Latham & Watkins LLP

Simon Hawkins, an experienced and trusted advisor to financial institutions and fintech companies, advises on a range of regulatory matters and transactions. He leads the financial regulatory practice in Asia and co-chairs the firm’s Digital Assets & Web3 Practice.

Mr. Hawkins advises a full range of financial industry and fintech clients — from traditional commercial and investment banks, private equity firms, broker/dealers, and insurers to innovative fintech companies, including payments companies, crypto exchanges and custodians, token issuers, and Metaverse and decentralized finance (DeFi) projects.

He provides confident and seasoned regulatory advice and transactional support to clients doing inbound and outbound business in Hong Kong. As an early mover in the fintech industry in Asia, he provides insight and skilled judgment on the dynamic fintech industry and rapidly evolving crypto regulatory landscape.

Resident in Hong Kong since 2009, Mr. Hawkins has developed strong working relationships with regulators at the Securities and Futures Commission and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. He serves as an active member of ASIFMA and the Fintech Association of Hong Kong. Mr. Hawkins regularly steers clients safely through situations of high risk and uncertainty, coordinating a global team of Latham colleagues, and local counsel.

Mr. Hawkins has worked in London, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, and served as a secondee at HSBC in Hong Kong, where he assisted with the launch of HSBC’s Prime Finance business in Asia.