowledge of the law, particularly in those areas he practised, was excellent. His knowledge of English, spoken and written, was excellent. Consequently, his written work, particularly his pleadings, was concise and to the point. He took great pains to carry out research in order to prepare his written submissions, and consequently he was able to present his arguments before the court eloquently and persuasively.

CS Wu was known to work on his files through the night with little sleep.

Latterly self-taught, CS Wu made use of the computer to prepare all his pleadings and submissions, thereby dispensing with the services of a secretary! He commanded great respect at the Bar as well as from the judges on the Bench. Many members of the Bar consulted him concerning their personal problems. Though he stated on many occasions that he intended to retire from practice when he reached 60 years of age, he nevertheless carried on working in those areas he loved until his tragic illness last August. He was indeed a very worthy representative of the Singapore Bar.

Outside of his work, CS Wu also gave much of his time in the early 1960s to lecturing at the Singapore University (as it was then known) in post-graduate courses on civil contracts and procedure and professional conduct and etiquette.

CS Wu also served on many of the sub-committees of the Law Society of Singapore from 1981 onwards. In particular, the Committee on Rules of Etiquette of which he was a member from 1983 to 1992, and Chairman for four successive years in 1986 to 1989. He was also appointed, by the Honourable, the Chief Justice Wee Chong Jin, a member of the Inquiry Panel with effect from 1 December 1986 until 30 November 1991.

CS Wu became a Council member of the Law Society in 1990, and Vice-president of the Law Society from 5 July 1991 until October of that same year.

CS Wu was known to be kind and generous in his dealings with others, particularly the employees of the firm. If he saw a legal assistant with promising attributes, he tried to encourage him or her as much as possible. He always had time to have a chat and a laugh about matters in general.

In his early days, CS Wu was a very talented billiards and snooker player. He was also a very able Bridge player, represented Singapore internationally on many occasions, and until July 2001, was President of the Singapore Contract Bridge Association.

He was also a keen coin collector, especially of high grade and rare coins.

CS Wu was married to Wong Kwai Heng ('Lesley') who survives him.

Henry Mosley Dyne Former Senior Partner of Donaldson & Burkinshaw, Singapore

The Straits Times / Obituary, Illustration
8 February 2003 - In Everloving Memory Of I FRED WU CHANG SHENG [Departed on 8 Feb 2002 In all the world we shall not find. A heart so wonderfully kind. So soft a voice, so sweet a smile, An inspiration so worthwhile, A sympathy so sure, so deep, A love so beautiful to