Alan represented the University of Singapore at the Phillip Jessup Memorial Moots, in Washington, U.S.A. 1974 and obtained his LL.B (Hons) in the same year. He was admitted to the Singapore Bar in 1975 and as a Barrister and Solicitor of Western Australia and the Federal Court, Australia in 1996.

Alan has ceased practice as a lawyer and since 2007 has practised only as a professional arbitrator. Since 1989, Alan has been appointed as chairman of arbitral tribunals, sole arbitrator or co-arbitrator in over 160 disputes arising from international investment contracts and joint ventures (concerning, inter alia, oil and gas distribution and transport networks), building & engineering contracts and maritime and international trade (including charterparties & shipbuilding) contracts, in ad-hoc and institutional arbitrations in Australia, Bangkok, Delhi, Hong Kong, Karachi, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, London, Mumbai, Paris and Singapore, with the total value of claims in excess of US$4 billion.

These appointments include:

• as sole arbitrator by the High Court of Singapore, by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre [S.I.A.C.], and by the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration [KLRCA], acting as the appointing authority, and by parties, jointly, from various countries;
• as Chairman or presiding arbitrator by party appointed arbitrators from  Malaysia, Seoul, London, United States, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore (including retired Judges & Judicial Commissioners from Malaysia & Singapore) and by the International Chamber of Commerce [I.C.C.], acting as the appointing authority; and
• as co-arbitrator by parties from various countries and the I.C.C., acting as the appointing authority.

Appointments:

• Inquiry Committee Panel under the Singapore Legal Profession Act [1991 - 1994]
• Member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the S.I.A.C.
• Fellow and Member of the Panel of Arbitrators of ACICA  (Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration)
• Member of the Panel of Arbitrators of KLRCA
• Member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board, Seoul, South Korea
• Member of the Panel of Arbitrators of APRAG (Asia-Pacific Regional Arbitration Group)
• Member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (H.K.I.A.C.)
• Member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA)
• Member of the Panel of Arbitrators of Maritime Law Association of Australia & New Zealand (MLAANZ)