Nair was called to the Singapore Bar in 1992. He joined Drew & Napier and became a director of the firm. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2008. Nair was appointed as the Deputy Attorney-General for a three-year term starting 1 March 2017, followed by another three-year term extension commencing 1 March 2020. He has since resigned as a member of the People's Action Party as well as the director of Drew & Napier. Nair was the first ex-lawmaker in Singapore to take on the role of a public prosecutor. Nair was involved with several high profile cases during his term as Deputy AG, including the appeal of the City Harvest Church trial and Tan Cheng Bock's constitutional challenge to the Elected Presidency in 2017. Nair, in his capacity as the DAG representing the Government, was criticised by Tan for his comments in High Court. Nair was quoted to have said that Tan's "motives are purely selfish and he has shown no regard for the principle of multiracial representation which Parliament intended to safeguard." In November 2017, Nair appeared before the Court of Appeal to argue against the acquittal of a man accused of raping his lover's daughter, which sees the Court of Appeal issuing a landmark judgment setting out the criteria for bringing in fresh evidence that applies to the Prosecution. In June 2018, Nair successfully argued the Prosecution's appeal seeking for the death sentence to be imposed on Chia Kee Chen, who brutally murdered his wife's ex-lover. In 2019, Nair also led the Prosecution team during the trial of Leslie Khoo, who strangled his girlfriend Cui Yajie and burnt her body in what was known as the "Gardens by the Bay" case.
Political career
From 2006 to 2015, Nair was a Member of Parliament for Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC, holding the Thomson-Toa Payoh ward. He was also the chairman of the Bishan–Toa Payoh Town Council since 2011 and headed the Government Parliamentary Committees for Home Affairs and Law. He has spoken out in favour for the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code in Singapore, which criminalises homosexual sex. Nair is also known for hitting out on the opposition for not taking a stand on contentious issues and for his criticisms of the Worker's Party's management of the Aljunied–Hougang Town Council. Nair quit running for political office just before the 2015 General Election, citing his wife’s diagnosis of lymphoma in 2012 as a factor.
Directorships
Nair also held several directorships over his career.
Nair is the youngest of nine children in his family. His first name is pronounced Hari; the current spelling is a result of a typing error on the original copy of his birth certificate which was never rectified. His wife is a Partner of Ernst & Young.
