Carolyn graduated from the University of London (attending Queen Mary College) with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours). She is a barrister-at-law from the Inner Temple and a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators. She also holds a postgraduate Diploma in Business Law from the National University of Singapore taking subjects in Advanced Banking Law, Credit and Security Law and Revenue Law.

Carolyn commenced her pupillage at Messrs Shook Lin & Bok in 1987 where she worked for nine months gaining exposure from all departments: namely litigation (including building contract arbitration), corporate and conveyancing/corporate secretarial departments. She then joined Messrs David Ong & Lim (no longer in existence) where she practiced in litigation and general corporate work. This was followed by a term at Messrs Rayney Wong & Company (no longer in existence) where she was involved chiefly in personal injury litigation and motor vehicle claims. Carolyn practised in Messrs Wong & Lim from 1990 where she worked for four years handling litigation (including arbitration) corporate matters (drafting joint venture agreements, debentures and sales agreements), as well as conveyancing (including advising on and drafting of tenancy agreements). She joined Messrs Tan-Au Associates in June 1994. Upon the merger of Messrs Tan-Au Associates with Messrs Thomas Au & Lim, she joined Messrs Tan & Au Partnership in February 2001 (now known as Messrs Tan & Au LLP) as a partner. She currently practices in litigation, corporate and conveyancing matters.

Areas of Practice

Carolyn currently practices in litigation, arbitration, corporate and conveyancing matters.

Notable transactions and landmark cases

Over the years, she was also lead counsel in landmark cases in insurance, land law, estate and company law including:

• Cosmic Insurance Corporation Ltd v Ong Kah Hoe (trading as Ong Kah Hoe Industrial Supplies) & Another (1997)
• Tai Sea Nyong v Overseas Union Bank Ltd (2002)
• Management Corporation Strata Title Plan No 2911 v Tham Keng Mun and others (2011)
• Daniel Long Say Ting v Nunik Elizabeth Merukh (2012)
• Ong Wui Swoon v Ong Wui Teck (2013)
• Mira S. v Susan Tsai (2013)
• Teo Chee Kwang v Yi Kai Development Pte Ltd (2018)
• Raman Dhir v Management Corporation Strata Title Plan No 1374 [2020] SGHC 19

Professional accreditation and interests

Carolyn is a practicing member of the Law Society of Singapore and a fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators.