Offering extensive experience of venture capital transactions throughout Southeast Asia, Allen & Gledhill LLP is regularly instructed by major Singapore investors including VC funds, PE funds, corporate venture capital arms and other strategic or financial investors. Praised as ‘one of the leading teams in the regional venture capital industry’, the practice is also extremely active on the start-up side, advising on the gamut of relevant matters from governance and IP to employee incentive plans and regulatory issues. Corporate expert Christian Chin leads the group and is ably supported by Julian Ho, who has a proven track record at all stages of financing from seed to late-stage. Nicholas Soh has also built a strong reputation in the venture capital market.

Dentons Rodyk is a leading presence in Singapore and the wider Southeast Asia region when advising prominent venture-backed entities across the spectrum of the investment life-cycle, from seed and advanced stages to trade sales, IPOs and SPACs. Particularly noteworthy for its cross-border transactional expertise, joint practice head S Sivanesan is highly sought after by founders, entrepreneurs, start-ups, capital and private equity funds. India-related transaction expert Sunil Rai is a go-to lawyer for high-growth emerging entities and unicorns in the region, while Li Chuan Hsu is particularly well-regarded for his experience in handling transactions with a Chinese nexus.

The start-up and venture capital practice at WongPartnership LLP is fully invested in the long-term strategy of its clients, whether an angel investor, venture capitalist, early-stage start-up or unicorn technology company. The depth of the team’s expertise is mirrored by the breadth of matters which it handles, spanning the likes of employee incentive plans, data privacy policies, equity funding rounds and trade sales. The practice is jointly spearheaded by Kyle Lee and Sin Wei Ong, with the pair bringing an equal abundance of expertise in fintech, as well as general corporate matters including M&A, JVs and investment funds restructuring. Senior associate Jolynn Lim continues to develop her reputation, having acted for clients across the fundraising spectrum including equity and bridge financing rounds, secondary acquisitions and exits.

Supporting start-ups and emerging companies from inception to expansion, Bird & Bird ATMD LLP is noted for its expertise in advising clients heavily reliant on intangible assets across a broad range of industries, encompassing fintech, reg-tech, robotics, healthcare, cybersecurity and life sciences. Corporate specialist Marcus Chow heads up the offering which intently focuses on industries where technology and regulation intersect, and is well-supported by counsel Jolie Giouw.

Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP assists investors and start-ups in their transactions, business operations and expansion endeavours throughout Singapore and the wider region. Sandy Foo is an M&A expert and oversees the practice which, on the start-up side, regularly advises on complex matters related to governance, IP, employment, data privacy, corporate and regulatory affairs. Tracy-Anne Ang , who is praised for her ‘vast experience and sheer brilliance’, and Terence Quek are also leading figures, acting for numerous top investors throughout Southeast Asia, encompassing venture capital and private equity funds, corporate venture capital divisions, and other strategic or financial investors.

Shook Lin & Bok LLP’s ‘lean and super efficient’ venture capital practice receives a steady stream of transactions, including private and public financings, pre-IPO and secondary investments, joint ventures and growth and venture capital deals. Corporate finance specialist David Chong oversees the offering, bringing particular expertise in the communications, technology, media, energy and natural resources sectors.

Withers KhattarWong LLP’s full service practice represents numerous investment funds, venture and growth capital funds, as well as acting for emerging companies in structuring equity, debt and hybrid investments involving several institutional investors and angels. Practice head Joel Shen has strong expertise in the Indonesian market, where his clients include major technology companies, financial institutions and venture capital fund managers. Daniel Yong is another key contact in the group, especially regarding regulatory and licensing issues affecting fund managers and capital markets intermediaries.

Quahe Woo & Palmer LLC regularly acts on novel transactional matters for both start-ups and venture capital investments, including those in the blockchain and cryptocurrency arena. Practice leader Lau Kiat Wee is an M&A expert and brings specialist expertise in the e-commerce, medtech and fintech sectors, while practice co-head Keith Oh has extensive experience advising regional tech start-ups on fund-raising, founders’ rights, employee incentives and IP issues.