In Loving Memory of Gokul Haridas

October 2025

10 min read

25.15k

8 November 1971 to 12 September 2025

I would like to pay a special tribute to Mr Gokul Haridas. He was formerly a Partner at our firm, having spent a total of seven years with us. Gokul was a distinguished lawyer, a consummate professional and a true gentleman. He was kind, personable and had a good sense of humour. We are privileged to have worked with him, and to have had him as part of our TIC family.

During his time with us, Gokul excelled in his training of younger lawyers and developing a team to serve a number of influential clients.

His warmth and demeanour made it a pleasure to be in his company. This is no doubt of the love of his two daughters and we know at least one intends to read law. It is a fitting continuation of Gokul’s legacy with the law and his service in the law.

It came as a shock when we learned of his illness a few years ago. Gokul bravely fought back with medical treatment and lifestyle changes. His condition had been stable for some time but unexpectedly took a turn in early September. He passed away on 12 September 2025 at the age of 53. Certainly, a good man gone too soon. We will always hold his memory in our hearts.

Tito Isaac
Founding Partner and Lead Lawyer
Tito Isaac & Co LLP

It is a profound honour, tempered with deep sadness, to pay tribute to my friend and colleague, the late Gokul Haridas. I first met Gokul at Tito Isaac & Co LLP when our office was along Circular Road. He struck me at once as a calm man with class and kindness. That first impression never faded. If anything, it deepened with every case, every conversation, and every moment shared.

Gokul had a way of speaking well of everyone, even of those who had not shown him the same generosity. That said much about the man he was. He knew people were more than their worst day. He extended grace instinctively, and it drew people in be it clients, colleagues, even opponents. He went out of his way to make others comfortable, and he felt the pain of those around him when things were not going well. You could tell him something heavy at 6pm and, by 6.15pm, he would be checking in to see if you had eaten, offering to pop by, and quietly taking something off your plate.

He carried his parents with him in all he did. He often spoke about losing them as the greatest sorrow of his life but also about their pride on the day he was called to the Bar, when they were there to witness it. Becoming a lawyer was, to him, the gift he most wanted to give to his parents who came from humble beginnings. In the hardest moments, he would say that he would want to choose the course of action his father would have taken if his father were in the situation Gokul was in. And then typical Gokul, he would undercut the solemnity with a self-deprecating line: “But my father would be smarter and not be in this situation”. His compass was integrity first, with humour to keep the heart soft.

Humour was his secret superpower. Whether in a tense courtroom or a tight boardroom, he could pierce the bubble of anxiety with a quip that never compromised decorum. He had a hilarious sense of timing where you would see shoulders drop, jaws unclench, and the room remember its humanity. Then he would get back to work because jokes were never a deflection for him. They were a bridge.

For all the levity, Gokul took the practice of law with utmost seriousness. If something felt off in his submissions or his preparation, it would keep him up. He wanted to have his ground covered, to be fair to the Court, to be fair to his client, and to be fair to himself. He loved the law. He said that often. It was, he told me, his greatest honour.

He took pride in how he carried himself. He joked about a phrase “kalah takpa, style mesti ada” (loosely translated to “don’t worry about losing, ensure you keep your style”). In our world, he translated that into a gentle nudge for younger counsel: even if you are still growing into your skills, walk into court looking like a lawyer who respects the forum. Presentation would not win a case, but it might “goyang” (loosely translated as to intimidate or put off) the opposing counsel just enough and, more importantly, it shows respect for the process and the people in it.

Gokul fought many battles personal, professional, and, in the end, the hardest of all through his illness. He fought cancer like a true warrior. Two weeks before he died, he called and said, with that steady conviction of his “Brudder, we are going to do great things together as a team. Let’s make it happen!” Even in the most painful and intense stage of his illness, his instinct was to think positively about the future, to build and to serve.

He was devoted to his two daughters, Maya Haridas and Ananya Haridas. He spoke constantly of what they were learning, who they were becoming, and how excited he was to see them do great things. He wanted to be a steady presence, to model courage, kindness, and joy. That is the legacy he leaves them, and all of us.

No tribute would be complete without acknowledging the people in the legal profession who inspired and guided him. In many of our conversations, certain names recurred with gratitude: Mr Jaya Prakash and Justice Judith Prakash, Mr Tai Wei Shyong SC, Mr Tito Shane Isaac, and Mr Kenneth Pereira. He felt seen and supported by them at different stages of his life and career. If I have missed anyone, I sincerely apologise. The list of those who looked out for Gokul is long because he drew care to himself by the way he cared for others.

Beyond the law, he was delightfully particular about the small joys. He loved his early morning breakfasts at Madras Woodlands (along Upper Dickson Road) before hitting the office. He properly enjoyed his coffee and taught me and many others how to appreciate coffee. He was so well loved that we could forgive even his lifelong allegiance to Liverpool F.C. He loved his hair, and, three weeks before he passed, he was genuinely thrilled when the doctor told him he would not lose it during chemotherapy. He loved music and the pleasure of a guitar in his hands. He was delighted to reconnect, in recent years, with his ex-classmates from Primary and Secondary schools. These details matter because they paint the whole person, a man who made room for delight even as he shouldered real burdens.

We have lost a good man, a good lawyer, and a good friend. The measure of that loss is the measure of the gift he was to us. The best way to honour him is to live a little more like he did. To speak well of others, to prepare thoroughly, to find humour without losing respect, to do the right thing even when it is costly, and to care for people as if their struggle were our own.

I will end with a line he enjoyed, one he would surely forgive me for using here. When the world started talking about ChatGPT, he laughed and said, “Why chat with GPT when you can chat with G? Gokul’s Personal Touch!” He was, in his way, a better drafter than any machine

because his arguments were anchored in conscience, his prose was cut with kindness, and his counsel came with the human warmth that turns advice into courage.

Rest well, brudder. Thank you for the grace you gave us, the standards you set as a human being, and the love you poured into your family and friends. We will try to make those “great things” happen, as you said. May your memory be a blessing and a light for all who follow.

Kawal Pal Singh
Managing Partner
Tito Isaac & Co LLP

Amidst the joy of rekindling friendships with learned friends from both sides of the Causeway at the Bench and Bar Games 2025, I received the sad news of the passing of Gokul Haridas, Head of Regulatory at the Law Society.

I first came to know Gokul in my early terms on Council, when I was a junior member and serving my first stint as Treasurer. He was then Director of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, and from the start he impressed me with his dedication, humility, and friendship.

Subsequently, he left the Law Society to join AGC and later the Ministry of Manpower.

What many may not know is that Gokul was initially unable to qualify as an Advocate and Solicitor, having graduated in 1997 with the external London LLB — missing by just one year the 1996 cut-off date for recognition of such degrees.

But Gokul never let that setback define him. Instead, he built a meaningful career with the Law Society, AGC, and MOM, gained deep experience, went on to complete an LLM, and these enabled him to secure an exemption that allowed him to finally be admitted to the Singapore Bar. That determination spoke volumes about the man he was.

I remember asking him in 2013 whether he ever felt cheated of a head start at the Bar, just because he had missed the boat by one year. He replied that he had no regrets — for the journey had taught him humility, and along the way he gained many genuine friends whom he might never have met had the path been smoother.

Even as he went through these different chapters, our friendship never waned. After some years in private practice, Gokul returned to the Law Society to head its Regulatory Department — at a time when I was once again serving as Treasurer. It truly felt like life had come full circle.

I will always remember Gokul not only as a colleague, but as a true friend — steady, genuine, and loyal.

Rest well, my dear friend. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.

Michael S Chia
Managing Director
MSC Law Corporation

Gokul was a dear colleague to many of us in the Secretariat and went beyond the extra mile in carrying out his work for the Law Society. He was always willing to lend a hand to cover for his colleagues.

I knew Gokul way back from our time in AGC in around 2000 and kept in touch with him throughout the years before he rejoined the Law Society in 2023. Gokul always had a close connection with the Law Society as he was the Director of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme from 2002 to 2005. He was also a practising lawyer for a number of years.

Looking back, there was one year (2007?) where we played table-tennis together for the Law Society team at the Bench and Bar Games. I recall that he was very enthusiastic and we had several training sessions on our own to prepare for the Games! While I no longer remember the scores or games, he did remind me recently that we had won our match at the Games. We had plans to revive our table-tennis games this year but alas it was not to be.

Gokul was a guy that you can count on – 1,000%. Even without asking, he would volunteer to cover for me when I was away. He never used his medical condition as an excuse to avoid helping the Secretariat. Even after he was discharged from hospital in around late August 2025, he told me that he wanted to get back to work as soon as possible.

You will see from the photos the two work trips that we went for in 2024 – one in KL and the other in Melbourne. I am glad that he had the opportunity to represent the Law Society at the two conferences as the Head of the Regulatory department.

I wish to put on record the Secretariat’s gratitude to Gokul for all that he has done for the Law Society, and for his friendship and generosity. Gokul exemplified the values of a true servant leader of the Law Society and the legal profession.

May you rest in peace Gokul, my dear friend and colleague.

At the Professional Indemnity for Law Societies Forum on 16 and 17 May 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Having a meal at the International Conference of Legal Regulators 2024 in Melbourne, Australia

Alvin Chen
Executive Director and Chief Legal Officer
The Law Society of Singapore

Gokul and I go back a long way. I first knew him in 2002 when he joined Law Society as CLAS director. Over the years we would occasionally run into each other and we would very easily pick up where we left off, without any awkwardness. Gokul was always fun, humble, easy going, and he had the best temperament. You could hardly ruffle his feathers or get him annoyed or worked up. He was positive, self-deprecating, and always thought the best of people and was very compassionate towards others less fortunate. Perhaps this is why we clicked well – he and I were quite different. While I would get impatient over other people’s foibles, he would be very chill, patient and accommodating. We also bonded over the different curve balls that life had thrown at us, and he always understood and cared with a deep sensitivity and equanimity that I admired.

My last encounter with Gokul has left me with regret. Three weeks before his passing, he stopped by my desk to chat, and being knee deep in work, I gave him only brief replies, barely looking up. After a few moments, he left. And I never saw him again. I think he had more that he wanted to say to me that day and I am sorry for not giving him my full attention and my time. When news of his passing broke, I sat numb, filled with sadness, grief and regret. I vowed at that moment to always make time for my friends, and not take them for granted. Gokul has taught me many lessons, and I am grateful for our friendship. Rest in peace and may your onward journey be light, my friend.