Known for advising innovative start-ups and emerging companies across their lifecycle, Cooley LLP particularly stands out in the technology and life sciences sectors. Another core area of work for the firm is assisting venture capital investors and growth equity firms investing in start-ups and emerging companies throughout the region. Corporate specialist Ferish Patel co-leads the team with Matthew Bartus, whose broad experience includes advising start-ups across the Asia-Pacific region on seed, early-stage and late-stage VC financing rounds.

Combining ‘knowledge of the local Southeast Asian venture landscape with Silicon Valley-like sensibilities and market standards‘, Gunderson Dettmer LLP focuses on emerging growth companies and their investors and provides ‘decades of experience on both sides of venture deals’. The firm has a substantial track record representing venture-backed companies throughout their lifecycle, from launch to IPO and beyond. Spearheading the team is Jonathan Pentzien, who advises across the space and handles large financing rounds and M&A transactions in India and Southeast Asia. Another key name in the area is David He, whose expertise includes cross-border equity and debt financings, M&A, corporate restructurings and corporate governance.

Specialising in the technology field, Allen & Overy provides a full service to start-up clients, including the core disciplines of M&A, joint ventures and private equity transactions across the ASEAN region. Key names in the area include James Mythen, Shuhui Kwok and Brendan Hannigan.

The multidisciplinary team of Linklaters leverages the firm’s strengths in corporate, financial regulation, employment and TMT practices to advise across the spectrum of start-up and venture capital matters. With a strong tech focus, the group provides particular expertise in investment in the tech and digital infrastructure industry. Spearheading the practice is Niranjan Arasaratnam, whose experience covers all the corporate, commercial and regulatory aspects of digitisation, tech and telecoms M&A and joint venture.

Advising start-ups and venture capital companies across the spectrum of development, from formation and financing to listings, Pinsent Masons MPillay has a notable focus on assisting young companies in the fintech and medtech sectors. Nicholas Hanna’s fortes are fundraising, structuring and negotiating terms with VCs and funds. He co-leads the practice with corporate expert Mark Tan and Alexander Shepherd, who advises on tech and IT procurement and regulated outsourcings for financial institutions, investment funds and insurance companies.

Recommended for its ‘strengths in emerging areas of fintech and assisting clients in navigating the regulatory landscape‘, Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow provides expertise in a range of corporate transactions on behalf of start-ups and investors. A particular forte for the firm is multijurisdictional work, with notable activity in the fintech space. Stephanie Magnus is known for assisting start-ups and emerging companies in the financial services sector. She co-leads the team with Kelvin Poa, who focuses on investment fund matters.

Working with investors, businesses and founders across the life cycle of start-up, business expansion and liquidity, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP provides a full service for emerging companies and investors in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Expertise includes the key areas of corporate financing, employment, technology and regulation. Specialising in technology, media and telecoms, Mark Robinson co-leads the team with counsel Victor Chiew and Cellia Cognard, who focus on corporate transactional work and M&A respectively.