Financial Services Regulation

Drew & Napier’s Financial Regulatory practice is helmed by Grace Chong, a leading practitioner and former financial regulator, who brings a wealth of experience and expertise in banking, asset management, and FinTech regulations. Leveraging strong working relationships with various regulatory bodies and industry associations, our practice effectively advises clients across all segments of financial markets, including banks, insurance companies, insurance brokerages, capital markets intermediaries, fund managers, investment advisers and market operators.

Grace Chong's extensive background, including her time as an in-house counsel at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Global International Investigations Group at the Hong Kong headquarters of a major international bank, enables her team to provide unparalleled insights and strategic guidance on complex regulatory issues.

Our lawyers regularly advise financial institutions on various aspects of financial services regulation and compliance, including authorisation and licensing issues, business conduct requirements, anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance. We also advise and assist clients in applying for the requisite regulatory authorisations and licenses for conduct of activities in Singapore, as well as in developing and implementing appropriate regulatory compliance policies and procedures.

Our lawyers work closely with our Banking & Finance Practice Group to provide a full suite of services to banks and financial institutions, and we also support the Mergers & Acquisitions team in transactions involving financial institutions where regulatory issues (such as obtaining approvals or clearances) might be involved.

Our team’s comprehensive knowledge and proactive approach ensure that our clients receive the most effective and pragmatic solutions to navigate the ever-evolving regulatory landscape.

What we can do for you

• Delivering strategic advice in relation to regulatory change and the implementation of new regulatory requirements;
• Advising on intricate conduct and governance issues, including advising senior management and boards of directors on culture and conduct risk;
• Preparing and managing applications and registrations, and engagement with regulators to seek relief, exemptions and interpretations in connection with regulatory compliance matters;
• Strategic consultancy for payment service providers, including digital assets firms on the operation of their businesses inside and outside of the regulatory perimeter;
• Offering financial institutions specialized support for AI regulatory adherence and implementation, helping clients navigate complex regulations and effectively deploy AI solutions within their compliance infrastructure;
• Advising on AML laws and regulations, including economic and trade sanctions, export controls, and AML/CTF program implementation;
• Guidance on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policy and procedures implementation and disclosures;
• Support on internal reviews and investigations;
• Providing advice on authorizations and approvals, including transactional support.

Accolades

asialaw Profiles
Banking and Financial Services 2022 - Highly Recommended practice for 4 consecutive years
Banking and Finance 2022 - Recommended practice for 3 consecutive years
Corporate and M&A 2022 – Recommended practice

“The firm satisfactorily review and made various recommendations and amendments. The firm has done its requested works in an excellent and responsible manner.”
“Very prompt reply, client-oriented, responsible and reliable.” 
“Drew... should be viewed as among the top experts in the field,” says another client. 

Chambers Asia Pacific and Global
Banking & Finance 2022 – Leading firm for 17 consecutive years
Corporate/M&A 2022 - Band 3 firm

A source values Drew & Napier's "flexible and creative advice, and willingness to consider novel approaches."
“Clients praise the [banking] team's 'diligent and responsive approach – you know they’ll have everything covered'.”
"It's a formidable firm with a strong resource base," a client says, adding: "The lawyers are responsive, diligent and detailed." Another praises the lawyers, calling them "very professional, reliable and target-oriented."
“Very responsive and quick to deliver. Always ready to attend to questions and a pleasure to deal with. Solution oriented and practical in approach. Extremely reliable in terms of the research that is done to back up advice.”
“Offers all-round expertise in both the transactional and financing aspects of acquisitions. Enjoys a strong standing amongst private and public companies, multinational corporates and financial institutions, which it advises on a wide range of M&A deals”

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Banking & Finance 2022 – Leading firm for 11 consecutive years
Corporate/M&A 2022- Tier 3 firm for 5 consecutive years

“Drew & Napier LLC’s banking team is rated for its ‘very commercial’ approach and the ‘accessibility’ of lead partners.”
The diversity of skills and knowledge of the legal eagles at Drew Napier is astounding and exudes confidence. They have the resources at hand to afford excellent service”
“Smart individuals, proactive in identifying problems and solutions before they arise and commercially focused.”
"The ‘highly competent’ team at Drew & Napier LLC has ‘the right balance of commercial sense and up-to-date legal knowledge’"
“A highly professional’ corporate team, which provides advice with ‘quick turnaround times” 

IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms
Banking & Finance 2022/23 – Leading firm for 10 consecutive years
Corporate/M&A 2022/2023 – Tier 2 firm for 18 consecutive years

Understood the legal regulatory framework well and provided timely advice. Also helped us navigate the sale and purchase agreement and negotiated favourable terms for us."
“We have been using Drew & Napier as our main legal counsel for more than 10 years now and have always found the firm to be thoroughly professional and the staff members assigned to us knowledgeable both in the legal aspects as well as able to advise on the commercial impact and ramifications”
"Align with the interest of the client, responsive and responsible, professional. Thorough and detailed outcome-driven advice with pros and cons analysis."