Team size: Three

Key team members: Gordon Sng Ban Chuan and Aurora Zheng Jiaqi

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

Yunfeng Financial Group is a pioneer in financial technology, and our team provides comprehensive advice to the group, including all its subsidiaries in Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China, and offshore jurisdictions. We provide insight on a wide range of matters, including Fintech, proprietary investments, asset management, ESOP, brokerage, fund distribution, and IPO-related transactions. Staying abreast with legal and regulatory shifts is a priority for the legal team, we recently amended the group data privacy policy to align with the new PRC Personal Information Protection Law and facilitated Yunfeng’s application for licenses related to virtual assets. Our input holds value and influences decisions at every stage.

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation proved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?

Yunfeng’s legal team has developed an internal digital contract approval system, this has simplified the contract approval process and meticulously documents all approval workflows. Alongside this, the legal team has linked a document management system with an electronic contract tracker. The legal team also advises on the execution of KYC protocols for Yunfeng’s fintech applications, in compliance with the regulations set forth by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, as well as the data protection regulations in both Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China. Additionally, integrated into the contract approval system is a vendor declaration form, this serves as a channel for vendors to acknowledge Yunfeng’s policies and their compliance with all anti-bribery laws. The online system has garnered resounding acclaim from colleagues in Hong Kong and China, as it allows colleagues to work from various locations amidst challenging times.

Can you sum up the team culture in one sentence?

Integration, dedication, and development. The legal team is an integral component of Yunfeng, and we pride ourselves on our understanding of all business activities. Adopting a football analogy, the legal team pro-actively plays a modern “sweeperkeeper” role instead of the traditional “last line of defence” role. We kick-start business deals, and our insight allows us to spot and tackle risks early. As Yunfeng’s stakeholders are spread across numerous time-zones, our team is responsive, around the clock, to internal and external clients through the Dingtalk app, email, or phone. Our team has a strong development culture and provides opportunities for growth. Our current head of legal was internally promoted, and another team member who joined as an intern was encouraged to obtain PRC and New York qualifications.