Rated for its ‘depth of institutional knowledge of regulatory matters and strong relationship with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)‘, Allen & Gledhill LLP is seasoned in the full array of financial services laws and regulations. Its diverse client roster – which features leading domestic and international financial institutions  – recurrently turns to the team for advice on the financial regulatory aspects of transactions, licensing issues and conduct of business requirements for banking, money lending, exchanges, trading platforms and commodity trading, to name a few. The practice often takes on an active role in consultation processes for new regulations and legislation in this space, and showcases further strength in contentious regulatory matters, compliance and investigations. Co-heads Francis Mok and Karen Tiah specialise in regulatory issues affecting the financial services industry. Commercial litigator Aaron Lee leads on investigations involving money-laundering, market misconduct and corporate governance. The firm is also recognised for its ‘ability to address a wide range of legal issues in the fintech space‘, ranging from venture capital investments, data protection, intellectual property and litigation. Highly regarded partner Adrian Ang, who possesses in-depth knowledge of financial regulatory matters, oversees fintech-related work with Alexander Yap, who is regularly retained by venture capitalists, emerging fintech companies, start-ups, blockchain firms and tech service providers.

Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP has established a strong reputation in the Singapore legal market for financial services regulatory advice, where it acts for a variety of clients, including major banks, funds, payment services providers, digital asset exchanges and trading platforms, among others. The firm is a popular choice for fintech start-ups and more established players seeking specialised legal, regulatory, contract drafting and negotiation support in relation to crowdfunding and cryptocurrency platforms, digital assets, and BNPL businesses. Co-head Regina Liew stands out for her comprehensive knowledge of regulations affecting the financial services sector and involvement in the fintech segment; she maintains a broad practice covering advisory, transactional and enforcement matters. Rajesh Sreenivasan, who heads up the TMT group, draws upon his wealth of experience in technology, e-commerce and data protection to advise banks and other financial institutions in their move towards the digital age. Larry Lim, who has over two decades’ experience in the financial services arena, has been actively advising on a range of fintech matters, including the launch of cryptocurrencies, strategic investments, licensing and regulatory issues.

WongPartnership LLP has long been at the forefront of the financial services regulatory (FSR) and compliance market in Singapore. Besides providing comprehensive advice on non-contentious matters – ranging from applications to the MAS for digital bank licences, to banking secrecy issues, anti-money laundering concerns and rules relating to the sales and marketing of investment products – the practice also fields dispute resolution experts who are able to assist in enforcement investigations. Recent areas of activity include advising several international banks and payment service providers on the implications of the new Payment Services Act 2019 (PSA). Elaine Chan, who acts for banks, fund managers, insurers, commodity traders, broker dealers and clearing houses in regulatory and transactional mandates, and Joy Tan, who focuses on corporate governance and financial services regulatory matters under the Companies Act, Securities and Futures Act and other regulatory statutes, jointly lead the FSR group. Another key contact is Rosabel Ng, who has in-depth knowledge of the Singapore regulatory framework for the regulation of financial markets. The firm also houses a multi-disciplinary team focused on the fintech sector, whose members collaborate on transactional and regulatory matters cutting across issues such as blockchain, tokenisations and cryptocurrencies, venture capital fundraisings and emerging digital technologies. Key individuals for this type of work include Sion Yoong Tian, Sin Wei Ong, Kylie Peh and Kyle Lee.

CNPLaw LLP is noted for its dedicated blockchain, cryptocurrency and initial coin offerings group, which is particularly adept at advising clients on the new Payment Services Act 2019 and digital token offerings. Li Fei Quek, who has a background in banking and finance law, is the main point of contact in the team.

The fintech and payments regulatory group at Drew & Napier LLC combines deep technology and regulatory expertise with far-reaching corporate and commercial experience. Clients - ranging from traditional service providers to global tech, e-commerce and internet start-ups - routinely seek assistance in the structuring and implementation of innovative payment solutions and disruptive products. Recent areas of growth for the team include advising start-ups and multinationals on financial regulatory requirements with regards to cryptocurrencies and upcoming initial coin offerings (ICOs). Lim Chong Kin advises on matters involving the convergence of tech and financial services. Benjamin Gaw is another key individual for fintech-related mandates, such as payment gateways, blockchain-based digital investment platforms and ICOs, to name a few.

Steered by Eric Chan, who has considerable experience in the MAS, Shook Lin & Bok LLP‘s financial services regulatory team handles the entire spectrum of regulatory and transactional matters in the financial services space, and often contributes to the development of related regulations in Singapore. Working in close collaboration with the banking and finance group, practitioners are proficient in compliance, business conduct requirements and licensing issues, and boast expertise in mandates involving anti-money laundering, data privacy and payments services. Financial institutions, venture capitalists, tech companies and asset managers often instruct the team in matters pertaining to capital raisings, M&A and cryptocurrencies. Andrea Ng leads on fintech-related matters, with a particular focus on the regulatory regime surrounding token offerings.