MOST people would probably feel exhausted merely looking at Mr Philip Jeyaretnam's typically packed schedule.
Most days, the renowned lawyer - and acclaimed author - races from meetings and case-preparation sessions to court hearings often lasting a full day. His evenings are spent on conference calls with clients.
But Mr Jeyaretnam, managing partner of Rodyk & Davidson, would not have it any other way.
"I don't know if this is a good or bad thing - but I'm really addicted to my work, and I love to be surrounded by people who love their jobs," he said.
"The legal profession is probably not the best career for people who complain that they have too much work or too little time."
At the age of 50 - which he believes to be the peak of his life - he is relishing the myriad roles he plays as head of one of Singapore's top law firms, a highly-sought-after commercial litigator and international arbitration counsel, as well as the new board chairman of the School of the Arts (Sota) since Jan 31.
His initial plans for Singapore's first pre-tertiary arts school will draw on his lifelong passion for literature and creative writing.
But he insists his first priority is still law and he expects Rodyk to grow further.
He said: "With the internationalisation of trade and investment, Singapore's status as the seat of choice for cross-border dispute resolution in Asia is stronger than ever. To quantify, volume of such cases has almost tripled in the past eight years."
In terms of staff strength, since he became managing partner in 2011, Rodyk has grown some 40 per cent to a team of over 200 lawyers across practices including commercial arbitration, as well as corporate and financial services.
It has an office in Shanghai and an associated office in Jakarta.
"Our business growth would be roughly comparable to the headcount rise that we've had, and I expect another 15 to 20 per cent increase in headcount in the next three years," he said.
"My job is to spot trends in the market, and also help my partners to look at new areas. There are many changes in the market and we need to be organised to respond effectively.
"Often, that means cajoling someone to get out of their comfort zone and be ready to do something new or different as the world changes.
"We are a service provider in a very competitive international market, and we cannot afford to stand still."
Mr Jeyaretnam remains every bit as active in the front line despite having managerial duties at Rodyk. The Cambridge-trained lawyer looked pleased as he recounted last year's actions.
"Last year, I spent around 80 to 90 days in court hearings. For every hearing day, you typically need twice as much time for preparation. In the past two years, I've also represented clients in arbitrations in London and Zurich.
"As you can imagine, my workload is tiring. But this is the time of my life, really.
"I'm right at the best age for a man - certainly for a lawyer. At 50, you're wiser, I hope, you see things faster because you've been around the block enough, and you're still full of energy."
But for all that he has achieved in the legal industry so far, "Philip Jeyaretnam" is a name equally well known as a key figure in Singapore's art scene.
His appointment as Sota board chairman is just the latest chapter of his artistic pursuits that began when his short story, Campfire, won a national award in 1983.
Since then, writing in his spare time, he has released three critically acclaimed novels and still produces short stories regularly.
His latest, Moonshine In Singapore, is close to being finished and will be published this year as part of a collection with an SG50 theme.
As he takes up his new role at Sota, he hopes he can help spread the passion for writing to more young Singaporeans.
"One thing I'm keen to explore is how to make creative writing and storytelling a key part of the Sota student experience. Storytelling is the foundation of all arts - and Singapore needs more storytellers.
"One thing I try to do at Rodyk, and in my other endeavours such as at Sota, or as a trustee of Singapore University of Technology and Design, is to help young people make the most of their lives.
"Whether it is helping shape an institution, or it is speaking directly to an individual, it's all about bringing to bear a perspective that might help guide others as they learn and grow."
He also sees Sota becoming part of a wider national effort to promote a vibrant arts scene here, one of the key intangibles a global city must have, he added.
Between Sota, Rodyk and his role as chairman of the Singapore Writers Festival steering committee since 2007, he knows what it is like to be extremely busy. But he shrugged off the notion that he may not have the time to juggle the law and the arts.
"The key is to schedule your time. When I set aside two hours after church on Sunday to write, I do exactly that.
"That's really the essence of things. Because there are so many hours in a day, so many hours in our lives - there is always time for all the different things you want to do."
Despite having a relatively high public profile, he prefers to keep his family life private.
The father of three teenage children declined to say much about his family, except to express his hope that his children will find fulfilment in whatever interests they pursue. As he has done.
This article was first published on Mar 2, 2015.
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