Team size: Six

Key team members: Cathy Chan, Yong Rim Choi, Takahiro Tsutsui, Susan Sun, Esther Sim, Carrie Ong

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

The team is responsible for all legal and compliance matters across Asia Pacific for CBRE Investment Management, a leading global real assets investment management firm with $147.6 billion in assets under management as of 30 June 2023. CBRE Investment Management is the investment management arm of NYSE-listed CBRE Group, the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm.

The team has an expansive remit, covering fund formations, investments, compliance and regulatory affairs, and general corporate legal matters. In the previous year, the team played an instrumental role in the appointment of CBRE Investment Management as investment manager of a real estate portfolio of a major insurer in Singapore; worth S$4bn; they participated in the divestment of a S$900m portfolio of investments across Korea, Australia, and Japan; in the establishment of S$800m separately managed accounts for a state-owned entity focusing on Japan investments; were involved in the establishment of a programmatic venture to acquire co-living investments in Asia Pacific; and played a key role in the acquisition of an aggregate of about S$1b of investments across Asia Pacific.

Can you sum up the team culture or ethos?

The team comprises highly experienced members whose coverage encompasses the major Asia Pacific markets of China, Japan, Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, and Australia. Our culture is one of integrity, collaboration, mutual respect, and professional excellence.

Apart from legal matters, has the team worked on other company initiatives?

The team’s responsibilities extend to overseeing capital markets’ licenses across Asia Pacific, and include liaising with regulators regarding reporting requirements, inspections, and information requests; contributing to the firm’s approach to ESG with regards to investment strategies and assets under management, as well as the firm’s net-zero carbon and other ESG-related targets; and rolling out and monitoring compliance training for employees across Asia Pacific, with the aim of fostering a culture of awareness and understanding of compliance obligations.