In Memory Of Prof Michael Furmston

We are sad to share that our first Dean, Professor Michael Furmston, passed away suddenly earlier today.

Michael is a giant in the law of contract. Michael has had a long, distinguished career in academia. Not only was he a world-recognised expert in the law of contract, he also served in various administrative positions with distinction. But above all, he was a great teacher and mentor to his many generations of students and younger scholars. Those of us whose academic lives he had touched are in his debt.

He has long been associated with Singapore, having visited the law schools on various occasions. In 2007, he was appointed the first Dean of the SMU School of Law. Under his leadership, #SMUSOL grew to become a full-fledged law school and established its reputation in both research and teaching.

After Michael stepped down from his Deanship, he carried on as an active member of the School of Law. Upon his retirement from SMU in 2015, he was appointed Emeritus Professor of Law in recognition of his sustained contributions to legal scholarship and service to the University. Thereafter, he joined Sunway University, Malaysia.

He continued to work untiringly on his research in the law of contract. Amongst other works, in 2017, he produced the 17th edition of his famous academic treatise, Cheshire, Fifoot, and Furmston’s Law of Contract and edited the 6th edition of the leading practitioner textbook, The Law of Contract.

Perhaps it is a fitting testament to his indefatigable spirit that the last book which he edited (and also contributed to), The Future of the Law of Contract, was published just less than two weeks ago on 16 June 2020.

We are sad at the passing of a giant who has truly laid the foundation for the future of the law of contract, amongst so many things. We will miss you, Michael.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. His family has set up a central email address for those who would like to pay their respects to his memory: inmemoryofmichaelfurmston@gmail.com

- Professor Michael Furmston, a giant of the law (1933-2020)