From her day job as a lawyer to her venture in F&B, Joey Quek wants to have it all and do it well.
Joey Quek keeps a very busy schedule. For most of the day, she navigates the legal complexities that might concern the island’s most established families as a family office lawyer. By late afternoon, she is ready to shift gears and move into the world of F&B, as the new lady boss of Swiss Butchery, her latest venture and passion.
But it is not all work and no play. Come weekends, sun, sand and watersports beckon. As part of Singapore’s Supercars Ladies Club (SLC), she might also be found behind the wheels of her volcano yellow McLaren 650S, a lean mean speed machine that goes from 0 to 100km/h in three seconds. Downtime, on occasion, means reading up on medical aesthetics, a field in which Joey hopes to get professionally qualified sometime in the future.
It’s no mean feat juggling it all, but that doesn’t stop this go-getting modern-day polymath.
“I am also fun-loving, outgoing and very spontaneous,” Joey quips. And driven, too, one might add. Indeed, Joey moves easily between her many roles — whether drafting legal briefs, brainstorming F&B concepts or tackling the Sepang race circuit with fellow SLC clubmates — fuelled by passion and commitment. The latter, in particular, is something close to her heart.
“In a traditionally male-dominated space, the club proves that women can have a deep passion for high-performance cars and everything that comes with them,” Joey explains. “We’re not just driving these cars; we’re reshaping perceptions and showing that automotive knowledge and appreciation transcend gender.”
She is equally committed to her work as a lawyer. “Each day brings something new, whether it’s helping a family navigate the intricacies of cross-border laws or advising on philanthropic endeavors,” says Joey. “What keeps me engaged is the blend of legal expertise and the human element, as you become more than just a lawyer — you become a trusted advisor.”
But while the legal world provides its fair share of satisfaction, Joey has always been drawn to F&B.
“For me, food is a universal language that transcends borders and brings people together,” she explains. Her journey into the F&B world was a natural extension of her passion. After years of dining at gourmet restaurants around the world, she dove headfirst into opening her own eateries a few years back. When the opportunity to run Swiss Butchery came up earlier this year, she simply couldn’t walk away.
Joey is set on transforming Swiss Butchery into an affordable gourmet brand in the suburbs, and she has big expansion plans for it. (“Three stores every quarter!” came her swift answer when asked.) And while she knows that the road to success will not run straight, the 30-year-old is, nonetheless, game and up for the challenge.
“I am very determined when it comes to what I want,” she states firmly, “and very determined to see things through.”
It is a spirit cultivated since young, growing up in a family that values hard work. Instead of merely gifting, her mother rewarded Joey only when she achieved her goals. “My mother always made me work for whatever I wanted,” she recounts laughingly.
Indeed, that was how Joey first got a taste for fine jewellery. When she scored top marks to enter a prestigious girls’ school at the age of 13, she was rewarded with a stunning blue teardrop aquamarine ring from Mondial Jewelers. When she passed the bar in London, her mother gifted a Cartier Love bracelet in yellow gold with four diamonds, a piece Joey had been eyeing for a while.
These pieces have become the cornerstones in her budding jewellery collection and her most cherished pieces. To this day, the Cartier Love bracelet remains her most frequently worn jewellery.
“Ever since then, mum has used that to motivate me,” Joey shares fondly. “She has been a constant source of inspiration with her unwavering support and determination.”
That was also how Joey learnt about collecting complete jewellery sets — her mother would dole them out, from earrings to necklace to ring, piece by piece, instead of presenting them at a go. “As opposed to gifting me outrightly, she would make me work for them!”
These days, Joey focuses on curating bold, classic pieces that are versatile enough for everyday wear, allowing her to enjoy them daily and not just for special events. “For me, the best pieces are the ones that tell a story while remaining effortlessly wearable,” she declares.
Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, especially the latter’s popular Alhambra collection, are two of her favourite go-to jewellery brands. “Jewellery is a powerful form of self- expression,” she muses. “My collection mirrors my personal style, which is both classic and adventurous, blending timeless elements with a hint of modern flair.”
But perhaps the best, and the most memorable, is yet to be — for Joey’s collection, that is. When she marries, Joey will inherit a complete vintage Cartier Cougar Panthere set comprising choker, bracelet, earrings and rings, which her mother had received as Si Dian Jin (四点金), the traditional Chinese bridal gift of four gold pieces.
“I will cherish it, because this is something that is far more meaningful than anything bought,” she says simply.
Text by Liane See
Photography by Zulfadli Bin Rahman
Art Direction by Leyna Poh
Makeup by Angel Gwee/Shiseido Beauty, Davines, GHD
