Grace heads the Financial Services Regulation practice in Drew & Napier LLC. She has extensive experience advising on cross-border and complex regulatory matters, including licensing and conduct of business requirements, regulatory investigations, and regulatory change. A former in-house counsel at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), she regularly interacts with key regulators, is closely involved in regional regulatory reform initiatives and has led discussions with regulators on behalf of the financial services industry. Grace has led regulatory teams in Singapore and Hong Kong at two international law firms, further developing her expertise in navigating complex financial regulatory environments across multiple jurisdictions. She also brings a strategic outlook from an in-house perspective having previously been a counsel in the Global Internal Investigations Group at the Hong Kong headquarters of a large leading multinational bank.
Grace has been consistently named as one of Singapore’s top 10 FinTech lawyers and is highly ranked in Chambers FinTech and Legal 500. She is particularly recognized for her expertise in emerging technologies, including digital assets, and the strategic integration of AI solutions within financial institutions. Her team provides dedicated regulatory support to banks, asset managers and fintechs on key regulatory areas, including banking and payments regulations, licensing and authorization processes, AML regulatory investigations and sanctions, ESG implementation and audits, outsourcing and data transfer arrangements, and reviews of ISDA agreements and ancillary documents.
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Fintech And Financial Services Regulatory: Foreign Firms 2024 – Next Generation Partner
‘Grace Chong is described as an “exceptional standout in complex regulatory, privacy and AI matters”.
“Grace Chong is an exceptional standout in complex regulatory, privacy and AI matters, and is someone you want on your side.”
Grace is “is one of the best crypto regulatory lawyers in Singapore and is very responsive and personable.”
Chambers FinTech
Fintech Legal (Singapore) 2024 – Band 2 lawyer
FinTech Legal (International Firms) (Expertise Based Abroad) | FinTech – Spotlight for 4 consecutive years
Chambers Asia Pacific and Chambers Global
Banking & Finance: Regulatory 2024 – Up and Coming
Technology, Media, Telecoms (TMT): International 2024 – Up and Coming
"Grace is very prompt and fast in responding. I appreciate how she gets on calls with us, gives me context, and is time-efficient and concise."
"Grace is an expert in her field."
"Grace has great connections and is dedicated to TMT. She has an understanding of this sector and has so much experience here."
"Grace is very prompt, time-efficient and concise."
Grace “is very savvy and shares her knowledge of the MAS and market trends” and “is very pragmatic and always comes forth with sensible and realistic propositions, after an in-depth understanding of our requirements and objectives. She is a real asset to have on our side.”
Who's Who Legal
National Guide: Southeast Asia 2024 (Fintech & Blockchain) - Recommended
Asia Legal Awards
Fintech and Digital Assets 2023 – Lawyer of the Year
Asian Legal Business
Regulatory Lawyer of the Year 2024
Singapore Rising Star 2022
Top 15 Rising Lawyers for APAC 2022
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2023
Rising Star
IFLR Women in Business’ Expert Guides
World’s leading female lawyers 2022 for Financial services regulatory
Global Data Review
Top 40 Data Lawyers for 2021
Euromoney’s Women in Business Law Awards 2021
Privacy and Data Protection Lawyer of the Year