ANDY SOH: A FATHER'S JOURNEY OF RESILIENCE AND LOVE
The influence of his mentors, including two Chief Justices, remains strong.
BY MATHANGI ELANGOVAN
Mr Andy Soh’s list of mentors could be mistaken for a who’s who list of the profession: current Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, former Chief Justice Yong Pung How, and Mr Harpreet Singh SC all helped shape Andy, now General Counsel (Vice President—Legal) at Abdul Latif Jameel.
Beyond imparting legal skills, these men also served as strong male figures for a young Andy, who shared a challenging relationship with his own father. He recalls how his father’s imprisonment when he was eight weighed on him for decades. “I recall being confused and disoriented by his sudden absence. I wondered whether it was something I did to cause him to go away, despite my family’s attempt to explain what had happened.”
Those feelings lingered, even in his 20s. As a young JLC, he confided in his then-mentor, CJ Yong, wondering aloud whether his father’s incarceration would cast a shadow on his career. His response has stuck in his mind ever since and has been immortalised in Pioneer, Polymath and Mentor – The Life and Legacy of Yong Pung How.
“He said, ‘Andy, there is nothing to worry about. You do not choose your parents, no one does.’” Apart from a sense of relief, this left Andy with full confidence that he was free to chart his own path. The topic was never raised between them again.
CJ Yong’s humorous, kind and respectful approach to mentorship left an indelible mark on Andy, as it did on many others. Andy, now a leader himself, tries to emulate these qualities as he guides his juniors.
He also remembers a moment of levity with CJ Menon, when they both worked together at Jones Day. They laboriously reviewed a stack of documents, trying to figure out how a certain contractual mechanism was intended to operate. When they finally pieced it together, Andy was “high-fived” by his mentor. The experience was a reminder that joy could be found amid even the most tedious parts of practice.
A FATHER’S LOVE
Of his own father, Andy has fond memories of the few happy moments they shared, such as weekend getaways to Sentosa and the comforting routine of being dropped off and picked up from school.
FRIENDS FOR LIFE
Mentors don’t always have to be your bosses at work—they can also be the ones who journey with you in life’s trenches. Take Andy’s deep and meaningful friendship with Harpreet, whom he met at Drew & Napier LLC.
“Harpreet’s friendship and counsel in my personal and professional life has been a constant source of comfort. The courage of his beliefs across a wide range of topics and causes is inspiring, and it is always fun to hang out with him!” Testament to their deep-rooted connection, Harpreet was the best man at Andy's wedding.
Both are family men. Andy, a father of three, admires Harpreet's commitment to putting his children first, saying, “Family is a defining part of our lives.” Reflecting on his parenting style, he humorously admits to being “over-indulgent and permissive”.
FROM SON TO FATHER
With Father’s Day around the corner, we ask him for his approach to parenting. He shares two guiding principles: being present and leaving work-related stress and negativity at the office.
Looking to the future, Andy is committed to supporting his children's paths and aspirations. Whether they choose to follow in his legal footsteps or pursue entirely different careers, he wants just one thing. “To be there for them.”
