Clifford Chance combines extensive global reach with deep local insight to deliver workable and practical solutions for financial services clients, including investment banks, insurers, funds and fintech entities. While some of the work is of a standalone nature, much of it is collaborative alongside the firm’s market-leading transaction financial services offering. Team head Rocky Mui handles conventional financial services regulatory matters, including within the asset management sector, and also spearheads the office’s efforts on the fintech front where he is particularly active on cryptocurrency/blockchain matters. On the contentious front, Jonathan Wong is skilled at helping guide large local and international financial institutions through complex regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, including alleged insider dealing, market misconduct and control failures.

Forming a part of the office’s broader litigation function, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is best-known for its work for buy and sell-side entities facing down regulatory enforcement actions, investigations and commercial disputes. Drawing upon the expertise of lawyers with dual Hong Kong and New York qualifications, the team is particularly skilled at advising US clients on inbound matters, as well as for Asian entities doing business in the US. As well as advising on conventional financial services regulatory matters impacting banks and funds, including handling US investigations for the underwriters of China-based issuers in the US markets, Martin Rogers is also the principal contact for fintech-related matters and has a ‘profound understanding of the Virtual Asset Trading Platform regime’. James Wadham co-heads the team alongside Rogers and excels in advising banks and asset managers subject to regulatory scrutiny.

 

 

Led by Simon Hawkins and forming a key part of the firm’s fully integrated global team, which includes strong practices in the US, London and throughout APAC, Latham & Watkins LLP‘s Hong Kong-based team is best-known for its skill at advising emerging tech companies, traditional financial institutions and strategic investors across the spectrum of their domestic and multi-jurisdictional fintech needs. The team’s engagement with trade associations and regulatory authorities ensures it is abreast of changes across the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, enabling it to combine targeted regulatory insight and financial product knowledge to good effect for clients providing, adopting or investing in the fintech space. Adrian Fong has had a key role in the work for ASIFMA and continues to develop a strong and growing reputation in the sector. The arrival in August 2025 of Rhys McWhirter from Eversheds Sutherland (Luxembourg) LLP further strengthens the team, with skill advising on strategic tech-based transactions.

King & Wood Mallesons is best-known for its strategic and high-level standalone advisory offering for banks, securities firms, infrastructure providers and asset managers. The ‘technically very strong’ Minny Siu has been pivotal to the firm’s success on the fintech front and has gained particular visibility for virtual banks seeking licensing approvals and infrastructure providers providing tech-driven product platforms, as well as through her work on behalf of Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association’s (ASIFMA) fintech working group. Andrew Fei, who maintains a strong core structured finance regulatory/transactional offering, is also very keyed into fintech developments, including as it relates to digital assets. Richard Mazzochi has a more traditional regulatory focus to his banking and finance offering, co-heading the overarching team alongside Siu that also includes Cindy Shek – who is well informed on the traditional and fintech regulatory issues impacting asset management clients, in particular. The Sydney-based Urszula McCormack is noted for her market-leading fintech capabilities, an area of the practice that was further enhanced by the arrival in July 2025 of a two-partner team from Linklaters, including Chin-Chong Liew who is particularly skilled at advising on digital asset projects.

With a significant presence in Hong Kong and in other key offices in Mainland China and Singapore, Ashurst is well-equipped to assist a range of international and regional financial institutions on the regulatory and licensing issues associated with conducting business in the region. As well as handling traditional regulatory issues, the team, which is led on the non-contentious front by the very well-regarded Ben Hammond, has very effectively adapted to the increased use of technology in the sector, helping banks, large technology providers and fintech start-ups across a myriad projects implementing blockchain technology. Much of this work implements a cross-disciplinary approach, also involving digital economy transactions head Joshua Cole. Splitting his time between Hong Kong and Singapore, global loans practitioner Patrick Phua co-heads the multi-disciplinary team alongside Hammond and Cole and is particularly skilled at advising on the regulatory issues associated with derivatives and structured finance matters.

Baker McKenzie is adept at advising local and international banks, asset managers, broker-dealers and insurers seeking to navigate the ever-evolving regulatory landscape impacting their operations throughout Hong Kong/Greater China and the broader APAC region. The ‘astute and commercially savvy’ Karen Man handles standalone advisory matters as well as regulatory advice in the context of financial services M&A. Cynthia Tang, who co-heads the overarching financial services regulatory team alongside Man, has a focus on contentious matters, regularly representing domestic and international banks facing domestic and cross-border regulatory scrutiny. Other key practitioners include Bryan Ng, who excels at guiding international financial services clients through enforcement actions by Hong Kong regulators, including in the context of alleged mis-selling, and Grace Fung, whose previous in-house role at the SFC ensures she can provide added insight to clients across a wide variety of regulatory, compliance and corporate law matters.

With core regulatory expertise and leveraging knowledge across the firm’s banking, corporate, litigation and asset management functions, Deacons’ multi-disciplinary team is well-positioned to advise a wide array of financial services entities on both non-contentious and contentious matters. Practice head Jeremy Lam is across a good deal of the advisory work handled by the team, including in the context of licensing and regulatory compliance for asset management entities, while his role on the board of the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC) ensures he is abreast of regulatory developments impacting the entire financial services ecosystem. As part of her wide-ranging offering which has a core focus on the new economies tech sector, Machiuanna Chu is the principal contact for transactional and investment-related fintech work. On these often transformational projects, Chu regularly works alongside Isabella Wong, who provides the necessary regulatory input and is gaining a strong reputation in the market, including as it relates to virtual assets matters. Other recommended practitioners include seasoned litigator Joseph Kwan, whose broad contentious expertise includes a considerable amount of commercial litigation and regulatory enforcement/investigation matters impacting financial services clients; Taylor Hui, who assists China-based fund managers on the relevant licensing and ongoing regulatory issues associated with establishing in Hong Kong; and private funds expert Fiona Fong.

Acting on its own as well as collaboratively with the broader litigation, anti-corruption and antitrust practice groups, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP excels in providing comprehensive end-to-end regulatory advice to financial services entities seeking to comply with Hong Kong’s complex regulatory framework. This wide-ranging expertise is exemplified by experienced team head William Hallatt, who is as comfortable providing strategic advisory guidance on new regulatory developments, as well as defending clients in high-stakes regulatory investigations and enforcement actions. As well as counselling on traditional regulatory matters, Hallatt has also been at the cutting-edge of fintech developments, handling a considerable volume of work in the cryptocurrency space. Emily Rumble regularly works alongside Hallatt advising banking clients on culture, conduct and governance issues, as well as recently handling a number of SFC investigations into alleged unauthorised operations by cryptocurrency exchanges.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP provides a cohesive service to investment banks, funds and broker-dealers across the gamut of their contentious and non-contentious regulatory needs. Much of the work is for large global entities seeking to navigate Hong Kong-related regulations from both a pre-emptive standpoint as well as when they are in the cross-hairs of agency scrutiny. A versatile regulatory lawyer, Hannah Cassidy is across both the advisory and litigation aspects of matters, and is noted, in particular, for her skill at helping clients respond to investigations into culture and conduct. Hong Kong and US-qualified Kyle Wombolt co-heads the team alongside Cassidy, and is noted for his regulatory and white-collar investigations expertise. This work frequently straddles jurisdictions and also includes the implementation of anti-corruption programmes for large foreign investment banks.

Acting on its own and as part of a multi-office global offering on major cross-border mandates, Linklaters‘ Hong Kong team is well-regarded for its ability to provide an all-encompassing service on standalone local and cross-border advisory and transactional-linked work for banks, broker-dealers, fintech companies and asset managers. Although it can advise on disputes work in a co-ordinated fashion with the office’s broader litigation, investigations and arbitration offering, the team is best-known for its non-contentious expertise, which encompasses standalone advisory guidance as well as regulatory advice adjacent to transactions within the sector. The vastly experienced Carl Fernandes has deep knowledge of the regulatory frameworks across APAC and the UK, and excels in guiding clients through complex projects, including in the context of the development of financial market infrastructure. Kishore Bhindi co-heads the team alongside Fernandes, and as well as handling a plethora of traditional regulatory advisory work, is also very adept at advising on the rapidly evolving regulations surrounding the digital assets and tokenisation market in Hong Kong.

Drawing upon the expertise of lawyers in the standalone regulatory group as well as across many adjacent practice areas, including capital markets, corporate and litigation, Norton Rose Fulbright is well-positioned to advise buy and sell-side clients, as well as financial services infrastructure providers, across a range of standalone advisory matters and on regulatory guidance pursuant to transactions within the sector. In addition, the team has good bandwidth across Singapore and Mainland China, ensuring it is well-placed to advise on mandates spanning the APAC region. Harold Tin excels at handling virtual assets work, leveraging his fintech subject matter knowledge and capital markets prowess to good effect for cryptocurrency exchanges, in particular.

Led from Hong Kong by the ‘very client-focused’ Kristi Swartz and also able to leverage significant international resources throughout APAC, the Middle East, Europe and the US, DLA Piper has developed a very strong reputation for local and global stakeholders within the fintech sector. In this context, the ‘solutions-driven’ Swartz has particular expertise within the virtual assets space, including for global digital assets exchanges on regulatory compliance/licensing advice relating to Hong Kong and the broader APAC and UAE region. Jen Lee also has a strong reputation in the field, working with Swartz on behalf of the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority on the continued development of the virtual assets regulatory framework the firm helped to set up in Dubai.

Drawing upon the resources of a defined fintech practice, as well as leveraging a strong litigation/investigations and economic/trade sanctions offering, Eversheds Sutherland provides a broad range of contentious and non-contentious services to traditional and emerging financial services entities. Frankie Tam handles technology transaction matters, as well as tapping into overarching regulatory knowledge to facilitate complex strategic transactions for clients in the payments and digital assets space. Mark Hughes handles a considerable amount of financial services regulatory investigations work as part of his broad-based litigation skillset, while Jocelyn Chow regularly handles economic/trade sanctions advice for large banking clients.

Combining ‘technical expertise with commercial acumen’, independent domestic firm Howse Williams has growing market share among regional financial institutions, advising them across the full scope of their regulatory needs. Drawing upon considerable private practice and in-house experience, trilingual team head William Wong is key to the firm’s heightened visibility in the market, providing ‘practical solutions’ to Chinese and foreign-headquartered banks and securities firms subject to regulatory scrutiny by Hong Kong regulatory authorities. Combining ‘strategic vision with hands-on guidance’, Jason Chan takes the lead on much of the advisory/compliance work the team handles, including within the virtual assets and payments space.

Johnson Stokes & Master maintains a solid offering across a range of contentious and non-contentious matters for banks, broker-dealers, fintech companies and asset managers. Leveraging deep ties with the relevant regulatory authorities, the vastly experienced Sara Or is a popular choice for clients seeking the relevant licensing approvals to develop new products and services. Here her work includes traditional financial services regulatory advice and cyber/data privacy expertise, as well as a growing amount of payments and crypto-related matters. Or co-heads the team alongside TL Lim and Raymond Chan, who are both noted for their insurance regulatory and financial services contentious work, respectively.

While it does handle some financial services advisory work, including in the context of transactions in the sector, Minter Ellison is undoubtedly best-known for its contentious expertise. Nathan Dentice has expertise handling high-stakes investigations/enforcement actions and as regularly assists clients in securities regulatory matters before the SFC and HKMA. The vastly experienced Desmond Yu is also key to the firm’s success for clients facing regulatory investigations/enforcement actions, including as it relates to alleged market misconduct/insider dealing infractions. Jun Kwong‘s recently obtained qualification to practice as a Greater Bay Area lawyer also enhances the team’s ability to handle matters with a nexus to China. Other key contacts include Cordelia Yu, who as well as her experience for regulators and industry bodies in the insurance sector, is also well-versed in crypto-related regulatory matters, and the vastly experienced David Morrison, whose practice spans civil and criminal liability, as well as regulatory agency investigations.

Reed Smith Richards Butler LLP is well-versed at advising established and emerging financial services entities across a range of regulatory matters, including those relating to the development of new products and on corporate transactions in the sector. Team head Jill Wong provides useful insight as a result of her previous in-house roles at the HKMA and for a leading investment bank both in the context of traditional banking and securities regulatory matters as well as emerging cryptocurrency and payments matters. The ‘very knowledgeable and commercial’ Asha Sharma is also recommended.

Led from Hong Kong by Jonathon Crompton and often aided by practitioners in London and Singapore, RPC is best-known for its advice to clients on domestic and cross-border fintech and cyber disputes work. Crompton is the main contact for Asia-related cyber incident response work, including for insurers, and is also regularly involved in regulatory investigations/enforcements brought against fintech start-ups and payment companies.

Drawing upon a team of experts in Hong Kong and across many key international offices, Sidley Austin LLP's multi-disciplinary asset management offering is well-placed to advise regional and international funds on regulatory aspects associated with doing business throughout APAC, as well as on outbound mandates, including in the US. 'Exceptional' team head Dominic James provides 'commercial and knowledgeable' advice to hedge and private equity funds in the cross-hairs of regulatory scrutiny, as well as excelling in providing standalone compliance and regulatory advice concomitant to M&A in the sector.

Acting alone and also leveraging resources from Singapore and London, in particular, Stephenson Harwood provides contentious and non-contentious advice to a wide array of stakeholders in the financial services sector, including as it relates to the development of new financial products and services. Much of the work occurs at the intersection of financial services and technology, and under the leadership of the 'excellent' Katherine Liu, the team has picked up a slew of work for digital banks on Hong Kong licensing/compliance matters and for fintech start-ups, including a number that have grown to "unicorn" status.

Leveraging the expertise of corporate, finance and litigation lawyers, in particular, A&O Shearman deploys a multidisciplinary approach to financial services regulatory work for buy and sell-side clients, as well as fintech companies. Much of the work is generated by high-profile transactions in the sector, with the Hong Kong team often providing the necessary regulatory approvals to facilitate large-scale cross-border M&A transactions, forming part of a cohesive team with lawyers across the firm's vast network of offices. Contentious work is also a forte, with litigation head Matt Bower regularly handling investigations initiated by regulators, including as it relates to market misconduct.

Clyde & Co LLP advises traditional financial institutions and fintech entities on standalone regulatory matters and transaction-related compliance. The firm’s eclectic scope of work includes advice to foreign fintech companies on the licensing and authorisation requirements for entering the Hong Kong market, as well as providing the regulatory input to facilitate strategic partnership agreements between financial services firms and technology providers. Leveraging vast knowledge from private practice and in-house roles, team head Joyce Chan is best-known for her insurance regulatory knowledge but has also successfully developed a broader insurtech and fintech practice in recent years, which includes work in the payments and digital assets space.

At CMS Hong Kong LLP, Jonathan Chu has developed a significant grounding in relation to fintech matters - including as it pertains to blockchain technology - as part of his broad IP practice. He co-heads the team alongside Paul Maloney, whose arrival in June 2024 from Mayer Brown enhances the firm's ability to provide regulatory compliance and licensing advice to funds clients, in particular.

Hogan Lovells' financial services regulatory capabilities were significantly enhanced at the end of 2024 by the arrival of Maria Sit and Michael Wong from Dechert shortly before it closed its Hong Kong operations. Sit now co-heads the firm's contentious capabilities in the sector alongside 'very experienced and responsive' litigation mainstay Mark Lin, adding regulatory insight through her previous role at the SFC. Wong is the main contact for non-contentious regulatory matters, adding particularly value in relation to private funds-related matters.

Leveraging expertise across the firm's TMT and corporate practices, and often working alongside colleagues in Singapore and Shanghai, Morrison & Foerster's Hong Kong-based multi-disciplinary fintech offering is well-placed to advise large financial services entities, tech start-ups and investors across a range of advisory, transactional and commercial mandates in the space. As part of his overarching role as Asia tech head, Gordon Milner regularly handles high-profile tech and digitisation projects in the financial services sector. Xiaoxi Lin, who joined in January 2025 from Linklaters, is another key contact and regularly handles fintech-related corporate work as part of his venture capital/private equity practice.

Led on the non-contentious front by corporate practitioner Vincent Chan, Slaughter and May handles a considerable range and volume of standalone advisory matters, relating to, inter alia, the establishment of new business lines, as well as regulatory issues associated with financial services-related transactional work. Clients include banks, insurers and funds, with the team also being well-equipped to provide the regulatory input as these entities make increased use of technology to provide services and products. Ralph Sellar takes the lead on the contentious front. Wynne Mok left the firm to join the SFC in February 2025.

Since its establishment in 2017 by Basil Hwang, Hauzen LLP has continued to gain traction among market participants in the financial services services sector as result of its deep familiarity with the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. The firm is particularly focused on work in the fintech space and continues to handle a considerable amount of cryptocurrency-related mandates, including on behalf of insolvent crypto-related companies in highly contentious proceedings.

Under the leadership of Jacqueline Qiao, JunHe displays 'strong business acumen' for a range of stakeholders seeking to navigate the rapidly evolving regulations within the fintech space. Qiao is particularly skilled advising clients in the virtual asset and blockchain segment of the market, work which includes assisting a number of virtual asset trading platforms on the necessary licensing requirements to establish in Hong Kong.

Forming a part of the broader investment management group, which is led by Geoffrey Chan, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is best-equipped to handle regulatory compliance issues for funds clients. Much of this work is centred around securing licensing approvals for funds investing in virtual assets, an area where the firm was afforded greater core regulatory capabilities by the arrival of Ryan Chan  from DLA Piper in January 2025.

Led by investment funds expert Simon Wong, Withers provides ‘effective legal solutions’ on regulatory compliance issues facing fund managers associated with the establishment and ongoing operations of a range of private asset classes. Wong is able to provide ‘comprehensive legal solutions encompassing financial market practices, regulatory dynamics, and legal practices’, including in relation to crypto funds.