Dato Seri Yeoh was born and received his early education in Penang. He went to England to study for his A-Levels and a diploma in business studies before commencing his law degree course at the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology at Cardiff, Wales.
During his undergraduate years, he was a very dedicated activist in the student’s union and among the overseas Chinese student community as well as among Malaysian students in Cardiff. He initiated many cultural projects to create awareness among local students of the diverse international presence amongst them. As a Bar student in London he voluntarily participated in some advisory bureaus to help immigrants and foreigners with their legal and ancillary problems.
He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1986. Upon his return from England, Dato Seri Yeoh read law in the chambers of the Mr. Lim Cheng Poh of Messrs. Lim Cheng Poh, Lim & Rahim and was admitted into the Bar of Malaysia on 20th March 1987. He worked for two years in Penang before proceeding to practice in Kuala Lumpur as a legal assistant in Messrs Nik Hussain & Partners.
During his early days in practice he concentrated on civil litigation such as debt collection and foreclosure, but since he left for Kuala Lumpur, he has been expanding his practice on corporate banking, commercial law, conveyancing, housing projects, end-financing and other banking security documentation. He also has experience in property laws and eviction of squatters. He has done documentation work in joint ventures for property development projects, and between Malaysian companies and foreign companies.
He has been appointed as an advisor and solicitor for corporate clients in China, Taiwan and Vietnam which has business interests in Malaysia and also acts for Malaysian and Singapore clients doing business in China, Myanmar and Cambodia. Most of his foreign clients in Malaysia are undertaking commercial and property development projects via joint-ventures with Malaysian companies, and he also advises foreign clients in diverse issues such as foreign investment regulations in Malaysia, employment laws, immigration laws and the laws relating to housing development.
In early 2003 Dato Seri Yeoh initiated the setting up of our associated office in Beijing to serve the needs of Malaysian clients and business interests in the Chinese capital, and he travels there frequently. He is the legal advisor of the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, and is well-connected with the Malaysian diplomatic and business community in major cities in China as well as the local municipal governments.
Dato Seri Yeoh is also a consultant with Da Cheng Wong Alliance LLP, Singapore.
Dato Seri Yeoh has also recently be appointed as the legal advisor for international affairs for the China-ASEAN Forum based in Nanning, China.