Allen & Overy is a go-to firm for banking and finance regulation. The firm benefits from a strong PRC connection, leveraging its joint operation with Lang Yue Law Firm to offer detailed insight into PRC and international regulatory matters. The financial services regulatory team is experienced advising financial institutions, as well as acting for their existing client base including investment banks and major global private banks. Team head, Charlotte Robins, has also participated in industry association groups such as AIMA and PWMA, and focuses her attention towards developing regulatory changes such as in fintech and corporate governance. Matt Bower leading the litigation team, regularly advises clients on contentious matters and has worked with numerous regulators such as the SFC, HKMA and KFTC.

Ashurst is regularly instructed across financial services regulation, both contentious and non-contentious, with specific focus on bank and licensed corporation regulatory capital, aiming to reconcile domestic and international jurisdictional requirements. Ben Hammond, non-contentious practice head, has experience advising large international financial institutions and has particular strength in the banking sector, sitting on several global and local bank panels. Contentious head, James Comber, has been advised on numerous large-scale SFC investigations, including that of the Royal Bank of Canada. The regulatory team operates a monthly ‘Regulatory Breakfast Club’ to update clients with insights into incoming regulatory developments that might affect their operations.

Baker McKenzie capitalises upon its breadth of financial experience to offer a full-service regulatory offering. Contentious and non-contentious practice heads, Cynthia Tang and Karen Man respectively, are well-regarded for their work in the Hong Kong regulatory sphere and the team operates with ‘professional expertise, market knowledge, and turnaround time’, offering ‘practical solutions’ to issues faced by clients. The firm primarily advises financial institutions through complex regulatory regimes regarding banking, securities, funds and fintech, and has more recently broadened its fintech client base including cryptocurrency exchanges, virtual banking and initial coin offerings. The team has also built strong financial services regulator relationships across Hong Kong.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP advises financial services clients on both buy and sell-side of transactions, as well as advisory clients and financial infrastructure clients on a wide variety of regulatory enforcement and advisory matters, including a unique focus on the fintech sector with experience of virtual currencies and digital assets. The firm leverages its connection with US regulators to provide cohesive advice for clients exercising cross-border activity and possesses a strong contentious team, led by James Wadham, Karen Chan and Martin Rogers, with experience navigating the current complexities of Sino-US regulatory frameworks.

Following the arrival of practice head William Hallatt and other key team members from Herbert Smith Freehills, Gibson Dunn has seen an increase in the quantity and quality of contentious and non-contentious regulatory work. The team has advised regulators such as the SFC and HKMA on incoming legislation, specifically regarding digital assets and sanctions, as well as advising several high-profile clients, including crypto-exchanges and investment banks, on matters including investigations, leveraging their strong US connection to offer a globally coherent strategy.

Herbert Smith Freehills maintains its broad regulatory practice with a focus on financial services. The team advises across both contentious and non-contentious matters, supported by the firm’s strong Corporate Crime & Investigations practice, often involving cross-border investigations, financial regulators such as the SFC and HKMA, incoming legislation, and more recently, increasing HKEX-related matters. The FSR team, headed by Hannah Cassidy, regularly advises financial institutions and listed companies on a broad range of matters.

King & Wood Mallesons has a broad roster of high-profile clients who benefit from its interlocking experience across finance, regulation and technology. The team, led by Richard Mazzochi, has notable ability when advising on digital assets and emerging fintech products such as blockchain, digital identity and AI (Artificial Intelligence), and has a keen understanding of regulatory methods and fosters advisory relationships with institutional regulators in the region. The team covers both contentious and non-contentious regulatory work.

Linklaters’ Financial Regulation Group focuses on offering an integrated practice with team heads Carl Fernandes, who recently re-joined the firm from Latham & Watkins LLP, and Sumit Indwar operating in non-contentious financial and contentious regulatory matters. The team acts on a range of upcoming regulatory issues including virtual assets and financial technology regulation, as well as the Hong Kong investor ID regime, and leverages the firm’s multi-jurisdictional presence to ensure cohesive cross-border regulatory advice is given to its roster of international financial clients.

Australian-based firm, Minter Ellison, has a strong contentious regulatory offering focused on financial services in Hong Kong, garnering specific experience in conducting banking and financial products litigation and working with statutory regulatory bodies, particularly regarding competition law. The team has experience advising delisted companies undergoing allegations of misconduct, and regularly advises financial regulators. David Morrison, practice head, has a wealth of experience with corporate, regulatory and securities litigation, demonstrating the contentious strength of the team.

Kennedys acts for a range of clients including insurance, finance and accounting companies. The commercial dispute and regulatory team, led by Rudy Chung, has experience across regulatory investigations and acts on several contentious and non-contentious advisory issues. Chung specialises in contentious matters relating to commercial, construction and engineering disputes, regulatory insurance and financial services matters.