DLA Piper houses a robust white-collar crime team, boasting considerable expertise in compliance reviews, regulatory issues and internal and regulatory investigations, alongside fraud, anti-bribery and anti-corruption mandates. The team regularly advises multinational companies and acts as a regional go-to contact for bet-the-company mandates, with noteworthy cross-border capabilities and experience in crisis and media management issues. Recently, the team has also seen a strong pipeline of ESG and sanctions-related matters, in addition to cybercrime work. Maurice Burke spearheads the investigations practice and boasts a wealth of expertise in corporate compliance and regulatory issues such as fraud and corruption, alongside ESG-related matters. Nathan Bush, who handles enforcement, regulatory and reputational risk matters across the APAC region, notably in China, is another key contact in the group.
White-collar crime - Foreign firms in Singapore
DLA Piper
Practice head(s):
Maurice Burke
Other key lawyers:
Nathan Bush
Work highlights
- Engaged by a number of conglomerates to assess the ESG risk associated with various projects, and in parallel conduct ESG “gap analysis” exercises for partners and project companies.
- Assisted a Japanese trading house with anti-bribery and sanctions due diligence for multiple projects in Asia and Europe, including Portugal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
Morrison Foerster (Singapore)
Praised as ‘responsive and committed, with fantastic regional knowledge’, Morrison Foerster (Singapore) handles a wide spread of government investigations, regulatory proceedings, and internal investigations, in addition to transactional, compliance and risk assessment matters. The practice is noted for its combination of expertise and breadth of work, with a number of recent mandates covering expanding markets, such as regional enforcement, cyber, data security, economic sanctions, money laundering and fraud cases. Daniel Levison, ‘a standout lawyer’, leads the team and has extensive compliance and investigation experience across the board. Associate Sheryl Janet George is another key contact in the group and has been central to a number of internal investigations, compliance and due diligence matters.
Practice head(s):
Daniel Levison
Other key lawyers:
Sheryl Janet George; Rishikeesh Wijaya; Lingeng Zhuang
Testimonials
‘Holistic view and depth of experience.’
‘Daniel Levison has the pulse of the market in our industry. Very knowledgeable and combining pragmatic advice with deep technical insights.’
‘This is an exceptional team led by Daniel Levison. They are responsive and committed, with fantastic regional knowledge. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.’
‘The team is commercially minded and easy to work with.’
‘Daniel Levison is a standout lawyer in this area. He is very experienced in assisting in conducting sensitive investigations.’
Norton Rose Fulbright
Norton Rose Fulbright regularly advises on sensitive internal and government investigations, often taking on cross-border work involving bribery, fraud, sanctions violations, modern slavery and cyber mandates. With demonstrable experience across the technology, finance, life sciences and energy sectors, the team excels in financial crime investigations, cybersecurity and data breach incidents, alongside other ESG and crypto-related investigations and compliance work. The team also advises on data privacy, sanctions, whistleblowing, and crisis management issues. Bolstered by the firm’s integrated offering, the team is well-placed to leverage the firm's international arbitration practices and partnering local litigators. With expertise in strategic governance and disputes, Wilson Ang leads the team, while Jeremy Lua and Charis Low advise on data protection and financial crime mandates respectively.
Practice head(s):
Wilson Ang
Other key lawyers:
Jeremy Lua; Charis Low
Testimonials
‘I would describe their services as excellent and, in the course of working with the team over several years, this standard has been consistent, expeditious and assured.’
‘The NRF team are fantastic in providing advice.’
‘Given the depth of accumulated experience in the NRF team, which includes ex-prosecutors, for sensitive matters involving more than one jurisdiction, NRF is able to provide practical and effective advice on the optimal strategy to be adopted.’
Key clients
Razer
Sime Darby Plantation Berhad
Work highlights
- Advised Razer in respect of a data breach incident that exposed its customers’ confidential data against its IT solutions provider, Capgemini.
- Advising Sime Darby Plantation, a Malaysian headquartered commodities company, on a matter involving allegations of business human rights and forced labour, the consequential imposition of Withhold Release Orders by the US Customs and Border Protection, and assisting with the implementation of remediation measures involving the repayment of agency recruitment fees to almost 20,000 former migrant workers in 6 jurisdictions, including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance’s acts for financial institutions, multinational corporations and banks on a broad range of matters, covering investigations, regulatory compliance, fraud and corruption mandates, key areas of expertise enhanced by the firm’s financial regulatory, sanctions, and anti-corruption practices. In Singapore, the firm further benefits from a formal law alliance with boutique firm Cavenagh Law LLP, and is well-placed to advise on cross-border matters across the region, drawing on its wider network. Kabir Singh co-leads the team and handles cross-border disputes and regulatory issues, notably in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, while co-head Vasu Muthyala, a former US DOJ prosecutor and SEC enforcement lawyer, has far-reaching experience advising on cross-border investigations and regulatory mandates.
Practice head(s):
Kabir Singh; Vasu Muthyala
Other key lawyers:
Nish Shetty; Janice Goh
Testimonials
‘The team operates at a high degree of sophistication. Easy, collegial and personable. Top-quality advice packaged simply and pragmatically.’
‘Kabir Singh and Nish Shetty are sophisticated operators, intensely involved and always ready to speak. A pleasure to deal with.’
Work highlights
- Acting for a leading European bank in relation to ongoing investigations and proceedings relating to the 1MDB scandal.
- Representing a major US bank in relation to serious allegations of sexual misconduct by senior level managers and resulting protests by lobby groups outside the premises of the US bank in India.
- Advising various financial institutions in global internal investigations involving employees’ use of communication channels on chat platforms on non-recorded lines including personal phones, which are in breach of the bank’s policies and applicable regulations in various jurisdictions.
Clyde & Co Clasis Singapore
‘Built on a strong foundation of collaboration’, the team at Clyde & Co Clasis Singapore handles a range of white-collar crime mandates and investigations concerning corruption, theft, fraud, dishonesty, money laundering and insider dealing, in addition to cross-border sanctions issues. Praised for her ‘wealth of knowledge and pragmatic approach’, Weiyi Tan advises on investigations into corruption, money laundering, employee misconduct and fraud, as well as assisting with client responses to enforcement and regulatory authorities. Tan leads the team alongside Prakash Pillai and Junxiang Koh, who was promoted to director in May 2023.
Practice head(s):
Weiyi Tan; Prakash Pillai; Junxiang Koh
Testimonials
‘The firm has stellar attorneys, including Weiyi Tan. My experience with her on novel legal issues and solutions was excellent.’
‘Weiyi Tan is both extremely knowledgeable of the regulatory framework and relentlessly responsive.’
‘The team is built on a strong foundation of collaboration. They work seamlessly across disciplines, ensuring that we receive comprehensive advice and innovative solutions.’
Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee
The practice at Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee advises multinational corporations, banks and high-net-worth individuals across a broad range of white-collar crime matters. The team excels in cross-border disputes, advising on several high-profile investigations and regulatory compliance matters. The firm has also seen growth in ESG-related mandates, including modern slavery and supply chain disruption. ‘A master tactician of the highest grade’, Nick Williams leads the team and is noted for his undertakings in compliance, anti-bribery and anti-corruption disputes throughout the region, alongside his experience in restructuring and insolvency matters. Described by clients as ‘a safe pair of hands’, senior associate Khushaal Ved handles international investigations, crisis leadership, litigation, and compliance cases.
Practice head(s):
Nick Williams
Other key lawyers:
Khushaal Ved
Testimonials
‘Khushaal Ved has an excellent reputation in the investigations space. He is a safe pair of hands and gets the job done.’
‘Very responsive and helpful. Knowledgeable and experienced.’
‘Not just legally competent, but also commercially insightful.’
‘The team is a leading light in the investigations space. With deep experience in fraud and asset recovery, this naturally blends well with their investigations practice which handles complex cross border investigations across the globe. They are technically sound, attentive to detail and are able to achieve results in the most efficient and timely manner. ’
‘Nick Williams is nothing short of brilliant in the investigations space, with an acute sense of where problems may crop up and fixing them before they manifest themselves. A master tactician of the highest grade.’
‘Khushaal Ved is a rising star and the future of the practice at Hogan Lovells.’
‘The team at Hogan Lovells is known for its unique blend of legal expertise, industry knowledge, and a deep understanding of emerging technologies. Their key strength lies in their experience and successful track record of advising clients in the blockchain and fintech sectors.’
‘Among the individuals at Hogan Lovells, Khushaal Ved stands out as an outstanding lawyer with exceptional expertise in blockchain and cryptocurrency regulations. His in-depth knowledge and experience make him a valuable asset to any project in this sector. Clients appreciate his responsiveness and clear communication style, making the legal process more accessible and transparent.’
Key clients
Seatrium Limited
Boston Scientific
Navis Capital Partners
ByteDance
Marubeni Corporation
Shinhan Securities
Giift
Idemitsu Kosan
AK Jensen
Wildchain
Work highlights
- Advising Seatrium Limited, a leading Singapore-listed, global marine and offshore engineering group, on a landmark cross-border investigation into the company’s contracts in Brazil.
- Advised Navis Capital Partners on the disposition of B Medical Systems S.à r.l., a Luxembourg- based market leader in temperature-controlled storage and transportation solutions, to Azenta, Inc., a leading provider of life sciences solutions worldwide, particularly by evaluating the risk profile of the sale asset and on the potential sale risks.
- Advised Shinhan Securities, one of Korea’s leading securities brokerage and investment banking house, on various legal strategies to recover its investment in a company that fraudulently claimed to hold shares in WeWork.
Reed Smith LLP
Reed Smith LLP’s team advises high-profile multinational corporations and individuals in the APAC white-collar crime arena and beyond. The Singapore team excels in internal investigations, regulatory enforcement, and compliance matters. Recently, the practice has seen an increase in cross-border fraud and bribery mandates, an area in which the firm is well-placed to address through its local and global network of investigation and disputes lawyers. ‘Top-class operator’ Calvin Chan leads the team and is praised for his ‘strong communication skills and strategic vision, as well as his ability to expertly navigate issues where there are competing legal and regulatory considerations for the client’.
Practice head(s):
Calvin Chan
Testimonials
‘The team brings a practical and solutions-oriented approach that is truly collaborative and focused on delivering results for the client. Having worked extensively with this team, I can appreciate why they are a go-to team in the Asia-Pacific region for hard cases.’
‘I am impressed by Calvin Chan’s strong communication skills and strategic vision, as well as his ability to expertly navigate issues where there are competing legal and regulatory considerations for the client. On top of that, he is very responsive and hands on.’
‘Calvin Chan listens carefully, engages with the client and quickly formulates solutions based on different scenarios and explains each solution’s implications.’
Sidley Austin LLP
Sidley Austin LLP’s dedicated practice handles corporate investigations for high-profile multinational clients across the life sciences, technology, and manufacturing sectors. In addition to cross-border compliance, antitrust, corruption, and misconduct investigations, the team often advises clients on cyber, data privacy and sanctions work. According to clients, ‘pragmatic, relevant and concise advice is the hallmark of the team’. ‘Powerhouse’ and practice leader Yuet Ming Tham advises on matters concerning the FCPA, corporate compliance, investigations, sanctions, money-laundering regulations, data privacy, employment and antitrust. Shu Min Ho, who handles investigations and compliance projects in the life sciences, technology, biotech and biopharma industries, is another key contact in the group.
Practice head(s):
Yuet Ming Tham
Other key lawyers:
Shu Min Ho
Testimonials
‘Practicality of advice, friendly approach, breadth of knowledge within just one team not just on FCPA investigations but the related employment laws around APAC.’
‘Pragmatic, relevant and concise advice is the hallmark of the white-collar crime team at Sidley. The partnership approach with client service and taking deep interest in the business and processes sets this firm apart.’
‘Yuet Ming Tham ensures that any work coming from her team is consistent and thorough. She takes time to understand our concerns and offers immediate workable and often innovative solutions.’
‘The firm’s international presence and calibre of personnel is truly unmatched. The team does a really wonderful job in balancing practical business advice with legal risk mitigation.’
‘Yuet Ming Tham is a powerhouse. She knows the various APAC markets thoroughly, and we count on her insight to make strategic decisions. Our business goes to her and her alone. Truly head and shoulders above all the others in the region.’